Apple Music is considered one of the best music services on the market. SoundCloud relies on its own concept. Is that enough to keep up with Apple Music?
At first glance, SoundCloud doesn't seem to be a real alternative to the music streaming giant Apple Music. However, a second look reveals SoundCloud's potential. (Source: Montage: Netzwelt / Image: Netzwelt with AI / Apps: App Store)
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User interface and apps
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Subscriptions and prices
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Common features and functions
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Exclusive features: Special offer from Apple Music
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Music library, song suggestions and playlists
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Audio quality from SoundCloud and Apple Music
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Two different worlds
Apple Music is one of the most popular music streaming services on the market. Apple's general reputation gives the provider a clear advantage, especially over smaller competitors like SoundCloud. The question therefore arises as to whether the German service can be serious competition for Apple Music.
Fortunately, content also plays a crucial role and not just the brand itself. We have tested both SoundCloud and Apple Music extensively and compared them directly. A clear picture emerges.
User interface and apps
Nowadays, music streaming services are primarily used on smartphones. That's why we compared both apps and were not disappointed in terms of layout and design. While there are visually clear differences, most apps in this category have one thing in common.
The navigation bar is located at the bottom of both apps, so you can easily find individual areas such as your library or the search function at any time. This is also the case with most of the other competitors and industry standards, in this case nothing unusual.
It's easy to distinguish the Apple Music app (left) from the SoundCloud app (right). However, both apps have a common navigation bar at the bottom. (Source: Netzwelt / Screenshot: Apple Music app & SoundCloud app)
From a purely visual perspective, Apple Music delivers what you would expect from the Cupertino company. Originally in a light design, it is also possible to switch to a dark design. The fonts are typically Apple in nature. In contrast, SoundCloud conveys a slight feeling of “underground”: the design appears rough, but we see this as a positive thing, simply because it is different without seeming strange.
In addition to the smartphone apps, you can also use your SoundCloud and Apple Music in the desktop apps and the respective web player. You can also use your favorite music via external devices such as speakers or headphones with the classic Bluetooth connection or AirPlay.
Subscriptions and prices
While there are certain similarities in the prices of the premium subscriptions, the number and focus of the subscriptions are fundamentally different for both providers.
Apple Music subscription options
This means that Apple is limiting itself to the three main subscriptions for music streaming. You won't find a duo version here, but SoundCloud doesn't have it on offer either. Competitors such as Spotify or Deezer, however, offer such a discounted subscription for two people.
SoundCloud subscription options
It is worth mentioning here that Go subscriptions are for listeners and Next subscriptions are for artists. For a fair comparison, we will now compare an Apple Music Premium Individual with SoundCloud Go+, as both subscription variants are direct competing products.
Common features and functions
Regardless of the provider you choose, all music streaming services have a foundation and common features to offer. Typically the benefits are like access to better audio quality or being able to listen to music without ads.
- Play without commercial breaks
- Many arbitrary downloads for offline playback
- High quality audio
- Organize song queues
- Listen to songs in any order
In addition to these features, both providers also have exclusive or unique features to offer. However, unlike Apple Music, SoundCloud doesn't have too many special features.
Exclusive features: Special offer from Apple Music
Since SoundCloud can also be used for free to a limited extent, access to full-length songs becomes an exclusive feature of SoundCloud Go+. However, we would rather criticize this because with the premium SoundCloud Go subscription alone you cannot fully enjoy all the tracks, which is very unusual for a music streaming service. The selection of exclusive features of SoundCloud Go+ is clearly presented:
- Access to all full-length tracks
- Compatibility with select DJ apps
The fact that SoundCloud is compatible with selected DJ apps is unlikely to matter to regular listeners. This would certainly be interesting for artists, but it serves a comparatively small target group. In contrast, Apple Music has a special range of exclusive content to offer internally and externally:
- Live performances, interviews and radio shows
- Real-time lyrics function
- Create, edit and listen to shared playlists with friends
- Apple Music Classic
- 3D audio with Dolby Atmos
The difference to the SoundCloud subscription is clear right away. In particular, 3D audio and the external app called Apple Music Classical stand out. The app is intended for fans of classical music. But why have a separate app for this genre?
Access to Apple Music Classical as an external app is included with your Apple Music subscription. (Source: Netzwelt / Screenshot: Apple Music)
Apple justified this step by saying that classical works have multiple movements and titles and that it therefore makes sense to dedicate a separate app to classical music. We have already tried the app and completely agree with Apple. From Johann Sebastian Bach to Felix Mendelssohn to Johannes Brahms, everything is included. In some cases there are countless recordings of the same works by different orchestras or soloists.
Music library, song suggestions and playlists
The music libraries are worth a special look: SoundCloud was and is the first large platform to which users could upload their music directly without major hurdles. This still works today and is the reason why the service has over 135 million songs to offer. However, there are almost no podcasts.
Apple Music claims to have over 100 million songs on offer. The selection of podcasts is larger. But be careful: with an Apple Music Premium subscription you won't find any podcasts in the Apple Music app. To do this you have to use the “Apple Podcasts” app. However, full access is included in your subscription.
In our opinion, the song suggestions and playlists are more accurate and better with Apple Music. For the playlists, both services use classic listening, sorted by genre, but also by mood and sometimes by artist. Apple Music has more to offer here, but SoundCloud doesn't have to hide and has a solid selection in its repertoire.
Audio quality from SoundCloud and Apple Music
The biggest difference is evident in the audio quality. Unfortunately, SoundCloud does not provide precise information about the transfer rates for the “Standard” and “High Audio Quality” levels. The company's support website simply states that “High Audio Quality” is encoded at 256 kbit/s (kilobits per second) in AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) format, which corresponds to approximately 320 kbit/s in MP3 format.
Apple Music, on the other hand, explains the different levels of audio quality in detail. These look like this:
- High quality: 256 kbit/s in AAC format
- Lossless: Up to 24-bit, 48 kHz in ALAC format (Apple Lossless Audio Codec)
- Hi-Res Lossless: Up to 24-bit, 192 kHz in ALAC format
We welcome the opportunity to use lossless audio formats. However, lossless audio also has disadvantages, for example data consumption is higher and it can only be used via a cable connection.
This means that you cannot simply use your Bluetooth headphones for this, but a direct connection must be established between the headphones and the device. For smartphones, for example, this is possible using a digital-to-analog converter; iPhone users can already use Apple's Lightning to 3.5 mm adapter. We recommend professional equipment for use on a desktop PC or Mac.
This usually consists of an audio interface from brands such as Focusrite or Universal Audio and the appropriate studio headphones, for example from Beyerdynamic or Audio-Technica. The 6.35 mm jack connection makes it possible to transmit lossless audio without any problems.
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Two different worlds
SoundCloud certainly has its right to exist and is often interesting for users who also make music or like to listen to unknown independent artists. However, in general, SoundCloud doesn't have much to offer other than the largest music library on the market.
Apple Music, on the other hand, knows how to appeal to a broad target group. This is clear from the excellent audio quality, the additional features and the better playlists. In our opinion, there can only be one winner in this direct comparison: Apple Music.
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