Soundtrap
Spotify’s browser-based music studio with real-time collaboration
Soundtrap is an online music production studio owned by Spotify that runs entirely in your web browser. No download required — just open a project, invite collaborators, and start recording. With a built-in beat maker, thousands of royalty-free loops, virtual instruments, and AI-assisted features, Soundtrap is designed for students, educators, podcasters, and bedroom producers who want professional-quality tools without the complexity of traditional DAWs like Ableton or Logic Pro.
Visit SoundtrapWhat is Soundtrap?
Soundtrap is a cloud-based digital audio workstation (DAW) founded in Sweden in 2012 and acquired by Spotify in 2017. Unlike traditional DAWs such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or FL Studio that require installation and high-end hardware, Soundtrap lives entirely in the browser. You open a project URL and you are inside a fully functional studio with multi-track recording, MIDI editing, a beat sequencer, and a library of over 6,000 royalty-free loops and samples.
One of Soundtrap’s most distinctive features is its real-time collaboration engine. Multiple musicians can join the same session simultaneously from anywhere in the world, see each other’s edits live, and communicate through built-in chat. This Google Docs–style approach to music production has made Soundtrap a favorite in K–12 and university music programs, where teachers can monitor student projects and give live feedback without being in the same room.
The Spotify connection gives Soundtrap a unique advantage in the podcast space. Soundtrap for Podcasters offers dedicated episode management, remote interview recording, automatic noise reduction, and one-click publishing to Spotify’s podcast platform. This makes it one of the few tools that seamlessly bridges music production and podcast production under a single login.
Soundtrap has also been pushing AI features including its AI Beat Maker, which generates beat patterns from style and tempo inputs, and intelligent audio cleanup that reduces background noise in recordings. For educators and hobbyists who want a low-friction entry point to music production, Soundtrap is one of the most accessible tools on the market. The free plan is genuinely usable, though serious producers will want a paid tier for unlimited projects and the full instrument library.
Key Features
Browser-Based DAW
Full multi-track recording and editing in any modern browser. No installation, no hardware requirements beyond a computer and microphone.
Real-Time Collaboration
Invite unlimited collaborators to the same project. See edits live, chat in-session, and build music together from anywhere in the world.
AI Beat Maker
Generate drum patterns and beats by selecting a style, tempo, and complexity. Provides an instant starting point that you can customize further.
Virtual Instruments & Loops
Over 6,000 royalty-free loops and dozens of virtual instruments including synths, drums, guitars, and orchestral samples ready to drag and drop.
Podcast Tools
Dedicated podcast recording mode with remote interview support, noise reduction, episode management, and direct publishing to Spotify.
Education-Focused
Teacher dashboard, class management, student monitoring, and curriculum-aligned lesson plans. Widely used in K–12 and university music programs.
Pricing
Soundtrap offers a free plan and three paid tiers billed monthly. Annual billing saves approximately 20% on each paid plan.
| Plan | Price | Projects | Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 5 projects | Basic recording, limited loops, real-time collab (1 guest) |
| Student | $3.99/mo | Unlimited | Full loop library, unlimited collaborators, no ads |
| Music Maker | $7.99/mo | Unlimited | Everything in Student + advanced instruments, VST plugin support |
| Music Maker Unlimited | $13.99/mo | Unlimited | Everything + priority support, full sound pack library, podcast tools |
Education institution plans are available with volume discounts. See soundtrap.com/edu for school pricing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Zero installation — works in any browser on any OS
- Best-in-class real-time collaboration for remote music teams
- Strong education features with teacher dashboards and class management
- Backed by Spotify with seamless podcast publishing integration
- Generous free plan suitable for beginners and light users
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android keep projects accessible on the go
Cons
- Less powerful than desktop DAWs like Ableton or Logic for professional production
- Limited to 5 projects on the free plan
- Audio quality and latency can suffer on slow internet connections
- VST plugin support only on paid tiers and limited compared to desktop DAWs
- Fewer advanced mixing tools (no send/return routing, limited EQ options)
Alternatives to Soundtrap
If you need more power, a different workflow, or pure AI music generation without recording, these alternatives are worth exploring.
BandLab
Free online DAW with a massive social community. Unlimited projects and cloud storage at no cost, with genre-specific beat and loop packs.
Boomy
AI generates a full song in seconds from a genre selection. Ideal for non-musicians who want instant, distributable tracks without any production skills.
Soundraw
AI background music generator focused on royalty-free tracks for video, YouTube, and social media. Customizable mood, length, and tempo.
LANDR
AI mastering and music distribution platform. Best if you already have recordings and need professional-grade mastering and release to streaming services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Soundtrap?
Soundtrap is an online music production studio owned by Spotify that runs entirely in your web browser. Founded in Sweden in 2012 and acquired by Spotify in 2017, it offers multi-track recording, MIDI editing, a beat maker, thousands of loops and virtual instruments, and real-time collaboration. It also has dedicated tools for podcast recording and publishing directly to Spotify’s platform.
Is Soundtrap free?
Yes, Soundtrap has a free plan that includes basic recording, limited loops, and up to 5 projects. Paid plans start at $3.99/month for students and go up to $13.99/month for the full Music Maker Unlimited tier with unlimited projects, the complete loop library, VST plugin support, and podcast tools. Annual billing reduces the cost by roughly 20%.
Who owns Soundtrap?
Soundtrap is owned by Spotify, which acquired the company in 2017 for a reported $30–50 million. The acquisition gave Spotify a foothold in music creation, complementing its streaming distribution business. Soundtrap is integrated with Spotify for Podcasters, allowing users to publish podcast episodes directly from the studio to Spotify’s platform.
Can multiple people collaborate in real time on Soundtrap?
Yes, real-time collaboration is one of Soundtrap’s defining features. Multiple users can work on the same project simultaneously from different devices and locations, with changes syncing instantly for all participants. This makes it popular in school music programs and for remote bands or producer-artist teams working across different cities.
Does Soundtrap work on mobile?
Yes, Soundtrap has apps for iOS and Android that allow recording, basic editing, and project access. The mobile experience works well for capturing ideas on the go, though the full feature set — including MIDI editing, the beat maker, and advanced mixing — is best experienced on a desktop browser. Mobile apps sync instantly with web projects.
How does Soundtrap compare to GarageBand?
GarageBand is free and exclusive to Apple devices (Mac, iPad, iPhone), works offline, and has a deeper library of Apple Loops and instruments. Soundtrap works in any browser on any OS, offers superior real-time collaboration, and has dedicated podcast tools GarageBand lacks. GarageBand wins for solo Apple users; Soundtrap wins for cross-platform teams and educators.
What are the best alternatives to Soundtrap?
Top alternatives include BandLab for a completely free online DAW with a large community, GarageBand for Apple users who prefer offline production, LANDR for AI mastering and distribution of existing recordings, Boomy for AI-generated music without any production skills, and Soundraw for royalty-free AI background music for video and content creation.
Related Guides
Built an AI Tool?
Submit your AI tool to be featured on AI Tool Finder and reach developers, founders, and productivity enthusiasts.
Submit Your AI Tool