aud-io app iconaud-io
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

iPhone · iPad · Mac · Apple Watch · CarPlay

aud-io is now available on
iPhone, iPad and Mac.

The free local-first music player is live across Apple's mobile and desktop platforms, with optional one-time Pro upgrades and a separate direct-download edition for Mac.

No accountOffline playbackNo subscriptionPrivate by default
The Shelf in aud-io for Mac The Shelf in aud-io for iPad The Shelf in aud-io for iPhone

SYDNEY, Australia - 12 August 2026 - aud-io is now available for iPhone, iPad and Mac as a free download. The universal iPhone/iPad app and native Mac app are live on the App Store, while the separately notarized direct Mac edition is available through aud-io.app. Optional one-time Pro upgrades cost US$14.99 for a universal unlock covering both the iPhone and iPad apps, US$19.99 for the Mac App Store edition, or US$14.99 for the direct Mac edition. There is no aud-io subscription.

aud-io is designed for listeners who maintain their own music libraries and want fast importing, private on-device organisation and a focused listening experience. Local music remains separate from Apple Music, so listeners always know what they own and what they stream. Apple Music is available to listeners on both the free and Pro tiers with their own subscription.

Music can be imported through Files, Finder, AirDrop and Share extensions, Wi-Fi browser transfer, watched folders and ZIP archives. Supported formats include FLAC, ALAC, M4A, MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, Opus, Ogg Vorbis and CAF. Source files stay on the listener's device and are not automatically rewritten.

The free edition imports, organises and plays local audio at up to 256 kbps, with bass and treble controls and on-device Made for You mixes. Pro unlocks lossless audio, source-rate matching for DAC users, true gapless playback, crossfade, a full 10-band equalizer and EBU R128 loudness normalisation and more.

The optional Hub keeps connected services separate from the local library. Pro enables AI Mixes, AI Radio, AI Librarian, Artist Videos, Artist News and aud-io lytics using the listener's own Gemini API key. There is no aud-io account, aud-io-hosted music server, advertising or cross-app tracking. Connected services remain opt-in.

"Every player I tried made me choose between the music I own and the music I stream. I didn't want to choose, and I don't think the line between the two should ever be blurry, because it matters more every year."

Sanjiv Sathiah, designer of aud-io
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The library

Local library first, Apple Music too

aud-io seamlessly imports music through the Files app, Finder, AirDrop and Share extensions, Wi-Fi browser transfer, watched folders and ZIP archives. Supported formats include FLAC, ALAC, M4A, MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, Opus, Ogg Vorbis and CAF. Watched folders are reconciled when the app launches or returns to the foreground.

Music files stay on the listener's device. aud-io does not automatically rewrite source files: metadata corrections and artwork overlays normally live in aud-io's own library. A clearly labelled, user-initiated Write to File action is available when a listener chooses to update supported tags in the source file.

If a listener also has an Apple Music subscription, an optional sign-in through Apple's services enables a focused and distraction-free Apple Music streaming experience from within the app. Never has it been so easy to listen to and organise a local music library alongside, but separate from, an Apple Music library. aud-io truly offers the best of both worlds.

aud-io for Mac comes in two variants. The first is a direct release available through aud-io.app, notarized by Apple and requiring macOS 15 or later. A separate Mac App Store edition is also available. Purchases for the direct and App Store editions are separate. Like the iOS versions, both are free with an optional Pro unlock.

Free tier
Up to 256 kbps
Import, organise and play the whole local library, plus bass and treble controls and on-device Made for You mixes.
Pro unlock
Bit-perfect
Lossless output with source-rate matching for DAC users, true gapless, crossfade and a 10-band equalizer.
Ownership
One payment per platform
Pay once per platform, with no recurring fee. The iPhone and iPad unlock is universal and covers both apps. Direct and App Store editions are purchased separately.
The Artists view in aud-io for Mac The aud-io Pro unlock screen on iPhone
aud-io for MacArtists, with the full local library kept distinct from Apple Music.
aud-io ProOne-time unlock.
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The ecosystem

Support for the Apple-device family

While many music apps support just one of Apple's devices, aud-io users can enjoy the aud-io experience across the Apple ecosystem. iPhone users with an Apple Watch can use it to control music playback, and if they also drive a car, they can continue to enjoy their music with aud-io support for CarPlay. It doesn't stop there.

We have also created a custom version of aud-io for iPad and a full-scale version of aud-io for Mac. Both apps each have a custom UI designed to take full advantage of the iPad and Mac experiences. Users can import CDs and connect their NAS to aud-io, stream over AirPlay, and even use aud-io for iPhone as a remote control from anywhere in the house.

As previously mentioned, this includes Apple Music integration, so there is no need to switch between local and streaming apps and no confusion about which songs belong to the listener: the local player and library are kept distinctly separate from the Apple Music streaming experience.

One library, every screen.
iPhone, iPad, a full native Mac app, Apple Watch and CarPlay. The same local-first library, shaped around the device in front of you.
The Library in aud-io for iPad The Library in aud-io for iPhone
aud-io for iPadA spacious library with a persistent sidebar, built for longer sessions.
aud-io for iPhoneThe Library.
aud-io in CarPlay
CarPlayLocal Library and Playlists, kept simple for the road.
aud-io Now Playing on Apple Watch
Apple WatchNow Playing, on the wrist.
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The Hub

Optional cloud and AI features

The Hub in aud-io for Mac The Hub in aud-io for iPhone
The Hub on MacConnected experiences, kept separate from the local library.
The Hub on iPhoneOpt in, or leave it off.

We recognise that not everyone likes cloud-connected or AI features, or even streaming, which is why we have kept these features opt-in. At the same time, there are many great experiences to be had by enabling the cloud in aud-io, namely Apple Music, which is why we included it in what is, by all means, a first-class local music listening experience.

This is why we created the Hub, which keeps connected services separate from a user's local library. aud-io's AI Mixes, AI Radio, AI Librarian, Artist Videos and Artist News are tailored specifically around the artists listeners love and their local library: nothing irrelevant or unwanted. The Hub also includes aud-io lytics, a Pro feature that analyses local listening data on-device and presents it in an easy-to-read dashboard.

These AI features are enabled with aud-io Pro and a free BYO Gemini API key supplied by the listener, which can be obtained from within the app. The key is stored in the device Keychain and is not included in aud-io logs or backups. Prompts and the relevant library metadata are sent directly to Google's Gemini API; audio files are not uploaded. Turning the feature off stops those requests. Apple Music credentials are handled by Apple through MusicKit and are never received by aud-io.

We are already working on a feature drop to coincide with the launch of Apple's next generation of software, due in the next few months, and are building in full support for Apple Intelligence and its local and cloud compute models for an even more seamless and private listening experience.

Privacy without an aud-io account

aud-io does not require an aud-io account and does not use aud-io-hosted cloud storage, advertising or cross-app tracking. Local playback, library management and Made for You mixes work without sending the library to an aud-io server. Every connected service is optional and subject to its provider's terms and privacy practices.

About aud-io - aud-io is a local-first music player for Apple devices. It is built for listeners who own music files and want careful library management, private on-device features and optional access to connected services without an aud-io subscription. The universal iPhone/iPad app and the native Mac app are live on the App Store; the separately notarized direct Mac edition is available from aud-io.app. aud-io is made by Digital x Design, a Sydney-based development studio.

Media contact - contact@digitalxdesign.studio · aud-io.app

Legal - Apple, Apple Music, Apple Watch, CarPlay, Finder, iPad, iPhone, Mac, MusicKit and related marks are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC. YouTube is a trademark of Google LLC. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Product plans, availability and pricing may change in future updates.

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