Soundraw vs Uppbeat
A side-by-side look at Soundraw and Uppbeat for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.
At a glance
| Soundraw | Uppbeat | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | Podcasters and video creators who want unique, custom-sounding music that won't be heard on other shows | New podcasters or creators on a tight budget who want a legal free option before committing to a paid subscription |
| Founded | 2021 | 2020 |
Key features
Soundraw
- AI-generated music customizable by genre, mood, tempo, and length
- Unique tracks - no one else will have the same output
- Royalty-free commercial license on paid plans
- Free plan available for previewing and generating (no downloads)
- New AI models and styles added regularly
- Artist and Creator plan tiers for different use cases
Uppbeat
- YouTube channel safelisting
- Free tier with 3 downloads/month and individual license
- Unlimited downloads on paid tiers
- Sound effects library on paid tiers
- Stock video and motion graphics on Creator and Pro plans
- Extended license for client work on Pro plan
Pros and cons
Soundraw
Pros
- Generated tracks are unique - no catalog overlap with other creators
- Best affiliate program in category - 30% recurring, 90-day cookie
- Free plan to test before subscribing
Cons
- AI-generated output lacks the emotional specificity of hand-composed music
- Not suitable when you need a specific licensed artist or genre sound
- Creator plan restricts commercial advertising use
Uppbeat
Pros
- Best free tier in the category - genuinely usable
- Competitive annual pricing on Essentials
- Simple, transparent licensing
Cons
- Catalog smaller than Epidemic Sound or Artlist
- Free tier limited to 25% of catalog
- Pro plan needed for client-facing or commercial work
The verdict
Choose Soundraw if
Podcasters and video creators who want unique, custom-sounding music that won't be heard on other shows.
Soundraw solves a real problem: catalog fatigue. If you've heard the same Epidemic Sound lo-fi track on 40 YouTube videos, Soundraw's AI generation gives you something nobody else has. The output quality is genuinely good for background music - instrumental,…
Choose Uppbeat if
New podcasters or creators on a tight budget who want a legal free option before committing to a paid subscription.
Uppbeat's free tier is the most genuinely usable free offering in this category - 3 downloads per month with full licensing isn't just a teaser, it's workable for a weekly podcast that rotates intro music infrequently. The Essentials plan at…