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Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

SoundCloud vs Chartable

SoundCloud logo

SoundCloud

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Discover, stream, and share music

From
Free
Rated
-
Chartable logo

Chartable

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Podcast analytics and attribution platform

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SoundCloud the free tier plays tracks with ads; Chartable shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
  • They diverge on capability: SoundCloud covers Audio streaming, Chartable covers Download analytics.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SoundCloud and Chartable actually diverge.

Attributes where SoundCloud and Chartable differ
AttributeSoundCloudChartable
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, DesktopWeb
Founded20072017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcast & Audio Publishing).

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 SoundCloud

  • Audio streaming
  • Uploads
  • Discovery
  • Sharing
  • Social media
  • DJ software
  • Privacy settings
  • Content protection

Only in Chartable

  • Download analytics
  • Chart rankings
  • SmartLinks tracking
  • Attribution
  • SmartPromos
  • Cross-promotion analytics
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

SoundCloud

  • Discovering tracks from emerging and independent artistsnot Chartable
  • Uploading your own music to reach listeners directlynot Chartable
  • Offline listening and ad-free playback on a paid tiernot Chartable

Chartable

  • Podcast analyticsnot SoundCloud
  • Marketing attributionnot SoundCloud
  • Chart trackingnot SoundCloud
  • Growth measurementnot SoundCloud

Where each one falls short

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

SoundCloud

  • The free tier plays tracks with ads
  • Offline saving of tracks requires a SoundCloud Go or Go+ subscription
  • Premium Go+ tracks are locked behind the higher Go+ tier, so SoundCloud Go alone does not unlock the full catalogue
  • Exclusive DJ app integrations require Go+
  • The app is available in only eight languages: English, Brazilian Portuguese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Arabic
  • The iOS app requires iOS 16.4 or later

Chartable

  • Shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
  • The tracking prefixes no longer function, and shows still carrying one need it removed
  • chartable.com now redirects to Spotify's Megaphone site

Pricing, plan by plan

SoundCloud

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited uploads
    • Ads
  • Go$5.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Offline
  • Go+$12.99/month
    • Full catalog
    • HQ audio

Chartable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Chart tracking
    • Basic analytics
    • 1 podcast
  • Indie$20/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • SmartLinks
    • Attribution
  • Team$100/month
    • Multiple podcasts
    • SmartPromos
    • Team access
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Custom integrations
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose SoundCloud if

  • You need audio streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want uploads.

Choose Chartable if

  • You need download analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want chart rankings.

Questions people ask

Is SoundCloud or Chartable better?
Neither clearly leads. SoundCloud starts at Free and Chartable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SoundCloud or Chartable?
SoundCloud starts at Free and Chartable at Free.
Does SoundCloud or Chartable run on more platforms?
SoundCloud runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. Chartable runs on Web.
Can I use SoundCloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SoundCloud best used for?
SoundCloud is most often used for discovering tracks from emerging and independent artists, uploading your own music to reach listeners directly, offline listening and ad-free playback on a paid tier. Of those, discovering tracks from emerging and independent artists and uploading your own music to reach listeners directly are not what Chartable is typically brought in for.
What can SoundCloud do that Chartable cannot?
SoundCloud covers Audio streaming, Uploads, Discovery, Sharing. Chartable covers Download analytics, Chart rankings, SmartLinks tracking, Attribution. Both handle Web support.

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