Source-backed analysis10
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
10 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
SoundCloud Review
Streaming and uploads for independent music: 400M+ tracks from 30M+ artists
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
SoundCloud suits fans of remixes, DJ sets and independent artists, and anyone who wants to upload their own music; the app holds 4.8/5 on the US App Store and 4.7/5 on Google Play. The catch is that Go and Go+ are sold only in listed countries (mainly North America, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe; not Vietnam), so listeners elsewhere are mostly limited to the free, ad-supported tier.
Best for: Listeners who like independent music, remixes, DJ sets and tracks hard to find on larger services
Skip it if: People in countries without Go/Go+ who need ad-free listening and offline downloads
Pros
- Large catalogue of independent music and remixes: 400M+ tracks from 30M+ artists per Google Play
- High ratings on both stores: 4.8/5 on the App Store (2.1M ratings) and 4.7/5 on Google Play (7.68M reviews)
- Free to listen; artists get upload, distribution and monetisation tools from 39 USD/year
Cons
- Go/Go+ ad-free plans are sold only in countries on the help centre list (Vietnam, for example, is not included)
- Buying through the App Store costs more than the web: Artist Pro is 129 USD/year versus 99 USD/year, and the help centre says Go via Apple is about 30% more
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- Social features: comments, messaging, track sharing and Fan-Powered Royalties
Cons
- A terms-of-use clause on AI drew strong backlash in May 2025
Best for
- Artists who want to upload music, collect listener comments and distribute to other platforms
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What SoundCloud is
SoundCloud is a streaming platform where artists upload their own tracks and listeners discover new music. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in 2007 in Stockholm by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss and is now headquartered in Berlin. The Google Play description cites 400M+ tracks from 30M+ artists in 193 countries. Unlike services built mainly on label catalogues, SoundCloud stands out for remixes, DJ sets, demos and independent artists.
Key features
Per the Google Play description, listeners get curated mixes and playlists, trending lists, comments, direct messages and a First & Top Fans list. Go removes ads and allows offline saves; Go+ adds Go+ tracks and DJ app integrations. For artists, the pricing page lists promotion, playlisting, distribution to 50+ platforms, YouTube Content ID and split royalties. Since April 2021 SoundCloud has used Fan-Powered Royalties, which its help centre describes as letting independent artists earn more because of their dedicated fans.
Pricing and value
Listening is free with ads. On the US App Store Go is 5.99 USD/month and Go+ 14.99 USD/month; the help centre says buying Go through Apple costs about 30% more than buying direct, because of transaction fees. Artist plans on the pricing page are Artist at 39 USD/year and Artist Pro at 99 USD/year. The help centre's country list for Go and Go+ covers North America, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries, not Vietnam, and no VND price is published.
More analysis
Who it fits, and the alternatives
SoundCloud fits listeners seeking independent music or remixes and artists who need somewhere to publish. If you need a full commercial catalogue, ad-free listening and offline downloads where SoundCloud Go is not offered, Spotify, YouTube Music or Apple Music are better fits.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Basic (miễn phí)
PersonalFree
Ad-supported listening. Per the pricing page, creators can upload up to 2 hours of audio.
Go
Personal$5.99/mo/user
US App Store price: 5.99 USD/month. Ad-free listening and offline saves. Vietnam is not on the list of countries where Go is sold.
Go+
Personal$14.99/mo/user
US App Store price: 14.99 USD/month. Everything in Go, plus Go+ tracks and DJ app integrations.
Artist
Personal$7.49/mo/user
$3.25/mo billed yearly
For creators: 39 USD/year (3.25 USD/month) on the pricing page; 7.49 USD/month on the US App Store. 3 hours of uploads, plus promotion, playlisting and distribution for 2 tracks a month.
Artist Pro
Personal$18.99/mo/user
$8.25/mo billed yearly
For creators: 99 USD/year (8.25 USD/month) on the pricing page; 18.99 USD/month or 129 USD/year on the US App Store. Unlimited uploads, distribution and monetisation, plus split royalties, priority support and 50% off Go+.
- Free plan limits
- Listening is free with ads. Go and Go+ are sold only in certain countries, and SoundCloud's current list does not include Vietnam.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
No refund policy was found in the pages reviewed. The help centre says first-time Go or Go+ buyers get a free trial (length not stated on that page); if not cancelled before it ends, the plan is charged monthly. Cancelling is done in Subscription Settings on a computer; it is not currently possible from a mobile device.
Privacy
The privacy policy (last amended 17 August 2026) says SoundCloud collects data you provide, data gathered automatically and data from third parties, and uses it to run the service, recommend music and serve ads. The cookie consent banner on the site lists 129 advertising partners and offers a reject-all option. SoundCloud shares hashed, aggregated or de-identified data with advertisers, and the policy has a US section on "selling" and "sharing" data for targeted advertising and opt-out rights. Data is generally kept for the life of the contract and for 3 years after the end of the year in which it was cancelled. People under 16 in the EEA and UK, or under 13 in the US and elsewhere, may not use the service. Customer support may use AI tools, including third-party large language models, to analyse enquiries, and you can ask for a human agent at any time. In May 2025 the CEO acknowledged that the AI wording in the terms of use was "too broad" and said artists' content would not be used to train generative AI models that replicate their voice, music or likeness.
SoundCloud alternatives
7.8/10Spotify
Music and podcasts with a free tier; Premium at $12.99/month in the US
7.6/10Apple Music
Apple's music streaming service: 100M+ songs, lossless and Spatial Audio
Frequently asked questions
Is SoundCloud free?
Yes. Listening is free with ads. Go and Go+ are paid plans for ad-free listening and offline saves.
Is SoundCloud Go available in Vietnam?
Not currently. The help-centre list covers North America, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries, not Vietnam. SoundCloud points to its blog for news of where Go launches next.
What is the difference between Artist and Artist Pro?
Per the pricing page, Artist (39 USD/year) gives 3 hours of uploads and promotion and distribution for 2 tracks a month. Artist Pro (99 USD/year) adds unlimited uploads, distribution and monetisation, split royalties, priority support and 50% off Go+.
Does SoundCloud use my music to train AI?
In May 2025 CEO Eliah Seton wrote that the terms wording was "too broad" and that SoundCloud would not use content to train generative AI models that replicate an artist's voice, music or likeness, per TechCrunch.
Review evidence & sources10
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.0
- Features
- 8.0
- Value for money
- 7.0
- Performance
- 7.5
- Support
- 6.5
- Privacy & security
- 6.0
Why this score
Web, iOS and Android apps; 4.8/5 on the App Store and 4.7/5 on Google Play from millions of ratings. Marked down because subscriptions can only be cancelled on a computer, not in the mobile app.
Why this score
Streaming, curated mixes, uploads, comments, messaging, distribution to 50+ platforms and DJ tools. Its strength is independent music and remixes rather than a label-led catalogue like Spotify or Apple Music.
Why this score
Free listening is a strength and the Artist plan at 39 USD/year is inexpensive. Go is 5.99 USD/month and Go+ 14.99 USD/month on the US App Store, but they are sold only in listed countries (Vietnam is not one), so listeners elsewhere have no upgrade path.
Why this score
No independent speed data. The score rests on strong ratings on both stores, though some Google Play reviewers report playback cutting out.
Why this score
A detailed help centre with chat to an AI agent or a support specialist, and the policy lets you ask for a human at any time. No independent response-time data; the help centre says subscriptions cannot be cancelled from a mobile device.
Why this score
A detailed policy with opt-out rights and clear retention. Marked down for 129 advertising partners, data sharing for advertising and the 2025 AI-terms backlash.
What users say
- App Store (United States)4.8/5 · 2,100,000
- Google Play (United States)4.7/5 · 7,680,000
Sources
- Vendor-providedSoundCloud privacy policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedSoundCloud artist plans and pricingNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedHelp Center: Go, Go+ and DJ availabilityNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedHelp Center: free trial for SoundCloud GoNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedHelp Center: Get Started with SoundCloud Go+Nov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedSoundCloud NewsroomNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: SoundCloudNov 10, 2026
- pressTechCrunch: SoundCloud backtracks on AI-related terms (2025-05-14)Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- SoundCloud Global Limited & Co. KG
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Launched
- 2007
- Category
- Entertainment
Capabilities
- Works offline
- Mobile app
- Integrations
Platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Portuguese
Integrations
- Chromecast
- Twitch
- TikTok
- DJ apps
Support
- Help center
- Live chat
Change history
- Feature.SoundCloud unveils an all-in-one artist subscription.
- Update.CEO Eliah Seton publishes a letter clarifying the AI terms after community backlash.
- Feature.SoundCloud announces fan-powered royalties, effective 1 April 2021.
Full change history (8)
- Company.The Raine Group and Temasek invest 169.5 million USD; Kerry Trainor becomes CEO.
- Price.The 10 USD tier is renamed Go+, alongside a new 5 USD/month Go tier.
- Feature.SoundCloud Go is unveiled at 10 USD/month.
- Launch.The SoundCloud website launches.
- Company.Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss found SoundCloud in Stockholm.
About the author
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