Apple Music vs SoundCloud:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, SoundCloud had more branded searches than Apple Music among music streaming services in the United Kingdom. SoundCloud had about 450,000 branded searches, while Apple Music had 165,000. SoundCloud made up 11.5% of all music streaming service searches we track, and Apple Music accounted for 4.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about music streaming services, Apple Music appeared in all four answers and SoundCloud in none.
Who do people search for more?
SoundCloud, about 3 searches for every 1 for Apple Music
Who does AI mention more?
Apple Music, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple Music, the only one of the two named
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Top music streaming services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Apple Music appeared in all four answers. 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 Apple Music or SoundCloud more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple Music and SoundCloud 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 SoundCloud, Apple Music. 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 Apple Music and SoundCloud comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- SoundCloud was ahead of Apple Music in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple Music’s share of searches among music streaming services in the United Kingdom moved from 4.1% to 4.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 165K.
- 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.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom music streaming services in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apple Music overtook Amazon Music to rank 4th among music streaming services in the United Kingdom, with 4.2% of the searches.
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 Apple Music’s and SoundCloud’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.
Apple Music
1 branded search term
- apple music
SoundCloud
1 branded search term
- soundcloud
Other head-to-heads among music streaming services
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