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FL Studio vs Soundtrap

FL Studio logo

FL Studio

Music

Digital audio workstation sold with free updates to your edition for life

From
On request
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

  • Only Soundtrap has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FL Studio fruity Edition has no audio recording at all, so recording a vocal or an instrument requires Producer Edition or higher; Soundtrap the free tier limits export quality and recording time enough that any real, publishable project needs a paid plan.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FL Studio and Soundtrap actually diverge.

Attributes where FL Studio and Soundtrap differ
AttributeFL StudioSoundtrap
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timePer user per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: 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 FL Studio

Nothing recorded that Soundtrap does not also cover.

Only in Soundtrap

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

What people use each for

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

FL Studio

  • Music productionnot Soundtrap
  • Beat makingnot Soundtrap
  • Audio recordingnot Soundtrap
  • Electronic musicnot Soundtrap
  • Sound designnot Soundtrap

Soundtrap

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

Where each one falls short

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

FL Studio

  • Fruity Edition has no audio recording at all, so recording a vocal or an instrument requires Producer Edition or higher
  • Edison and Newtime, the audio editing tools, are listed from Producer Edition upward and are absent from Fruity
  • Bundled effects run from 53 in Fruity to 71 in All Plugins Edition, so the cheapest edition is missing 18 of them
  • Bundled instruments run from 23 in Fruity to 39 in All Plugins Edition
  • Sold as a paid licence with no free tier, listed from USD 99

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

FL Studio

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the FL Studio review.

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 FL Studio if

  • You work on Windows, macOS.
FL Studio 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 real-time collaboration.
Soundtrap review

Questions people ask

Is FL Studio or Soundtrap better?
Neither clearly leads. FL Studio starts at On request and Soundtrap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FL Studio or Soundtrap?
Soundtrap has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for FL Studio and Free for Soundtrap.
Does FL Studio or Soundtrap run on more platforms?
FL Studio runs on Windows, macOS. Soundtrap runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Soundtrap for free?
Yes. Soundtrap has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. FL Studio starts at On request.
What is FL Studio best used for?
FL Studio is most often used for music production, beat making, audio recording, electronic music. Of those, music production and beat making are not what Soundtrap is typically brought in for.
What can FL Studio do that Soundtrap cannot?
Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, Real-time collaboration, Podcast-specific tools, Loop and instrument library.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FL Studio: Is FL Studio a subscription or one-time purchase?

FL Studio is a one-time purchase model, not a subscription. You pay once for an edition and receive all future updates for free with no update fees or additional charges.

Source
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.

FL Studio: What are the four edition options and can I upgrade between them?

The four editions are Fruity Edition, Producer Edition, Signature Bundle, and All Plugins Edition. You can upgrade anytime with pro-rated pricing, paying only the difference between editions.

Source
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.

FL Studio: Is a trial version available and what are its limitations?

A free trial is available with no time limit and no watermark on exports. The limitation is that you cannot reopen saved projects until you purchase a license.

Source
Soundtrap: Who owns Soundtrap?

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

FL Studio: Does FL Studio offer a rent-to-own payment option?

Yes, a rent-to-own option is available in select regions where after 12 payments, FL Studio is yours forever with lifetime free updates. FL Cloud continues until cancelled.

Source
FL Studio: Is FL Cloud subscription required to use FL Studio?

No, FL Cloud is optional. FL Studio works fully without it. FL Cloud offers royalty-free samples, premium plugins, AI mastering, cloud backup, and distribution features but is not mandatory.

Source
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