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Music · head to head

iHeartRadio vs Pro Tools

iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pro Tools logo

Pro Tools

Music

Avid digital audio workstation with four tiers gated by track count and simultaneous I/O rather than by feature

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: iHeartRadio ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription; Pro Tools intro’s 8-track, 4-simultaneous-input cap is restrictive enough that even a simple full-band recording forces an upgrade almost immediately.
  • They diverge on capability: iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Pro Tools covers Edit and Mix windows.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iHeartRadio and Pro Tools actually diverge.

Attributes where iHeartRadio and Pro Tools differ
AttributeiHeartRadioPro Tools
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per year
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersmacOS, Windows
Founded2008Unknown

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 iHeartRadio

  • Live radio
  • Custom stations
  • Podcasts
  • Events
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security
  • Web support

Only in Pro Tools

  • Edit and Mix windows
  • Elastic Audio and Time
  • Avid Cloud Collaboration
  • HDX and native DSP
  • Dolby Atmos mixing
  • Video track support

What people use each for

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

iHeartRadio

  • Streaming live AM and FM radio stations over the internetnot Pro Tools
  • Listening to podcasts and live sports commentarynot Pro Tools
  • Building music playlists on a paid tiernot Pro Tools

Pro Tools

  • A home producer who needs more than 8 tracks and picks Artist rather than paying for Studio headroom they will not usenot iHeartRadio
  • A mixing engineer who needs unlimited tracks and Dolby Atmos support and buys Studionot iHeartRadio
  • A large studio recording full bands or orchestras simultaneously that needs Ultimate’s 256-channel I/Onot iHeartRadio
  • A post-production house standardising on Pro Tools because every other studio it exchanges sessions with also uses itnot iHeartRadio

Where each one falls short

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

iHeartRadio

  • Ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription
  • Unlimited skips and unlimited playlist creation require a paid subscription
  • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
  • Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when a subscription is purchased
  • The iOS app requires iOS 15.0 or later

Pro Tools

  • Intro’s 8-track, 4-simultaneous-input cap is restrictive enough that even a simple full-band recording forces an upgrade almost immediately.
  • Ultimate costs several times what Studio does mainly for I/O headroom that home and small project studios will rarely need, making it poor value outside large-format studios.
  • Session files do not translate perfectly to Logic Pro, Ableton Live or Cubase, so collaborators on other DAWs face real conversion friction even on straightforward projects.
  • The interface and workflow assume prior training; new users coming from GarageBand or BandLab face a steeper learning curve than most competing DAWs.
  • Annual subscription or upgrade plan payments are required to keep receiving updates, so lapsing a plan on Studio or Ultimate freezes the software at its last version rather than removing access outright, which still surprises buyers expecting a permanent purchase.

Pricing, plan by plan

iHeartRadio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live radio
    • Podcasts
    • Ads
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited skips
    • Offline playlists

Pro Tools

Free
  • Pro Tools IntroFree
    • 8 audio tracks, 4 simultaneous recording tracks
    • 4 aux channels
    • Core editing and mixing tools
  • Pro Tools Artist$99/year
    • 32 audio, aux and instrument tracks
    • 64 MIDI tracks
    • 16 channels of simultaneous I/O
  • Pro Tools Studio$299/year
    • Unlimited tracks
    • Dolby Atmos mixing
    • Advanced automation and mixing tools
  • Pro Tools Ultimate$599/year
    • Unlimited tracks
    • Up to 256 simultaneous audio inputs
    • HDX hardware DSP support, advanced video and post tools

Which should you pick?

Choose iHeartRadio if

  • You need live radio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want custom stations.
iHeartRadio review

Choose Pro Tools if

  • You need edit and mix windows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows.
  • You also want elastic audio and time.
Pro Tools review

Questions people ask

Is iHeartRadio or Pro Tools better?
Neither clearly leads. iHeartRadio starts at Free and Pro Tools at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iHeartRadio or Pro Tools?
iHeartRadio starts at Free and Pro Tools at Free.
Does iHeartRadio or Pro Tools run on more platforms?
iHeartRadio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. Pro Tools runs on macOS, Windows.
Can I use iHeartRadio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is iHeartRadio best used for?
iHeartRadio is most often used for streaming live am and fm radio stations over the internet, listening to podcasts and live sports commentary, building music playlists on a paid tier. Of those, streaming live am and fm radio stations over the internet and listening to podcasts and live sports commentary are not what Pro Tools is typically brought in for.
What can iHeartRadio do that Pro Tools cannot?
iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events. Pro Tools covers Edit and Mix windows, Elastic Audio and Time, Avid Cloud Collaboration, HDX and native DSP.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iHeartRadio: How much does iHeartRadio cost?

iHeartRadio does not publish pricing on their website. The service offers free podcast streaming with optional premium content for certain shows. A reference to 'Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content' is mentioned, but no pricing is provided. Customers must visit linked premium content pages for pricing information.

Source
Pro Tools: Is Pro Tools Intro really free forever?

Yes, but it is capped at 8 audio tracks and 4 simultaneous recording tracks, which most real sessions exceed quickly.

Pro Tools: What is the actual difference between Studio and Ultimate?

Both offer unlimited tracks; Ultimate adds far higher simultaneous I/O, HDX hardware DSP support and deeper post-production and video tools that most music-only users do not need.

Pro Tools: Can I buy a perpetual licence instead of subscribing?

Avid has moved primarily to subscription and annual upgrade plans; perpetual options exist for some tiers but are less prominent than the subscription path.

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