Spotify vs SoundCloud: Comparison of Features, Music Libraries

Spotify and SoundCloud are the rising and popular music streaming platforms nowadays. They provides various features according to the user demand. Since both are music streaming platforms, but, they also possess some differences in features and user demographics, etc. We can choose one of them according to our preferences and preference. Here is a quick overview that can make your selection easier.

Overview of Spotify and SoundCloud

Spotify	SoundCloud
Spotify is an on-demand music streaming service provider that was founded in 2008. It involves paying for the content that one has to listen to and also provides podcasts, even videos, and other content globally.	SoundCloud is a social networking website designed to upload, share, or promote sound started in 2007. It is widely used among independent artists and creators.

Spotify Vs SoundCloud

User Interface and Experience

Users experience different interface on the streaming platforms. The following features you will experience there, are:

Spotify:

Navigation & Customization

• Easy to use and navigate and simplistic design.
• The most premium quality –it is very easy to navigate and the menus and the categories are properly organized.
• Selected music, playlists, and a song list are also there.

Cross-Platform Sharing

• Superb cross-sharing, a journey that is smooth and quite engaging with you.
• It supports offline listening while giving you a chance to upgrade to premium subscriptions.

SoundCloud

 Customizable and Flexible

• Provides more Creative options to users for better experience.
• Enables the users to subscribe to specific artists and trends of their own choice.

Focused on latest Discoveries

• A large focus is placed on the exploration of new faces and fresh talents.
• It is more distinct and beneficial as compared to professional content which is mostly made by marketing agencies and other professionals.

Music Library

Both, Spotify & Soundcloud provides exclusive libraries of music that will elevate your streaming experience to the dreamy world. Here, they are explained to make your choice better.

Spotify

Extensive Catalog

• Spotify possess mainstream and independent musicians across the twenty-four/7 music menu: Over 70 million tracks.
• Some of them are updated with new releases more frequently liked by the users.

Exclusive Content

• You get Premium access which enables you to listen to special podcasts, playlists, and early drops from many artists.

SoundCloud

Independent Artist Hub

• A library of songs of unknown or indie musicians since it is focused more on the amount rather than the quality of the songs.
• Even more specific trends and the types of everything that go beyond traditional music production and composition.

User-Generated Content

• Soundcloud provides Mix of remixes, demos, and live performances.
• (Mainstream music is given lesser importance today as compared to earlier days).

Audio Quality

Quality is the top preference of music lovers, which is mainly provided by Spotify mod APK. SoundCloud is also good in quality but Spotify Premium APK surpasses it. Let’s discover them;

Spotify mod APK

• Offers three quality levels: There is normally a choice of 3-bit rates which are 96 kbps, 160 kbps, and 320 kbps.
• By subscription to the premium account one can get the highest quality ever exist.

Adaptive Streaming

• Self-adjusts quality according to the existing network status.

SoundCloud

Variable Quality

• Standard streaming quality means 128kbps.
• Some of the tracks are in 320 kbps depending on the person who uploaded the tracks.

Less Consistency

• One thing to note is the Quality of the tracks produced and most of the time Quality differs based on the track.

Monetization and Subscription Plans

Both platforms are different, therefore they have diverse sybscription plans, here yu can get the complete detail of them.

Spotify Premium APK

Freemium Model

• Basic version of the software that still comes with ads, but offers most of the basic capabilities of the music programs.
• The advanced plan is for a fee and helps you listen to music without adverts, download songs for offline use, and get high-quality audio.

Subscription Tiers

• The different plans available for the Americans & other global residentials are Individual plan, Duo plan, Family plan, and Student plan.

Monetization for Artists

• Per stream fee paid to artists, even though it is low and raises critics’ voices quite often.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud Go

• Paid feature that prevents advertisements, allows users to listen to songs without an Internet connection, and has better sound quality.

Monetization for Creators

• It’s notable that SoundCloud Premier provides an opportunity for monetizing.
• Increased possibility for the artists who work independently to agree on better conditions.

Social and Community Features

Social & community features are for those who are extra social about their interest and life for sharing music. Spotify apk and Soundcloud provides the following social and community features.

Spotify APK

Social Sharing

• Interlinked with all the social-media networks for musing sharing.
• Group songs and playlists and other social aspects are also present here.

Personalized Playlists

• Personalized music lists generated from users’ choices and history.

SoundCloud

Community Engagement

• A lot of emphasis on the interaction with the users.
• Such actions as commenting on the tracks and sharing them, reposting them, and the like.

Artist-Fan Connection

• Involvement of artists and the end users of the art products in direct link with sound cloud.
• More locally oriented and based on the communities’ initiatives.

Content Discovery Quality

You can search content of your taste very easily on spotify.

Spotify

Algorithmic Recommendations

• Launching on the platform of an article that utilizes algorithms to recommend songs according to its users’ habits.
• Such things as Discover Weekly and Daily Mixes.

 Curated Playlists

• Organized playlist selection by human beings depending on the mood, genre, or activity of the user.

SoundCloud

Organic Discovery

• The second trend is the increased emphasis on the user’s search rather than search engines as their key source of finding relevant information.
• Top charts; users’ equally created personal lists of favorite tracks.

Niche Content

• It is easier to check new and unknown artists producing non-commercial and avant-garde music.

Mobile and Desktop Applications

Here is an in detail guidelines of their mobileand desktop applications.

Spotify

Consistent Experience

• Responsive web, and swift client-server and mobile apps.
• In sync across the devices.

Offline Mode

• Available in paid subscriptions so that you can download songs for listening in your offline mode.

SoundCloud

Mobile App

• It has a clean design and is very easy to use, but it doesn’t have a few of the things that can be found in the desktop software.

Creator Tools

• Further targeted towards content generation with such features as track upload and modification.

Audio International Reach and Availability

Spotify

Global Presence

• The model is now present in more than 180 countries.
• A large number of options as an online library of music from around the world.

Localized Content

• More specifically, it will provide regional recommendations for the songs.

SoundCloud

Niche Market

• Still, enjoyed by indie and underground artists in different regions of the world.
• Marketing Mix: Fewer promotions targeting the expansion of the enterprise at the international level.

Accessibility

• Present in most countries but with fewer subscribers as compared to the Spotify application.

Audio  Licensing and Copyright Issues

Spotify

Strict Licensing Agreements

• Incorporated deals with major record labels as well as independent artists.
• Makes sure that all content is cleared and payment for the royalties is made.

Limited User Uploads

• No direct upload feature provided by the users but the faculty of applying filters and restrictions on the uploaded content is kept intact.

SoundCloud

Open Platform

• Discussion forum enables the users to upload their content hence violating copyright laws.
• Policies are more relaxed to meet public demand but that is associated with increased chances of piracy.

Copyright Takedowns

• Matches regularly take down such content but often on a random basis.

Table 1: Spotify vs SoundCloud – Feature Comparison

Spotify vs SoundCloud – Feature Comparison

Features	Spotify	SoundCloud
Music Library	70M+ available tracks	Focusing Independent Artist
Sound Quality	320 kbps	320 kbps (may vary)
Content Type	Alogrithem Driven	User Driven
Avalaiblity	179+ countries	Globally Present
Plans	Free & Premium	Free & SoundCloud Go (paid)
Monetization	Per Stream Dependent	Premier

User Base and Demographics

Spotify

Mainstream Audience

• Is also receptive to a broad audience range, from music lovers with no particular preference to those who are very selective.

Diverse Age Range

• With the largest fragment of young users it is also widely used by older people.

SoundCloud

Niche Community

• very popular among independent musicians, DJs, and fans of more specific genres.

Younger Demographic

• It appeals to young people, especially the gothic and those who like low-profile music.

Artist Support and Tools

Spotify

Spotify for Artists

• Metrics for measuring the effectiveness and the interactions of the audience.

Promotion

• Opportunities for artists to be featured through artists’ curation for users.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud Creator Tools

• Easy-to-use features for uploading, editing, and promoting the tracks.

Direct Fan Engagement

• It has the feature of commenting and messaging; one-on-one communication between the artists and the fans is enabled.

Pricing and Value for Money

Spotify

Premium Plans

• Provides features and content of high liquidity for a reasonable price.
• Regarding the available offers, it is important to also note its Family and Student discounts.
• Good for use by several people at a relatively low cost.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud Go

• Affordable as compared to Spotify but does not contain the huge music library that Spotify has to offer.

Free Tier

• That is significantly less than the free tier of Spotify.

Pros & Cons (Spotify Premium APK)

Features	Spotify (Pros)	Spotify (Cons)
Music Library	Exclusive Catalogue	Lack Some Content Types
Subcriptions	Various Paid Plans	Free tier
Audio Quality	High Quality	–

Pros & Cons (SoundCloud)

Features	Soundcloud (Pros)	Soundcloud (Cons)
Music Library	Independent Music Niche	Very Little Mainstream Content
Subcriptions	Affordable Paid Plan	Free Tier
Audio Quality	High but a  bit lower than Spotify.	Inconsistent

FAQs

Conclusion

Like Apple Music, although both Spotify and Soundcloud, the two companies have their unique roles to play in the music streaming space. It seems that, compared to other players, Spotify does an exceptional job of delivering a mature and mainstream service with a vast catalog and smart suggestions. However, SoundCloud has become the ‘home’ for any independent artist or genre that might not appeal to the mainstream lover. Therefore, the decision between the two platforms solely depends on what the user wants, whether it is the polished, professional quality of the posts or the raw, underground feel of it.