If you run a podcast or music website on WordPress, you may need to integrate an audio player.  This article will show you how to add WordPress audio players to your site.

While WordPress has a built-in audio feature, the settings may be basic and limited. If you need more functionality, this article also includes the seven best WordPress audio player plugins and the benefits of each one.

WordPress Built-in Audio Feature

WordPress has a basic built-in audio player that displays and plays audio files on your website. It can be included in posts and pages or turned into a widget, which you can place anywhere.

Here are the steps to add an audio player to your post from the WordPress dashboard:

1. Open the Gutenberg Editor of your post or page.
2. Add an Audio block and choose whether to Upload the file, add it from the Media Library or Insert from URL.

After adding the file, feel free to adjust the Audio settings, such as turning on Autoplay and Loop.

Another option is to place the audio as a WordPress widget. Follow these steps to add an audio widget:

1. Head to Dashboard → Appearance → Widgets.
2. Add an Audio block where you want to put the widget.
3. Adjust the settings and click Update to finalize the changes.

Best 7 WordPress Audio Players

While the built-in audio player functions well, it offers limited features and customization. Installing WordPress plugins can provide you with more customization options, such as embedding podcasts and SoundCloud files.

Here’s an overview of the best WordPress plugins for integrating audio players:

1. Compact WP Audio Player

Compact WP Audio Player Stats:

Downloads: 30,000+

Ratings: 4/5

WordPress Audio Player is compact, free, and easy to use.

Place the plugin’s shortcode anywhere you want, and a small button will show on your posts or pages.

The player supports .mp3 and .ogg files, which will work on any smart device. In addition, you can give audio previews with the plugin if you plan to sell your work.

It’s also possible to tweak the shortcode to add text around it or set up its volume. The developer of Compact WP Audio Player has provided a customization guide on their official plugin page.

2. Audio Album

Audio Album Stats:

Downloads: 5,000+

Ratings: 5/5

The Audio Album plugin lets you group audio files and style them into a single block, turning it into an album.

This plugin is free and very easy to use. Since it integrates with the WordPress core files, some attributes are the same as the default audio player. One difference is that you can add titles, details, and dates of the tracks.

On top of that, Audio Album makes it possible to show multiple albums on a page and change the colors, height, and width of the player.

3. MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar

MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar Stats:

Downloads: 10,000+

Ratings: 4.9/5

MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar lets you add unlimited playlists, albums, and podcasts to your website. It also integrates well with WooCommerce – a beneficial feature for those planning to sell their music.

Additionally, the plugin can create a waveform and progress bar design under the audio players using WaveSurfer.js.This plugin has a free option with many features, such as adding social icons for each track. The Pro version is available starting at $39-$179 for a one-time payment if you want more advanced functions and styling options.

4. Blubrry PowerPress

Blubrry PowerPress Stats:

Downloads: 50,000+

Ratings: 4.6/5

Blubrry PowerPress is free and rich in useful features for new and professional podcasters.

This plugin supports Google and Apple podcasts and can add a podcast feed to your WordPress site.

The simple mode includes essential settings to set up a podcast website. Switch to Advanced mode to access more settings and options whenever you are ready to customize your site further.

Blubrry PowerPress also has migration tools to help move podcast episodes from other platforms to your site.

The WordPress audio player plugin allows making a subscription page with its exclusive shortcode and sidebar widgets. Furthermore, it has search engine optimization (SEO) features to help you rank on top of search engine results pages (SERPs).

5. Music Player for WooCommerce

Music Player for WooCommerce Stats:

Downloads: 2,000+

Ratings: 5/5

If you already use WooCommerce to sell music, this plugin is a useful extension. The base plugin is free and has all the essentials needed to add a music player to your store.

This WordPress audio player supports .oga, .mp3, .wav, and .wma formats, suitable for mobile devices as well.

However, this plugin only comes with three choices for the player layout.

With this plugin, you can display all the controls, like the play and volume buttons, and show the player on the cart page.

The plugin also comes with shortcodes and a playlist widget to place on sidebars or posts.

6. Seriously Simple Podcasting

Seriously Simple Podcasting Stats:

Downloads: 30,000+

Ratings: 4.7/5

This podcast plugin is free and simple to use. It has settings and uses a native WordPress interface, so you can get podcasts up and running in just a few minutes.

Display single episodes or podcast playlists anywhere on your site using shortcodes and widgets. It’s also possible to run multiple podcasts, each with its own RSS feed.

This audio player plugin also offers the feature to display cover images, titles, descriptions, and other elements of the media player.

Seriously Simple Podcasting integrates well with Castos, a podcast hosting platform where you can host podcast media files without leaving the WordPress dashboard.

7. Audio Igniter

AudioIgniter Stats:

Downloads: 10,000+

Ratings: 4.6/5

AudioIgniter comes with everything you need to share music. This free plugin has a beautiful design and user-friendly interface.

If you’re selling digital music, this plugin works well with WooCommerce to put your individual tracks on sale.

The AudioIgniter player has a responsive layout, flexible settings, and great customization options. Show or hide track listings, the artists’ names, and track covers in playlists.

With the audio player plugin, you can stream radio shows, where you can display an individual or a playlist of streams.

Conclusion

WordPress audio players help share music on your website. The built-in feature in WordPress has an audio player but with limited features and customization.

Therefore, here are the best WordPress audio player plugins to help:

• Compact WP Audio Player – compact, free, and straightforward.
• Audio Album – free, easy to use, and allows you to group audio files into albums.
• MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar – the perfect option to create playlists and music to sell.
• Blubrry PowerPress – free, easy to use, customizable, and comes with Google and Apple podcast integration.
• Music Player for WooCommerce – has a free version, works on different devices, and allows you to sell your audio files.
• Seriously Simple Podcasting – a great, simple-to-use, free plugin for podcast integration.
• AudioIgniter – offers a beautiful design, allows you to create playlists, and even has commerce capabilities.

Now, it is time for you to share your creations and interest in music with the world!