Suno vs Udio: Which AI Music Generator Fits You in 2026
The two best known AI song generators compared on published prices, downloads, ownership, label settlements, lawsuits and ratings.
By , research by the BestBots team · Updated Oct 18, 2026
Fact checked against each company's published pricing, documentation and verified user ratings. How we score
Suno wins for nearly everyone in October 2026. Pro is $8 a month for about 500 songs, with 20 downloads, ownership and commercial use. Udio has had no downloads since October 29, 2025, its terms say Udio owns all output, and commercial use is banned on every plan. Udio only makes sense if you want to play inside its app.
Suno4.0From $8 per month (monthly or annual subscription with credits; 10 credits per generation (2 songs))
Visit Suno
Side by side
| Spec | Suno | Udio |
|---|---|---|
| BestBots Score | 4.0 | 2.8 |
| Starting price | $8 per month | $10 per month |
| Pricing model | monthly or annual subscription with credits; 10 credits per generation (2 songs) | monthly or annual subscription with credits; credit packs |
| Free trial | None listed | Free trial of Standard |
| Free plan | 50 credits a day (about 10 songs), no downloads or commercial rights | 10 credits a day, 100 a month, 3 full length songs a day |
| Paid from | $8 per month (Pro), annual saves $24 a year | $10 per month (Standard), $8 billed yearly |
| Credits or minutes per month | 2,500 (Pro) or 10,000 (Premier) credits; 10 credits per 2 song generation | 2,400 (Standard) or 6,000 (Pro) credits; packs at $3 per 100 or $25 per 1,000 |
| Max length | Upload up to 8 minutes of audio (Free and Pro) or 30 minutes (Premier) | 130 second song generations, extendable inside Udio |
| Commercial use | Pro and Premier, only for songs you spend a download on (20 or 60 a month); Suno assigns ownership to paid users | Not allowed on any plan; downloads disabled; Udio owns output under its terms |
| API | No public developer API listed | No public developer API listed |
The short answer
- Best for anyone who wants to keep or release songs: Suno.
- Best for producers: Suno Premier, with Studio and unlimited Studio exports.
- Only reason to pick Udio: you want to create and listen inside Udio and wait for its label licensed app.
Pricing
| Suno | Udio | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 50 credits a day (about 10 songs), no downloads | 10 credits a day, 100 a month, 3 songs a day |
| Entry | Pro $8 ($6.40 yearly), 2,500 credits | Standard $10 ($8 yearly), 2,400 credits |
| Top | Premier $24 ($19.20 yearly), 10,000 credits | Pro $30 ($24 yearly), 6,000 credits |
| Downloads | 20 (Pro), 60 (Premier) a month | None |
| Commercial use | Pro and Premier | None |
| Ownership | Paid users own output | Udio owns output |
| Extra credits | In app | 100 for $3, 1,000 for $25 |
Cost per kept song. Suno Pro: $8 / 20 downloads = $0.40 per song you can keep. Udio: you cannot keep any. See Suno pricing.
Models and features
| Suno | Udio | |
|---|---|---|
| Current models | v6, v6-wild, v6-mini (Free) | Udio's model, 130 second generations |
| Training data | v6 built with licensed data from WMG, BMG and Believe | Licensed transition with UMG, WMG, Merlin and Kobalt |
| Editing | Replace sections, extend, stems (2 or 3 types) | Edit sections, remix, extend, style references |
| Your voice | Record your voice, custom models (paid) | Voice control (paid) |
| Workstation | Suno Studio on Premier, MIDI and effects | None |
| Apps | iOS, Android, web | Web |
| Distribution | TuneCore and Believe for licensed model tracks | Share links only |
Head to head scenarios
Background music for YouTube videos
Winner: Suno. Download 20 tracks a month on Pro and use them commercially. Udio's terms ban it.
Releasing a song on streaming services
Winner: Suno. Paid users own output, and a downloaded song can be released and distributed.
Producing with stems and MIDI
Winner: Suno. Premier's Studio adds MIDI, effects and automation, with unlimited Studio exports.
Playing with AI songs for fun, no files needed
Tie. Both have free daily quotas. Udio's vocals were widely praised at its 2024 launch; Suno's v6 is newer.
Lowest legal risk for a brand
Neither is risk free; Suno is usable, Udio is not. Suno's paid terms grant ownership, but Universal and Sony are suing it. Udio has settled with Universal and Warner, but bans commercial use outright.
Lawsuits and licensing
| Event | Suno | Udio |
|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | Sued by major labels in D. Mass. (1:24-cv-11611) | Sued by major labels in S.D.N.Y. |
| Late 2025 | Warner Music settles and partners | Universal settles (October 29), Warner settles (November 19) |
| 2026 licensing | v6 with WMG, BMG and Believe (September 9) | Merlin and Kobalt deals; Kobalt April 9 |
| 2026 litigation | UMG and Sony second suit (September); GEMA wins in Munich (July 31); Italy investigates terms (October 6) | Sony second suit filed July 20; Udio admits YouTube scraping in Sony case (May 4) |
| Download policy | Caps from September 3, 2026 | None since October 29, 2025 |
Sources: Music Business Worldwide reporting, Suno and Udio blog posts and terms, and CourtListener dockets listed in each record.
Privacy
Neither publishes SOC 2 or ISO certifications or offers an enterprise DPA. Both terms let the company use your prompts, lyrics and uploads to run and improve the service. Udio told a court it scraped YouTube audio for training, per Music Business Worldwide. Do not upload unreleased material you care about to either.
What users say
| Suno | Udio | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 1.7 from 192 | 1.5 from 59 |
| App Store | 4.9 from 375,625 | No app rating |
Both Trustpilot pages are dominated by download changes and billing complaints. Suno's app users rate it far higher than its web reviewers do.
How to choose
If the song has to leave the app, in a video, a podcast, a game or a release, the choice is Suno. If you only want to create and listen, try both free plans for a week: Suno gives 50 credits a day and Udio 10. When Udio's licensed app arrives, revisit this comparison; it may offer things Suno cannot, such as sanctioned use of major label artists' styles, but it is unlikely to offer unrestricted downloads given its walled garden approach.
Verdict
Suno is the clear winner for creators, songwriters and producers: cheaper, with downloads, ownership and commercial rights. Udio is a listen only sandbox until its label licensed app ships. Watch the Boston case against Suno if you build a business on its output, and keep receipts of what you generated and downloaded.
Read the Suno review and Udio review, or see the best AI music generators.
Frequently asked questions
Is Suno better than Udio?
Yes, for almost everyone in October 2026. Suno lets paid users download songs, own them and use them commercially. Udio has no downloads on any plan and its terms say Udio owns all output. Udio may become more attractive when its label licensed app launches.
Can I download songs from Udio?
No. Udio turned off downloads on October 29, 2025. You can only listen in Udio and share udio.com links. Suno Pro allows 20 downloads a month and Premier 60.
Which is cheaper, Suno or Udio?
Suno. Pro is $8 per month ($6.40 yearly) for 2,500 credits, about 500 songs. Udio Standard is $10 per month ($8 yearly) for 2,400 credits and you cannot keep the songs.
Are Suno and Udio being sued?
Yes. Major labels sued both in June 2024. Warner settled with both, Universal settled with Udio in October 2025 but filed a second suit against Suno with Sony in September 2026, and Sony is still suing Udio, including a second case filed July 20, 2026. A Munich court ruled for GEMA against Suno in July 2026.
Can I use Suno songs on Spotify?
On Pro or Premier, yes, after you spend a download on the song. Suno assigns ownership to paid users. Tracks from its licensed models can be distributed through TuneCore and Believe. Free plan songs cannot be used commercially.
What is Udio Starstruck?
Music Business Worldwide reported in May 2026 that Udio's licensed fan app will be called Starstruck, with four creation modes. It had not launched as a replacement for Udio as of October 2026.