Apps Like SoundCloud: 12 Music Streaming and Discovery Alternatives
Text
About SoundCloud
Founded
2007
Sweden/Germany
Ships to
Worldwide
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
For a certain kind of listener, SoundCloud was the only place you'd find the good stuff — the 40-minute Boiler Room-style DJ set nobody uploaded anywhere else, the leaked demo, the remix that would never clear a sample, the rapper posting from a phone in Atlanta before anyone knew his name. The orange waveform with its timestamped comments turning up right at the drop, the Repost feature that let a track ricochet through your feed, the whole "SoundCloud rapper" era that launched Lil Uzi Vert, Post Malone, and Playboi Carti — this was music culture happening in real time, unfiltered and messy in the best way.
The free tier now stops your listening every couple of tracks for ads, and the DMCA takedowns have gutted the very mix culture that made the place worth visiting. Artists have been vocal about payouts and the shifting fan-powered royalty promises that never quite landed the way they were pitched.
The question is where that discovery instinct goes next.
The free tier now stops your listening every couple of tracks for ads, and the DMCA takedowns have gutted the very mix culture that made the place worth visiting. Artists have been vocal about payouts and the shifting fan-powered royalty promises that never quite landed the way they were pitched.
The question is where that discovery instinct goes next.
Quick decision
Narrow it down
Price
Best for
Jump to a brand
12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to SoundCloud
1
Bandcamp
Est. 2008
Oakland, USA
≈
similar
Fans who want to pay artists directly and own the files
Transparent Pricing
The go-to for supporting indie artists directly, with the same crate-digging energy SoundCloud built its name on — but artists actually keep most of the money.
Pros
- Artists keep ~82-85% of sales
- Bandcamp Fridays waive fees entirely
- Download lossless files you actually own
Cons
- Not a streaming-first experience
- Discovery is weaker than SoundCloud's feed
- No continuous autoplay radio
Visit Bandcamp
Full guide: Sites Like Bandcamp
2
Mixcloud
Est. 2008
London, UK
≈
similar
DJ mix and radio show listeners
Built specifically for DJ mixes, radio shows, and long-form sets — the exact content SoundCloud keeps taking down for copyright.
Pros
- Legally licensed for DJ mixes
- Mixcloud Select supports creators directly
- No takedowns on multi-track sets
Cons
- No downloads on free tier
- Can't skip freely without Premium
- Weaker for individual song discovery
3
Spotify
Est. 2006
Stockholm, Sweden
≈
similar
People who want polished discovery at scale
The obvious mainstream jump, with algorithmic discovery through Discover Weekly and Release Radar that surfaces indie tracks SoundCloud used to.
Pros
- Discover Weekly and Release Radar are best-in-class
- Huge catalog and playlist culture
- Works on every device
Cons
- Notoriously low per-stream artist payouts
- Less room for unsigned bedroom producers
- Free tier is ad-heavy too
Visit Spotify
Full guide: Apps Like Spotify
4
Audius
Est. 2018
San Francisco, USA
$
cheaper
Indie fans who want the SoundCloud vibe without the ads
Transparent Pricing
The most direct spiritual successor — a decentralized platform built for independent artists, uploads, and DJ content without the takedown machine.
Pros
- Free and ad-free streaming
- Artist-first, crypto-token payout model
- Upload culture mirrors early SoundCloud
Cons
- Much smaller catalog
- Crypto layer confuses casual users
- Discovery still maturing
5
YouTube Music
Est. 2015
San Bruno, USA
≈
similar
People who search for one specific rare upload
Inherits YouTube's endless well of remixes, live sets, and unofficial uploads — the same messy abundance SoundCloud was loved for.
Pros
- Unmatched depth of remixes and live footage
- Finds obscure uploads nothing else has
- Bundled with YouTube Premium
Cons
- Free tier stops when screen locks
- Interface feels bolted onto YouTube
- Recommendations lean commercial
6
Apple Music
Est. 2015
Cupertino, USA
$$$
pricier
iPhone users who want lossless and no ads
For listeners who want lossless audio and human-curated stations instead of ads — a clean upgrade path off SoundCloud's free tier.
Pros
- Lossless and spatial audio at no extra cost
- Apple Music Radio has real DJs
- Slightly higher per-stream payout than rivals
Cons
- No free tier
- Weaker for unsigned indie uploads
- Best inside the Apple ecosystem
Visit Apple Music
Full guide: Apps Like Apple Music
7
Tidal
Est. 2014
Oslo, Norway
$$$
pricier
Audiophiles who want artists paid fairly
Aimed at listeners who care about sound quality and artist pay — a direct answer to SoundCloud's payout complaints.
Pros
- HiFi and Master-quality streaming
- Stronger artist payout messaging
- Deep hip-hop and R&B curation
Cons
- No permanent free tier
- Smaller user base
- App can feel sluggish
Visit Tidal
Full guide: Apps Like Tidal
8
Beatport
Est. 2004
Denver, USA
≈
similar
DJs and electronic music heads
The electronic and DJ community's home base — where SoundCloud's dance producers actually sell and stream their tracks.
Pros
- Deepest electronic/dance catalog
- Beatport Streaming built for DJs
- Genre and BPM filtering DJs rely on
Cons
- Electronic-focused, not general purpose
- Streaming tier limited outside DJ use
- Pricier for casual listening
9
Deezer
Est. 2007
Paris, France
≈
similar
Listeners who want fairer royalty distribution
A full-catalog streamer that's pushed an artist-centric payment model, appealing to listeners who left SoundCloud over payout ethics.
Pros
- Artist-centric payout model rollout
- Flow personalized radio
- HiFi lossless available
Cons
- Smaller in the US market
- Discovery not as sharp as Spotify
- Interface feels dated
10
Amazon Music
Est. 2007
Seattle, USA
≈
similar
Prime members who want ad-free listening
A huge, ad-free-with-Prime catalog for those simply tired of SoundCloud's interruptions and willing to trade discovery for convenience.
Pros
- Bundled with Prime membership
- Ultra HD lossless on Unlimited
- Alexa voice integration
Cons
- Weak indie discovery
- Confusing tier structure
- No real upload culture
11
Audiomack
Est. 2012
New York, USA
$
cheaper
Hip-hop and Afrobeats discovery
The closest thing to old SoundCloud for hip-hop and Afrobeats — free uploads, artist monetization, and a mixtape-first culture.
Pros
- Free downloads and offline listening
- Strong for emerging rap and Afrobeats
- Audiomack Supporters pays artists
Cons
- Genre-skewed catalog
- Less relevant outside hip-hop
- Fewer mainstream releases
12
Resident Advisor
Est. 2001
London, UK
$
cheaper
Serious electronic music fans and clubbers
Not a streamer but the cultural hub for electronic music — its RA Podcast and event listings scratch the deep DJ-mix itch SoundCloud left behind.
Pros
- Free RA Podcast of curated mixes
- Unmatched electronic music journalism
- Event and ticket discovery
Cons
- Not a full streaming service
- Electronic-only focus
- Mix library is limited to the podcast
Closest to old SoundCloud culture
If you miss the upload-first, artist-driven mess of early SoundCloud, Audius and Audiomack come nearest. Audius keeps the ad-free indie feed alive with a decentralized, artist-owned model, while Audiomack runs on the same mixtape energy that launched the SoundCloud rap era — free downloads and all.
For the DJ-mix crowd
SoundCloud's copyright takedowns hit long-form mixes hardest. Mixcloud is legally licensed specifically for DJ sets and radio shows, Beatport is the electronic community's storefront and streaming home, and Resident Advisor's free RA Podcast delivers curated mixes nothing takes down.
If you're leaving over artist pay
Bandcamp sends roughly 82-85% of every sale straight to the artist and waives fees on Bandcamp Fridays. Tidal and Deezer both push higher-payout and artist-centric royalty models — the fairest options for listeners who left SoundCloud over how little musicians actually see.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Go with Audius if you want the free, ad-free, upload-driven feel of SoundCloud at its peak without the interruptions. Choose Bandcamp if your priority is putting money directly in artists' hands and owning lossless files. Mixcloud and Resident Advisor are the picks for DJ mixes and radio culture that SoundCloud keeps taking down. If you're ready to graduate to a polished mainstream service, Spotify wins on discovery through Discover Weekly and Release Radar, while Apple Music and Tidal reward listeners who care about lossless sound and better payouts. Hip-hop and Afrobeats heads should start with Audiomack. Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is the best free alternative to SoundCloud without ads?
Audius is the strongest free, ad-free option and its upload culture closely mirrors early SoundCloud. Audiomack also offers free streaming and downloads, especially strong for hip-hop and Afrobeats. Both avoid the every-few-tracks ad interruptions that pushed you to look.
QWhich SoundCloud alternative pays artists the most?
Bandcamp is the clear leader, sending roughly 82-85% of every sale to the artist and waiving fees entirely on Bandcamp Fridays. Tidal and Deezer have both pushed artist-centric royalty models, making them fairer than SoundCloud or Spotify on payouts.
QWhere can I listen to DJ mixes now that SoundCloud takes them down?
Mixcloud is built and legally licensed for DJ sets and radio shows, so mixes don't get pulled for copyright. Resident Advisor's free RA Podcast delivers curated electronic mixes, and Beatport Streaming caters directly to DJs with BPM and genre filtering.
QIs Audius really a good replacement for SoundCloud?
For the indie, upload-first experience, yes — it's free, ad-free, and artist-owned. The trade-off is a smaller catalog and a crypto-token payout layer that confuses casual users. If you loved SoundCloud for discovery over big-name releases, it's the closest match.
QWhat should SoundCloud rappers and emerging artists use to get discovered?
Audiomack is the natural home for emerging hip-hop and Afrobeats, with a mixtape-first culture and Audiomack Supporters for monetization. Audius is also artist-friendly, and Bandcamp works well if you want to sell directly to a dedicated fanbase.
Our Verdict
The Best SoundCloud Alternative For You
Go with Audius if you want the free, ad-free, upload-driven feel of SoundCloud at its peak without the interruptions. Choose Bandcamp if your priority is putting money directly in artists' hands and owning lossless files. Mixcloud and Resident Advisor are the picks for DJ mixes and radio culture that SoundCloud keeps taking down. If you're ready to graduate to a polished mainstream service, Spotify wins on discovery through Discover Weekly and Release Radar, while Apple Music and Tidal reward listeners who care about lossless sound and better payouts. Hip-hop and Afrobeats heads should start with Audiomack.