SoundCloud vs YouTube Music:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, YouTube Music had more branded searches than SoundCloud among music streaming services in the United Kingdom. YouTube Music had about 823,000 branded searches, while SoundCloud had 450,000. YouTube Music made up 21% of all music streaming service searches we track, and SoundCloud accounted for 11.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about music streaming services, YouTube Music appeared in three of the four answers and SoundCloud in none.
Who do people search for more?
YouTube Music, about 83% more searches than SoundCloud
Who does AI mention more?
YouTube Music, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, SoundCloud in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
YouTube Music, the only one of the two named
Follow SoundCloud vs YouTube Music and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top music streaming services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, YouTube Music was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. SoundCloud did not appear in any of the four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Apple Music1st
Spotify2nd
Tidal3rd- YouTube Music4th
Amazon Music5th
SoundCloud–
Deezer–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Spotify4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Apple Music4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- YouTube Music3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Amazon Music3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Tidal3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- SoundCloud0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Deezer0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about music streaming services
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best music streaming service in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which music app has the best sound quality?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which music streaming subscription is best value?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“music streaming”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 27, 2026.
Is SoundCloud or YouTube Music more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for SoundCloud and YouTube Music by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven music streaming services we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for YouTube Music, SoundCloud. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Spotify | YouTube Music | SoundCloud | Apple Music | Amazon Music | Tidal | Deezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 55.6% | 20.4% | 13.7% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Nov 2025 | 57.3% | 17.2% | 14.1% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1.9% | 1% |
| Dec 2025 | 62.2% | 15.3% | 12.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.92% |
| Jan 2026 | 55.2% | 20.3% | 13.6% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 59.4% | 17.9% | 11.9% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2% | 0.88% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.1% | 20.3% | 13.5% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Apr 2026 | 57.6% | 21.2% | 11.6% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 0.85% |
| May 2026 | 60.5% | 18.2% | 12.1% | 3.6% | 3% | 1.6% | 0.89% |
| Jun 2026 | 54.8% | 20.1% | 13.5% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.8% | 0.81% |
| Jul 2026 | 54.5% | 20% | 13.4% | 4.9% | 4% | 2.2% | 0.99% |
| Aug 2026 | 57.8% | 21.3% | 11.6% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 0.57% |
| Sep 2026 | 57.1% | 21% | 11.5% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 0.84% |
How has the SoundCloud and YouTube Music comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- YouTube Music was ahead of SoundCloud in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SoundCloud’s share of searches among music streaming services in the United Kingdom moved from 13.7% to 11.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 450K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, YouTube Music’s share of searches among music streaming services in the United Kingdom moved from 20.4% to 21%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 823K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom music streaming services in September 2026?
1 change
SoundCloud’s share of searches among music streaming services in the United Kingdom has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 13.5% to 11.5% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using SoundCloud’s and YouTube Music’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
SoundCloud
1 branded search term
- soundcloud
YouTube Music
1 branded search term
- youtube music
Other head-to-heads among music streaming services
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.