Mixcloud
British platform for DJ mixes, radio shows and podcasts, with royalties paid on every play
Quick Overview
| Company | Mixcloud Limited |
|---|---|
| Category | Music Streaming |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2008 |
| EU Presence | United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Free tier; Premium for listeners from about €6.99/month; Pro for creators from €8.25/month (annual) or €11.00/month (monthly) |
| Free Option | Free tier |
| Replaces | SoundCloud, Spotify (for DJ mixes and radio shows) |
Detailed Review
Mixcloud is built around a different unit than every other service in this category: not the three-minute track but the full mix, radio show or podcast episode.
A two-hour DJ set with beatmatched transitions plays as a two-hour DJ set, complete with an upfront tracklist, rather than being chopped into individual streams the way it would be on Spotify. That format exists nowhere else here, and it is why DJs, radio stations and producers use Mixcloud to publish sets a track-by-track catalogue service could never host as the artist intended.
Everything on Mixcloud is copyright-cleared, with direct licensing agreements including one with Warner Music, so artists are paid when their music plays inside someone else's mix — a different royalty chain from an unlicensed rip. Mixcloud Limited has operated from London since 2008.
Premium removes ads and adds offline listening and unlimited replays for about €6.99 a month; Pro, aimed at the creators themselves, adds unlimited uploads, live streaming and monetisation tools from about €8.25 a month on an annual plan. A free tier covers casual listening.
The catch is scope: Mixcloud is a companion to a catalogue service rather than a replacement for one, because it holds mixes and shows rather than an on-demand library of individual releases.
The United Kingdom also sits outside the EEA, covered by an adequacy decision rather than membership, which matters for procurement rules more than for a listener. For anyone whose actual use of a streaming app is DJ sets, radio shows or music podcasts, though, Mixcloud is the only service in this category built around that format specifically.
What Mixcloud does well
- Full mixes and radio shows play as intended, not chopped into tracks
- Copyright-cleared with direct label licensing, including Warner Music
- Premium adds offline listening and unlimited replays
- Free tier for casual listening
- UK company operating since 2008
Where Mixcloud falls short
- Not an on-demand catalogue of individual tracks or albums
- No lossless or high-resolution audio
- United Kingdom sits outside the EEA
- Pro tier is aimed at creators, not listeners
Standout feature. Full-length DJ mixes and radio shows with an upfront tracklist — a format none of the catalogue services here support.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Full mixes and radio shows play as intended, not chopped into tracks
- Copyright-cleared with direct label licensing, including Warner Music
- Premium adds offline listening and unlimited replays
- Free tier for casual listening
- UK company operating since 2008
Cons
- Not an on-demand catalogue of individual tracks or albums
- No lossless or high-resolution audio
- United Kingdom sits outside the EEA
- Pro tier is aimed at creators, not listeners
Alternatives to Mixcloud
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mixcloud?
Mixcloud is built around a different unit than every other service in this category: not the three-minute track but the full mix, radio show or podcast episode.
A two-hour DJ set with beatmatched transitions plays as a two-hour DJ set, complete with an upfront tracklist, rather than being chopped into individual streams the way it would be on Spotify. That format exists nowhere else here, and it is why DJs, radio stations and producers use Mixcloud to publish sets a track-by-track catalogue service could never host as the artist intended.
Where is Mixcloud based?
Mixcloud operates from London, United Kingdom, which places it under United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA).
What does Mixcloud cost?
Free tier; Premium for listeners from about €6.99/month; Pro for creators from €8.25/month (annual) or €11.00/month (monthly). Free tier.
Who is Mixcloud best for?
DJ mixes, radio shows and podcast discovery. Full-length DJ mixes and radio shows with an upfront tracklist — a format none of the catalogue services here support.
What are the drawbacks of Mixcloud?
Not an on-demand catalogue of individual tracks or albums. No lossless or high-resolution audio. United Kingdom sits outside the EEA. Pro tier is aimed at creators, not listeners.
Is Mixcloud a good alternative to SoundCloud?
Mixcloud is built as a European alternative to SoundCloud: British platform for DJ mixes, radio shows and podcasts, with royalties paid on every play. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does Mixcloud compare to other Music Streaming tools?
Mixcloud is one of several European Music Streaming tools we cover. It is most often compared with SoundCloud, Spotify (for DJ mixes and radio shows).