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.
SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Independent artist-focused music streaming platform with 35+ million tracks.
Google's AI-powered music streaming service with 100M+ tracks and integrated music videos.
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)
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).
Artist Growth Multiplier (focused strategy)
SoundCloud: Baseline (1x) | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: Free tier available + paid tiers | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: $0.001-0.003 per stream | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: Native direct upload available | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: Direct comments/engagement, immediate | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: Follower Exclusive Releases feature (2026) | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: Higher number of musicians | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: $12.99 | YouTube Music: $13.99
SoundCloud: 320kbps MP3 | YouTube Music: AAC 256kbps (lossy)
SoundCloud: Audio only (tracks, mixes, remixes) | YouTube Music: Audio + Video (music videos, official content, shorts)
SoundCloud: Open to any artist (no gatekeeping) | YouTube Music: Requires YouTube Partner Program verification
SoundCloud: Limited (Pro members) | YouTube Music: Yes (Premium members)
SoundCloud: 350+ million (includes user uploads) | YouTube Music: 100+ million tracks
SoundCloud: Minimal (standalone with API access) | YouTube Music: Deep (Google Assistant, Workspace, Search, Android)
SoundCloud: Follower Exclusive Releases, Repost, fan payments | YouTube Music: Ad revenue sharing, Super Chat, channel memberships
SoundCloud: 35+ million | YouTube Music: 100+ million
SoundCloud: $7.99 | YouTube Music: $12.99
SoundCloud: Unlimited with 3-hour limit per 8-hour window | YouTube Music: No skipping allowed
SoundCloud: Limited downloads | YouTube Music: Unlimited downloads
SoundCloud: 76 million | YouTube Music: 100+ million
SoundCloud: Up to 55% of platform revenue | YouTube Music: ~0.3-0.4 cents per stream
SoundCloud: $11.88 saved (buy yearly) | YouTube Music: $22.88 saved (buy yearly)
Monthly Subscription Price (Premium/Paid Tier)
SoundCloud: $5.99 | YouTube Music: $11.99
SoundCloud: 128kbps | YouTube Music: 320 kbps MP3
SoundCloud: 500+ million | YouTube Music: 100+ million
SoundCloud: 128 kbps | YouTube Music: 128 kbps
SoundCloud: 1,000 streams | YouTube Music: 100,000 watches/month (YouTube Partner)
SoundCloud: Not included | YouTube Music: Full native integration with official videos
SoundCloud: $9.99 | YouTube Music: $11.99
SoundCloud: Yes (instant) | YouTube Music: No (requires distributor)
SoundCloud: 20-30 per hour | YouTube Music: 15-20 per hour
SoundCloud: Limited to user uploads | YouTube Music: Full integration with official videos/Shorts
SoundCloud: 635+ million | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: 256 kbps | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: $0.002-0.007 | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: Not required (instant upload) | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: Unlimited (with ads) | YouTube Music: N/A
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 1000+ million
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Not available
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Data not available
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 320 kbps standard
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: YouTube-hosted only
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Primary growth engine via YouTube Shorts
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Wider access via Partner Program
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100+ million
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Limited
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes (seamless)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Split-view Now Playing redesign rolling out
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Standard streaming splits
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 320kbps Opus (lossy)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.007 (blended average)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes - full catalog with shuffle
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Android, Wear OS, web browser only
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: YouTube ecosystem video performance + watch history
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.006-$0.012
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.002-$0.004
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Premium subscribers only
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.005-$0.009
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Android-optimized only
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 256 kbps AAC
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes — full library
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes (ad-supported)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes (auto-mix)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Google Assistant
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes (preferred on Android)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Via AirPlay
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99/mo ($15.99 w/ YT Premium)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $26.99/mo (w/ YT Premium)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $6.99/mo
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 80 million
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Google Assistant (500M+ devices)
Annual Prime/YouTube Premium Bundle Cost
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $139.99 (YouTube Premium music only)
Monthly Subscription Price (Standard Tier)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $10.99/month
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $139/year (Premium + YouTube ad-free)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: ~80+ million (estimated YouTube Music users)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $0.003-0.005 (estimated)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes, available on Premium
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $11.99/month
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100+ million songs
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Under 1 million (limited availability)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Unlimited
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Select Google devices + Google Home ecosystem
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: $18.99/month (6 accounts)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 256 kbps (AAC)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 100,000 songs maximum
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Yes—ad-supported with limitations
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Not applicable
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 320 (MP3)
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 70+ official videos
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: Unlimited with Premium
SoundCloud: N/A | YouTube Music: 6 profiles
How to choose between SoundCloud and YouTube Music
SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for SoundCloud vs YouTube Music. Contains 128 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
SoundCloud vs YouTube Music — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for SoundCloud vs YouTube Music.
Can I upload my own music to both platforms?
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.
Which platform has better offline listening?
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.
What's the real cost difference over a year?
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.
Which platform is better for discovering new artists?
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.
Does YouTube Music include music videos?
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.
How to Choose Between SoundCloud and YouTube Music
Total Music Catalog Size: SoundCloud has 35+ million tracks, while YouTube Music has 100+ million tracks.
Video Content Integration: SoundCloud has No official music videos, while YouTube Music has Full music video library included.
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)
Premium Subscription Price (USD/month): SoundCloud has $7.99, while YouTube Music has $12.99.
Free Tier Ad Interruptions: SoundCloud has 30-second ads, limited skips, while YouTube Music has 30-second ads, no skipping.
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)
User Base (Monthly Active Users): SoundCloud has 76 million users, while YouTube Music has 100 million+ users.