Ever wanted to sing a whole song with the lyrics rolling across the screen, without leaving the couch? A karaoke app does that on your phone. StarMaker is one of the best rated in the category: 4.6 on the US App Store from more than 109,000 ratings, checked on October 9, 2026.
It plays the backing track, shows the lyrics in time with the music and records your voice. You can sing on your own, duet with friends and turn the performance into a short video.
What few guides explain is the price. Downloading is free and you can start singing without paying, but part of the song catalog, the ad-free mode and the subscription cost money. This guide walks through each one before you install.
7 min read
📋 What you’ll find here
- What karaoke is and why it fits on a phone
- What StarMaker does
- How to download it and start singing
- Free online karaoke: what is true and what you pay for
- Subscription and coins: how to avoid surprise charges
- What recent reviews say
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Key Takeaways
- Downloading StarMaker is free, and the version you don’t pay for shows ads.
- Singing every song and removing the ads both cost money.
- A recent review reports being asked to pay to finish a recording.
- The subscription renews on its own and is cancelled only through the store.
What karaoke is and why it fits on a phone
Karaoke means singing over the instrumental version of a song while the lyrics appear on screen at the right moment. For decades it took a dedicated machine, a microphone and a TV.
A phone does all of it. It plays the track, shows the lyrics, picks up your voice through the microphone and records the result. So karaoke became an anytime hobby.
What StarMaker does
StarMaker is published by SKYWORK AI PTE LTD and listed under Music on the App Store. It is a karaoke app with a community around it: you sing, record and can post the performance for other people to hear. These are the features the listing names:
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- Backing tracks with rolling lyrics, in genres such as pop, hip-hop, R&B, jazz and blues.
- Recording with voice effects, pitch correction and a key you can shift to your range.
- Real-time pitch feedback and a chart that rates your rhythm and technique.
- Duets with friends or with recordings by artists.
- Performance videos with filters and templates that show the lyrics.
- Online party rooms and live broadcasts.
How to download it and start singing
The safest route is the button on this page, which opens the official store listing. On the App Store, check that the developer is SKYWORK AI PTE LTD, because plenty of karaoke apps use similar names and icons.
- Install it from the official store and open the app.
- Allow microphone access. Without it, the app cannot record your voice.
- Pick a song from the catalog and sing along with the lyrics.
- Listen back to the recording before you decide whether to post it.
Free online karaoke: what is true and what you pay for
If an ad for free online karaoke brought you here, this is the part that matters. The promise holds for the basics: downloading is free, and you can start singing and recording without paying, with ads. And it is online for real, with party rooms and live streams.
It does not hold for everything. The store sells packs called “Full Access To Sing ALL SONGS + NO ADS” and “EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO ALL SONGS + EARLY ACCESS TO NEW RELEASES”. If a pack unlocks every song, not every song is open for free, and the listing does not say how many are.
On top of that there are coin packs and a StarMaker Pro subscription, with weekly, monthly and yearly plans. Prices show up in the store for your country.
There is also a warning in recent reviews: one person says the app stopped the recording and asked for payment to finish it. Worth knowing before you choose a song.
| What | Without paying | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Download and install | Yes | Does not apply |
| Sing and record part of the catalog | Yes, with ads | Yes |
| Sing every song | No | Pack or subscription |
| Use it without ads | No | Full access pack |
| Early access to new releases | No | Exclusive access pack |
| StarMaker Pro perks | No | Weekly, monthly or yearly plan |
Subscription and coins: how to avoid surprise charges
The Pro subscription renews on its own. According to the listing, the charge goes through within 24 hours before each period ends, so cancel before that, in the subscriptions area of your store account.
Deleting the app cancels nothing. If you subscribe for a short period, write down the renewal date the same day. Before you confirm any purchase, read the pack name on the payment screen: it tells you what gets unlocked.
What recent reviews say
Among the 50 most recent reviews on the US App Store, from September 2 to October 7, 2026, the praise is about the size of the catalog and being able to start without paying.
The complaints repeat three points: too many ads, including one report of an ad playing over the music mid-song; being asked to pay to finish a recording; and comments from automated profiles on people’s posts. The average rating mixes years of reviews, and the newest ones show where the app is now.
Tips for singing better on your phone
The result depends more on you than on the effects. These tips work in any karaoke app:
- Wear headphones: the track stays out of the recording and you hear your own pitch better.
- Shift the key of the song to your range instead of straining for the high notes.
- Read the lyrics before recording so the fast parts don’t trip you up.
- Record in a room with curtains, a rug or a couch, which soak up the echo.
- Keep the phone at the same distance from your mouth from start to finish.
Karaoke alone at home or with friends
Singing alone has one advantage: nobody is listening, so you can try new songs and make mistakes freely.
With friends, the listing mentions duets and online party rooms, where each person sings from their own phone, wherever they are. At home, pass the phone around and play the recordings back at the end.
Profile, comments and live streams: stay careful
StarMaker is also a social network. What you post can be heard and commented on by strangers. Before posting, check your profile’s privacy settings, and never share your phone number, address or payment details with someone you met in the app.
The App Store listing also states that the app collects data used to track you. If that matters to you, review the app’s permissions on your phone after installing it.
Is it worth downloading?
If you want to sing on your phone without spending, it is worth installing and exploring: the basics are free, the store rating is high and the pitch and recording tools genuinely help.
If you expect to sing any song, ad-free, without ever paying, you will be disappointed. The full catalog and the ad-free mode cost money, and it is better to know that now than in the middle of a recording.
This article is informative and independent. We have no connection with StarMaker or SKYWORK AI PTE LTD. The information comes from the official listing, checked on October 9, 2026, and may change. We are not responsible for how the app works, for price or catalog changes, or for charges made by the store.
FAQ
Is StarMaker free?
Downloading is free, and you can start singing without paying, with ads. Singing every song, removing the ads and the StarMaker Pro perks are paid, through packs or a subscription.
Do I have to pay to finish a recording?
Not always, but a recent App Store review reports being asked to pay to finish one. If the song you picked asks for payment, switch to another before you start singing.
Does the app have ads?
Yes, in the version you don’t pay for, and recent reviews complain about how many. The paid full access pack removes them, going by its name in the store.
Can I sing a duet with a friend?
Yes. The listing mentions duets with friends and online party rooms, where each person sings from their own phone.
How do I cancel the subscription?
From the subscriptions area of your store account, at least 24 hours before the period ends. Deleting the app does not stop the charge.
Does it work on Android and iPhone?
Yes, the app has a version for both. Use the buttons on this page to open the official listing, and check the developer name before installing.
