Freegal Music: Free Songs to Download and Keep With Your Library Card

Freegal Music lets cardholders at participating libraries download a few free MP3 songs every week to keep, and at many libraries, stream music ad-free too.

“In my day, getting free music meant holding a tape recorder up to the radio and praying the DJ would stop talking. Freegal is the legal, library-approved upgrade. Class, that is called progress.”

What is Freegal Music?

Freegal Music is a music service made by a company called Library Ideas and offered through public libraries that subscribe. The name says it all: free and legal. The catalog includes millions of songs across many genres, and a number of libraries mention the Sony Music catalog as part of it.

Here is what makes it special. Each week you get a small allowance of song downloads, and those downloads are regular MP3 files with no copy protection. That means they are yours to keep, even after the week resets. Many libraries allow a handful of songs per week, and the exact number is up to your library. Some libraries also include streaming, often ad-free, while others offer downloads only.

You can use Freegal on a computer through your library’s Freegal page, or in the Freegal Music app for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

Why I assign it to my students

• Songs you get to keep. Not a rental. Download it and it is in your music collection.
• No ads. Freegal is ad-free.
• A playlist that builds itself. A few songs every week adds up to a real library over a year.
• Totally legal. Your library has licensed the music, so you can download with a clear conscience.

How to use Freegal, step by step

1. Check your library. Look under digital resources or music on your library’s website. Freegal is only available through libraries that subscribe.
2. Open Freegal. Use the link on your library’s site, or download the Freegal Music app and search for your library by name, city, or zip code.
3. Sign in with your library card number, and a PIN if your library requires one.
4. Browse and listen. Search by artist, album, or genre, or try the curated playlists.
5. Download your weekly songs. Pick carefully, since you only get a few each week.
6. Back up your files. Copy your MP3s to a computer or cloud drive so you never lose them.

How to get a library card

Start with your local public library. Many offer a free online eCard, while others ask for a quick visit with ID and proof of address. Since not every library carries Freegal, look at the digital services list before you sign up. In California, the San Francisco Public Library offers free cards to state residents, though you complete registration in person at a branch with photo ID. Some large library systems, such as the Los Angeles Public Library and LA County Library, have listed Freegal among their services, but always confirm with your own library.

Who it’s great for

• College students: Build a study playlist without another monthly subscription.
• Young families: Kids’ songs for the car that you own and can play offline.
• Working adults: A few new songs every week for the gym or the drive.
• Retirees: Rebuild the record collection you gave away during your last move, a few favorites at a time.

The money angle

Music streaming subscriptions charge every month, and the songs disappear the moment you stop paying. Buying songs one at a time adds up too. Freegal gives you a small, steady stream of songs you actually own, for nothing.

Things to watch for

• Fewer libraries carry Freegal than Libby or Hoopla, and some have dropped it due to budget cuts. Songs you already downloaded stay playable.
• Weekly download limits and streaming access vary by library.
• Unused downloads typically do not roll over.

Professor Ima B. Cheap

Freegal features, download limits, and library participation change often. Cheap101 is not affiliated with Freegal Music or Library Ideas. More handouts: Cheap101 Class Handouts · Free samples, freebies and rebates