Spotify dominates with 100+ million songs, superior audio quality options (up to 320kbps), and 574 million users, while SoundCloud specializes in independent artists and emerging music with a smaller 76 million user base and lower streaming payouts that favor artist discovery over listener experience.
Spotify vs SoundCloud — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Market-leading music streaming platform with 574 million users and curated algorithmic playlists.
Artist-centric platform hosting 635+ million independent and emerging artist tracks with direct creator relationships.
Total Catalog Size. Monthly Active Users. Premium Subscription Cost. Maximum Audio Quality. Artist Payout Per Stream. Offline Downloads. Market Share (2025)
Choose Spotify if you prioritize mainstream music discovery, superior audio quality options, extensive catalog curation, and prefer a platform with institutional backing and 30+ years of stable operations ahead. Choose SoundCloud if you're an emerging artist seeking fair payouts, want direct access to underground and independent music, value community feedback features, or prefer supporting smaller creators without corporate intermediaries.
Spotify: 320 (Standard) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Excellent (Discover Weekly) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Advanced (Blend, Collaborative playlists) | SoundCloud: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)
Spotify: No (Spatial Audio instead) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Universal compatibility | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Lossless (HiFi tier) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Full platform integration with exclusives | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Secondary feature, available but limited | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Strict verification required | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 281 (Q3 2025) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: $0.003-$0.005 | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 320 kbps AAC (standard) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 4.3 (Q3 2025) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Full ad-supported tier | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Spotify Individual | SoundCloud: N/A
Artist Growth Multiplier (focused strategy)
Spotify: 3-5x faster monthly listener growth | SoundCloud: Baseline (1x)
Spotify: $9.99 | SoundCloud: Free tier available + paid tiers
Spotify: $0.003-0.005 per stream | SoundCloud: $0.001-0.003 per stream
Spotify: Requires distribution service | SoundCloud: Native direct upload available
Spotify: Algorithm-driven, slower direct feedback | SoundCloud: Direct comments/engagement, immediate
Spotify: Limited exclusive release functionality | SoundCloud: Follower Exclusive Releases feature (2026)
Spotify: Lower density | SoundCloud: Higher number of musicians
Spotify: HiFi Tier (additional cost) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 180+ countries | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Song/Artist Radio, Song Credits expansion | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: $11.99/month (Premium) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 320 kbps (Premium) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 6+ major platforms | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Limited | SoundCloud: Not included
Spotify: All platforms equally | SoundCloud: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Individual Plan)
Annual Subscription Cost (Individual Plan)
Spotify: Ogg Vorbis, MP3, AAC | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 10,000 per device | SoundCloud: N/A
Discover Weekly Playlists Generated Weekly
Spotify: 100 million songs | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 320 kbps Ogg Vorbis | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Yes — included, no extra charge | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Limited catalog | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Yes — largest catalog | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Yes (limited per plan) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Yes (ad-supported, shuffle-limited) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Yes (Blend, Friend Activity) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Yes (DJ, Smart Shuffle) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Via Spotify Connect | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 9+ (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Web, PlayStation, Xbox, Alexa, Smart TVs) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 6 skips/hour on ad-supported tier | SoundCloud: Unlimited with 3-hour limit per 8-hour window
User Satisfaction with Discovery (2024 survey)
Spotify: 73% satisfied with personalization | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 256 kbps AAC lossy | SoundCloud: 320kbps MP3
Spotify: 500+ (Android, iOS, web, consoles, smart TVs) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 6 users at $16.99/month | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 100+ million | SoundCloud: 635+ million
Spotify: 320 kbps | SoundCloud: 256 kbps
Spotify: Required (strict verification) | SoundCloud: Not required (instant upload)
Spotify: 6 hours (with ads) | SoundCloud: Unlimited (with ads)
Spotify: ~100+ million | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 320kbps Ogg Vorbis | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 10,000 (5 devices max) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: Full free tier with ads (shuffle-only on mobile) | SoundCloud: N/A
Spotify: 574 million | SoundCloud: 76 million
Spotify: $11.99 (Standard) | SoundCloud: $9.99 (Go+)
Spotify: Yes (with ads, skip limits) | SoundCloud: Yes (with ads, limited plays)
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Audio only (tracks, mixes, remixes)
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Open to any artist (no gatekeeping)
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Limited (Pro members)
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: 350+ million (includes user uploads)
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Minimal (standalone with API access)
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Follower Exclusive Releases, Repost, fan payments
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Limited downloads
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Up to 55% of platform revenue
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: $11.88 saved (buy yearly)
Monthly Subscription Price (Premium/Paid Tier)
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: 1,000 streams
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: $0.003-$0.007
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Yes (instant)
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: 20-30 per hour
Spotify: N/A | SoundCloud: Limited to user uploads
How to choose between Spotify and SoundCloud
Spotify vs SoundCloud — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Spotify vs SoundCloud. Contains 157 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Spotify vs SoundCloud — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Spotify vs SoundCloud.
Which platform pays artists more per stream?
SoundCloud pays approximately $0.007 per stream on average, while Spotify pays $0.003-$0.005 per stream. This means SoundCloud creators earn roughly 75% more per stream, making it significantly better for independent artists prioritizing direct revenue over audience reach.
Does Spotify offer lossless audio quality?
No. Despite announcing Spotify HiFi in 2021, the service has not launched lossless audio streaming as of 2026. Spotify's maximum quality remains 320kbps Ogg Vorbis on Premium tier, while SoundCloud maxes at 128kbps MP3, making neither platform ideal for audiophiles.
Can I find independent and underground music on both platforms?
Yes, but SoundCloud is purpose-built for it with 635 million independent artist tracks versus Spotify's 100 million curated catalog. SoundCloud's algorithm doesn't filter out emerging artists, whereas Spotify's algorithmic playlists favor established, high-engagement tracks from major labels.
Which platform is more stable long-term?
Spotify is financially stable with $13.6 billion annual revenue (2024) and profitability. SoundCloud has faced multiple near-bankruptcies, ownership changes, and layoffs (particularly in 2017 and 2024), creating uncertainty about long-term platform viability.
What's the cheapest way to stream music on both platforms?
SoundCloud Go+ is cheapest at $9.99/month for ad-free streaming. Spotify's cheapest premium tier (Standard) is $11.99/month. Both offer free tiers with ads and limitations, with SoundCloud free tier allowing unlimited skips while Spotify free tier restricts skips to 6 per hour.
How to Choose Between Spotify and SoundCloud
Total Catalog Size: Spotify has 100+ million tracks, while SoundCloud has 635+ million tracks.
Monthly Active Users: Spotify has 574 million, while SoundCloud has 76 million.
Premium Subscription Cost: Spotify has $11.99/month (Standard), $19.99/month (Premium), while SoundCloud has $9.99/month (Go+).
Maximum Audio Quality: Spotify has 320kbps Ogg Vorbis (Spotify HiFi unavailable), while SoundCloud has 128kbps MP3 (standard).
Artist Payout Per Stream: Spotify has $0.003-$0.005, while SoundCloud has $0.007 average.
Offline Downloads: Spotify has Unlimited for premium, while SoundCloud has Up to 500 tracks for Go+ members.
Market Share (2025): Spotify has 38% of global streaming market, while SoundCloud has 2.3% of global streaming market.