Freedom251 › Media Player Software
Soundnode
What Soundnode is
Soundnode is a free, open-source desktop app for listening to SoundCloud on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It uses the SoundCloud API for network playback and lets users browse tracks from Stream, Likes, Tracks, Following, and Playlists. Search helps find songs, while liking a track saves it to a liked playlist. The app lists full playlist support, following and unfollowing SoundCloud users, and native media keyboard shortcuts. Soundnode is built with Electron, Node.js, and Angular.js, and is released under the GNU General Public License version 3. Downloads are provided for Windows, OS X, and Linux, including Debian and Ubuntu installation instructions. Users must configure their own SoundCloud API key. The API allows third-party apps 15,000 tracks daily; once that limit is reached, streaming is blocked for all users until the same time the next day. The project README names Michael Lancaster as author.
Who it suits
SoundCloud listeners who want a free desktop client on Windows, macOS, or Linux. It is suitable for users comfortable configuring an API key.
What it does well
- Free and open source
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Search, playlists, likes, and following
- Native media keyboard shortcuts
- Downloads include Debian and Ubuntu instructions
What to know first
- Requires your own SoundCloud API key
- Streaming depends on SoundCloud API limits
- Playback blocks after 15,000 daily tracks
- Desktop app only
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Soundnode | Open-source desktop app · Windows, Mac, Linux · SoundCloud API limit: 15,000 tracks daily | Free |
As soundnode.github.io lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Soundnode offers broad SoundCloud playback and account features in a free desktop package. Its required API setup and daily streaming allowance are important conditions for regular use.
Facts from Soundnode's own pages
- API key setup
- The README says users need to configure their own SoundCloud API key for the app to work. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Controls
- The app supports native media keyboard shortcuts. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The official site provides downloads for Windows, OS X, and Linux, including Debian/Ubuntu installation instructions. · soundnode.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Following
- Users can follow and unfollow other SoundCloud users. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · soundnode.github.io, 22 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Soundnode uses the SoundCloud API and depends on it for streaming tracks. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is released under GNU General Public License version 3. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- License model
- free · soundnode.github.io, 22 Sept 2026
- Likes
- Users can like songs and save them to their liked playlist. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The project README names Michael Lancaster as its author. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Network playback
- Yes · soundnode.github.io, 22 Sept 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windows,macOS,Linux · soundnode.github.io, 22 Sept 2026
- Playback
- Users can listen to tracks from their Stream, Likes, Tracks, Following, and Playlists. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Playlists
- The app lists full playlist support as a feature. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Soundnode is an open-source desktop app for listening to SoundCloud. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Search
- The app supports searching for new songs. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Technology
- The app is built with Electron, Node.js, Angular.js, and the SoundCloud API. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Usage limit
- The README states that the SoundCloud API allows third-party apps 15,000 tracks daily and blocks streaming for all users after the limit is reached until the next day at the same time. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Soundnode stands on Freedom251
- Media Player Software#45 of 76