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Music · head to head

iHeartRadio vs Splice

iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splice logo

Splice

Music

Subscription sample and preset library with cloud project storage, unrelated to the catalogued Splice Software insurance platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iHeartRadio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: iHeartRadio ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription; Splice download credits reset monthly and do not roll over, so a producer working in bursts can exhaust an allowance and then wait for the reset or upgrade tiers.
  • They diverge on capability: iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Splice covers Royalty-cleared sample library.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iHeartRadio and Splice actually diverge.

Attributes where iHeartRadio and Splice differ
AttributeiHeartRadioSplice
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per month, credit-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersWindows, macOS, Web
Founded2008Unknown

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 iHeartRadio

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

Only in Splice

  • Royalty-cleared sample library
  • Credit-based downloads
  • INSTRUMENT
  • Cloud project backup
  • Plugin rentals
  • Keep what you download

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 Splice
  • Listening to podcasts and live sports commentarynot Splice
  • Building music playlists on a paid tiernot Splice

Splice

  • A producer who wants a continuously refreshed sample library rather than buying static sample packs outrightnot iHeartRadio
  • A beatmaker wanting royalty-cleared loops searchable by exact key and tempo for faster sketchingnot iHeartRadio
  • A home studio wanting cloud backup and version history for digital audio workstation projectsnot iHeartRadio
  • A sound designer wanting access to curated artist sound packs through the INSTRUMENT tiernot 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

Splice

  • Download credits reset monthly and do not roll over, so a producer working in bursts can exhaust an allowance and then wait for the reset or upgrade tiers.
  • It is a genuinely ongoing cost, unlike buying a sample pack outright once, so the total spend over years of production can exceed the cost of a curated static sample library.
  • Search relevance across millions of sounds can surface a large volume of similar-sounding loops, making it time-consuming to find something distinctive.
  • Cloud project backup and version history are tied to an active subscription, so cancelling risks losing convenient access to that project history even though downloaded audio files remain usable.
  • It has no connection to Splice Software, an unrelated insurance industry platform that shares the same name; buyers searching generically for "Splice" should confirm which product they mean.

Pricing, plan by plan

iHeartRadio

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

Splice

On request
  • Sounds+$12.99/month
    • Entry-level monthly download credit allowance
    • Royalty-cleared sample access
  • Creator$19.99/month
    • Higher monthly download credit allowance
    • Cloud project storage and version history
  • Creator+$39.99/month
    • Largest monthly download credit allowance
    • Access to INSTRUMENT curated sound packs

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 Splice if

  • You need royalty-cleared sample library.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want credit-based downloads.
Splice review

Questions people ask

Is iHeartRadio or Splice better?
Neither clearly leads. iHeartRadio starts at Free and Splice at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iHeartRadio or Splice?
iHeartRadio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for iHeartRadio and On request for Splice.
Does iHeartRadio or Splice run on more platforms?
iHeartRadio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. Splice runs on Windows, macOS, Web.
Can I use iHeartRadio for free?
Yes. iHeartRadio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splice starts at On request.
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 Splice is typically brought in for.
What can iHeartRadio do that Splice cannot?
iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events. Splice covers Royalty-cleared sample library, Credit-based downloads, INSTRUMENT, Cloud project backup.

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
Splice: Do I keep sounds I downloaded if I cancel Splice?

Yes, downloaded royalty-cleared sounds remain usable after a subscription ends; only new downloads and some cloud features stop.

Splice: What is INSTRUMENT?

A curated tier of playable sounds from featured artists and producers, available on higher subscription plans.

Splice: Is this the same company as Splice Software?

No, Splice Software is an unrelated insurance industry product; splice.com is a music sample and production platform.

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