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Music · head to head

Shazam vs Soundtrap

Shazam logo

Shazam

Music

Apple-owned song identification app, free with no ads or in-app purchases

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: Shazam the app has no revenue of its own and exists structurally to drive Apple Music engagement, so its continued investment and feature direction depend entirely on how useful Apple finds it as a funnel rather than on its own standalone business case.; Soundtrap the free tier limits export quality and recording time enough that any real, publishable project needs a paid plan.
  • They diverge on capability: Shazam covers Audio fingerprint matching, 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 Shazam and Soundtrap actually diverge.

Attributes where Shazam and Soundtrap differ
AttributeShazamSoundtrap
Pricing modelFree, no ads and no in-app purchases; funded as an Apple Music discovery funnelPer user per month
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, iOS, Android

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 Shazam

  • Audio fingerprint matching
  • Offline tagging queue
  • Apple Music integration
  • Shazam charts
  • Lyrics display
  • Shazam widget and Control Centre integration

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.

Shazam

  • Someone hearing an unfamiliar song in a shop, cafe or on the radio and wanting to identify it instantlynot Soundtrap
  • A user wanting identified songs automatically saved into an Apple Music library or playlistnot Soundtrap
  • Someone using the offline tagging queue while without signal, resolving matches laternot Soundtrap
  • A listener browsing Shazam trending charts to discover what is being identified most in their citynot Soundtrap

Soundtrap

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

Where each one falls short

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

Shazam

  • The app has no revenue of its own and exists structurally to drive Apple Music engagement, so its continued investment and feature direction depend entirely on how useful Apple finds it as a funnel rather than on its own standalone business case.
  • Identification requires either a live audio sample or a stored recording, and it performs poorly on very quiet, heavily remixed, or non-commercially released audio where no fingerprint match exists in the database.
  • Saved tags and playlists are tied to an Apple ID even on Android, meaning non-Apple users still create Apple ecosystem account data by using the app.
  • It offers no music playback of its own beyond short previews or an Apple Music handoff, so a non-Apple Music subscriber cannot play a full identified track inside the app itself.
  • As an owned subsidiary of Apple rather than an independent company, there is no separate roadmap transparency or company reporting, so its longevity and feature set are subject to Apple's wider strategic priorities rather than its own user base.

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

Shazam

Free
  • ShazamFree
    • Unlimited song identification
    • No ads shown within the identification experience
    • No premium tier exists

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 Shazam if

  • You need audio fingerprint matching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline tagging queue.
Shazam 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 Shazam or Soundtrap better?
Neither clearly leads. Shazam starts at Free and Soundtrap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shazam or Soundtrap?
Shazam starts at Free and Soundtrap at Free.
Does Shazam or Soundtrap run on more platforms?
Shazam runs on iOS, Android, Web. Soundtrap runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Shazam for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Shazam best used for?
Shazam is most often used for someone hearing an unfamiliar song in a shop, cafe or on the radio and wanting to identify it instantly, a user wanting identified songs automatically saved into an apple music library or playlist, someone using the offline tagging queue while without signal, resolving matches later, a listener browsing shazam trending charts to discover what is being identified most in their city. Of those, someone hearing an unfamiliar song in a shop, cafe or on the radio and wanting to identify it instantly and a user wanting identified songs automatically saved into an apple music library or playlist are not what Soundtrap is typically brought in for.
What can Shazam do that Soundtrap cannot?
Shazam covers Audio fingerprint matching, Offline tagging queue, Apple Music integration, Shazam charts. Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, Real-time collaboration, Podcast-specific tools, Loop and instrument library.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shazam: Is Shazam free?

Yes, fully free with no ads, subscription or in-app purchases.

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.

Shazam: Do I need Apple Music to use Shazam?

No, identification works without an Apple Music subscription, though full track playback of an identified song requires either Apple Music or another music service.

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.

Shazam: Who owns Shazam?

Apple, which acquired it in 2018.

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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