Recordz
Recordz vs MD Vinyl
Both apps rank for "vinyl" on the App Store, and that's roughly where the overlap ends. MD Vinyl makes the music you already stream look and feel like a record. Recordz helps you find the physical records you'll actually go and buy. We make Recordz, so weigh this accordingly — but we'll say plainly when MD Vinyl is the better pick, because for a lot of people it is.
So, MD Vinyl or Recordz?
The case for MD Vinyl
If you listen on Apple Music or Spotify and miss the ritual of putting on a record, MD Vinyl is the app. It turns playback into a spinning turntable with the album artwork on the label, lets you drag the needle to move through a song, and plays a stylus drop when you press play. Its home-screen and desktop widgets put a small turntable on your screen with play, pause and skip controls. More than 28,000 App Store ratings averaging 4.6 say people love it, and they're right to. You don't need to own a single record to enjoy it.
The case for Recordz
If you own records, buy records, or want to start, Recordz is built for that. It's a swipeable feed of real vinyl releases from the Discogs catalog, personalized to the genres, styles and eras you pick, with a preview on each record where one exists — so you hear it before you save it. Saves go to your wantlist, and if you connect Discogs they sync both ways with your Discogs account. Recordz also maps 275 independent record stores across 16 cities and publishes curated lists such as 50 Essential Detroit Techno Records.
The short version: MD Vinyl is about how your streaming looks. Recordz is about which physical records you go and find. Plenty of people should have both.
What each app can actually do
| MD Vinyl | Recordz | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Showing streaming playback as a turntable | Discovering and collecting physical records |
| Plays full tracks | Yes, through Apple Music or Spotify | No — previews only |
| Where the music comes from | Your Apple Music or Spotify library | The Discogs catalog, with video and record-store previews |
| Catalogs records you own | No | Yes, through Discogs sync |
| Discogs sync | No | Yes, two-way: collection and wantlist |
| Barcode scanning | No | Yes |
| Collection value estimate | No | Yes |
| Feed of records you don't know yet | No | Yes: For You, Most Wanted, New Additions |
| Home-screen widgets | Yes — the core feature | No |
| Desktop widgets | Yes | No |
| Stylus sound effects | Yes | No |
| Record store directory | No | 275 stores in 16 cities |
| Curated lists | No | 14 lists |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Android; desktop widgets | iPhone, iPad (iOS 16.4+) and Android |
| Android | Yes, on Google Play | Yes |
| Price | Free; upgrades from $1.99, Pro $14.99 | Free; Recordz Pro $2.99/month or $19.99/year |
| US App Store ratings, Sept 2026 | 28,679, averaging 4.6 | New in 2026 |
Where MD Vinyl shines
It plays your whole library
Recordz plays previews. MD Vinyl plays full albums, because it sits on top of your Apple Music or Spotify subscription. If the plan is to listen for an evening, MD Vinyl does that and Recordz doesn't.
The widgets are the product
MD Vinyl started life as a home-screen widget, and it shows: the widgets are the most refined part of the app, with playback controls and transparent backgrounds on desktop. Recordz has no widgets at all.
Care over feature count
Its developer has described the aim as focusing on "the process of music listening" rather than piling on features. The needle drag and the stylus sound are small details, done carefully, and that restraint is a big part of why people like it.
A long track record
More than 28,000 ratings since its 2022 launch is a lot of happy users. Recordz launched in 2026 and is much earlier on that road.
No subscription required
MD Vinyl sells its upgrades as in-app purchases. Recordz Pro is an auto-renewing subscription. If you avoid subscriptions on principle, MD Vinyl's model will suit you better.
Where Recordz is different
Real records, not a skin
Every card in Recordz is an actual release from the Discogs catalog, showing its year, label and marketplace price, and it links through to the real Discogs listing. Nothing on screen is decorative; it's all something you could own.
Hear it before you buy it
Each record comes with a preview where one exists — from release videos, and for record-store stock, the store's own audio. Swipe past what doesn't land and save what does. That's the whole loop, and it's quick.
Your Discogs account, kept in sync
Connect Discogs and Recordz imports your collection and wantlist. Save a record in Recordz and it's added to your Discogs wantlist; add one to your collection and it's added on Discogs too. Remove it in either place and both stay in step.
Somewhere to actually buy it
Recordz includes a directory of 275 independent record stores across 16 cities, from Detroit and New York to Berlin, Tokyo and São Paulo, with addresses, hours, and which shops have a catalog you can browse in the app.
Lists worth starting from
Fourteen curated lists, such as 50 Essential Detroit Techno Records, Spiritual Jazz and UK Garage, ranked using Discogs want and have data. They're a fast way into a genre you don't know yet.
Compare the plan, not just the price
MD Vinyl pricing
Free to download. On the US App Store in September 2026 its in-app purchases were MD Vinyl Pro at $14.99, Premium at $1.99 and Premium C at $2.99. Older reviews mention a $10 price; the developer has said they raise the price as the app grows, so check the listing. You'll also need Apple Music or Spotify for playback, which is a separate subscription.
Recordz pricing
Free to download, with 10 free saves; inviting friends earns more. Recordz Pro costs $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year. It removes the save limit and adds playlist sharing, new-release alerts for artists and labels you follow, and a public profile with a Pro badge. The Discover tab and Chromecast are free. A Discogs account is free and optional — you only need one for sync.
Recordz vs MD Vinyl FAQ
Is MD Vinyl a vinyl collection app?
No. MD Vinyl is a music player and widget app that shows Apple Music or Spotify playback as a virtual turntable. It doesn't catalog physical records, scan barcodes or connect to Discogs.
Can Recordz play full albums like MD Vinyl?
No. Recordz plays previews, so you can decide whether a record is worth buying. For full-length listening, use a streaming service — or MD Vinyl on top of one.
Can I use both?
Yes, and they don't get in each other's way. A common setup is Recordz to find and track records, and MD Vinyl to make streaming feel like vinyl in between.
Does either app work with Discogs?
Recordz does, with two-way sync of your collection and wantlist. MD Vinyl doesn't connect to Discogs.
Which one is free?
Both are free to download. MD Vinyl sells optional upgrades. Recordz gives you 10 free saves and offers a Pro subscription for unlimited saves and extra features.
Is Recordz on Android?
Yes. Recordz is on Google Play for Android, and on the App Store for iPhone and iPad running iOS 16.4 or later.
Last updated September 30, 2026.
Sources: MD Vinyl on the App Store; Apptisan interview with MD Vinyl's developer; Pocket-lint review; ratings from App Store data, September 30, 2026.
MD Vinyl is a product of MD Studio. Recordz is an independent app made by Pangea Roads LLC and is not affiliated with MD Studio, or with Discogs or Zink Media, LLC. Record data is sourced from the Discogs API and the CC0-licensed Discogs data dumps.
