SoundCloud vs Bandcamp: Where Should Artists Put Music?

Pick SoundCloud if you want to share tracks for free, reach listeners who stream, and later pay for a plan that distributes your music to other platforms and pays you for plays. Pick Bandcamp if you want to sell music and merch directly to fans, such as downloads, vinyl, CDs and T-shirts, and keep most of each sale.

Many artists use both: SoundCloud to be heard, Bandcamp to get paid by the fans who care most. The two make money in opposite ways, so the right pick depends on whether you want plays or purchases.

SoundCloud vs Bandcamp at a glance

What is the main difference between SoundCloud and Bandcamp?

SoundCloud is a streaming platform. Bandcamp is a store.

On SoundCloud, listeners stream for free and can pay for SoundCloud Go or Go+ for extras such as ad-free listening and offline playback, according to its help center and App Store listing. Artists upload tracks, and paid artist plans add monetization and distribution to other services such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Bandcamp describes itself as "an online record store and music community where passionate fans discover, connect with, and directly support the artists they love". Each artist or label gets their own store page and sells digital albums and tracks, records and merch. Bandcamp's about page says fans have paid artists and labels US$1.83 billion through the site.

Which pays artists more, SoundCloud or Bandcamp?

Per fan, Bandcamp. When a fan buys something on Bandcamp, its about page says an average of 82% of the money goes to the artist or label, typically within 24 to 48 hours.

Bandcamp's help center lists the fees: 15% on digital items, dropping to 10% once you reach US$5,000 in sales (and staying there while you make at least US$5,000 in the past 12 months), and 10% on physical items. Payment processor fees come on top and typically range from 4 to 6%. The revenue share only applies to the first US$100 of an item, so Bandcamp takes no revenue share on anything a fan pays above that.

SoundCloud pays per play, not per purchase, and only on its paid artist plans. Its help center lists monetization as not available on the free Basic plan, available for 2 tracks per month on the Artist plan, and unlimited on Artist Pro. SoundCloud also says it was the first music company to introduce "fan-powered royalties", where independent artists can earn more from their dedicated fans. We could not find a per-play rate on SoundCloud's own pages, so we do not quote one.

How much does SoundCloud cost for artists?

You can start for free. A SoundCloud.com article on Artist Pro (with prices it says were verified in May 2026) lists Artist Pro at US$8.25 a month, billed annually at US$99, with a 30-day free trial, and the lower Artist plan at US$39 a year. The help center's plan table shows what each adds:

• Basic (free): limited upload time, basic fan insights, no monetization or distribution.
• Artist: up to 3 hours of uploads, 1 mastering credit a month, distribution and monetization for 2 tracks a month.
• Artist Pro: unlimited uploads, 3 mastering credits a month, unlimited distribution and monetization, advanced analytics and Split Pay for collaborators.

One thing we noticed when we checked SoundCloud's "Choosing the Right Subscription" help page on 6 November 2026: the page contradicts itself on the free plan. Its text says Basic lets you "Upload up to 3 hours of audio", while the comparison table on the same page lists Basic upload time as "Up to 2 hours" and the paid Artist plan as up to 3 hours. If upload time matters to you, check your own account's Tracks page before you plan a big upload.

Which is better for finding new listeners?

SoundCloud, for casual discovery. Anyone can press play without buying anything, and the free tier lets you post tracks and see basic fan insights. Paid plans add track boosting (2 tracks a month on Artist, 30 a day on Artist Pro) and spotlight tracks on your profile.

Bandcamp has discovery tools too, but they are built around buying. Its artist page says it notifies your followers when you release new music or merch, spreads the word through tag pages and fan collections, and offers embeddable players and listening parties. It also lets you message fans directly, targeted by location and level of support, and see your full sales history. That is useful once you have fans; it is less useful when nobody knows you yet.

Which should you choose?

• You are just starting and want people to hear your tracks: SoundCloud's free plan.
• You want your music on Spotify and Apple Music too: SoundCloud Artist or Artist Pro.
• You want to sell albums, vinyl, CDs, cassettes or merch: Bandcamp.
• You have a loyal fan base that wants to support you: Bandcamp.
• You want reach and income: both, using SoundCloud to be found and Bandcamp to sell.

For more places to share and sell music, such as Audiomack and Mixcloud, see our SoundCloud alternatives.

FAQ

Is Bandcamp free for artists?

Bandcamp's fee page lists only a share of each sale: 15% on digital items (10% after US$5,000 in sales) and 10% on physical items, plus payment processor fees. We did not find a monthly subscription on its pages.

Can you make money on SoundCloud's free plan?

No. SoundCloud's help center lists monetization as not available on the free Basic plan. You need the Artist or Artist Pro plan.

Can I sell vinyl on SoundCloud?

Selling physical items is not part of SoundCloud's artist plans, which focus on uploads, distribution and monetized plays. Bandcamp lets artists sell vinyl, CDs, cassettes and merch alongside downloads.

How fast does Bandcamp pay artists?

Bandcamp's about page says the money from a sale typically reaches the artist or label within 24 to 48 hours.