Key takeaways
- SoundCloud and Audiomack both support music uploads, discovery, and artist monetization, but are designed for different creator goals.
- Audiomack offers unlimited uploads and unlimited storage for free, whereas SoundCloud Basic includes up to two hours of upload time, with unlimited uploads available on Artist Pro.
- SoundCloud Artist Pro distributes music to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and 60+ streaming platforms, while Audiomack primarily supports publishing within its own ecosystem.
- Audiomack is well-suited for artists seeking visibility through charts, playlists, and genre pages, particularly in hip-hop, Afrobeats, dancehall, and other emerging music scenes.
- SoundCloud offers multiple monetization options, including Fan-Powered Royalties, distribution earnings, Fan Support, and Split Pay, while Audiomack monetizes music through AMP, Supporters, and Premiere Access.
SoundCloud and Audiomack are music streaming platforms that help artists upload and share their music. The main difference is that SoundCloud also offers distribution, which allows artists to release music to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, and other major streaming services. Audiomack focuses on streaming, music discovery, and creator monetization within its own platform.
In the Audiomack vs. SoundCloud comparison, SoundCloud is the better choice for artists who want to combine distribution, fan engagement, analytics, and monetization in one creator ecosystem. Audiomack is a strong option for creators looking for free, unlimited uploads and audience growth within the Audiomack community.
This guide is published by SoundCloud. We compare our platform alongside Audiomack to help you make an informed choice.
Should artists choose SoundCloud or Audiomack?
Audiomack can work well for artists who want a streaming platform for uploads, grow visibility in hip-hop, Afrobeats, dancehall, and emerging global scenes, and monetize through its creator programs. SoundCloud is better for artists who want to build a fanbase, distribute music to major streaming platforms, understand listener behavior, and grow long-term revenue through Artist Pro.
Requirements | Better Option |
Music distribution plus audience growth | SoundCloud |
Direct listener engagement, analytics, and messaging | SoundCloud |
Mobile-first viral discovery & trending charts | Audiomack |
Long-term artist catalog management and monetization | SoundCloud |
Should people choose SoundCloud or Audiomack?
There is no one best music platform for independent artists. SoundCloud is better for artists who want one platform for music uploads, fan engagement, analytics, monetization, and distribution to major streaming platforms. Audiomack is better for artists who want only a streaming platform with free uploads, music discovery, fan interaction, and creator monetization.
Feature | SoundCloud | Audiomack |
Best for | Artists seeking long-term growth, Distribution, analytics, Fan-Powered Royalties, and direct fan engagement | Artists seeking free uploads, discovery-focused listeners, AMP monetization, and fan interaction |
External music distribution | Yes, Artist Pro includes Distribution to 60+ platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, and more | No, Audiomack is mainly a streaming and discovery platform, not a full DSP distribution service |
Monetization | Fan-Powered Royalties and distribution earnings | Audiomack monetization program, premiere access, and direct platform payouts |
Audience engagement | Comments, reposts, follows, playlists, fan messaging, and direct listener interaction | Comments, followers, direct fan messaging, Supporters, and creator app engagement tools |
Discovery tools | Recommendations, playlists, reposts, community activity, and platform discovery | Trending charts, playlists, discovery-focused listeners, editorial content, and genre/community visibility |
Analytics | Advanced audience insights, engagement data, listener behavior, and performance reporting | Release stats, plays, favorites, playlist adds, re-ups, top fans, and location data |
Pricing | Basic Artist: $3.25/month Artist Pro: $8.25/month | Free Plan Plus: $5.99/month |
Ease of use | All-in-one creator platform for uploads, distribution, analytics, and monetization | Mobile-first creator workflow for uploading, checking stats, messaging fans, and monetizing on Audiomack |
Where will more people find your music?
Audience and music discovery determine how easily new listeners can find your music and whether they continue engaging with your releases over time.
SoundCloud for music discovery
SoundCloud uses recommendations, reposts, comments, playlists, and listener activity to help artists reach new audiences. Community interaction plays an important role in how music spreads across the platform. With Artist Pro, artists can also distribute music to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and 60+ platforms to extend discovery beyond SoundCloud.
Audiomack for music discovery
Audiomack centers discovery around streaming behavior and editorial surfaces. Artists can reach listeners through Discover, Charts, Playlists, Feed, trending releases, and genre pages. Authenticated creators can further increase visibility through follower notifications, trending submissions, and algorithmic recommendations.
Which platform is better for upload limits and storage?
Upload limits and storage affect how often artists can release music, share demos, upload DJ mixes, publish podcasts, or build a large catalog without deleting older content.
SoundCloud upload limits
SoundCloud’s free Basic plan includes up to two hours of total upload time. The Artist plan includes up to three hours, and Artist Pro includes unlimited uploads. SoundCloud also supports large uploads, with a maximum file size of 4 GB and a maximum track length of 24 hours.
Audiomack upload limits
Audiomack allows unlimited uploads and unlimited storage for artists without requiring a paid subscription. Artists can upload songs, albums, podcasts, and other audio content through the Creator App, including MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, and other local files.
Which platform is better for different music genres?
The genres influence how easily artists can connect with listeners looking for that style of music. Reaching the right audience can improve music discovery and fan growth.
SoundCloud for niche and genre-fluid music
SoundCloud gives artists more flexibility when a track does not fit one clean genre. Artists can use the genre field, custom tags, mood tags, style tags, and theme tags to help listeners find music through search and recommendations.
Audiomack for genre-based discovery
Audiomack gives artists clear genre discovery paths through charts, trending pages, playlists, and categories like Afrosounds, Hip-Hop/Rap, Latin, Jazz/Blues, Caribbean, Pop, R&B, Gospel, Electronic, Rock, Punjabi, Country, Instrumental, and Podcast. This makes it useful for artists who fit into active genre lanes with strong listener demand.
How do artists make money on each platform?
Both SoundCloud and Audiomack help artists earn from their music, but the earning paths are different.
Monetization feature | SoundCloud | Audiomack |
Streaming royalties | Yes | Yes |
Royalty retention | Artists receive 100% of eligible earnings from SoundCloud and distributed platforms | AMP uses a 50% revenue share for qualifying monetized streams |
Music distribution revenue | Yes, through Artist Pro distribution to 60+ platforms | No, Audiomack is not a streaming platform. It monetizes activity inside Audiomack |
Direct fan support | Yes, through Fan Support | Yes, through Supporters |
YouTube monetization | Yes | No |
Royalty splits | Yes, Split Pay is available for Artist Pro creators | No native collaborator royalty split tool |
Audience growth tools | Yes, discovery, comments, reposts, analytics, and fan insights | Yes, creator analytics, fan messaging, Promote Tab for music promotion, and top-fan insights |
Best for | Artists seeking monetization, distribution, fan engagement, and long-term catalog growth | Artists focused on earning from Audiomack streams and in-app fan support |
SoundCloud monetization
SoundCloud gives artists multiple earning paths through Fan-Powered Royalties, SoundCloud monetization, distribution earnings, Fan Support, and Split Pay. Artist Pro also adds distribution to major streaming platforms, where artists receive 100% of eligible earnings from SoundCloud and partner platforms.
Audiomack monetization
Audiomack allows eligible creators to earn from streams through the Audiomack Monetization Program (AMP). Audiomack also offers Supporters and Premiere Access. Supporters let fans directly contribute to releases, with artists keeping 85% of music royalties. Premiere Access lets AMP-enrolled artists offer music early before the official release.
Which platform is better for community features and fan engagement?
Community features help music spread through comments, reposts, playlists, feeds, and listener activity. Fan engagement helps artists turn those interactions into repeat listening, direct support, and stronger listener relationships.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud supports community building to promote music through comments, likes, reposts, follows, playlists, direct messages, and feed activity. Artists can also use Fan-Powered Royalties, engagement data, and Fan Support to identify active listeners and build stronger fan relationships.
Audiomack
Audiomack supports community engagement through playlists, charts, re-ups, comments, follower messaging, top-fan insights, and Connect. Its Creator App also lets artists reply to comments, message followers, track top fans, and build visibility inside Audiomack’s listener community.
Which platform gives artists better analytics and insights?
Analytics help artists understand who is listening, how music is performing, and what actions lead to audience growth. These insights can guide release planning, fan engagement, and marketing decisions.
SoundCloud analytics
SoundCloud Insights provides detailed audience and engagement data. Artist Pro unlocks advanced analytics that help artists understand listener behavior across their catalog.
Key insights include:
- Plays, likes, reposts, comments, and downloads
- Top listeners and fan engagement trends
- Play sources and external websites driving traffic
Audiomack analytics
Audiomack provides free analytics through its Creator App and Creator Dashboard, giving artists access to performance data without a paid subscription.
Key insights include:
- Plays, favorites, playlist adds, re-ups, and followers
- Unique listeners and listener trends
- Top fans and creator engagement
- Trend rankings and play counts over different time periods
Which platform offers more distribution and career growth opportunities?
Music distribution and career growth determine how easily artists can expand their audience, release music on multiple platforms, and build long-term revenue.
SoundCloud for distribution and career growth
SoundCloud Artist Pro gives artists unlimited uploads, unlimited monetization, advanced insights, full distribution capabilities, and creator tools in one platform.
This makes SoundCloud a better fit for artists who want to release music beyond one platform, track performance, monetize their catalog, and manage growth from one creator dashboard.
Audiomack for career growth
Artists can upload unlimited songs, albums, and podcasts, check stats, interact with fans, apply for the Audiomack Monetization Program, unlock Supporters and Premiere Access, and cash out from the Creator App.
This makes Audiomack useful for artists who want to grow and monetize their audience within its streaming platform. Unlike SoundCloud, Audiomack does not distribute releases to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, or other streaming services.
Can you use SoundCloud and Audiomack together?
Yes. Many independent artists use SoundCloud and Audiomack together because each platform serves a different purpose. Audiomack serves as a streaming platform for uploads, discovery, and monetization.
SoundCloud complements this by offering fan engagement, audience insights, and distribution to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Audiomack, and 60+ platforms through Artist Pro. Using both platforms allows artists to reach different listener communities while managing long-term growth, monetization, and distribution from a single creator platform.
Final verdict
Both music sharing platforms help artists upload music online, reach listeners, and monetize their work. Audiomack is a streaming-only platform for free, unlimited uploads and discovery within its own community.
For artists looking to build a long-term career, SoundCloud offers more in one platform with distribution, Fan-Powered Royalties, analytics, fan engagement, and monetization in a single platform.
Want to take the next step in your music career? Subscribe to SoundCloud Artist Pro to distribute your music, understand your audience, and grow your career from one platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SoundCloud better than Audiomack?
SoundCloud is better for artists who want more than music hosting. It combines distribution, Fan-Powered Royalties, analytics, fan engagement, and monetization in one platform. Audiomack is a strong choice as a streaming platform for free, unlimited uploads and discovery within its own streaming community.
Which platform has more users, SoundCloud or Audiomack?
SoundCloud has a larger global audience than Audiomack, while Audiomack has built a strong listener base in genres such as hip-hop, Afrobeats, and dancehall. Both platforms help artists reach listeners, but they support discovery in different ways.
Can I upload music to both SoundCloud and Audiomack?
Yes. Many independent artists use both platforms together. Audiomack hosts music within its own streaming platform, while SoundCloud Artist Pro also distributes releases to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and 60+ streaming platforms.
What is the best free platform for new musicians?
The best free platform depends on the artist’s goals. Audiomack is a good streaming-only option for artists who want free, unlimited uploads and in-platform discovery. SoundCloud's Basic plan is well-suited for artists who want to build a fanbase before upgrading to Artist or Artist Pro for additional distribution and monetization features.
Can you monetize music on SoundCloud?
Yes. Eligible artists can monetize music on SoundCloud through Fan-Powered Royalties, SoundCloud monetization, Fan Support, and distribution earnings with Artist Pro. Artist Pro also includes distribution to major streaming platforms, creating multiple revenue opportunities from one creator platform.
Does SoundCloud distribute music to Spotify?
Yes. SoundCloud distributes music to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and 60+ streaming platforms. Artists can manage distribution, audience insights, monetization, and fan engagement from the same creator platform.
What are Fan-Powered Royalties on SoundCloud?
Fan-Powered Royalties is SoundCloud's listener-centric payment model. Instead of pooling subscription revenue across all artists, eligible creators earn based on what their own fans actually listen to, creating a more direct connection between listener engagement and artist earnings.
How many songs can you upload to SoundCloud for free?
SoundCloud's Basic plan includes up to two hours of total upload time rather than a fixed number of songs. The Artist plan increases the upload allowance, while Artist Pro removes upload limits entirely, allowing unlimited tracks and releases.













