Overview

Smule is a karaoke and singing platform for recording performances, joining duets and collaborating with other singers. It suits singers who want a large song catalog and social performance options, especially on mobile. Its range extends from free duet participation to VIP solo and group features, but subscription renewal and account privacy are worth weighing.

Key features

A catalog of more than 15 million songs spanning pop, rock, R&B, country, K-pop and musicals gives singers plenty of room to find material across genres. Free users can join existing duets, while VIP adds solo recording, the ability to start duets and group performances, and unlimited catalog access. That makes Smule more compelling for people who want to lead or record performances than for someone who only wants to sing along occasionally.

Recordings can be shaped with reverb, filters, vocal effects, pitch guidance and key adjustment. Music videos add visual effects and lyric overlays, with optional AI-powered voice tools. Live karaoke sessions let users perform for real-time audiences, and Smule describes a community spanning more than 190 countries. These tools make it a social performance platform, not just a catalog player; singers seeking only a private, straightforward karaoke setup may not need that breadth.

There are practical limits to consider. Accounts cannot be made private, though privacy settings can be changed for individual posted recordings. Older videos from free accounts that have been inactive may become audio-only; VIP videos are protected. VIP invite reactivations are capped at three per rolling seven-day period, with three extensions per invite.

Pricing

Smule is freemium. The Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free and lets users join existing duets at no cost. It does not include the VIP capabilities of recording solos, starting personal duets or group songs, or unlimited access to the full karaoke catalog, so it is best for trying the social duet experience rather than building a regular solo practice.

The VIP All Access Pass costs 19.99 USD per month. It includes an unlimited karaoke catalog, solos, duets, group songs and a cappella, making it the plan for singers who want to start and record their own performances. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Smule also offers weekly and yearly subscriptions, which renew automatically unless disabled before renewal.

Platforms

Smule is available on Android, iOS and the web. The iOS app requires iOS 15 or later and is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Vision and Apple TV. Google Play shows more than 100 million downloads and labels the app as containing ads and in-app purchases. Google Play also says data is encrypted in transit and that users can request deletion. Support for account, safety and product issues is available through Smule's support site and support email.

Who it's for

Smule is a strong fit for singers who want a broad song selection, vocal controls and ways to perform with other people. The free tier is useful for joining existing duets without paying; VIP makes more sense for anyone who wants solos, to initiate collaborations, or unrestricted catalog access. It is less suitable for singers who require a private account or need free-account videos to remain video indefinitely.

Pros and cons

Pros: A catalog of more than 15 million songs covers a wide range of genres.
Pros: Vocal effects, pitch guidance and key adjustment provide several ways to shape a recording.
Pros: Free users can join existing duets, while VIP expands participation to solo, initiated duet and group performances.
Cons: Free accounts cannot make their account private, even though privacy settings can be adjusted for posted recordings.
Cons: Older videos from inactive free accounts may be converted to audio-only.
Cons: VIP renews automatically; avoiding the next charge requires cancellation at least 24 hours before the current period ends.

Alternatives

For a comparison across the category, browse Karaoke Software. Consider KaraFun if you want a karaoke app for desktop platforms as well as mobile and web, with a free tier and a free trial. Karaoke Mugen is a free, MIT-licensed option for Linux, macOS, web and Windows users who do not need a paid plan. TKaraoke is another freemium choice, with Android, iOS and Windows support. Singa offers mobile and web access and a 9.99 USD per month Premium plan for private use. OpenKJ is free, open-source karaoke hosting software for a broad range of platforms. Kanto Karaoke Player&Recorder may suit Windows users who can work within its free version's five-song playlist and one-minute recording limits. Karaoke 5 supports desktop and mobile platforms. UltraStar Deluxe is a free PC karaoke game for Linux, macOS and Windows.

Verdict

Choose Smule if you want a large, varied karaoke catalog and a social way to record, duet and perform, with VIP available when you want to lead collaborations or sing solo. The free duet access is a useful starting point, but the monthly VIP price and automatic renewal matter for regular users. Look elsewhere if account-level privacy is essential or you need free-account videos to remain videos during inactivity.

	Nightingale	Smule
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	Yes
Paid from	Free	$19.99/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	Android, iOS, Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Vocal controls	Yes	Yes
Track creation	Yes	Yes
Performance recording	—	Yes
Lyrics display modes	—	single-screen

Nightingale vs Smule

Nightingale

Smule