These are the most popular music services on Garmin’s Connect IQ Store this month, ranked by the store itself and refreshed on the first of every month. Each one downloads music or podcasts to a Garmin watch with music storage, so you can run, ride or swim without your phone. Open any row for a summary, how many watches it supports and its record in the chart.
Top Garmin music apps: October 2026
| # | Music service | Price | Rating | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 New |
Spotify |
Free | 4.7 386,360 reviews |
10M+ |
About SpotifyDownload playlists, albums and podcasts to the watch and leave the phone at home. It needs Spotify Premium and a Garmin watch with music storage. Watches supported: 156 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 2 New |
Deezer |
Free | 4.6 15,494 reviews |
5M+ |
About DeezerPuts your Deezer playlists on the watch for phone-free listening. It needs a Deezer Premium subscription and Wi-Fi set up on the watch. Watches supported: 156 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 3 New |
Free | 4.3 9,188 reviews |
1M+ | |
About YouTube MusicDownloads YouTube Music playlists and podcasts to the watch for offline listening. It needs YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium. Watches supported: 88 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 4 New |
Amazon_Mobile_LLC |
Free | 4.4 27,550 reviews |
500k+ |
About Amazon MusicDownloads Amazon Music tracks and playlists to the watch for runs and rides without your phone. Full access needs Amazon Music Unlimited. Watches supported: 156 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 5 New |
playrun |
Free | 4.3 470 reviews |
100k+ |
About playrun, all podcasts on your Garmin watchA free way to get podcasts onto the watch: pick shows on the playrun website, build a playlist, sync over Wi-Fi and run without your phone. Watches supported: 146 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 6 New |
Andrii_Mazur |
Free | None yet | 1+ |
About Local Music SyncSyncs MP3s from your own PC library to the watch's built-in music player. You run a small server on your computer, so there is no subscription. Watches supported: 1 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 7 New |
PodcastAddict |
Free | None yet | 10+ |
About Podcast AddictTakes episodes from Podcast Addict on Android to the watch over Wi-Fi, and syncs your listening progress back. It needs an active Podcast Addict subscription. Watches supported: 152 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 8 New |
IndependDeveloper |
Free | None yet | 100+ |
About ProCast — podcasts and tracks on your watchQueue podcasts and upload your own audio in a browser, then one sync puts it all on the watch. Playback speed and quality can be set per podcast. Watches supported: 155 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 9 New |
Mike-Bell |
Free | 1.0 1 reviews |
100+ |
About Cadenza – Offline music from your serverPlays music from your own Plex, Jellyfin or Subsonic server offline on the watch, so your home library goes with you on a run. Watches supported: 152 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| 10 New |
D.Shel |
Free | None yet | 100+ |
About Drift – Sleep SoundsFour looping nature sounds, such as rain and ocean, stored on the watch to help you fall asleep. A 15 or 30 minute timer fades them out, with no phone needed. Watches supported: 148 Months in the top 10: 1 |
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| © the5krunner. Link required. Ranked by the Connect IQ Store's most popular order at the end of October 2026. Movement is against the previous month. Prices in US dollars. | ||||
Getting music onto a Garmin watch
The big streaming services need a paid plan and a watch with music storage. Spotify needs Premium, YouTube Music needs YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium, Deezer needs Premium, and full Amazon Music needs Unlimited. Install the service from its store link, sign in when the watch asks, choose playlists, and the watch downloads them over Wi-Fi, so set up Wi-Fi on the watch first.
Podcast apps such as playrun, Podcast Addict and ProCast work the same way, and apps such as Local Music Sync and Cadenza bring your own music library from a computer or home server without a subscription. You listen through Bluetooth headphones, or through the speaker on watches that have one. YouTube Music now works on Fenix 9.
Quick answers
Does Spotify work on Garmin watches?
Yes, on Garmin watches with music storage. It needs Spotify Premium, and it downloads playlists, albums and podcasts to the watch for listening without your phone.
Does Apple Music work on Garmin?
Apple Music is not in the Connect IQ Store chart above. Spotify, Deezer, YouTube Music and Amazon Music are the main streaming services available.
Can I put my own MP3s on a Garmin watch?
Yes. Garmin Express copies files from a computer, and apps such as Local Music Sync and Cadenza sync your own library over Wi-Fi.
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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