Is SoundCloud Quality Higher Than YouTube: Comparing Audio Quality

There are over 2.70 billion YouTube users and more than 140 million registered users on SoundCloud. Both apps are home to different music genres. YouTube is predominantly a video and audio-sharing app. It also has YouTube Music for seamless listening. 

On the other hand, SoundCloud is a music-sharing and streaming app that focuses only on audio. There is often a battle between the two apps for audio quality. Some users agree that SoundCloud is better. Meanwhile, other users trust YouTube only for its good audio and video quality. 

SoundCloud allows artists to upload, share, and embed music files for a maximum limit of 180 minutes per account. YouTube allows uploading large-size videos and audio without any limit. We’ll discuss how much higher quality is audio from SoundCloud than YouTube and compare the two.

What is SoundCloud?

SoundCloud is a music-sharing platform that is popular among artists as well as their fans to connect and listen to music. It was founded in 2007, focusing on empowering artists across the world. 

Launched in 2008, it is now available in more than 190 countries. The artists can upload their own music and songs on SoundCloud to share with their fans. Over the years, the platform has given place to many excellent budding music stars. 

Apart from singers, artists such as DJs, singers, bands, and music remixers also upload their work on SoundCloud.

Features of SoundCloud:

Here are some significant features of SoundCloud: 

• Users can upload original audio content such as music, podcasts, and sound effects.
• The app lets users share uploaded tracks to social media and other websites. 
• Listeners can curate playlists and download them to their devices for offline listening. 
• The creators and listeners on SoundCloud can engage with each other, giving feedback and participating in conversations. 
• The SoundCloud Go and SoundCloud Go+ plans offer high-quality ad-free audio listening and offline mode music.

What is YouTube?

YouTube is a Google-owned video and music-sharing platform. Launched on February 14, 2005, YouTube has been a hit among streaming and those looking for endless entertainment. Users can upload videos to their accounts and share them with their channel subscribers. Other people who engage with similar content may also get similar recommendations. 

The platform has a large selection of genres, ranging from music, cooking, traveling, entertainment, reviews, finance, vlogs, and education. 

Features of YouTube: 

Here are features of YouTube that make it among the most user-loved apps. 

• YouTube allows video uploading for free. 
• Users can create channels and organize shared videos into playlists.
• Viewers can create accounts to subscribe to channels and receive notifications about new uploads. 
• Creators may interact with their audience, receive feedback, and build a loyal following. 
• YouTube has monetization options through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). 
• The algorithm offers artists recommendations based on user behavior.
• YouTube is a valuable resource for education and skill development. 
• YouTube music allows users to explore and listen to music videos and audio tracks. 

SoundCloud vs YouTube Audio Quality

We’ll compare the two in detail with this SoundCloud vs. YouTube comparison table: 

Pros and Cons of SoundCloud

Here are the pros and cons of SoundCloud: 

Pros

a. Dedicated Audio Content

SoundCloud focuses on audio content. Users upload and share music, podcasts, and other audio files without visual elements. This dedicated focus enables artists to present their work in a format that emphasizes sound quality and creativity. This feature makes the app ideal for musicians and podcasters alike.

b. Artist-Driven

SoundCloud is entirely artist-driven as it gives users more control over what they share. The artists on the app can easily manage their profiles, share audio files, and interact with their audience. 

The constant communication with the audience also lets users build a community and get raw feedback. Over the years, Soundcloud has been a launchpad for many new artists who are trying to build a name in the industry.

c. Free Offline Listening

SoundCloud lets users download their favorite tracks for offline listening through its app. They can easily download one song or a whole playlist. The app also makes it easier to save settings for future downloads or save the whole liked playlist to their device. This gives them access to music even when they don't have the internet. 

d. Soft Audio Compression

Soundcloud has dedicated audio content and focuses on its quality. It uses Opus codec to lower the size of the file while maintaining the sound quality. The lossy audio compression on Soundcloud makes the system light and easier to work with. 

The standard audio quality is at 128 kbps bitrate, and the premium subscribers can get 256 kbps. This feature is ideal for users who want a balance of audio quality and music file size for their music. They can share the music with more ease and faster due to this unique compression. 

Cons

a. Technical Issues in the Interface

There are certain technical issues, such as high loading time, slow interface, and improper cache service. The data is constantly being sent and received, leading to more use of processors. 

Besides, the desktop version of the app is not the best when it comes to functioning. It’s often about endless scrolling to reach playlists. Some users report that they don’t get SoundCloud notifications at the time. 

b. Limited Integration with Other Platforms

The integration features come with a paid subscription. Other than that, it has limited options, so building a community is not the easiest. 

c. Low Bitrate

SoundCloud compresses audio to a 128 kbps bitrate for standard streaming. The premium account can enjoy up to 256 kbps audio quality. Due to the compression, the audio quality may be reduced.

Pros and Cons of YouTube

We’ll discuss the pros and cons of the YouTube platform below: 

Pros

a. Extensive Music Library

YouTube has a huge library of both audio and video content. Apart from the artists, it also has collaboration channels with remixes and covers, making it perfect for those who are always looking for fresh music. 

YouTube offers some exclusive music, which attracts several users. Moreover, the search feature is flexible when it suggests similar content, as users can find mainstream and niche tracks. 

b. Backed by Google

YouTube is a Google product, so it has high technological support and works with great speed. The platform is reliable as it can handle high data influx and number of users. YouTube also integrates seamlessly with Google Voice Assistant. This makes it super convenient to use.

c. Higher Bitrate

YouTube videos and music stream in high quality. Users can choose the video quality on their device. Moreover, premium users are rewarded with streaming at 256Kbps AAC, which makes YouTube music stand out among other apps. 

e. Relevant Music Suggestions

As you watch certain videos or interact with one particular artist, YouTube will suggest more such relevant music. The tailor-made suggestions make the music according to the individual taste. 

You may like this feature when looking for new music to listen to. It makes music discovery easy for the user and beneficial to the artists by helping them grow more fans. 

f. Dedicated YouTube Music App

There is a dedicated YouTube Music app that plays music without audio, which is different from the basic YouTube app. It lets users switch between audio and video formats depending on their current preferences. Music app lets users play songs and other audio on the go. 

g. Better Audio Quality with Premium Subscription

The premium subscription to YouTube offers ad-free listening, downloading, and background playing. These features are absent in the free version, so getting the premium plan makes more sense for users. The uninterrupted access to music and videos using YouTube Premium is appealing to active users.

Cons

a. Audio Depends on the Video Quality

The video quality of YouTube videos dictates the audio quality since the platform uses different codecs and bitrates for each. Higher resolutions mean the audio quality will be high, too. 

However, in some cases the audio may not be better or bad at high video resolution. In other cases, the video upload quality impacts the final audio quality. So there’s no way to improve this audio even at high video quality or premium account. 

b. In-Stream and Display Ads

YouTube is popular for unskippable ads or two to three ads in a row. This can cause distractions and frustration when a person is trying to have an immersive experience. As a result, people may switch to other apps for a better experience.

c. Not a Dedicated Audio Platform

YouTube is ideal for video sharing and watching platforms, where both audio and video quality are the focus. Overall, the audio is often optimized to be in tune with the videos.

Conclusion

Now you know how much higher quality is audio from SoundCloud than YouTube, since it entirely depends on the free and paid versions, and upload quality. Your choice between the two may depend on the content and audio quality you’re looking for. Soundcloud has standard audio quality for free users and high-quality features for paid users. 

On the other hand, the audio quality of YouTube will depend on the video quality, apart from the free and paid versions. Moreover, the upload quality of video and audio will also determine the end quality of the listening platform.

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FAQs

Q1. How to download music from SoundCloud for offline listening?

You can listen to SoundCloud music offline using the Soundcloud Go+ app version. Once you have the paid version, you can download your entire library of likes and playlists. You can automatically save it for offline listening. Alternatively, you can open the desired song or playlist and hit download and it’ll get saved on your phone.

Q2. How to enable high-quality streaming on SoundCloud?

To get high-quality streaming, change the settings on the SoundCloud app. Open the SoundCloud library and then tap the three dots in the top right corner. Visit the settings page and choose high-quality audio. 

Q3. Is it okay to use SoundCloud music on YouTube?

If an artist has a copyright claim over their music, you may get in trouble for sharing it on YouTube. To avoid this, either purchase the music or give the credits for Soundcloud audio on YouTube. Once you are aware of the right licensing and permission, this will prevent any unauthorized content removal. 

Q4. Does YouTube Music have higher audio quality?

YouTube Music has a higher audio quality compared to standard SoundCloud streaming. It has audio encoded at 160 kbps Opus for premium users. This bitrate provides better clarity and detail than SoundCloud's standard 128 kbps. But SoundCloud has higher quality options for paid subscribers, reaching up to 256 kbps AAC. Ultimately, the audio quality may depend on individual preferences and listening environments.

Q5. Is it better to post music on SoundCloud or YouTube?

SoundCloud is great for audio-centric sharing. It allows easy feedback and engagement with other musicians. On the other hand, YouTube offers a broader audience and monetization opportunities through video content. If your focus is solely on audio, SoundCloud may be preferable, while YouTube is better for reaching a wider audience and creating visual content.

Q6. How to get high-quality audio from YouTube?

Stream at the highest video quality available to enjoy high-quality audio from YouTube. The audio quality on YouTube correlates with video resolution. You may adjust this in the video settings by selecting 1080p or higher. Consider using YouTube Premium, which may provide better audio quality options.