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SoundCloud alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave SoundCloud: inconsistent audio quality and track metadata, and mainstream catalogue needs a Go+ subscription. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces SoundCloud, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Audiomack currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Audiomack logoAudiomackFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 466.5
2Bandcamp logoBandcampFreeNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 362.6
3Mixcloud logoMixcloudFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 359.6
4Audius logoAudiusFreeYesWeb, iOS, Android3 of 357.2
5Spotify logoSpotifyFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +25 of 555.3
  1. Audiomack logo

    1. AudiomackTop pick

    Best for: Fans of hip-hop, Afrobeats and emerging artists who want free streaming

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from SoundCloud

    Free streaming and uploads with a strong hip-hop and Afrobeats community.

    Pros

    • Free streaming with offline downloads
    • Unlimited uploads for artists
    • Strong African, Caribbean and hip-hop scenes

    Cons

    • Smaller mainstream catalogue
    • No lossless audio
    • Ads on the free tier
    Visit Audiomack Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Audiomack a good SoundCloud alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Uploads
    Unlimited music and podcasts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026audiomack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    What it is
    On-demand streaming and discovery
    Checked Oct 25, 2026audiomack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid tier
    Audiomack+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026audiomack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Creator accounts
    Free, no premium creator tiers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026audiomack.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Bandcamp logo

    2. Bandcamp

    Best for: Fans who want to buy music in lossless formats and support independent artists directly

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from SoundCloud

    Lets fans buy music directly from artists, with a bigger cut going to the artist.

    Pros

    • Artists keep most of each sale
    • Lossless downloads you own
    • Excellent for independent and niche music

    Cons

    • Not an all-you-can-stream subscription
    • Ownership change has worried some artists
    • Limited mainstream catalogue
    Visit Bandcamp Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Bandcamp a good SoundCloud alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Revenue share
    15% digital, 10% physical
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bandcamp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2008
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bandcamp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    What it is
    Online record store and music community
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bandcamp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Mixcloud logo

    3. Mixcloud

    Best for: DJs, radio presenters and fans of long mixes and shows

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from SoundCloud

    Licensed home for DJ mixes and radio shows, which SoundCloud often takes down.

    Pros

    • Licensed uploads, so DJ mixes stay online
    • Live streaming and fan subscriptions with Pro
    • Free listening and uploading

    Cons

    • Licensing limits skipping and track listings
    • Not built for songs or albums
    • Best creator tools require Pro
    Visit Mixcloud Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Mixcloud a good SoundCloud alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Pro features
    Live streaming, unlimited uploads, monetisation
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mixcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Listener premium
    Offline listening
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mixcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Fan support
    Tips and subscriptions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mixcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Audius logo

    4. Audius

    Best for: Independent and electronic artists, and fans who want free streaming of their uploads

    FreeOpen sourceWeb, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from SoundCloud

    Decentralised streaming platform that also lets artists upload freely.

    Pros

    • Free to upload and stream
    • Open-source apps under Apache 2.0
    • Tools for gated releases, remix contests and tips

    Cons

    • Little major-label music
    • Crypto and token aspects put some users off
    • Smaller audience than SoundCloud
    Visit Audius Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Audius a good SoundCloud alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free streaming
    Checked Oct 25, 2026audius.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Apps
    Web and React Native mobile apps
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Spotify logo

    5. Spotify

    Best for: Most listeners who want a huge catalogue, great recommendations and apps on every device

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from SoundCloud

    Far bigger mainstream catalogue and better personalised playlists.

    Pros

    • Excellent personalised playlists and recommendations
    • Free tier with ads
    • Works on nearly every device via Spotify Connect
    • Podcasts and audiobooks in the same app

    Cons

    • Low per-stream payouts to artists
    • Lossless tops out at CD-level 24-bit/44.1kHz
    • Home screen pushes podcasts and audiobooks
    Visit Spotify Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Spotify a good SoundCloud alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Users
    788 million, 306 million subscribers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newsroom.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Markets
    184
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newsroom.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, with ads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lossless
    Up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plans
    Individual, Duo, Family, Student
    Checked Oct 25, 2026spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best SoundCloud alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Audiomack logo

Best SoundCloud alternative for most people

Audiomack

Free streaming and uploads with a strong hip-hop and Afrobeats community.

Bandcamp logo

Best SoundCloud alternative for a free option

Bandcamp

Lets fans buy music directly from artists, with a bigger cut going to the artist.

Mixcloud logo

Best SoundCloud alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Mixcloud

Licensed home for DJ mixes and radio shows, which SoundCloud often takes down.

Audius logo

Best SoundCloud alternative for open source

Audius

Decentralised streaming platform that also lets artists upload freely.

Spotify logo

Best SoundCloud alternative for Mac

Spotify

Far bigger mainstream catalogue and better personalised playlists.

Spotify logo

Best SoundCloud alternative for Windows

Spotify

Far bigger mainstream catalogue and better personalised playlists.

Audiomack logo

Best SoundCloud alternative for iPhone and Android

Audiomack

Free streaming and uploads with a strong hip-hop and Afrobeats community.

Audiomack logo

Best SoundCloud alternative for working in the browser

Audiomack

Free streaming and uploads with a strong hip-hop and Afrobeats community.

SoundCloud alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to SoundCloud?

Audiomack ranks first right now. Free streaming and uploads with a strong hip-hop and Afrobeats community. Bandcamp and Mixcloud follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to SoundCloud?

Yes. Audiomack (free plan + paid), Bandcamp (free), Mixcloud (free plan + paid) and Audius (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to SoundCloud?

Yes: Audius.

Why do people switch from SoundCloud?

The complaints we hear most: inconsistent audio quality and track metadata; mainstream catalogue needs a Go+ subscription; discovery can be noisy.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces SoundCloud, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.