Music · head to head
Soundtrap vs Splice
Soundtrap
Music
Spotify-owned browser-based DAW and podcast studio, sold on separate Music Maker and Storytellers subscription tracks
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Splice
Music
Subscription sample and preset library with cloud project storage, unrelated to the catalogued Splice Software insurance platform
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Soundtrap has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Soundtrap the free tier limits export quality and recording time enough that any real, publishable project needs a paid plan.; 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: Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, 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 Soundtrap and Splice actually diverge.
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 Soundtrap
- Browser-based multitrack editor
- Real-time collaboration
- Podcast-specific tools
- Loop and instrument library
- Spotify Premium bundle
- Direct publishing
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.
Soundtrap
- A podcaster wanting browser-based multi-track voice recording with automatic leveling and noise reductionnot Splice
- A musician collaborating remotely with bandmates in real time without sharing large project files manuallynot Splice
- A Spotify Premium subscriber taking advantage of the bundled discount on a Soundtrap plannot Splice
- A creator who wants access to both music and podcast production tools and picks the Complete tiernot Splice
Splice
- A producer who wants a continuously refreshed sample library rather than buying static sample packs outrightnot Soundtrap
- A beatmaker wanting royalty-cleared loops searchable by exact key and tempo for faster sketchingnot Soundtrap
- A home studio wanting cloud backup and version history for digital audio workstation projectsnot Soundtrap
- A sound designer wanting access to curated artist sound packs through the INSTRUMENT tiernot Soundtrap
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
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
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
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 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.
Choose Splice if
- You need royalty-cleared sample library.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Web.
- You also want credit-based downloads.
Questions people ask
- Is Soundtrap or Splice better?
- Neither clearly leads. Soundtrap 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, Soundtrap or Splice?
- Soundtrap has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Soundtrap and On request for Splice.
- Does Soundtrap or Splice run on more platforms?
- Soundtrap runs on Web, iOS, Android. Splice runs on Windows, macOS, Web.
- Can I use Soundtrap for free?
- Yes. Soundtrap has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splice starts at On request.
- What is Soundtrap best used for?
- Soundtrap is most often used for a podcaster wanting browser-based multi-track voice recording with automatic leveling and noise reduction, a musician collaborating remotely with bandmates in real time without sharing large project files manually, a spotify premium subscriber taking advantage of the bundled discount on a soundtrap plan, a creator who wants access to both music and podcast production tools and picks the complete tier. Of those, a podcaster wanting browser-based multi-track voice recording with automatic leveling and noise reduction and a musician collaborating remotely with bandmates in real time without sharing large project files manually are not what Splice is typically brought in for.
- What can Soundtrap do that Splice cannot?
- Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, Real-time collaboration, Podcast-specific tools, Loop and instrument library. Splice covers Royalty-cleared sample library, Credit-based downloads, INSTRUMENT, Cloud project backup.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
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.
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.
Splice: What is INSTRUMENT?
A curated tier of playable sounds from featured artists and producers, available on higher subscription plans.
Soundtrap: Who owns Soundtrap?
Spotify, which acquired it in 2017 and now bundles it with Spotify Premium subscriptions at a discount.
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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