You’re scrolling through SoundCloud, find a track that looks incredible, hit play, and—nothing. Or maybe just a thirty-second preview that cuts off right as the beat drops. It’s frustrating. We’ve all been there. That little "Go+" badge next to a song is basically a velvet rope, and if you aren't paying, you aren't getting in. But there’s a workaround that most people look for immediately: the SoundCloud Go+ free trial.
It’s not some mythical hack. It’s a legitimate feature SoundCloud offers to lure you away from Spotify or Apple Music. But honestly, the way they set it up can be a bit of a headache if you don’t know the specific terms or how the billing cycle kicks in. If you've ever felt like these streaming services are just trying to trap you in a subscription you’ll forget to cancel, you’re right. That’s the business model.
The Reality of the SoundCloud Go+ Free Trial
So, what is it? Basically, SoundCloud gives you 30 days of their top-tier service for zero dollars. Usually. I say "usually" because sometimes they run promos for 60 or 90 days, though those are rarer and often tied to hardware purchases or student verifications.
With the trial, you get the full catalog. That’s the big draw. SoundCloud has over 320 million tracks. A lot of those are "Premium" tracks from major labels like Universal, Sony, and Warner. Without the trial or a paid sub, you’re stuck with the indie uploads and the previews. You also get high-quality audio—256kbps AAC—which sounds noticeably better than the standard 128kbps MP3 stream if you’re using decent headphones.
But here’s the kicker. You have to provide a payment method upfront. Whether it’s a credit card or PayPal, they want a way to charge you the second that 30th day ends. If you’ve already used a trial on that email address or with that specific card, they’ll catch it. They are surprisingly good at flagging "trial hoppers."
Why Bother with Go+ Anyway?
Most people use SoundCloud for the weird stuff. The DJ sets, the bedroom lo-fi beats, the obscure remixes that would get DMCA’d off YouTube in five minutes. You don’t need a subscription for that.
However, if you want to use SoundCloud as your only music app, the free version doesn't cut it. You can't listen offline. That’s a dealbreaker for anyone with a commute or a limited data plan. The SoundCloud Go+ free trial lets you download those massive three-hour techno sets directly to your phone. It’s a game changer for flights.
Also, ads. They are getting aggressive. It’s not just one ad anymore; it’s the same loud car commercial playing twice in a row. Go+ kills those entirely.
How to Sign Up Without Getting Burned
The process is straightforward, but there are some pitfalls. You go to the SoundCloud website or open the app. You'll see "Try Free" buttons everywhere. They really want you to click them.
- Hit the "Try Free" button on a Go+ track or in your settings.
- Choose your plan (make sure it’s Go+, not the cheaper "Go" which doesn't have the full library).
- Enter your payment info.
- Confirm.
Now, here is the expert tip: Cancel it immediately. Seriously. Most people think if they cancel the trial on day one, they lose access. On SoundCloud, that’s typically not how it works. You usually keep the remaining 29 days of the trial even after you hit "cancel subscription" in the settings. This prevents that "oh crap" moment a month later when you see a $10.99 charge on your bank statement.
The Desktop vs. Mobile Price Trap
This is something almost nobody talks about, but it matters. If you sign up for the SoundCloud Go+ free trial through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, it might cost more later.
Apple takes a 30% cut. To cover that, SoundCloud often charges more for subscriptions started inside the iOS app—sometimes $12.99 instead of $10.99. If you plan on keeping the service after the trial, sign up on a web browser first. Your account will still work on the app, but you’ll pay the lower "direct" price. It’s a small difference that adds up to twenty bucks a year for doing absolutely nothing differently.
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What Happens When the Trial Ends?
If you don't cancel, you become a subscriber. It’s seamless. Your playlists stay, your downloads stay, and your bank account gets lighter.
But if you do cancel, you lose the "Premium" tracks. They don’t disappear from your playlists; they just become unplayable or revert to 30-second previews. Your offline downloads also become "locked." They are still taking up space on your phone’s storage, but the app won’t let you play them until you pony up the cash or find a Wi-Fi signal to stream the free versions.
Comparing SoundCloud Go+ to the Competition
Is the trial worth the 30-second signup?
If you’re a DJ, yes. Go+ integrates with performance software like Serato, Rekordbox, and VirtualDJ. You can actually stream tracks directly into your decks during a set. Spotify doesn't do that anymore. They pulled the plug on 3rd party DJ integrations years ago. For creators, this makes the Go+ trial a powerful tool to test out new tracks in a mix before buying the high-res WAV files from Bandcamp or Beatport.
For the average listener? It’s a toss-up. Spotify has better discovery algorithms. Apple Music has better "Spatial Audio." SoundCloud has the "soul." It’s where the underground lives.
Common Issues and Errors
Sometimes the trial just won’t activate. I’ve seen this happen a lot with prepaid debit cards. SoundCloud’s billing system often rejects "Vanilla Visa" style cards because they can’t verify a recurring billing address. They want a real bank card or a verified PayPal.
Another issue: "The offer is not available in your country."
SoundCloud Go+ is available in a lot of places—US, UK, Canada, Australia, much of Europe—but it’s not global. If you’re in a region where Go+ hasn't launched, you won’t even see the option for a trial. You'll just see the basic free version of SoundCloud. Some people try to use VPNs to bypass this, but it rarely works because your payment method’s "home country" has to match your IP address.
Managing Your Trial Effectively
Don't just let the trial sit there. If you’re going to use it, use it right.
- Audit your "Liked" tracks: Go through all those songs you liked over the years. With Go+, many of them that were previously blocked might suddenly be available.
- Check the audio settings: Go into your app settings and toggle "High Quality Audio." It’s often off by default to save data, but if you have the trial, you should be using the better bitrate.
- Download your "SoundCloud Weekly": The app generates a custom playlist for you every Monday. Use the offline feature to keep it available for the week.
Honestly, the SoundCloud Go+ free trial is a great "try before you buy" situation, but only if you are disciplined about the expiration date. It’s a tool for power users. If you just want to hear the latest Drake album, any service works. If you want to hear a transition-heavy mix of underground UK Garage and unreleased trap, this is the only place to do it.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most out of your experience without accidentally spending money you didn't intend to, follow these specific steps:
- Sign up via a desktop browser at SoundCloud.com to ensure you get the lowest possible post-trial rate ($10.99 vs $12.99).
- Use a digital "burner" card if you’re worried about forgetting to cancel. Services like Privacy.com allow you to create a virtual card with a $1 limit, which will automatically block the charge when the trial ends.
- Set a calendar reminder for 28 days from today. Do not rely on your memory; the notifications from the app are often designed to be easy to miss.
- Immediately toggle High-Quality Streaming in the "Streaming Quality" section of your app settings to ensure you aren't listening to the lower-tier audio you had on the free version.
- Test the DJ integrations if you use software like Rekordbox or Serato; this is the most unique feature of Go+ and the main reason to keep the sub after the trial.