Spotify is the market leader among music services. However, a direct comparison with SoundCloud revealed many similarities. Nevertheless, the choice remains clear for almost all target groups.
At first glance, Spotify may be vastly superior to SoundCloud, but there are actually good arguments for both music streaming services. (Source: Montage: Netzwelt / Image: Netzwelt with AI / Apps: App Store)
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User interfaces and apps
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Subscriptions and prices compared
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Common features and functions
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Exclusive features: Spotify with slight advantages
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Music library, song suggestions and playlists
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Common weakness: The audio quality
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Conclusion
Whether at home or on the go – music accompanies many of us in a wide variety of situations. Various music streaming services are repositioning themselves to put market leader Spotify to the test.
An often forgotten alternative is SoundCloud. You can find out in this direct comparison whether the German provider can keep up with Spotify.
User interfaces and apps
Nowadays, most music streaming apps are quite similar in terms of design and layout. With SoundCloud and Spotify you get a very clear user interface so that even new users can quickly find their way around.
Both providers are primarily available via a smartphone app, desktop app and the web player. However, there is no SoundCloud app for Mac. You can also stream to external devices via Bluetooth via the smartphone apps and transfer your music to speakers or headphones, for example.
The SoundCloud app (left) and the Spotify app (right) have certain similarities, but are easy to tell apart. (Source: Netzwelt / Screenshots: SoundCloud app & Spotify app)
One thing they have in common is the navigation bar within the smartphone apps. This is located at the bottom of both SoundCloud and Spotify and takes you to the homepage, your library or the search function. This is also the case with almost all other competitors on the market.
Subscriptions and prices compared
When it comes to the different subscriptions, both services are explained very quickly. There is a difference: Spotify's subscriptions are aimed exclusively at listeners, but SoundCloud also offers premium subscriptions specifically for artists, such as SoundCloud Next Pro.
Spotify subscription options
The Swedish market leader thus offers a solid selection of premium subscriptions that should suit every situation. The duo version is particularly interesting and also inexpensive. It is suitable for couples, friends or siblings and is practical if you want to save money.
SoundCloud subscription options
- SoundCloud Go: 5.99 euros per month
- SoundCloud Go+: 10.99 euros per month
- SoundCloud Go+ Student: 5.49 euros per month
- SoundCloud Next: Free
- SoundCloud Next Pro: 10.99 euros per month / 6.99 euros if paid annually
The Go subscriptions are intended for listeners and the Next subscriptions for artists. For a fair comparison, we will from now on compare Spotify Premium Individual with SoundCloud Go+, as these entry-level subscriptions are in direct competition.
Common features and functions
The features and functions of SoundCloud and Spotify are identical, but the Swedish market leader has more to offer overall. Let's take a closer look at the common features in an overview:
- Play without commercial breaks
- Unlimited downloads for offline playback
- High quality audio
- Organize song queues
- Listen to songs in any order
These features form the basis of both providers. In addition, both also have exclusive or unique features to offer. Nevertheless, SoundCloud and Spotify are not as innovative as Deezer, for example.
Exclusive features: Spotify with slight advantages
SoundCloud cannot convince with any special features, but rather stands out with a small disadvantage. So you need to have a subscription to SoundCloud Go+ so that you can stream all songs on the platform in full. You can't fully enjoy all the tracks with SoundCloud Go alone. SoundCloud Go+ offers the following additional features:
- Access to all full-length tracks
- Compatibility with select DJ apps
SoundCloud's compatibility with select DJ apps is unlikely to be a concern for most listeners. Dying for artists could look different. In return, Spotify has a lot more to offer in terms of exclusive features:
- Spotify Connect
- Stream songs in real time with friends
- Lyrics within the Spotify app
A very good example of how Spotify is better positioned than SoundCloud: Spotify Connect: This is a function that allows you to control your music via the Spotify smartphone app on other devices, such as a smart TV.
Music library, song suggestions and playlists
When it comes to the size of the music library, SoundCloud is once again ahead. This is simply because SoundCloud allows users to upload songs directly to the platform. According to its own information, the German provider has over 135 million songs to offer.
Spotify can't quite keep up here and is well behind SoundCloud with just over 100 million tracks. However, this is offset by the large selection of podcasts on Spotify. While the number one from Sweden is known for the largest selection of podcasts, SoundCloud offers almost no podcasts at all.
Spotify has the largest selection of exclusive podcasts and original content of any provider. (Source: Netzwelt / Screenshot: Spotify web player)
The song suggestions are characterized by clear differences. With Spotify you often receive sponsored song suggestions on your homepage, while SoundCloud pays almost exclusively attention to your listening history and takes these into account for suggestions. In our opinion, it was also the case that SoundCloud pays more attention to the genres that you have actually listened to in the past.
Playlists are now much more than just lists filled with songs. Spotify has managed to establish very well-known playlists, for example “Dance Brandneu”, “Viva Latino” or “Beast Mode”. In addition, the provider also offers playlists, which are usually based on genres or moods.
However, SoundCloud doesn't have to hide either, even though its offering doesn't quite keep up with Spotify. However, there is one exception: If you prefer independent artists, you will find better playlists on SoundCloud. Objectively speaking, Spotify remains the leader.
Common weakness: The audio quality
The audio quality of music streaming services has become increasingly important in recent years. It is all the more surprising that both SoundCloud and Spotify do not yet offer a lossless audio format.
Competitors such as Apple Music, Deezer and Tidal are already one step further and offer at least CD quality in the form of 16-bit at a sampling rate of 44.1 kilohertz. Accordingly, both providers only offer compressed, lossy levels of audio quality.
Audio quality from SoundCloud
Unfortunately, SoundCloud does not provide detailed information about the differences between the “Standard” and “High Audio” levels. However, the company states on its own support website that “High audio quality” in 256 kilobits per second in AAC format is coded. AAC stands for Advanced Audio Coding and is said to be equivalent to 320 kbit/s in MP3 format.
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Audio quality from Spotify
Spotify offers a better overview of the audio quality levels and is therefore a little more transparent. The audio quality on Spotify depends on these individual levels.
- Low: 24 kbit/s in AAC format
- Normal: 96 kbit/s in AAC format
- High: 160 kbit/s in AAC format
- Very high: 320 kbit/s in AAC format
It should also be mentioned that the Spotify web player can transmit a maximum of 256 kbit/s. The audio quality for podcasts is generally reduced to 96 kbit/s, but in the web player it is reduced to 128 kbit/s. However, that's perfectly fine, as podcasts don't have the same requirements as songs with multiple audio tracks.
Conclusion
During our comparison, we noticed many similarities, but also differences in corporate philosophy. SoundCloud's independent artist image becomes clearer the longer you use the provider. SoundCloud can meet the basic expectations, but Spotify is slightly better in almost all areas.
Notable examples of this are features such as Spotify Connect, the special selection of podcasts or the better playlists. Supposed “little things” like the song lyrics function also play a role. While SoundCloud is a hybrid provider for listeners and artists, Spotify is the best all-rounder for listeners.
In our opinion, Spotify is the better choice if you are looking for a good overall package. However, SoundCloud can be worthwhile if you want to find new independent artists. You can test both SoundCloud and Spotify completely free of charge for a month so that you can try out both offers yourself in advance without any obligations.
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