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Music · head to head

Mixcloud vs SoundHound

Mixcloud logo

Mixcloud

Music

The home of audio culture

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SoundHound logo

SoundHound

Music

Song identification app that can match hummed or sung melodies, from SoundHound AI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mixcloud the free Basic tier is limited to 10 show uploads and 10 track uploads; SoundHound the consumer app is a secondary product for a company whose real revenue and investment focus is enterprise voice AI licensing, and consumer feature development has been comparatively modest as a result.
  • They diverge on capability: Mixcloud covers DJ mixes, SoundHound covers Audio fingerprint matching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mixcloud and SoundHound actually diverge.

Attributes where Mixcloud and SoundHound differ
AttributeMixcloudSoundHound
Pricing modelfreemiumFree with ads; no consumer subscription, company revenue comes from enterprise voice AI licensing
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidiOS, Android
Founded2007Unknown

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 Mixcloud

  • DJ mixes
  • Podcasts
  • Radio shows
  • Streaming
  • Artist tools
  • Social media
  • Payment systems
  • Creator controls

Only in SoundHound

  • Audio fingerprint matching
  • Hum-to-search
  • Lyrics and artist info
  • Streaming service links
  • Music charts and history
  • Voice search

What people use each for

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

Mixcloud

  • Hosting DJ mixes and radio shows on a licensed platform that pays artist royaltiesnot SoundHound
  • Live streaming DJ sets without copyright takedownsnot SoundHound
  • Earning from listeners through tips and subscriptionsnot SoundHound

SoundHound

  • Someone wanting to identify a song by humming or singing it when no recorded original is playing nearbynot Mixcloud
  • A user wanting an alternative to Shazam that also offers voice search for songs and lyricsnot Mixcloud
  • Someone identifying a song and wanting a direct link to play it on their existing streaming servicenot Mixcloud
  • A listener wanting to browse trending identification charts across genresnot Mixcloud

Where each one falls short

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

Mixcloud

  • The free Basic tier is limited to 10 show uploads and 10 track uploads
  • Unlimited uploads, private uploads, scheduling uploads, disabling comments and hiding play counts all require Pro
  • Live streaming video and audio requires Pro; the Basic tier cannot live stream
  • Monetization through Tips and Subscriptions is Pro only
  • Listener insights, tagging hosts and embedding a show player on your own site are Pro only
  • Basic audio uploads are capped at 64kbps AAC+, with 160kbps Opus HQ audio reserved for Pro
  • Free listening includes ads and offline listening requires the separate Premium for listeners subscription
  • The brand and radio station commercial packages start at $3,000 per month

SoundHound

  • The consumer app is a secondary product for a company whose real revenue and investment focus is enterprise voice AI licensing, and consumer feature development has been comparatively modest as a result.
  • The free app carries advertising with no option to pay for an ad-free experience, unlike Shazam, which carries no ads at all.
  • Hum-to-search accuracy depends heavily on how closely a user pitch and rhythm approximate the original melody, and it performs inconsistently on complex or heavily produced songs.
  • As a smaller company relative to Apple, which owns Shazam, SoundHound has less resource depth to invest in its consumer recognition database and matching accuracy over time.
  • The company brand and business have shifted heavily toward voice AI and conversational assistant licensing, so the long-term priority given to the consumer identification app is not guaranteed to remain stable.

Pricing, plan by plan

Mixcloud

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic streaming access
  • Premium for Listeners$7.99/month
    • Unlimited replays
    • Offline listening and downloads
    • No ads
  • Pro for Creators$11.25/month
    • Unlimited show uploads
    • Live streaming without takedowns
    • High-quality audio enhancement

SoundHound

Free
  • SoundHoundFree
    • Unlimited song identification including hum-to-search
    • Ads shown within the app
    • No premium consumer tier

Which should you pick?

Choose Mixcloud if

  • You need dj mixes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want podcasts.
Mixcloud review

Choose SoundHound if

  • You need audio fingerprint matching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want hum-to-search.
SoundHound review

Questions people ask

Is Mixcloud or SoundHound better?
Neither clearly leads. Mixcloud starts at Free and SoundHound at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mixcloud or SoundHound?
Mixcloud starts at Free and SoundHound at Free.
Does Mixcloud or SoundHound run on more platforms?
Mixcloud runs on Web, Ios, Android. SoundHound runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Mixcloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Mixcloud best used for?
Mixcloud is most often used for hosting dj mixes and radio shows on a licensed platform that pays artist royalties, live streaming dj sets without copyright takedowns, earning from listeners through tips and subscriptions. Of those, hosting dj mixes and radio shows on a licensed platform that pays artist royalties and live streaming dj sets without copyright takedowns are not what SoundHound is typically brought in for.
What can Mixcloud do that SoundHound cannot?
Mixcloud covers DJ mixes, Podcasts, Radio shows, Streaming. SoundHound covers Audio fingerprint matching, Hum-to-search, Lyrics and artist info, Streaming service links.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mixcloud: What does Mixcloud Premium for Listeners include?

Mixcloud Premium for Listeners costs $7.99/month and includes unlimited replays, offline listening with downloads, ad-free streaming, and upfront tracklists showing all songs from the start.

Source
SoundHound: Is SoundHound free?

Yes, the consumer app is free with ads and no subscription tier.

Mixcloud: How much is Mixcloud Pro for Creators?

Mixcloud Pro for Creators costs $11.25/month when paid annually and allows unlimited show uploads, live streaming without takedowns, high-quality audio, monetization features, and detailed analytics.

Source
SoundHound: What is SoundHound's actual business?

Its primary revenue comes from licensing voice AI and conversational assistant technology to businesses such as automakers and restaurants, not from the consumer identification app.

SoundHound: Can SoundHound identify a song from humming?

Yes, it can match a song from humming, singing or whistling, a capability Shazam does not offer.

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