Best Ringtone Apps for iPhone
Want a custom ringtone without the hassle? Here are the best ringtone apps for iPhone, how setting one actually works, and which app fits your needs.
Setting a custom ringtone on iPhone is more awkward than it should be. iOS does not let an app drop a ringtone straight into your sound settings — tones have to land in a specific place and, historically, route through syncing or GarageBand. The best ringtone apps smooth over as much of that friction as possible. This round-up covers the ones worth using, with an honest take on each.
We make one of these apps, so consider that disclosure. We will also note where a competitor is the better choice.
How ringtones get onto an iPhone
The short version: iOS keeps ringtones separate from regular audio. A custom tone has to be the right format and length, and then installed as a tone rather than a music file. Apps help by trimming clips to ringtone length, exporting in the correct format, and walking you through the install step. Our guide on how to download free ringtones covers the workflow in detail.
What makes a good ringtone app
- A trim-and-export tool so you can cut any clip to a clean ringtone length.
- Correct format handling so the tone actually installs as a ringtone.
- A decent built-in library if you would rather pick than make.
- No ad spam between every preview.
The apps
Zedge — biggest ringtone library
Zedge is the heavyweight here. Ringtones have been core to it for years, and the cross-platform catalog is enormous, spanning tones, notification sounds, and wallpapers, plus an AI generator. The free tier is ad-supported and quality varies with the volume, but if sheer selection is what you want, Zedge is the obvious pick. See Wallpaper Hub vs Zedge.
Wallpaper Hub — best if you want ringtones with your wallpapers
Wallpaper Hub includes ringtones as part of its all-in-one toolkit, so your tones live in the same app as your wallpapers, live wallpapers, charging animations, and AI art. The appeal is a single, coherent place to style your phone rather than a separate ringtone download. It is free with Premium ($5.99/week or $49.99/year) and around 4.6 stars. Honest caveat: if your only goal is the largest possible tone catalog, Zedge’s library is deeper.
Dedicated ringtone-maker apps — best for trimming your own audio
Several single-purpose apps focus entirely on making ringtones from your own music or recordings, with precise trimming, fades, and format export. If you mainly want to cut your favorite song’s hook into a tone, a focused maker does that one job very well. Many are ad-supported on the free tier.
GarageBand — free and built in
Worth naming because it is already on many iPhones and free: GarageBand can create and export ringtones natively. It is more involved than a purpose-built app, but it costs nothing and keeps everything on-device. Good if you do not mind the extra steps.
Quick comparison
| App | Library size | Make from your audio | Other features | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zedge | Huge | Limited | Wallpapers, AI | Free, ad-supported |
| Wallpaper Hub | Curated | Yes | Wallpapers, live, charging | Free + Premium |
| Dedicated makers | Small | Yes | Ringtones only | Often ad-supported |
| GarageBand | N/A | Yes | Full audio app | Free |
How to choose
- Want the largest ready-made ringtone catalog? Zedge.
- Want ringtones alongside your wallpapers and charging animations in one app? Wallpaper Hub.
- Want to cut your own song into a tone? A dedicated ringtone maker or GarageBand.
- Want it totally free and built in? GarageBand.
FAQ
Why can’t I just set any song as a ringtone? iOS keeps ringtones in a separate format and location from music, so a tone has to be trimmed, exported, and installed correctly. Apps automate this — see how to download free ringtones.
Are free ringtone apps safe? Reputable ones are. Stick to apps with strong review histories and avoid any demanding unusual permissions.
Can one app do ringtones and wallpapers? Yes. Zedge and Wallpaper Hub both bundle ringtones with wallpapers; compare them on our comparison hub and check pricing.
If you want ringtones in the same app as your wallpapers and charging animations, Get Wallpaper Hub on the App Store.