Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Emcee

Emcee shows in the menu what’s playing in iTunes or Spotify

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Emcee launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Emcee▲63

   See what's playing on iTunes or Spotify in you Mac menubar

   2015 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   MiniPlay for Spotify and iTunes▲136

   What's currently playing in your favorite music app

   2016 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Background Music▲218

   Control the audio on your Mac apps from the menu bar

   2016 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Sleeve▲195

   Your currently playing track displayed right on your desktop

   2021 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   SpotMenu▲259

   Spotify and iTunes in your macOS menu bar

   2017 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Spotify Notifications▲146

   Bridging Spotify and OS X Notification Center

   2015 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Soundbar▲213

   A lightweight SoundCloud player for Mac

   2016 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   DockPlayer▲66

   Minimal Spotify controller for Mac

   2014 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Spotify Fresh Finds▲156

   Like Hype Machine, but inside Spotify

   2016 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Simplify for Mac▲220

    The simplest way to control Spotify, Music, iTunes and Vox

    2015 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Heartbeat▲246

    Listen to music with your friends together, on Spotify

    2017 · its alternatives →

12. 12SY
    See your current Spotify song in the menu bar▲55

    2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    TrayPlay▲93

    Control Spotify and iTunes from your menu bar

    2016 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Skip Tunes▲115

    Control iTunes, Spotify, or Rdio from your Mac's menubar

    2015 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Listen▲94

    Add songs to any Spotify playlist using your keyboard

    2017 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Shazam for Mac▲151

    Listens and identifies music in the background

    2014 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Discover on Demand▲91

    Just like Spotify's Discover Weekly, but whenever you want.

    2016 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Parallel▲303

    Listen to music with friends over Spotify at the same time

    2016 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    SoundMate▲107

    Enjoy SoundCloud from your Mac's menu bar

    2015 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Songstack▲171

    Swipe to discover new music for Spotify

    2017 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Spotify Artists▲294

    Spotify's site for artists

    2016 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    JQBX▲109

    turntable.fm for spotify

    2017 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    djay Pro (for Mac)▲145

    More music. More decks. (w/ Spotify integration)

    2014 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Covers▲224

    Re-discover your favorite songs again

    2017 · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →