Photo by Rezli on Unsplash
MARKETING & PROMOTION
SoundCloud Alternatives for Artists: Where Else to Upload and Share Your Music
Nida
Nov 2, 2026
SoundCloud is still where a lot of producers, DJs and rappers post new music, and its limits send some artists looking elsewhere. The free plan stops at 2 hours of uploads, and unlimited uploads cost $99 a year. In May 2025, SoundCloud also changed part of its terms after artists objected to wording about AI.
This post is for artists who want somewhere else to upload, share or sell their music, next to SoundCloud or in its place. It covers what each alternative is good for, what it costs, and how to bring your listeners with you.
TL;DR
-
SoundCloud's free plan allows 2 hours of uploads. Artist raises that to 3 hours for $39 a year, and Artist Pro removes the limit for $99 a year.
-
Audiomack hosts unlimited uploads for free and includes stats, so it's the closest free swap for uploading and streaming.
-
Mixcloud is built for DJ mixes and radio shows. Free accounts can publish up to 10 shows, and Pro removes the limit.
-
Bandcamp is the place to sell, for 15% of digital sales (10% after $5,000) and 10% of physical items, plus payment fees.
-
Your own website gives your music one address you control, with a player, a store and a mailing list in one place.
-
Keep your SoundCloud profile up when you move, so old links and private promo links keep working.
Table of contents
What are the best SoundCloud alternatives for artists?
Audiomack is the closest free replacement for uploading and streaming tracks. Mixcloud suits DJ mixes and radio shows, Bandcamp is for selling downloads and records, and YouTube adds video. Pick by what you used SoundCloud for, and use your own website to tie them together at one address you control.
| If you use SoundCloud for | Try | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Uploading and streaming tracks | Audiomack | Free, no upload limit |
| DJ mixes and radio shows | Mixcloud | Free for 10 shows, Pro for more |
| Selling downloads and records | Bandcamp | Free to join, a share of each sale |
| Video and search | YouTube | Free |
| One address for everything | Your own website | A website plan |
Why artists look beyond SoundCloud
Upload space is the first reason. SoundCloud's pricing page lists three plans for artists:
| Plan | Price | Upload limit | Distribute and monetize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | 2 hours | Not included |
| Artist | $39 a year | 3 hours | 2 tracks a month |
| Artist Pro | $99 a year | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Two hours holds about 30 four-minute tracks, and one DJ mix can use an hour of it. Once you reach the limit, you can't upload more until you remove tracks or upgrade.
The second reason is the terms. In May 2025, SoundCloud revised them after artists objected to wording about using uploads for AI. The new wording, as Engadget reported, says it won't train generative AI to replicate or synthesize "your voice, music, or likeness" from your uploads unless you opt in. Read the current terms yourself if this matters to you, since terms can change again.
Electronic artists still use SoundCloud for unreleased edits, mixes and private promo links, as the guide to growing an electronic music fanbase describes. If that's how you use it, keep it and add a second home for your music.
How to choose where to upload next
Each platform does a different job. Check these before you build a new profile:
-
Where your listeners already are. Ask a few fans which apps they use. If none of them use a platform, you'll be starting from zero there.
-
How you'd earn there. Some platforms pay for plays, some take a share of sales, and some only offer tips or subscriptions.
-
What you upload. Full albums, hour-long mixes and unreleased demos each suit a different place.
-
An embeddable player. A player you can put on your own website lets one page hold music from every platform you use.
-
What happens if you leave. Keep your original files and a list of every place your music lives.
Audiomack
Audiomack is a free streaming and sharing platform with no upload limit. Its creator page says "Whether you have 1 song or 1,000, Audiomack lets you host it all for free," and the free artist account includes a stats dashboard.
Audiomack pays some creators per stream through AMP, its monetization program. AMP is still in beta, and the company says it will open to all creators in 2027. Until you're in it, plan on Audiomack for listeners first and income later.
Mixcloud
Mixcloud is built for long DJ mixes and radio shows. It says it has licensing agreements with many labels and publishers, which let DJs upload or livestream mixes containing other artists' music without worrying about takedowns. It also says artists get paid when their music is played.
Photo by Panagiotis Falcos on Unsplash
Free accounts can publish up to 10 shows at a time. Pro removes that limit and lets listeners subscribe to you or send tips, for $4.17 a month billed yearly.
Promoters want to hear a mix before they book you, so put a link to your strongest one in every DJ booking pitch.
Bandcamp
Bandcamp is built for selling downloads, vinyl, tapes and shirts. Artist accounts are free, and fans can play your releases there before they buy.
Bandcamp keeps 15% of digital sales and 10% of physical items. The digital share drops to 10% once you reach $5,000 in sales, and stays there as long as you've made at least $5,000 in the past 12 months. Payment fees, usually 4 to 6%, come on top. If Bandcamp is the platform you're unsure about, here are the other places to sell your music online.
YouTube
YouTube is free, and many listeners use its search to find music. A track uploaded with a still image or a short visualizer can reach listeners who never open SoundCloud.
Photo by atelierbyvineeth ... on Unsplash
Your distributor can also deliver your releases to YouTube, and both of SoundCloud's paid artist plans include YouTube Content ID. For what to upload, see how to use YouTube as a musician.
Private links for demos and promos
SoundCloud's private links do this job well. You can send an unreleased track to a label, a DJ or a blogger without making it public, and they can stream it in the browser.
If you leave SoundCloud completely, a private folder link from a cloud storage service can do the same. Name each file with your artist name and the track title, say whether the person can download it, and keep the link working until the release is out.
If private links are all you still need SoundCloud for, a free account will do, as long as your uploads stay under 2 hours.
Your own website
Every platform above can change its prices and rules, and your followers stay inside each one. Your own website is the address that stays yours, and it can hold all of them at once.
You can embed players from the platforms you use, and put a SoundCloud track, a Mixcloud mix and a Bandcamp album on the same page. You can also upload your own audio and play it through your site's player, with no other hosting service in between. On Noiseyard, every plan can embed those players, and you can upload your own tracks on the Standard plan (200 minutes) or the Unlimited plan (no limit). A website doesn't bring listeners of its own the way a streaming app can, so its visitors come from your shows, social posts and other profiles.
Your site can also collect email addresses. A listener who joins your mailing list is someone you can email about the next release, wherever you upload it. Here's how to build an email list as a musician, from the signup form to what to send.
How to bring your SoundCloud listeners with you
You can't move followers from one platform to another, so the aim is to get as many as you can onto your own list before you change anything.
-
Keep your SoundCloud profile up. Old links in posts, playlists and press keep working, and listeners can still find you there. If you cancel a paid plan with more than 2 hours uploaded, SoundCloud hides your oldest tracks from listeners until you delete enough audio or upgrade again. Decide which tracks to keep before you cancel.
-
Add your website address to your SoundCloud bio and to each new track description. If you pay for Artist Pro, you can also add a buy link to each track.
-
Offer something for an email. A free download of an unreleased track gives listeners a reason to join your list, and download codes let you hand one to each person.
-
Say where new music will be. Put it in the description of your next upload, and pin that track to the top of your profile with Spotlight if your plan includes it.
-
Embed your SoundCloud tracks on your website, so it has music on it from day one, before you settle on where to upload next.
-
Update the link in your bio everywhere else. Point it at your website, for the reasons in Linktree alternatives for musicians.
-
Check again after a month. Compare your SoundCloud stats with your plays on the platforms you've added, then decide what to keep.
If you don't have your own website yet, set it up before you change anything on SoundCloud. Then the address in your bios and track descriptions stays the same, wherever you upload next.
Build your own musician website
Music player, store, EPK, and mailing list, all built in. Start your 30-day free trial, cancel anytime.
Common mistakes to avoid
-
Deleting your SoundCloud account first. Old links break, and listeners who missed your announcement lose track of you.
-
Deleting tracks you sent as private promos. The links in labels' and DJs' inboxes stop working.
-
Uploading DJ mixes where the tracks aren't licensed. Use a platform with licensing deals that cover the music in your mixes.
-
Spreading new releases across five platforms with no main link. Pick one address for every bio and post.
-
Paying for space you don't use. Check how much of your upload limit you've used before you upgrade or move.
-
Joining a platform your listeners don't use. Ask fans where they listen before you upload anywhere new.
Common questions
What is SoundCloud's free upload limit?
Two hours of audio. SoundCloud's Artist plan allows 3 hours for $39 a year, and Artist Pro has no limit for $99 a year. Once you reach the limit, you can't upload more until you remove tracks or upgrade.
Is there a free SoundCloud alternative with unlimited uploads?
Audiomack hosts unlimited uploads for free, and the free account includes stats. Its pay program is still in beta, so plan on it for listeners before income.
Where should DJs upload mixes besides SoundCloud?
Mixcloud suits mixes and radio shows, and it says its licensing deals cover the music in them. The free plan allows 10 published shows, and Pro has no limit.
Should I delete my SoundCloud account?
Usually not. Keep the profile up so old links keep working, say in your bio where new music is, and stop uploading there if you've moved. Deleting the account removes your tracks for good, along with their plays and comments.
Can I upload the same music to more than one platform?
Yes, if you own the rights. Plenty of artists use SoundCloud or Audiomack for listeners and Bandcamp for sales at the same time. Check any label or distribution deal you've signed for exclusivity first.
Do I need a website if I'm on SoundCloud?
You can start without one. A website becomes useful once you're on more than one platform, because it gives fans one address for your music, shows and mailing list.
