Soundcloud vs Spotify: Which One is Proper for You in 2025?

Soundcloud vs Spotify: questioning which platform is best for you?

Choosing the proper platform might be tough – each supply distinctive options for listeners and artists alike.

That’s why we made this information for you! Whether or not you’re a shopper or a producer of music, we’ll lay out precisely what units these two streaming platforms aside, together with:

• which platform is the most costly ????
• the sort of music you discover on every platform ????
• options of every platform ????️
• person expertise ????

… and much more! Be at liberty to make use of the desk of contents under to leap to the part related to you ????

Half 1: SoundCloud vs Spotify as a Listener

On the lookout for your subsequent streaming platform? Let’s examine SoundCloud and Spotify when it comes to listener expertise.

What sort of music is on SoundCloud and Spotify?

A very powerful query to reply is: “What is going to I discover on Soundcloud and Spotify”?

The content material is arguably what units the 2 platforms probably the most aside.

Let’s have a look at SoundCloud first. Right here, you’ll discover a ton of user-generated content material. This contains issues like:

• demos;
• unofficial remixes and bootlegs;
• full mixes (both recorded at house or taken from standard membership nights and festivals).

You’ll in fact additionally discover official tracks by mainstream artists. However this isn't what SoundCloud is understood for. Due to the open-upload nature of the platform (extra on that later), you’ll discover just about all the things below the solar. So if you happen to take pleasure in discovering new, experimental, or underground music, that is the platform for you.

Alternatively, if you happen to search extra polished and industrial releases, then Spotify is the go-to.

Spotify presents an ultra-extensive music catalog that spans mainstream, indie, and area of interest genres. From the Beatles to David Guetta and Mozart, you’ll discover nearly any official launch from the previous 60 years and extra on right here. However you received’t discover any dodgy bootlegs or mashups ????

Spotify can also be house to hundreds, if not hundreds of thousands of podcasts. That’s one thing you'll not often discover on Soundcloud.

With the flexibility to remark and repost tracks, Soundcloud is at the start a community-driven platform.

Commenting immediately below a observe enables you to work together with the artist, and makes you are feeling a part of one thing larger:

You too can repost a observe, which is able to make it seem by yourself feed. It is a nice strategy to assist rising artists and makes SoundCloud really feel extra like a social community than a streaming platform.

This isn't to say that Spotify doesn’t have any community-based options.

However they aren’t as inherently social as with SoundCloud. For instance, on Spotify, you may see what your mates are listening to (however this requires connecting via Fb). However you may’t touch upon tracks. You possibly can’t share songs inside the platform. And you'll’t immediately message individuals, in contrast to SoundCloud which has its personal messaging platform.

Nonetheless, Spotify does have some neat social options:

• “Begin a Jam”: generate a QR code that anyone can scan to begin including tracks to the present playlist being performed;
• Invite “collaborators” to a playlist;
• and naturally, Spotify’s massively standard “Wrapped” – an end-of-year abstract of what you listened to damaged down by genres, artists, and extra.

Discovery options

Whereas Spotify doesn’t have so many community-driven options, there's one space the place it excels: discovery.

When you can uncover a number of superb music on SoundCloud, you largely must do the digging your self. On Spotify nonetheless, you’ve obtained dozens of how to find new music:

• Launch Radar: a weekly playlist with the most recent releases from the artists you're keen on;
• Each day Mixes: each day playlists curated by style primarily based on tracks you already like;
• Uncover Weekly: a weekly curated playlist primarily based on tracks you’ve been taking part in probably the most lately, and what different listeners have added to their playlists round these tracks.

On high of this, you’ve obtained “Go to music radio”, a characteristic that mechanically creates a playlist primarily based on a single observe. Spotify additionally has a “Good Shuffle” perform, the place it's going to add suggestions whilst you play considered one of your playlists on Shuffle.

In the event you love discovering new music, however in a extra passive manner, Spotify is a goldmine.

SoundCloud’s algorithm positively isn’t pretty much as good at matching tracks collectively. Whenever you play a observe, you’ll get a number of “Associated tracks” on the aspect:

However to be trustworthy, it’s actually hit-and-miss in the event that they’ll match what you’re at the moment listening to.

To be truthful, Soundcloud additionally has custom-made playlists primarily based in your listening habits:

• Each day Drops: a each day playlist with new releases primarily based in your style;
• Artist Stations: playlists primarily based round artists you're keen on;
• Artists You Ought to Know: new artists so that you can uncover.

So SoundCloud is certainly catching as much as Spotify on that entrance.

How a lot will it price me?

SoundCloud has 3 totally different pricing tiers:

• Free;
• SoundCloud Go at USD 4.99/month;
• SoundCloud Go+ at USD 10.99/month.

Alternatively, Spotify solely has 2 tiers:

• Free;
• Spotify Premium at USD 11.99/month.

Nonetheless, Spotify presents 2 totally different multi-account plans:

• Spotify Duo at USD 16.99/month;
• Spotify Household at USD 19.99/month.

The one requirement for these multi-account plans is that every one customers reside on the identical deal with.

Nonetheless, one other essential facet is how your subscription helps artists.

That is the place the controversy over the user-centric royalty mannequin is available in. Right here’s the TL;DR:

• Mannequin 1: Professional-Rata. Your subscription cash goes into a large pool. That pool is then cut up amongst artists primarily based on the share of streams they obtained on the platform.
  
• Mannequin 2: Person-Centric. Your subscription cash goes on to the artists you take heed to, regardless of what number of streams they've.

In mannequin 1, let’s say 50% of all of the streams are Taylor Swift songs. This implies 50% of your subscription cash goes to Taylor Swift, even if you happen to’ve by no means listened to a music of hers. That is how Spotify works.

In mannequin 2, let’s say you solely take heed to a teenage singer-songwriter for Arkansas named Lazy Bob. All of your subscription cash would immediately go to him – even when he solely represents .0000001% of streams. That is what Soundcloud adopted with its Go+ mannequin.

The professionals and cons of those 2 fashions are still hotly debated. Ultimately, it's going to rely upon how a lot you worth listening to and supporting rising artists. There’s nothing unsuitable with listening to music on Spotify – however you simply should be conscious that your subscription cash is unlikely to make a distinction for the indie artists you take heed to.

Half 2: Soundcloud vs Spotify as an Artist

In the event you’re an artist and also you discovered your strategy to this text, you’ve possible jumped on to this part. So welcome! ????

You’re in all probability asking your self one of many following questions:

• which platform is healthier to advertise my music?
• how can I add music to Spotify?
• which platform pays me extra?
• how do I get on standard playlists?

Earlier than entering into these questions, let me level you to some guides we’ve written on these subjects:

So if you wish to dive into the nitty-gritty of SoundCloud vs Spotify promotion, I like to recommend studying them. On this information, we’ll hold it to a short overview.

How can I add my music on SoundCloud vs Spotify?

As an artist, that is arguably the largest distinction between Soundcloud vs Spotify.

Right here’s the super-quick TL;DR:

• SoundCloud: anyone can add music. All you could do is create an account. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re on a free plan, you’ll be restricted to 180 minutes of complete add.
  
• Spotify: you’ll want a “distributor” who will add the music for you. That is only a fancy manner of claiming that you just want one other (paid) account on a platform like TuneCore or Distrokid. You submit your music to them, they usually’ll add it to Spotify.

SoundCloud is certainly a faster and smoother course of. All you could do is click on “Add”, choose your file and also you’re performed. Importing a observe to Spotify is a a lot lengthier course of, with a number of fields and kinds to fill in.

SoundCloud: a vital device for collabs and demos

Nonetheless, there’s a motive why SoundCloud’s add course of is so easy.

In my thoughts, SoundCloud and Spotify are complementary.

For me, SoundCloud performs far more of a “work-in-progress” function, in addition to a networking device. For instance, as quickly as I end a model of a observe, I’ll instantly add it to SoundCloud in non-public mode. This manner, I can take heed to it on my morning commute. I’ll then get again to the studio with a listing of concepts on the right way to enhance it. This additionally works while you collaborate with somebody.

SoundCloud can also be a vital device to pitch tracks to labels.

Labels completely hate Dropbox or WeTransfer hyperlinks that don’t work half of the time. All they need is a SoundCloud hyperlink with the “Obtain” characteristic enabled:

Alternatively, Spotify acts extra as a platform for the completed product. That is the place you (or the label) will add the music to achieve the widest viewers potential.

Rising your viewers on SoundCloud vs Spotify

SoundCloud is a platform geared towards supporting rising producers.

That’s why you’ll discover a number of instruments devoted to rising your fanbase:

• Free downloads: if you happen to’ve self-release a observe, or uploaded a bootleg, you may set it as a free obtain. This implies anyone can obtain it immediately out of your profile and play it out.
  
• Obtain gates: ideally, it's best to mix a free obtain with a “obtain gate”. It is a obligatory step (corresponding to liking or commenting) earlier than having the ability to obtain the observe.
  
• The flexibility to add bootlegs is an effective way to go viral on the again of standard tracks.

Don’t fear, we discover these strategies and extra intimately in our SoundCloud Promotion information ????

Alternatively, rising your viewers via Spotify is kind of restricted. You possibly can ask individuals to observe you, and that’s just about it ????

Now it'd look like I’m bashing on Spotify. However removed from it. I believe being on Spotify is crucial.

They only play two very totally different roles. SoundCloud is essential to develop your preliminary viewers and construct connections. Spotify then means that you can construct on that preliminary fanbase and attain nearly anyone on the planet.

How a lot will it price me?

For artists, pricing takes on a distinct angle—SoundCloud’s and Spotify’s fashions diverge considerably.

SoundCloud permits artists to add music totally free, although that is restricted to a three-hour cap on uploads.

In the event you’re severe about music manufacturing, this shortly received’t be sufficient. Particularly if you happen to add hour-long mixes. Due to this fact, you’ll shortly want the Subsequent Professional subscription, which prices USD 8.25 / month. You additionally get deeper insights into viewers analytics and scheduling instruments for releases.

On Spotify, the pricing will rely upon the distributor you select. Listed here are a few of the hottest ones and their pricing:

• Distrokid: the most cost effective plan begins at USD 1.92 / month and permits for limitless uploads;
• Tunecore: additionally USD 1.92 / month;
• Ditto: USD 1.6 / month for limitless music.

As you may see, there isn’t a lot distinction between distributors when it comes to pricing. And it'd look like selecting Spotify here's a no-brainer. It's in any case quite a bit cheaper than importing music to Spotify.

Nonetheless, I come again to what I discussed earlier: SoundCloud and Spotify are complementary platforms.

Certain, Spotify is quite a bit cheaper to add. However you may’t add your newest 4-hour combine. Or that cheeky Britney Spears bootleg. Ultimately, if you happen to’re severe about your music manufacturing profession, you’ll want each.

SoundCloud vs Spotify: Closing Ideas

That’s it for this information on SoundCloud vs Spotify. Hopefully, we had been capable of filter a few of the questions you had, whether or not a listener or a producer.

From a listening perspective, you will get away with utilizing just one or the opposite. However from an artist’s perspective, you really want each platforms to develop your viewers and attain new individuals.

Did we miss out on something? Every other questions you had? Be at liberty to drop us a line at [email protected]