GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
As someone who grew up in the 90s, I can tell you that ringtones were once a major status symbol. It meant you had a cutting-edge phone capable of such witchcraft, after all. Unfortunately, it took less than a decade for custom ringtones to go from impressive to something most people considered tacky. The rise of smartphones and the bombardment of notifications didn’t help custom ringtones any, either.
Even if not as popular as they once were, ringtones are still a great way to add a little flair to your phone, as long as you don’t go overboard. These days, there are tons of sources for ringtones, from dedicated apps to websites that allow you to download ringtone files. Many phones can even take full tunes you own and automatically cut them into ringtones.
In all honesty, there are almost too many options for ringtones these days. Browsing for the right one has become a bit of a chore as a result. That’s why I decided to turn to AI to see if it could help me find the perfect ringtone match.
Have you ever used AI to create a ringtone? 426 votes Yes, and I'm a fan 4 % Yes, but I wasn't impressed 2 % No, though I might try now 72 % No, I prefer to get ringtones made by real people 22 %
Why use ringtones at all in 2026?
Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
Over the last half-decade or so, I stopped using ringtones almost completely, instead relying on silent mode with vibration turned on. I did this for a few reasons. First, I got sick of hearing the noise all the time. Second, I almost always had my phone in my pocket or within arm’s reach.
Over the last year or so, I’ve made a point of leaving my phone behind more often on short trips, and I usually keep it in one room when I’m not using it around the house. While I don’t get tons of important calls, sometimes a client, friend, or family member calls, and I’ll admit that keeping the phone out of reach has resulted in a missed call here and there.
I already have it set up so only contacts I allow (work, friends, family, and some businesses like my doctor’s office) can ring in the first place. My next step was to create custom rings based on categories and for specific preferred contacts. Initially, I browsed for free options and found tons of apps. I used a few generic ones, but none of the ringtones I produced ever really felt like “my own”. I also found searching through all the options was a bit overwhelming.
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