trakk'em vs SoundCloud
SoundCloud compresses your audio to a lossy stream and shows plays and top fans, not who opened a private link. trakk'em keeps it lossless and tracks each listener on their own private link.
Side by side
| Feature | trakk'em | SoundCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Original-quality audio, never compressed | Transcoded to lossy | |
| Per-listener private links | One secret link | |
| See who listened, per person | Top fans, not per private link | |
| Listener location | Top countries and cities (paid) | |
| Device per listener | ||
| How much of each track they heard | ||
| Per-section replay heatmap | ||
| Live "playing now" | ||
| Password-protected links | Paid plans | |
| Link expiry | Paid plans | |
| Download control | Paid plans | |
| Send files beyond audio | Paid plans | |
| Listeners can send files back | Paid plans | |
| Public audience and discovery | ||
| Free plan |
Comparison based on each product's public documentation as of October 2026. "Not stated" means a capability isn't described in their public docs, not that it's impossible. Trademarks belong to their respective owners; trakk'em is not affiliated with them.
Why creators switch
Lossless, exactly as you mixed it
SoundCloud transcodes every upload into a lossy, compressed stream. trakk'em plays your original file untouched, so a lossless master reaches the listener lossless.
Per-listener, not per-track
SoundCloud counts total plays on a secret link. trakk'em gives every person their own link, so a play has a name, a place and a device attached to it.
Private by design
A trakk'em link is made for one listener and, on paid plans, can carry a password and an expiry date. It is delivery, not publishing.
See how much they heard
Not just that a track was opened, but how far into it they got and which parts they replayed, live while it happens.
Questions
Does SoundCloud reduce my audio quality?
SoundCloud transcodes uploads into a compressed, lossy format for streaming, so listeners do not hear your original file. trakk'em never transcodes: it plays the exact file you uploaded, so a lossless master stays lossless.
Can I see who listened on SoundCloud?
SoundCloud shows aggregate stats like total plays, and countries or cities on paid plans, but not who a specific private link listener was. trakk'em ties each private link to one person, so you see exactly who opened it, from where and how much they heard.
Can I password-protect or expire a SoundCloud link?
SoundCloud secret links can be reset or revoked, but they do not support a password or an expiry date. On paid plans, trakk'em links can carry both.
Do listeners need an account?
No, on either. A SoundCloud secret link and a trakk'em link both open in any browser without the listener signing up.
See who's really listening
Send your first private link and track every listen. It's free to start.