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Music · head to head

Soundtrap vs Tidal

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
Tidal logo

Tidal

Music

High fidelity music streaming

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Tidal tIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required
  • They diverge on capability: Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, Tidal covers HiFi streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Soundtrap and Tidal actually diverge.

Attributes where Soundtrap and Tidal differ
AttributeSoundtrapTidal
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Tidal

  • HiFi streaming
  • Master quality
  • Music videos
  • Exclusive content
  • High-end audio systems
  • Smart speakers
  • Download protection
  • Account security

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 Tidal
  • A musician collaborating remotely with bandmates in real time without sharing large project files manuallynot Tidal
  • A Spotify Premium subscriber taking advantage of the bundled discount on a Soundtrap plannot Tidal
  • A creator who wants access to both music and podcast production tools and picks the Complete tiernot Tidal

Tidal

  • Streaming music in HiRes lossless up to 24-bit 192 kHz and Dolby Atmosnot Soundtrap
  • Offline listening to a personal librarynot Soundtrap
  • Casting lossless audio to supported hi-fi hardware over TIDAL Connectnot 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.

Tidal

  • TIDAL has no permanently free listening tier; after a 30-day trial a paid subscription is required
  • The subscription renews automatically on a monthly basis
  • Lossless quality on external hardware needs TIDAL Connect and a supported device
  • The iOS app requires iOS 17 or later

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

Tidal

$10.99/month
  • HiFi$10.99/month
    • Lossless audio
    • Downloads
  • HiFi Plus$19.99/month
    • Master quality
    • Direct artist payouts

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.
Soundtrap review

Choose Tidal if

  • You need hifi streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want master quality.
Tidal review

Questions people ask

Is Soundtrap or Tidal better?
Neither clearly leads. Soundtrap starts at Free and Tidal at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Soundtrap or Tidal?
Soundtrap has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Soundtrap and $10.99/month for Tidal.
Does Soundtrap or Tidal run on more platforms?
Soundtrap runs on Web, iOS, Android. Tidal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Soundtrap for free?
Yes. Soundtrap has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Tidal starts at $10.99/month.
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 Tidal is typically brought in for.
What can Soundtrap do that Tidal cannot?
Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, Real-time collaboration, Podcast-specific tools, Loop and instrument library. Tidal covers HiFi streaming, Master quality, Music videos, Exclusive content.

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.

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.

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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