SoundCloud Statistics: How They Stack Up to Spotify

Travis Mckenzie

Apr 13, 2025

In the world of music streaming, analytics play a crucial role in helping artists grow their audience and refine their strategies. Two of the most popular platforms, SoundCloud and Spotify, offer robust analytics tools designed to provide insights into music performance and listener behavior. But how do these tools compare, and which one is better suited for your needs? Let’s break it down.

Pricing Comparison: SoundCloud and Spotify Analytics

When it comes to accessing analytics, pricing varies between these platforms. SoundCloud offers basic analytics for free users, but upgrading to a Pro subscription unlocks advanced features like detailed listener and geographic data. Spotify’s analytics, provided through Spotify for Artists, are entirely free and accessible to any artist with music on the platform.

For artists on a budget, Spotify’s free analytics might be the better option. However, SoundCloud’s Pro tier offers additional insights for those willing to invest.

Exploring SoundCloud Analytics

SoundCloud’s analytics, branded as "Insights," focus on providing data that highlights audience engagement and geographic performance. Here’s what you can expect:

• Performance Metrics: SoundCloud tracks key interactions like plays, likes, reposts, comments, and downloads. This helps artists gauge how well their music is resonating with their audience.
• Audience Demographics: Insights into top listeners and the regions where tracks are most popular make it easier to understand who is listening and where.
• Playback Sources: Artists can identify where their tracks are being played, whether it’s through specific websites, apps, or RSS feeds.
• Access Levels: Free users receive basic insights, such as top 50 tracks and top cities. Upgrading to a Pro plan unlocks detailed lists of listeners and locations, giving a more granular view of performance.

The convenience of accessing Insights via both the mobile app and desktop platform ensures that creators can monitor their music’s performance anywhere, anytime.

Diving into Spotify Analytics

Spotify for Artists offers an in-depth understanding of music performance and listener behavior. Its advanced analytics include:

• Real-Time Data: Artists can see up-to-the-minute stats on streams, followers, and monthly listeners.
• Audience Insights: Spotify provides detailed demographic data, including age, gender, location, and the devices or platforms listeners use.
• Engagement Metrics: Tracking playlist additions, saves, and skips helps artists understand how listeners interact with their music.
• Conversion Metrics: Insights into how listeners discover and engage with tracks help identify opportunities to improve reach and visibility.
• Promotional Tools: Spotify excels with integrated marketing features like:
• Marquee: Targeted campaigns for promoting new releases.
• Discovery Mode: Increases exposure for specific tracks in personalized playlists.
• Showcase: Places banners on the home page to attract more streams.

These tools are available on both mobile and desktop, ensuring artists have the flexibility to track their performance on the go.

Comparing the Platforms

When it comes to analytics, both platforms offer valuable insights. However, there are some key differences:

• Depth of Data: Spotify’s detailed demographic and engagement metrics make it a strong choice for artists focused on refining their marketing strategies.
• Promotional Features: Spotify’s integrated tools like Marquee and Showcase give artists a significant edge in promoting their music within the platform.
• Accessibility: While both platforms provide mobile and desktop analytics, the depth of insights available depends on the subscription plan, with Spotify offering its tools for free and SoundCloud requiring a Pro upgrade for advanced features.

Beyond the Basics: Third-Party Tools

For artists looking for even more detailed insights, third-party services like Viberate and Songstats are worth exploring. These platforms offer comprehensive analytics for SoundCloud, providing data on audience engagement, geographic trends, and performance metrics that go beyond what SoundCloud Insights offers.

• Viberate: Known for its advanced music data analytics, Viberate delivers in-depth SoundCloud statistics and helps artists monitor their performance across multiple platforms.
• Songstats: This tool aggregates analytics from SoundCloud and other platforms, providing a centralized hub for tracking your music’s impact.

Using these services in tandem with platform-native analytics can give artists a holistic view of their music’s performance and help refine their strategies.

Conclusion

SoundCloud and Spotify each bring unique strengths to the table when it comes to analytics. SoundCloud’s simplicity and focus on engagement make it a great choice for creators with a niche audience, while Spotify’s comprehensive tools and promotional features cater to artists aiming to expand their reach and monetize effectively.

For those who want to take their data-driven strategies further, third-party platforms like Viberate and Songstats provide additional layers of insight, particularly for SoundCloud statistics. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your goals as an artist and where your music is most active. Choose wisely, and leverage the power of analytics to grow your music career.