Audius

Overview

Audius is a music service where artists can publish and sell releases, and listeners can stream and share music for free. It is a strong fit for independent artists seeking direct sales alongside discovery, and for listeners who value free access, offline listening and high-quality audio. Artist-set prices and broad search tools are compelling; the 10% sales fee and upload-rights rules are important constraints.

Key features

Listeners can discover, stream, collect, like and share tracks without paying. Search can narrow results by profile, track, album or playlist, with filters for genre, mood, key, BPM and download availability. Streaming runs at 320kbps and 48kHz, while lossless downloads are available when an artist enables them. Offline listening is supported, making Audius useful for listeners who want access away from a connection.

Artists can upload and promote music for free, then make releases free or set their own price. Fans can buy tracks and albums by credit or debit card or cryptocurrency. Audius takes a 10% network fee on sales, leaving 90% available for instant withdrawal. That gives artists a direct sales route, but the fee reduces proceeds on every paid release.

Developers can query and stream tracks, users and playlists through the REST API. Most read endpoints need no credentials, while write actions require an API key and secret. The JavaScript SDK, OAuth login and GraphQL subgraph hosted by The Graph add integration and smart-contract indexing options. These tools make Audius more relevant to developers building around music catalogs than a streaming service with no published integration stack.

Direct messages are end-to-end encrypted, according to Audius, so only sender and recipient can read them. Group messaging is unavailable, which makes it a poor fit for users who need group conversations. Artist verification requires a KYC/ID check and unlocks Fan Clubs and Message Blasts. Uploads must be music the uploader owns or has written permission or a licensing arrangement to use; uploads are scanned for flagged content. Audius directs users to [email protected] for mistaken copyright takedowns and verification difficulties.

Pricing

Free Audius Music — free. The free plan includes streaming, uploads and promotion. Artists set prices for paid content, and Audius takes a 10% network fee on music sales. It suits listeners who want no-cost access and artists who want to publish without an upfront plan charge; artists selling music should account for the fee when setting prices.

Platforms

Audius supports web browsers and apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux. This broad device coverage suits listeners and artists who move between mobile and desktop.

Who it's for

Audius is best for independent artists who want free uploads, promotion and the option to price releases themselves, as well as listeners drawn to free streaming, offline listening and detailed music filters. It is less suitable for anyone who needs group messaging or artists who cannot meet the ownership, permission or licensing requirements for uploads.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Free streaming, uploads and promotion lower the barrier for listeners and artists.
• Pro: Artists choose whether releases are free or paid, and can receive 90% of sales with instant withdrawal available.
• Pro: Search filters include musical attributes such as key and BPM, while streaming reaches 320kbps at 48kHz.
• Con: The 10% network fee reduces artists' proceeds from every sale.
• Con: Lossless downloads depend on artists enabling them, and group messaging is not supported.
• Con: Uploads are restricted to music the uploader owns or is authorized to use, and verification requires KYC/ID.

Alternatives

Amazon Music is a better fit for listeners who want ad-free music and podcasts with offline listening for All-Access Playlists included with a Prime membership.

Anghami is another freemium music streaming option with a family plan for six accounts.

Deezer may suit listeners who want an ad-supported free tier with a catalog of over 120 million songs.

Playary is worth considering for people seeking a free service spanning songs, podcasts, movies, audiobooks and TV shows.

Calm Radio is a better match for listeners seeking music channels, guided sleep or meditation, nature sounds and scenic videos.

IDAGIO may suit listeners who want a free plan capped at six collection items, with paid options including offline mobile playback and ad-free listening.

JioSaavn offers a free music app, though its free plan contains ads and in-app purchases.

Madsonic is an alternative with a free plan that includes artist radio, AutoDJ and genre and mood radio.

Browse more options in Music Streaming Software.

Verdict

Choose Audius if you want free listening or a direct way to publish and price music, especially if high-quality streaming, offline playback and developer integrations matter. Artists should be comfortable with the 10% network fee and the rights rules for uploads. Look elsewhere if group messaging is essential or your priority is a different kind of music service.