Overview

Soundtrap is a cloud-based studio for producing music and podcasts, with recording, editing and shared-project tools in one workspace. It suits creators who want to build audio projects with others and schools looking for classroom-oriented creation tools. Its combination of collaboration and a free starting point is compelling, but browser and mobile constraints matter for recording-focused workflows.

Launched in 2013 and based in Stockholm, Soundtrap supports multitrack editing, MIDI sequencing and noise reduction. Its cloud projects can be edited collaboratively in real time, with video, chat, comments and autosave. That makes it more than a solo editing workspace, though teams that depend on particular browser or mobile features should check those constraints before committing.

Soundtrap belongs in Audio Editing Software and Music Collaboration Software: it brings audio creation and shared project work together.

Key features

Music and podcast creation

The studio combines vocal and mixing effects, virtual instruments, a MIDI editor, and royalty-free loops and samples. Soundtrap describes a library of up to 24,000+ loops and hundreds of presets, with new sound packs added every two weeks. That breadth gives creators material to work with inside the studio, while the free account is restricted to a selection of loops, instruments, drum kits and tools; some sounds and features require a paid plan.

Paid music plans name features such as vocal tuning, Time Restore and automation. Music Production adds loops, one-shots, instruments, effects, high-quality downloads and priority mixing. These options provide distinct paths for production and vocal work, but prices are not published, so buyers cannot compare their costs from the plan names alone.

Collaboration and Education

Real-time collaboration through video and chat, comments on shared projects, and autosave support work that moves between contributors. For schools, Soundtrap for Education adds integrations with Noteflight, Flat.io, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Canvas, Schoology and MusicFirst. Its walled garden limits student collaboration to the account environment and groups. Soundtrap says the Education service is designed to comply with COPPA, GDPR and FERPA standards and supports CIPA certification.

Pricing

Soundtrap uses a freemium model. Soundtrap Basic is 0.00 USD per free and allows project creation and saving, with limited loops and instruments. It is a sensible way to start, but the capped sound selection and paid-only sounds and features make it less suited to creators who need the fuller library or professional tools.

Sound Starter, Production & Vocals, Music Production, and Vocals & Songwriting have custom pricing. Sound Starter includes music-making tools, with professional features including vocal tuning, Time Restore and automation. Production & Vocals combines features from Sound Starter, Music Production, and Vocals & Songwriting. Music Production focuses on loops, one-shots, instruments, effects, high-quality downloads and priority mixing; Vocals & Songwriting covers vocal tools, presets, songwriting, podcast creation and interactive transcripts. Those distinctions help identify a likely fit, but the lack of published prices prevents a cost comparison.

Soundtrap for Education is an annual subscription with custom pricing that depends on Classroom, School or District. Plans have a 50-seat minimum, so it is aimed at institutional buyers rather than an individual educator. Educators can try it free for 30 days without providing a card or payment method upfront. The School plan includes chat and email support; the District plan adds an account manager and setup and professional-development support for accounts with 400 or more seats. Features and integrations vary by plan.

Platforms

Soundtrap supports web browsers, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari are supported, with Chrome and Microsoft Edge Chromium recommended. Some audio features may not work fully across every browser and operating system, and recording may have higher latency, which can be a drawback for latency-sensitive sessions.

The iOS and Android apps extend access to mobile devices, but automation and MIDI input are among the features unavailable on mobile. Creators who depend on either should plan to use a desktop workflow rather than assume feature parity across devices.

Who it's for

Soundtrap is a good fit for musicians, podcasters and collaborators who want multitrack creation and shared cloud projects, especially when a free account is enough to begin. Its Education offering is aimed at schools that need student audio projects, classroom integrations and account-group controls, provided the 50-seat minimum and annual subscription suit the institution.

It is a weaker fit for workflows that require automation or MIDI input on mobile, or reliable recording behavior across any browser and operating system. In those cases, the browser and mobile limitations should weigh heavily in the choice.

Pros and cons

Pros: Real-time collaboration, comments and autosave make shared projects practical for distributed creators and classroom groups.
Pros: The free account supports project creation and saving, giving new users a way to begin before choosing a paid music plan.
Pros: Education integrates with common classroom platforms and offers a walled garden for student collaboration.
Cons: Free accounts have limited loops and instruments, and some sounds and features require payment.
Cons: Browser and operating-system differences can affect audio features and recording latency.
Cons: Mobile lacks features including automation and MIDI input, limiting phone and tablet workflows.
Cons: The Education 50-seat minimum rules out smaller groups that need only a few seats.

Alternatives

Choose Riverside if your priority is multitrack recording with video: its free plan includes two hours of multitrack recordings, up to 720p video and 44.1 kHz audio, with a Riverside watermark.

Choose Pro Tools if you want a macOS or Windows option whose free Intro plan is described in terms of up to eight audio, eight instrument and eight MIDI tracks.

Choose Cakewalk Sonar if you use Windows and want a free tier with one Arranger Track, limited ProChannel modules and limited BandLab Sounds access.

Choose GarageBand if you are on Apple devices and want a free option with up to 255 tracks on Mac or 32 tracks on iPhone and iPad.

Choose Audacity if you want a free, open-source desktop audio editor without a subscription.

Choose LUNA if you use macOS or Windows and want a free tier with unlimited tracks, smart features, UAD Explore Free plug-ins and Oxide Tape.

Choose Reason if you want a macOS or Windows music-production alternative with a free plan and trial.

Choose WavePad if you want an audio editor for Android, iOS, macOS or Windows, with annual paid editions.

Verdict

Soundtrap is best for creators and school teams that value collaborative music and podcast projects, especially when its free account or Education integrations meet their needs. Its shared cloud workflow is the strongest reason to choose it. Look elsewhere if mobile automation or MIDI input is essential, or if browser-dependent recording latency is unacceptable for your work.

	Soundtrap	Submix
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	Yes	No
Collaboration mode	—	both
Real-time audio	—	Yes
DAW integration	—	sync
Version history	—	unlimited

Soundtrap vs Submix

Soundtrap

Submix