SoundCloud earned its stripes as one of the largest online music communities, particularly for underground artists. For years, it was the go-to ‘internet stage’ where unknown artists could share their music with fans.
However, as the platform has grown, the community began to point out its shortcomings: clunky user experience, disruptive ads, capped uploads for free artist memberships, and less-than-ideal audio quality.
Audius is here to offer a community-run artist-first platform that includes high-quality streaming, unlimited uploads, remix contest opportunities, and direct fan engagement. Premium features, free for everyone.
So, let’s see how we stack up!
One of the biggest user complaints with SoundCloud that has recently come to a head is regarding its audio quality.
Users on social media criticized the platform’s audio quality and file compression, causing a ripple effect of complaints throughout the community — including those subscribed to SoundCloud Pro, the premium, paid version of the site.
For free-tier SoundCloud users, the platform transcodes all tracks to 128 kbps mp3 and 64 kbps opus for streaming playback. Under its paid memberships SoundCloud can transcode to a higher quality 256kbps aac (equivalent to 320 kbps).
On Audius, users are all treated equally and with the highest quality care — 320 kbps playback resolution and lossless downloads.
SoundCloud’s free tier lacks offline listening, runs regular ads, and doesn’t offer a customizable interface.
While SoundCloud has long been a launchpad for rising artists, its free tier imposes limits: capped upload hours, no remix upload function, no monetization tools unless you pay or qualify, and little control over how your music is distributed.
And users have recently taken notice.
Audius flips the script with features that actually support artists:
And most importantly: artists on Audius have complete ownership of their accounts and content—something no traditional platform offers.
Maybe one of the most important, yet misunderstood aspects about Audius is that unlike SoundCloud and most other mainstream music platforms in the industry, Audius is fully decentralized.
This means there’s no single company deciding your fate—no surprise takedowns, no platform lock-ins, and no gatekeeping. If Audius as a company disappears tomorrow, the content and community can still live on.
SoundCloud deserves credit for pioneering a space where independent artists could thrive. Today’s artists and fans only only want more, but they deserve more: more support, more tools, more transparency.
Audius isn’t just an alternative—it’s an upgrade. With high-quality audio, an artist-first approach, and collaborative tools for artists, Audius is redefining what a music platform can be.
As the music industry continues to evolve, platforms like Audius are poised to disrupt the status quo and reshape the way artists and fans connect, creating a more collaborative and community-driven experience.
Thank you for being a valuable part of the Audius community! Stay tuned for more updates, exclusive releases, and exciting opportunities next month.
Let's create the future of music, together.
