SoundCloud vs YouTube Music
type: Article
description: YouTube Music offers superior catalog depth with 100+ million tracks and integrated video content, while SoundCloud specializes in independent artists and emerging music with a creator-friendly approach. YouTube Music is better for mainstream consumption, while SoundCloud excels at discovering underground and emerging talent.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-07T18:29:24.187Z
date created: 2026-07-07T18:29:24.187Z
date modified: 2026-07-07T18:29:24.569Z
content reference time: 2026-07-07T18:29:24.569Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: SoundCloud
about: YouTube Music
abstract: YouTube Music offers superior catalog depth with 100+ million tracks and integrated video content, while SoundCloud specializes in independent artists and emerging music with a creator-friendly approach. YouTube Music is better for mainstream consumption, while SoundCloud excels at discovering underground and emerging talent.
text: Total Music Catalog Size. Video Content Integration. Independent Artist Support. Premium Subscription Price (USD/month). Free Tier Ad Interruptions. Offline Download Availability. User Base (Monthly Active Users)
conclusion text: Choose YouTube Music if you want the largest mainstream music library, integrated music videos, and seamless YouTube integration with offline downloads. Choose SoundCloud if you prioritize discovering emerging and independent artists, prefer supporting creators directly, and want the most affordable premium tier ($7.99 vs $12.99).
additional property: Artist Growth Multiplier (focused strategy)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Baseline (1x) | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Premium Individual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Free tier available + paid tiers | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Per-Stream Royalty Range
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $0.001-0.003 per stream | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Direct Upload Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Native direct upload available | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Community Engagement Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Direct comments/engagement, immediate | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Follower Exclusive Content Tools
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Follower Exclusive Releases feature (2026) | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Total Musicians on Platform
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Higher number of musicians | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $12.99 | YouTube Music: $13.99
  value reference: SoundCloud
additional property: Maximum Audio Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 320kbps MP3 | YouTube Music: AAC 256kbps (lossy)
additional property: Content Types Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Audio only (tracks, mixes, remixes) | YouTube Music: Audio + Video (music videos, official content, shorts)
additional property: Artist Upload Restrictions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Open to any artist (no gatekeeping) | YouTube Music: Requires YouTube Partner Program verification
additional property: Offline Downloads Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Limited (Pro members) | YouTube Music: Yes (Premium members)
additional property: Average Song Catalog Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 350+ million (includes user uploads) | YouTube Music: 100+ million tracks
  value reference: SoundCloud
additional property: Google Ecosystem Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Minimal (standalone with API access) | YouTube Music: Deep (Google Assistant, Workspace, Search, Android)
additional property: Artist Monetization Features (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Follower Exclusive Releases, Repost, fan payments | YouTube Music: Ad revenue sharing, Super Chat, channel memberships
additional property: Total Music Tracks Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 35+ million | YouTube Music: 100+ million
  value reference: YouTube Music
additional property: Premium Subscription Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $7.99 | YouTube Music: $12.99
  value reference: SoundCloud
additional property: Free Tier Skip Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Unlimited with 3-hour limit per 8-hour window | YouTube Music: No skipping allowed
additional property: Offline Downloads (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Limited downloads | YouTube Music: Unlimited downloads
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 76 million | YouTube Music: 100+ million
  value reference: YouTube Music
additional property: Independent Artist Commission Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Up to 55% of platform revenue | YouTube Music: ~0.3-0.4 cents per stream
additional property: Annual Subscription Savings vs Monthly
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $11.88 saved (buy yearly) | YouTube Music: $22.88 saved (buy yearly)
  value reference: YouTube Music
additional property: Monthly Subscription Price (Premium/Paid Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $5.99 | YouTube Music: $11.99
  value reference: SoundCloud
additional property: Maximum Audio Bitrate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 128kbps | YouTube Music: 320 kbps MP3
  value reference: YouTube Music
additional property: Total Available Tracks
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 500+ million | YouTube Music: 100+ million
  value reference: SoundCloud
additional property: Global Streaming Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 2.3% | YouTube Music: 13.8%
  value reference: YouTube Music
additional property: Free Tier Audio Bitrate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 128 kbps | YouTube Music: 128 kbps
additional property: Artist Payout Per Stream
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $0.003-0.005 | YouTube Music: $0.003-0.005
additional property: Minimum Streams for Monetization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 1,000 streams | YouTube Music: 100,000 watches/month (YouTube Partner)
  value reference: SoundCloud
additional property: Music Video Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Not included | YouTube Music: Full native integration with official videos
additional property: Premium Subscription Price (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $9.99 | YouTube Music: $11.99
  value reference: SoundCloud
additional property: Average Artist Per-Stream Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $0.003-$0.007 | YouTube Music: $0.003-$0.005
  value reference: SoundCloud
additional property: Direct Artist Upload Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Yes (instant) | YouTube Music: No (requires distributor)
additional property: Free Tier Ad Breaks Per Hour
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 20-30 per hour | YouTube Music: 15-20 per hour
  value reference: YouTube Music
additional property: YouTube Video Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Limited to user uploads | YouTube Music: Full integration with official videos/Shorts
additional property: Total Tracks Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 635+ million | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Maximum Audio Bitrate (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 256 kbps | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Premium Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $14.99 | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Artist Payment Per Stream
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: $0.002-0.007 | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Recommendation Algorithm Satisfaction
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: 68% | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Artist Verification Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Not required (instant upload) | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Daily Listening Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: Unlimited (with ads) | YouTube Music: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 1000+ million
additional property: Average Per-Stream Payout
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.007
additional property: AI DJ Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Not available
additional property: Session Length Boost from AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Data not available
additional property: Maximum Audio Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 320 kbps standard
additional property: Integrated Podcast Content
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: YouTube-hosted only
additional property: Video/Shorts Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Primary growth engine via YouTube Shorts
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/soundcloud
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/soundcloud
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/youtube-music
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/youtube-music
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/soundcloud-vs-youtube-music)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/soundcloud-vs-youtube-music)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/youtube-music-vs-soundcloud
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/soundcloud-vs-youtube-music
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/youtube-music-vs-soundcloud)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/amazon-music-vs-youtube-music)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/youtube-music-vs-deezer)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/spotify-vs-youtube-music
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/spotify-vs-soundcloud
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/youtube-music-vs-amazon-music
teaches: How to choose between SoundCloud and YouTube Music
genre: Entertainment

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

SoundCloud
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: Soundcloud
language: en-US
description: Independent artist-focused music streaming platform with 35+ million tracks.
image: ImageObject
  caption: SoundCloud
subject of: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music
image: ImageObject
  caption: SoundCloud

YouTube Music
type: Thing
alternate name: YM
alternate name: Youtube Music
language: en-US
description: Google's AI-powered music streaming service with 100M+ tracks and integrated music videos.
image: ImageObject
  caption: YouTube Music
subject of: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music
image: ImageObject
  caption: YouTube Music

SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for SoundCloud vs YouTube Music. Contains 128 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Artist Growth Multiplier (focused strategy)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Performance
variable measured: Premium Individual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Per-Stream Royalty Range
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Monetization
variable measured: Direct Upload Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Tools
variable measured: Community Engagement Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Features
variable measured: Follower Exclusive Content Tools
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Features
variable measured: Total Musicians on Platform
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Platform Scale
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Audio Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio Performance
variable measured: Content Types Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content
variable measured: Artist Upload Restrictions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Creator Tools
variable measured: Offline Downloads Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Average Song Catalog Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Catalog
variable measured: Google Ecosystem Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Artist Monetization Features (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Creator Tools
variable measured: Total Music Tracks Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content Library
variable measured: Premium Subscription Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Tier Skip Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Free Features
variable measured: Offline Downloads (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Premium Features
variable measured: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Independent Artist Commission Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Creator Support
variable measured: Annual Subscription Savings vs Monthly
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Price (Premium/Paid Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Audio Bitrate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio Quality
variable measured: Total Available Tracks
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Catalog Size
variable measured: Global Streaming Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Free Tier Audio Bitrate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio Quality
variable measured: Artist Payout Per Stream
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Economics
variable measured: Minimum Streams for Monetization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Creator Economics
variable measured: Music Video Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content Features
variable measured: Premium Subscription Price (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Average Artist Per-Stream Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Economics
variable measured: Direct Artist Upload Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Tools
variable measured: Free Tier Ad Breaks Per Hour
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: YouTube Video Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Total Tracks Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content Library
variable measured: Maximum Audio Bitrate (Premium)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio Quality
variable measured: Premium Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Artist Payment Per Stream
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Economics
variable measured: Recommendation Algorithm Satisfaction
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Discovery Features
variable measured: Artist Verification Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Creator Access
variable measured: Free Tier Daily Listening Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Freemium Model
variable measured: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reach
variable measured: Average Per-Stream Payout
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Economics
variable measured: AI DJ Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Feature Engagement
variable measured: Session Length Boost from AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Engagement Metrics
variable measured: Maximum Audio Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio Quality
variable measured: Integrated Podcast Content
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content Ecosystem
variable measured: Video/Shorts Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content Features
variable measured: Artist Monetization Barrier
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Song Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content
variable measured: Monthly Premium Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: HiFi/Lossless Audio Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio Quality
variable measured: Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audio Quality
variable measured: YouTube Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: UI Redesign (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Artist Payout Structure
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Creator Economics
variable measured: Individual Monthly Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Audio Bitrate/Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Sound Quality
variable measured: Average Per-Stream Artist Payment
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Artist Compensation
variable measured: Free Ad-Supported Tier
variable measured: Native Apple Device Support
variable measured: Discovery Algorithm
variable measured: Family Plan Monthly Cost
variable measured: Per-Stream Artist Payment (Paid Tier)
variable measured: Free Tier Per-Stream Payment
variable measured: Free Tier Availability
variable measured: Offline Downloads Access
variable measured: Blended Average Per-Stream Rate
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/soundcloud-vs-youtube-music)

SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for SoundCloud vs YouTube Music.
has defined term: Artist Performance
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Artist Monetization
has defined term: Artist Tools
has defined term: Community Features
has defined term: Artist Features
has defined term: Platform Scale
has defined term: Audio Performance
has defined term: Content
has defined term: Creator Tools
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Catalog
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Content Library
has defined term: Free Features
has defined term: Premium Features
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Creator Support
has defined term: Audio Quality
has defined term: Catalog Size
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Artist Economics
has defined term: Creator Economics
has defined term: Content Features
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Discovery Features
has defined term: Creator Access
has defined term: Freemium Model
has defined term: Reach
has defined term: Feature Engagement
has defined term: Engagement Metrics
has defined term: Content Ecosystem
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Sound Quality
has defined term: Artist Compensation
has defined term: Platform Integration
has defined term: Discovery
has defined term: Market Size
has defined term: Platform
has defined term: Audio
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Market

Artist Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: artist-performance
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Artist Monetization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: artist-monetization
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Artist Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: artist-tools
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-features
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Artist Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: artist-features
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-scale
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audio Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audio-performance
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Creator Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: creator-tools
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Catalog
type: DefinedTerm
term code: catalog
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content Library
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content-library
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Free Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: free-features
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Premium Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: premium-features
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Creator Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: creator-support
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audio Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audio-quality
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Catalog Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: catalog-size
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Artist Economics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: artist-economics
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Creator Economics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: creator-economics
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content-features
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Discovery Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: discovery-features
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Creator Access
type: DefinedTerm
term code: creator-access
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Freemium Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: freemium-model
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reach
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Feature Engagement
type: DefinedTerm
term code: feature-engagement
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Engagement Metrics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: engagement-metrics
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content-ecosystem
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Sound Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: sound-quality
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Artist Compensation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: artist-compensation
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-integration
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Discovery
type: DefinedTerm
term code: discovery
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-size
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audio
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audio
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-07T18:29:24.569Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: soundcloud-vs-youtube-music)
main entity: Can I upload my own music to both platforms?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: SoundCloud allows direct artist uploads with full monetization control and revenue sharing up to 55% of platform revenue. YouTube Music has limited self-upload capabilities through YouTube itself, but tracks don't receive the same discovery or direct monetization as SoundCloud, making it unsuitable for independent artists seeking primary distribution.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform has better offline listening?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: YouTube Music Premium offers unlimited offline downloads with no restrictions on content or duration. SoundCloud Premium limits offline downloads, making YouTube Music superior for users who frequently travel or have unreliable internet. Both require active Premium subscriptions for offline access.
    language: en-US
main entity: What's the real cost difference over a year?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: SoundCloud Premium costs $95.88/year ($7.99/month) while YouTube Music costs $155.88/year ($12.99/month), a difference of $60/year. However, YouTube Music Premium ($12.99) bundles with YouTube Premium to remove ads, whereas SoundCloud Premium is music-only.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform is better for discovering new artists?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: SoundCloud excels at independent and emerging artist discovery with its algorithm designed to surface small creators and upcoming talent. YouTube Music focuses on established artists and mainstream recommendations. SoundCloud's community features (comments on timestamps) also foster direct artist-listener engagement that YouTube Music lacks.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does YouTube Music include music videos?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, YouTube Music Premium includes the full YouTube music video library. SoundCloud does not officially provide music videos, though some artists embed them in track descriptions. This is a significant content advantage for YouTube Music users wanting visual performances and official music video production.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between SoundCloud and YouTube Music
type: HowTo
description: YouTube Music offers superior catalog depth with 100+ million tracks and integrated video content, while SoundCloud specializes in independent artists and emerging music with a creator-friendly approach. YouTube Music is better for mainstream consumption, while SoundCloud excels at discovering underground and emerging talent.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Total Music Catalog Size
step: Consider: Video Content Integration
step: Consider: Independent Artist Support
step: Consider: Premium Subscription Price (USD/month)
step: Consider: Free Tier Ad Interruptions
step: Consider: Offline Download Availability
step: Consider: User Base (Monthly Active Users)
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose YouTube Music if you want the largest mainstream music library, integrated music videos, and seamless YouTube integration with offline downloads. Choose SoundCloud if you prioritize discovering emerging and independent artists, prefer supporting creators directly, and want the most affordable premium tier ($7.99 vs $12.99).

Consider: Total Music Catalog Size
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Total Music Catalog Size: SoundCloud has 35+ million tracks, while YouTube Music has 100+ million tracks.

Consider: Video Content Integration
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Video Content Integration: SoundCloud has No official music videos, while YouTube Music has Full music video library included.

Consider: Independent Artist Support
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Independent Artist Support: SoundCloud has Platform built for indie creators, direct monetization, while YouTube Music has Minimal support for self-uploaded content.

Consider: Premium Subscription Price (USD/month)
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Premium Subscription Price (USD/month): SoundCloud has $7.99, while YouTube Music has $12.99.

Consider: Free Tier Ad Interruptions
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Free Tier Ad Interruptions: SoundCloud has 30-second ads, limited skips, while YouTube Music has 30-second ads, no skipping.

Consider: Offline Download Availability
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Offline Download Availability: SoundCloud has Premium subscribers only, limited downloads, while YouTube Music has Premium subscribers get unlimited downloads.

Consider: User Base (Monthly Active Users)
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: User Base (Monthly Active Users): SoundCloud has 76 million users, while YouTube Music has 100 million+ users.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music
review body: YouTube Music offers superior catalog depth with 100+ million tracks and integrated video content, while SoundCloud specializes in independent artists and emerging music with a creator-friendly approach. YouTube Music is better for mainstream consumption, while SoundCloud excels at discovering underground and emerging talent.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: SoundCloud vs YouTube Music

Artist Monetization Barrier
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Wider access via Partner Program

Song Library Size
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100+ million

Monthly Premium Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99

HiFi/Lossless Audio Support
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: No

Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Limited

YouTube Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes (seamless)

UI Redesign (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Split-view Now Playing redesign rolling out

Artist Payout Structure
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Standard streaming splits

Individual Monthly Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99

Maximum Audio Bitrate/Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 320kbps Opus (lossy)

Average Per-Stream Artist Payment
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.007 (blended average)

Free Ad-Supported Tier
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes - full catalog with shuffle

Native Apple Device Support
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Android, Wear OS, web browser only

Discovery Algorithm
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: YouTube ecosystem video performance + watch history

Family Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $17.99

Per-Stream Artist Payment (Paid Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.006-$0.012

Free Tier Per-Stream Payment
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.002-$0.004

Free Tier Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: None

Offline Downloads Access
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Premium subscribers only

Blended Average Per-Stream Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.005-$0.009

Global Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100M+

Individual Premium Price
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99

Family Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $22.99

Device Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Android-optimized only

Recommendation Algorithm Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 8.1/10

Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 12%

Audio quality (standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 256 kbps AAC

Lossless (CD quality)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: No

Dolby Atmos / Spatial Audio
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: No

Music videos
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes — full library

Podcast integration
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: No

Audiobooks
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: No

Free tier
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes (ad-supported)

Offline downloads
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes

Synced lyrics
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes

Collaborative playlists
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Limited

Social / friend activity
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: No

AI DJ / smart recommendations
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes (auto-mix)

Siri integration
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Google Assistant

CarPlay
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes

Android Auto
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes (preferred on Android)

Google Home / Nest
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Native

Apple HomePod
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Via AirPlay

Individual price
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99/mo ($15.99 w/ YT Premium)

Family price (up to 6)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $26.99/mo (w/ YT Premium)

Student price
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $6.99/mo

Monthly Subscription Price (Individual)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99

Catalog Size
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100+

Paid Subscriber Base
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 80 million

Official Music Videos Included
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes

Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos Support
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Limited

Voice Assistant Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Google Assistant (500M+ devices)

Annual Prime/YouTube Premium Bundle Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $139.99 (YouTube Premium music only)

Monthly Subscription Price (Standard Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $10.99/month

Annual Premium Cost with All Benefits
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $139/year (Premium + YouTube ad-free)

Estimated Global Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: ~80+ million (estimated YouTube Music users)

Per-Stream Artist Payment
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.003-0.005 (estimated)

Offline Download Feature
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes, available on Premium

Monthly Subscription Price (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99/month

Total Song Catalog
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100+ million songs

Spatial Audio Tracks
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Under 1 million (limited availability)

Offline Downloads Per Device
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Unlimited

Compatible Smart Devices
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Select Google devices + Google Home ecosystem

Family Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $18.99/month (6 accounts)

Audio Quality Max Bitrate
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 256 kbps (AAC)

Music Catalog Size
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100+ million

Premium Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $12.99

Offline Download Limit Per Device
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100,000 songs maximum

Family Plan Cost (6 users)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $22.99

Free Tier Available
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes—ad-supported with limitations

Lossless Audio Support
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Not available

Monthly Premium Price
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99

Ad-Supported Tier Price
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $7.99

Prime Member Price
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Not applicable

Maximum Lossless Audio Bitrate
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 320 (MP3)

Music Video Catalog Size
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 70+ official videos

Total Music Catalog
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100+ million

Offline Downloads (Mobile)
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Unlimited with Premium

Family Plan Member Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 6 profiles

SpeakableSpecification
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SoundCloud — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

YouTube Music — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare SoundCloud vs YouTube Music
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/soundcloud-vs-youtube-music)
object: SoundCloud
object: YouTube Music

Free Ad-Supported Tier
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Native Apple Device Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform Integration

Discovery Algorithm
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Discovery

Family Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Per-Stream Artist Payment (Paid Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Artist Compensation

Free Tier Per-Stream Payment
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Artist Compensation

Free Tier Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Offline Downloads Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Blended Average Per-Stream Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Artist Compensation

Global Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Size

Individual Premium Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Family Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Device Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform

Recommendation Algorithm Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Audio quality (standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio

Lossless (CD quality)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio

Dolby Atmos / Spatial Audio
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio

Music videos
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content

Podcast integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content

Audiobooks
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content

Free tier
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Offline downloads
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Synced lyrics
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Collaborative playlists
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Social / friend activity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

AI DJ / smart recommendations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Siri integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

CarPlay
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Android Auto
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Google Home / Nest
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Apple HomePod
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Individual price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Family price (up to 6)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Student price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Subscription Price (Individual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Catalog Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content Library

Paid Subscriber Base
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Official Music Videos Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio Quality

Voice Assistant Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Prime/YouTube Premium Bundle Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Subscription Price (Standard Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Annual Premium Cost with All Benefits
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Estimated Global Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Per-Stream Artist Payment
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Artist Compensation

Offline Download Feature
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Monthly Subscription Price (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Total Song Catalog
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content

Spatial Audio Tracks
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio Quality

Offline Downloads Per Device
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Compatible Smart Devices
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Family Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Audio Quality Max Bitrate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio Quality

Music Catalog Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content Library

Premium Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Offline Download Limit Per Device
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Family Plan Cost (6 users)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Lossless Audio Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio Quality

Monthly Premium Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Ad-Supported Tier Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Prime Member Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Lossless Audio Bitrate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Audio Quality

Music Video Catalog Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content

Total Music Catalog
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Content

Offline Downloads (Mobile)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Family Plan Member Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features