Head-to-head comparison
PremiumBeat vs Soundraw
Two of the music & sfx tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Shutterstock-owned royalty-free music with per-track licensing
Best for: Podcasters who only need one or two tracks and prefer to pay per song rather than subscribe.
AI instrumental generator with stem-level editing controls
Best for: Podcasters who want AI-generated background music with full control over structure and stems.
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
PremiumBeat
Pros
- $49 Standard license covers podcasts
- Subscription bundle: 5 tracks/mo for $64.95
- Curated catalogue with consistent quality
Watch-outs
- Per-track adds up fast for active shows
- Library smaller than subscription competitors
- Premium license ($199) needed for broader use
Soundraw
Pros
- Section-level editing rare among AI music
- Creator $11.99/mo annual unlimited downloads
- Tracks stay licensed for life
Watch-outs
- Instrumental only, no vocals
- Pricier than Suno at comparable usage
- Outputs formulaic without manual edits
Which one should you pick?
Pick PremiumBeat if
You’re building around podcasters who only need one or two tracks and prefer to pay per song rather than subscribe.. PremiumBeat (owned by Shutterstock) is one of the last big libraries still leaning into per-track licensing. Standard license at $49 per track covers podcasts.
Pick Soundraw if
You’re building around podcasters who want ai-generated background music with full control over structure and stems.. Soundraw generates instrumental tracks and exposes section-level editing — change the intro, drop the chorus, swap an instrument. Creator at ~$11.
Also worth comparing
Or see all PremiumBeat alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does PremiumBeat do better than Soundraw?
PremiumBeat's standout is "$49 Standard license covers podcasts". Soundraw doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Section-level editing rare among AI music" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick PremiumBeat; if the second does, pick Soundraw.
What are the trade-offs?
PremiumBeat: per-track adds up fast for active shows. Soundraw: instrumental only, no vocals. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use PremiumBeat and Soundraw together?
Both are music & sfx tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using PremiumBeat for one show or episode type and Soundraw for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.