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Music · head to head

LANDR vs Soundtrap

LANDR logo

LANDR

Music

AI mastering and music distribution, sold as separate mastering, distribution and bundled Studio subscriptions

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: LANDR mastering and distribution are separate subscription lines, so a producer wanting both is typically paying for two products, not one, unless they specifically choose the bundled Studio plan.; Soundtrap the free tier limits export quality and recording time enough that any real, publishable project needs a paid plan.
  • They diverge on capability: LANDR covers AI mastering, 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 LANDR and Soundtrap actually diverge.

Attributes where LANDR and Soundtrap differ
AttributeLANDRSoundtrap
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per month, separate mastering and distribution subscriptionsPer user per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, 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 LANDR

  • AI mastering
  • Digital distribution
  • 100 percent royalty retention
  • Pay-per-track mastering
  • Sample packs and plugins
  • Collaboration tools

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.

LANDR

  • An independent producer wanting fast, low-cost mastering for demos or lower-stakes releasesnot Soundtrap
  • A self-releasing artist who wants distribution to Spotify and Apple Music without a label or aggregator contractnot Soundtrap
  • A producer wanting to pay for a single mastered track without committing to a subscriptionnot Soundtrap
  • An artist who wants sample packs, mastering and distribution bundled together under one Studio plannot Soundtrap

Soundtrap

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

Where each one falls short

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

LANDR

  • Mastering and distribution are separate subscription lines, so a producer wanting both is typically paying for two products, not one, unless they specifically choose the bundled Studio plan.
  • AI mastering is generally regarded by working audio engineers as producing a less considered, more generic result than a human mastering engineer for a release meant to matter to an artist career.
  • The lowest mastering tier caps output at lower-resolution MP3, so getting WAV and HD WAV masters requires the more expensive Pro tier.
  • Distribution plans are billed annually, which is a less flexible commitment than platforms offering month-to-month or per-release distribution pricing.
  • Frequent promotional discounting on LANDR pricing makes the real ongoing renewal price harder to predict from marketing pages alone.

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

LANDR

On request
  • Mastering Basic$4/month
    • Unlimited lower-resolution MP3 masters
    • Digital distribution not included
  • Mastering Pro$25/month
    • Unlimited WAV and HD WAV masters
    • Highest mastering resolution tier
  • Distribution Basic$24/year
    • Distribution to major streaming platforms
    • Billed separately from mastering plans
  • Distribution Pro$45/year
    • Higher-tier distribution features
    • 100 percent royalty retention

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 LANDR if

  • You need ai mastering.
  • You also want digital distribution.
LANDR 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 LANDR or Soundtrap better?
Neither clearly leads. LANDR 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, LANDR or Soundtrap?
Soundtrap has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for LANDR and Free for Soundtrap.
Does LANDR or Soundtrap run on more platforms?
LANDR runs on Web. 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. LANDR starts at On request.
What is LANDR best used for?
LANDR is most often used for an independent producer wanting fast, low-cost mastering for demos or lower-stakes releases, a self-releasing artist who wants distribution to spotify and apple music without a label or aggregator contract, a producer wanting to pay for a single mastered track without committing to a subscription, an artist who wants sample packs, mastering and distribution bundled together under one studio plan. Of those, an independent producer wanting fast, low-cost mastering for demos or lower-stakes releases and a self-releasing artist who wants distribution to spotify and apple music without a label or aggregator contract are not what Soundtrap is typically brought in for.
What can LANDR do that Soundtrap cannot?
LANDR covers AI mastering, Digital distribution, 100 percent royalty retention, Pay-per-track mastering. Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, Real-time collaboration, Podcast-specific tools, Loop and instrument library.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LANDR: Do mastering and distribution cost the same subscription?

No, they are billed as separate plans; a bundled Studio plan combines them along with sample packs and plugins.

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.

LANDR: Do I keep 100 percent of royalties through LANDR distribution?

Yes, artists retain full royalties from tracks distributed through LANDR.

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.

LANDR: Can I master a single track without a subscription?

Yes, a pay-per-track option is available for around 9.99 USD per master.

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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