10 SoundCloud Alternatives for Podcasters and Music-preneurs
By Are you tired of the spambots on SoundCloud?
You’re not alone. Many users are switching to other platforms to get better analytics.
Source: Reddit
In this guide, let’s look at ten SoundCloud alternatives and explore what each tool is best for. These audio distribution platforms offer superior features like hyper-specific analytics, sleek integrations, and unlimited capabilities. Whether you’re a podcaster or music-preneur, this guide will help you find a tool that fits your unique needs.
About SoundCloud
Source: YouTube
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform known for its underground base tunes.
According to many listeners, it’s the best platform to discover remixes and random edits that you can’t find elsewhere.
However, it’s a different story for professional musicians and podcasters.
These users cite multiple reasons for leaving SoundCloud, like poor audio quality, exorbitant earning cuts, and numerous spam bots that flood the comment box and inflate the analytics.
Top 10 SoundCloud alternatives to upload your music or podcast
1. Beginner-friendly: BuzzSprout
Source: Buzzsprout
If we have to describe Buzzsprout in a word, it’d be effortless.
This SoundCloud alternative is ideal for non-tech savvy podcasters looking to streamline their workflow on one platform.
Pros:
- Built-in transcription at an additional $0.25/minute
- Unlimited number of audiograms per episode
- WordPress plugin that pulls episodes directly from Buzzsprout into your WordPress site or blog
- Excellent customer support. According to Buzzsprout’s website, the average wait time is only 19 minutes!
- Huge variety of useful resources on YouTube and private Facebook Group for all things podcasting
Limitations:
- Free plan users will have their episodes deleted after 90 days (including on podcast directories)
- Basic paid plan offers only three hours of content upload, with additional charge to upload more
- Limited custom branding options for landing pages etc.
Unique features:
- Visual Soundbites: Create audiograms directly on Buzzsprout, thanks to integration with Canva
- Magic Mastering: Reduce unwanted sounds (e.g., humming) and optimize recordings to match industry best practices
Note that you will have to pay $6 to $12 per month to unlock Magic Mastering.
Consider using a third-party tool like BounceCast to edit your episodes, while saving money down the road.
Look for Special Processors under the MedKit button and activate the relevant processors. For example, click Epic Radio Host if you want to turn your scrappy podcast audio into a professional-quality radio show.
Ensure that the Smart Enhancement (see pink button) is turned on before downloading the file.
BounceCast starts free. Grab the BounceCast annual deal for $59 on AppSumo today.
Pricing: Starts free, with paid plans from $12/month
2. Best free: Anchor
Anchor is a free podcast hosting service from Spotify for Podcasters.
It’s best for casual podcasters with simple needs who are looking to dip their toes in the podcasting scene with zero investment.
Pros:
- Completely free to use with no limitations on uploads, downloads, etc.
- Anchor-Spotify integration that lets you add any full tracks from Spotify to your episodes
Limitations:
- Lack of integration, unlike competing podcast hosting services like Buzzsprout and Captivate
- Ads by Anchor program is underwhelming. According to a G2 user, he’s only done ads for Anchor and Spotify, none for third-party brands.
- Hit-or-miss recording and editing tools. Many users recommend using external tools to record and edit your episodes.
Take BounceCast, for instance.
After recording, the audio processing app optimizes your clips automatically in a single interface.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3U8BEQ-E6Q&list=PLcAuLBxTXS8YLY6bn3ZF9NF2aaRbBr0Gt&index=3
BounceCast starts free. Grab the BounceCast annual deal for $59 on AppSumo today.
Unique features:
- Ads by Anchor: Anchor automatically inserts ads from third-party brands based on your selected ad breaks
Pricing: Free
3. Value for money: Captivate
Source: YouTube
Captivate is a fan-favorite podcast hosting service from the UK.
Since pricing is based on the number of downloads, it’s a great choice for podcasters who want to host multiple shows at a fixed monthly cost.
Pros:
- Time-saving show notes builder that offers easy-to-use templates and shortcodes
- Captivate Sync™ WordPress plugin that publishes your podcast to your site seamlessly
- Regular improvements and new features
- Unique listener data that goes deep into episode drop-offs, skips, replays, etc.
Limitations:
- Only the business plan offers unlimited reusable show notes templates
- One of the more expensive podcast hosting services out there
Unique features:
- Guest Booking System: Control over how far out guests can book or rebook, block unavailable dates, allow guests to submit the information you require, and more
- One-click Sponsor Kit: Click to download a PDF of your listenership data and send to brands for potential sponsorships
- Captivate Growth Labs: A private podcast growth group where users talk about podcast marketing with the Captivate team
Pricing: 7-day free trial, with paid plans from $19 per month
4. Best for selling merch: Spotify
Spotify needs no introduction.
Music-preneurs dreaming of boosting sales and fan loyalty, look no further. This huge SoundCloud alternative is best for making your merch investment worth your while.
Pros:
- Spotify-Shopify integration to promote your merchandises on your artist profile
- Easy and speedy verification
- Spotify-Songkick integration that lets you list virtual event listings on your artist profile
Limitations:
- Glitchy Canvas. Users report frequent lags when they try to create an eight-second loop visual of their album art.
Unique features:
- Artist Fundraising Pick: Raise funds for yourself, your team, or charities you support from fans on Spotify
Pricing: Free
5. Best for hands-off merch: Amazon Music for Artists
What if you don’t have the storage and shipping system in place to sell your merchandise?
In that case, turn your attention to Amazon Music for Artists. This SoundCloud alternative takes care of your custom merch without any overhead costs.
If you want to upload your podcast, check out its sister brand, Podcasters.
Pros:
- Detailed analytics, like the numbers of voice requests listeners make on Alexa
- Livestream via Twitch. Amazon Music will alert your followers anytime you go live.
Limitations:
- Confusing set-up caused by unintuitive interface. Many creators report not being able to get the submit button to work.
- Frustrating customer support that frequently directs you to another department
Unique features:
- Artist Merch Shop: Upload custom merch and let Amazon handle the rest. Alternatively, ship your merch to an Amazon Fulfillment Center and let it take care of the post-sale operations. Learn more about the fees and requirements here.
Pricing: Free (excluding merch)
6. Best for listener engagement: Podbean
The secret ingredient to building a successful podcast? Community.
With Podbean, interact with listeners during live calls and receive virtual gifts from your fan club.
Pros:
- Simple and effective audio recorder
- Quick-and-easy tools to interact with guests and listeners (e.g., listeners can send virtual gifts to hosts during live stream, which can be cashed out on PayPal)
Limitations:
- Inaccurate analytics. A Reddit user reported seeing 55 plays total for the week during lunch, but when they logged back in the evening, it showed 27 plays.
- Odd quirks that might take a while to get used to. For instance, it can be unintuitive to customize templates.
Unique features:
- Amazon Alexa: Podbean will deliver your podcast episodes on Alexa devices via the Podbean Alexa skill
- Fan Club: Earn money when listeners pay to join your podcast’s fan club.
Pricing: Starts free, with paid plans from $14/month
7. Best for WordPress users: Blubrry
It’s a pain migrating a podcast.
Fortunately, Blubrry offers stress-free migration for WordPress users at zero cost. This SoundCloud alternative also provides a WordPress plugin that speeds up your workflow.
Pros:
- Free file migration and WordPress site
- Podcast directory that gives you a chance to get featured on Editor’s Pick
- WordPress plugin called PowerPress that streams your podcast from your website for a streamlined produce → post → publish workflow
Limitations:
- Inconsistent analytics that paint an inaccurate picture of your listens daily total
- Ad-ridden user interface. More than half of the screen is covered by advertisements promoting Blubrry’s premium analytics.
Unique features:
- Podcast Network Solutions: A podcast production team that “professionalizes” your podcast like mastering your audio, uploading to a media host, composing custom music for your intro. Discover what else is covered here.
Pricing: Starts at $12 per month. A 30-day free trial is available for the Advanced plan ($20/month). Podcast Network Solutions require an additional charge.
8. Memberships: Libsyn
Source: Libsyn Glow
Libsyn offers customized apps and an advanced membership program for your listeners. If you’re serious about earning revenue from your podcast, this one’s for you.
Pros:
- Audio, video, and PDF hosting and distribution
- FTP upload support is available
Limitations:
- Dated and clunky user interface that runs slow at times
- Frequent updates that may impact your plan. A Reddit user shared that they’re unable to crosspost to Twitter with a custom tweet like they used to.
- High-barrier to ads program. Libsyn requires episodes to get at least 5K U.S. downloads within 30 days of release.
Unique features:
- Customized iOS and Android app: For an additional $20 every month, the Libsyn team will work closely with you to build an app for your podcast
- Libsyn Glow: Build a membership program that delivers exclusive benefits to top listeners (e.g., sell bonus episodes as a one-time purchase). Learn more about Libsyn Glow here.
Pricing: Starts at $5 per month
9. Unlimited shows: Transistor
Source: YouTube
Like Captivate, Transistor also lets you host unlimited podcasts at a monthly price.
It’s incredibly easy uploading different episodes from multiple shows thanks to its clean and intuitive interface.
Pros:
- Unlimited podcasts with any of the plans
- Clean, usable, and intuitive interface
- Easy-to-understand analytics
- A+ customer support. Here’s a G2 user commending the team for their fast response and support on weekends.
Limitations:
- One of the more expensive podcast hosting services out there
Unique features:
- Private Podcast: Send your private audio clips for business use cases (e.g., ongoing training to new employees, weekly CEO message to teams)
Pricing: Free 14-day trial, with paid plans from $19 per month
10. Best for Apple users: Apple Music for Artists
Set up your music career for success with Apple Music for Artists.
Our last SoundCloud alternative in this list offers impressive audio processing and marketing tools to create studio-quality music.
Podcasters, check out Apple Podcast.
Pros:
- Sleek audio editing tools to record, mix, and master your tracks across devices. For example, you can record voice memos and export them to GarageBand or add melodic patterns in LogicPro seamlessly.
- Impressive marketing tools to get your music out into the world (e.g., generate a 30-second Twitter Audio Card preview of a song with your album cover art, share notable milestones you’ve hit on Apple Music to channels like Twitter, Snapchat, and Facebook)
Limitations:
- Random approval processes. Some musicians get approved within a week, others take as long as four months.
- Lack of functionality. Several musicians struggle to change their bio, upload music videos, etc.
Unique features:
- Artist compensation: Artists and creators specializing in dance and electronic music will get compensated when they are included in mixes or when they make those mixes
Pricing: Free
Final thoughts
These SoundCloud alternatives offer numerous attractive features for professional podcasters and music-preneurs.
Let’s quickly recap what each audio distribution platform is best for.
- BuzzSprout is ideal for beginners due to its multiple features baked into one platform. There’s little need to use third-party tools, unless you’re looking to save money down the road.
- Anchor is best for hobbyists with basic podcasting needs.
- Even though Captivate is one of the more expensive podcast hosting platforms out there, its impressive features and regular updates make it worth every penny.
- Spotify is fantastic for selling merch thanks to its powerful integration with Shopify.
- Amazon Music for Artists is a better platform to sell your merch if you don’t have storage or shipping systems in place.
- Podbean is excellent for engaging with listeners.
- Blubrry is ideal for WordPress users. Use the PowerPress plugin to streamline your produce-post-publish workflow
- Libsyn is best for all things memberships. Sell bonus episodes at a one-time purchase or build a customized app to boost branding and loyalty.
- Host unlimited shows on Transistor at a fixed monthly fee!
- Apple Music for Artists is best for Apple users. Its artist compensation program wins them a brownie point.
These SoundCloud alternatives should help you (re)start your music or podcast career.
If you ever find yourself outgrowing their features, don’t fret!
AppSumo is home to 13,000+ tools that scale your business at a wallet-friendly cost. Check out our store when you’re ready to reach new heights in your music or podcasting business.