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Radio Browser vs SoundCloud

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APIRadio BrowserNEW—SoundCloudNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree and open source — no keyFree tier — API key required
Rate limitUnpublished (clients asked to send a descriptive User-Agent)Unpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Radio Browser vs SoundCloud: common questions

Which is more reliable, Radio Browser or SoundCloud?

On our scheduled checks, SoundCloud leads on measured uptime — Radio Browser at —% versus SoundCloud at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do Radio Browser and SoundCloud need an API key?

Radio Browser needs no key, while SoundCloud requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Radio Browser first.

Can I call Radio Browser and SoundCloud from the browser?

Yes — both Radio Browser and SoundCloud send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are Radio Browser and SoundCloud free for commercial use?

Radio Browser has unclear commercial terms, and SoundCloud has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.