What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
SoundCloud’s Artist plan is a lower-cost paid tier for musicians who need more than the free Basic plan but do not need Artist Pro’s unlimited uploads and distribution. SoundCloud lists it at $3.25 per month when billed yearly, or $39 for the year. Its limits—three hours of uploads, two monthly distribution and monetization slots, and capped promotion, replacement and mastering credits—make the release schedule more important than the headline price.
How much is SoundCloud Artist?
SoundCloud’s current pricing page lists Artist at $3.25 per month billed yearly for $39. That is SoundCloud’s listed price, not a guarantee that the same offer is available in every country: the company says Artist is offered only in select territories. Check the price and eligibility shown at your local checkout before subscribing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Bandcamp for Artists & Music Labels: Share Music, Sell Merchandise and Make Money! | $4.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The plan launched on December 16, 2024, at $3.25 per month or $39 per year. SoundCloud said the initial pilot covered New Zealand, Australia and Canada. That launch announcement is useful historical context; the current pricing page and checkout are the better guides to what a subscriber can buy now.
Billing cadence matters. According to SoundCloud’s Help Center, a yearly plan is charged once for the year even if the price is displayed as a monthly equivalent. Yearly and monthly plans renew automatically. Review the checkout terms and manage renewal through SoundCloud’s subscription settings if you do not want another billing period.
Recommended Free Tools
What do you get with the cheaper SoundCloud artist plan?
SoundCloud’s current pricing page describes Artist as a step up from Basic, with defined monthly allowances for releasing and promoting music. The following comparison reflects the current limits listed there, observed October 8, 2026.
| Feature | Basic | Artist | Artist Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload allowance | Up to 2 hours | 3 hours | Unlimited |
| Distribution and monetization | None listed | 2 tracks per month | Unlimited |
| Track boosts | None listed | 2 per month | More than Artist; see current pricing page for the listed plan terms |
| Track replacements | None listed | 3 per month | More than Artist; see current pricing page for the listed plan terms |
| AI mastering credits | None | 1 per month | 3 per month |
Feature names and limits can be presented differently across SoundCloud’s comparison pages. The table uses the current pricing page’s Artist limits; consult that page and checkout for the complete terms of each tier.
Uploads and release slots
The three-hour upload allowance is a total duration limit, not a monthly release quota. Distribution and monetization are capped separately at two tracks per month. If you release singles frequently, plan to use distribution for selected tracks rather than assuming every upload can be sent to other services or monetized through this allowance.
Promotion, replacements and mastering
Artist includes two track boosts and three track replacements per month, plus one AI mastering credit per month. These are capped tools, so their practical value depends on whether you use them regularly. A musician who needs frequent replacement edits or several mastered tracks each month may find the allowances restrictive.
How does Artist compare with Basic and Artist Pro?
Artist occupies the middle tier: it raises Basic’s upload allowance and adds a limited amount of distribution, monetization and promotional tooling, while Artist Pro is the option SoundCloud lists with unlimited uploads and distribution. The best fit depends on what is actually constraining your work.
- Choose Basic if up to two hours of uploads are enough and you do not need the listed Artist distribution and monetization allowance.
- Consider Artist if you need three hours of uploads and expect to distribute or monetize no more than two tracks per month, with occasional boosts, replacements and mastering.
- Compare Artist Pro if you regularly exceed Artist’s upload or monthly distribution limits, or need its higher mastering allowance. Check SoundCloud’s current plan page for the full Pro feature set and terms.
Is SoundCloud Artist worth it for a new musician?
Artist may suit an emerging musician with a modest release schedule who wants a paid tier’s limited distribution and promotional tools without moving to Pro. It is less compelling if you mainly need more upload space, expect to release more than two tracks per month through the plan’s distribution and monetization feature, or will not use the monthly credits.
SoundCloud introduced the tier as a lower-cost option for emerging and aspiring artists. In its announcement, CEO Eliah Seton said: “At SoundCloud, we believe great music can come from anywhere, and it shouldn’t be held back by cost or complexity,”. That is the company’s rationale for the plan, not a promise that a subscription will increase streams, audience size or income.
Before subscribing, compare your typical month with the actual caps: total upload duration, tracks you want distributed and monetized, boosts, replacement edits and mastering needs. If those fit within Artist’s allowances and the listed price is available where you live, the tier may be a reasonable middle ground. If a single cap would routinely interrupt your release workflow, compare the next tier’s current terms instead.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
