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Music · head to head

BandLab vs Soundtrap

BandLab logo

BandLab

Music

Free, browser and mobile-based collaborative DAW, with optional Pro and Max membership tiers for sample libraries and extras

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Soundtrap logo

Soundtrap

Music

Spotify-owned browser-based DAW and podcast studio, sold on separate Music Maker and Storytellers subscription tracks

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: BandLab mixing and mastering depth is shallower than desktop DAWs like Pro Tools or Ableton Live, so serious production work eventually outgrows it.; Soundtrap the free tier limits export quality and recording time enough that any real, publishable project needs a paid plan.
  • They diverge on capability: BandLab covers Browser-based DAW, Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BandLab and Soundtrap actually diverge.

Attributes where BandLab and Soundtrap differ
AttributeBandLabSoundtrap
Pricing modelPer user per yearPer user per month
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BandLab

  • Browser-based DAW
  • Cloud project storage
  • Sample and loop library
  • Social publishing feed
  • SongStarter AI

Only in Soundtrap

  • Browser-based multitrack editor
  • Podcast-specific tools
  • Loop and instrument library
  • Spotify Premium bundle
  • Direct publishing

Both cover

  • Real-time collaboration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BandLab

  • A mobile-first artist who wants to record, edit and publish a track entirely from a phone or tabletnot Soundtrap
  • A remote collaboration between musicians in different locations working on the same project in real timenot Soundtrap
  • A beginner who wants a fully functional DAW without buying a computer capable of running Pro Tools or Logic Pronot Soundtrap
  • A creator using SongStarter to break through writer’s block with an AI-generated starting pointnot Soundtrap

Soundtrap

  • A podcaster wanting browser-based multi-track voice recording with automatic leveling and noise reductionnot BandLab
  • A musician collaborating remotely with bandmates in real time without sharing large project files manuallynot BandLab
  • A Spotify Premium subscriber taking advantage of the bundled discount on a Soundtrap plannot BandLab
  • A creator who wants access to both music and podcast production tools and picks the Complete tiernot BandLab

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BandLab

  • Mixing and mastering depth is shallower than desktop DAWs like Pro Tools or Ableton Live, so serious production work eventually outgrows it.
  • Being browser-based, it depends on a stable internet connection for cloud sync and collaboration in a way desktop DAWs do not.
  • Pro and Max pricing steps up sharply after the first-year introductory rate (from $99 to $149, and $199 to $299), which is easy to miss when signing up.
  • Third-party plugin support is far more limited than a native desktop DAW, restricting sound design options for advanced producers.
  • The social publishing feed and artist-services framing mean the product is partly built around community engagement rather than purely production, which is not what every user wants from a DAW.

Soundtrap

  • The free tier limits export quality and recording time enough that any real, publishable project needs a paid plan.
  • Music Maker and Storytellers are marketed as distinct products despite sharing the same underlying editor, which can lead a buyer to pay for the wrong track or duplicate features across two subscriptions.
  • Production depth, plugin support and mixing precision remain behind desktop DAWs such as Pro Tools or Logic Pro, limiting it for professional mastering work.
  • As a Spotify-owned product, roadmap priorities are set by a streaming company, and features that primarily benefit Spotify’s ecosystem (like direct publishing) get more attention than deep audio engineering tools.
  • Reliance on a stable internet connection for cloud-based recording and collaboration makes it a poor fit for fieldwork or unreliable-connectivity environments compared with a local desktop DAW.

Pricing, plan by plan

BandLab

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full DAW functionality, no track limits
    • 20 sample downloads per month
  • Pro$99/year
    • First-year introductory price, renews at $149/year
    • 100 sample downloads per month
    • Artist services and platform perks
  • Max$199/year
    • First-year introductory price, renews at $299/year
    • 500 sample downloads per month
    • Expanded artist services

Soundtrap

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic recording and editing
    • Limited export quality and recording time
  • Music Maker Premium$9.99/month
    • Full-quality export
    • Extended recording time and loop library access
  • Music Maker Supreme$14.99/month
    • Expanded instrument and loop library
    • Higher-tier collaboration limits
  • Storytellers$14.99/month
    • Podcast-specific auto-leveling and noise reduction tools

Which should you pick?

Choose BandLab if

  • You need browser-based daw.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want cloud project storage.
BandLab review

Choose Soundtrap if

  • You need browser-based multitrack editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want podcast-specific tools.
Soundtrap review

Questions people ask

Is BandLab or Soundtrap better?
Neither clearly leads. BandLab starts at Free and Soundtrap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BandLab or Soundtrap?
BandLab starts at Free and Soundtrap at Free.
Does BandLab or Soundtrap run on more platforms?
BandLab runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Soundtrap runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use BandLab for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is BandLab best used for?
BandLab is most often used for a mobile-first artist who wants to record, edit and publish a track entirely from a phone or tablet, a remote collaboration between musicians in different locations working on the same project in real time, a beginner who wants a fully functional daw without buying a computer capable of running pro tools or logic pro, a creator using songstarter to break through writer’s block with an ai-generated starting point. Of those, a mobile-first artist who wants to record, edit and publish a track entirely from a phone or tablet and a remote collaboration between musicians in different locations working on the same project in real time are not what Soundtrap is typically brought in for.
What can BandLab do that Soundtrap cannot?
BandLab covers Browser-based DAW, Cloud project storage, Sample and loop library, Social publishing feed. Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, Podcast-specific tools, Loop and instrument library, Spotify Premium bundle. Both handle Real-time collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BandLab: Is BandLab really free with no functionality limits?

Core recording, mixing and publishing are free with no track caps; paid tiers mainly add sample download quotas and artist services.

Soundtrap: Is Soundtrap free to use?

A free tier exists but with limited export quality and recording time; most real projects require a paid Music Maker, Storytellers or Complete plan.

BandLab: What renewal price should I expect on Pro or Max?

Both renew higher than the first-year price: Pro from $99 to $149, Max from $199 to $299.

Soundtrap: What is the difference between Music Maker and Storytellers?

Music Maker is aimed at musicians with a loop and instrument library; Storytellers focuses on podcast tools like auto-leveling and noise reduction, though both run on the same core editor.

BandLab: Can I use BandLab without installing anything?

Yes, it runs fully in a web browser, with mobile and desktop apps also available.

Soundtrap: Who owns Soundtrap?

Spotify, which acquired it in 2017 and now bundles it with Spotify Premium subscriptions at a discount.

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