Shazam vs SoundCloud
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Shazam is the better app overall, scoring 8.6 to 7.7. Shazam wins on 4 of the 5 scores, SoundCloud on 1.
Music lovers who often hear a song and want to know what it is
Fans of electronic, hip-hop and underground music, and the artists making it
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Shazam | SoundCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Music & Podcasts | Music & Podcasts |
| Category rank | #5 of 8 | #8 of 8 |
| Developer | Apple | SoundCloud |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
Shazam
- Fast, accurate recognition even in noisy places
- Free with no ads
- Built into iPhone Control Center and the Mac
- Not a full music player
- Some features work best with Apple Music
Shazam does one thing better than anything else: it tells you what song is playing. Tap the button and it usually names the track within seconds, then shows lyrics and links to Apple Music or Spotify. Auto Shazam can keep listening in the background, and offline matches are saved until you're back online. It's free with no ads. Just don't expect a full music player.
Full Shazam review
SoundCloud
- Huge library of mixes, remixes and new artists
- Free listening with a usable mobile app
- Creators can upload and share directly
- Ads and a limited mainstream catalog on the free tier
- Cluttered interface and patchy recommendations
SoundCloud is where you find music before it reaches the big platforms: bedroom producers, DJ mixes, unofficial remixes and new artists uploading directly. The free tier is generous for listening, and creators can upload and share their own tracks. The catch is a cluttered app, ads on the free tier and a weaker experience for mainstream albums. Get it for underground and electronic music.
Full SoundCloud review
