SoundCloud
Free / Go+ ~$12.99 per mo
Spotify
Free / Premium $12.99 per mo
SoundCloud is the home of independent artists, remixes, and emerging music, and a platform for creators to upload. Spotify has the biggest mainstream catalog, the best discovery, and podcasts. SoundCloud wins for underground and creator culture; Spotify wins for mainstream listening and discovery.
Pick SoundCloud if you love independent, underground, and remix culture, or you are a creator who wants to upload and share music.
Pick Spotify if you want the biggest mainstream catalog, the best discovery and playlists, and a deep podcast library.
SoundCloud and Spotify both stream music, but they serve different cultures. SoundCloud is the home of independent and emerging artists, remixes, DJ sets, and tracks you will not find on mainstream services, and it doubles as a platform where creators upload and share their own music. Spotify is the mainstream giant, with the biggest licensed catalog, the best discovery and playlists, and a deep podcast library.
On price, SoundCloud's Go+ tier is around $12.99 a month (with a free, ad-supported tier and creator plans), while Spotify Premium is $12.99 with a strong free tier. The choice is mostly underground, independent, and creator culture (SoundCloud) versus mainstream catalog and discovery (Spotify).
We compare catalog, independent music, creator tools, price, and discovery.
| Quick facts | SoundCloud | Spotify |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes (ad-supported) | Yes (ad-supported) |
| Paid price | Go+ ~$12.99/mo | Premium $12.99/mo |
| Mainstream catalog | Good | Largest |
| Independent / remix music | Best-in-class | Limited |
| Best for | Underground + creators | Mainstream + discovery |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | S SoundCloud | S Spotify |
|---|---|---|
| Independent / emerging artists | Best-in-class | Limited |
| Remixes, DJ sets, bootlegs | Best-in-class | Limited |
| Creator upload platform | Yes | Limited (for artists) |
| Mainstream licensed catalog | Good | Largest |
| Discovery & playlists | Good | Best-in-class |
| Podcasts | Limited | Best-in-class |
| Free ad-supported tier | Yes | Yes |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Yes |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed 2026-06-23.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
SoundCloud is unmatched for independent music, remixes, and creator uploads, but its mainstream catalog and discovery trail Spotify.
Spotify is the better all-round mainstream service, but it lacks SoundCloud's underground and remix culture.
Some listeners use both: Spotify for mainstream and podcasts, SoundCloud for emerging and remix tracks.
The average person juggles a dozen subscriptions and forgets at least one. Subkept is a privacy-first subscription tracker: add SoundCloud, Spotify, and everything else, then get renewal reminders, price-hike alerts, and a clear monthly total, with no bank connection, ever. Free for up to 5 subscriptions, no time limit.
See how the price has moved