Suno vs Udio (2026): Pricing, Downloads, Rights and Which AI Music Generator to Use

Suno vs Udio used to be a close contest between the two leading AI song generators. In 2026 it is a very different comparison. After settling with major record labels, Udio has become a “walled garden” where downloads are switched off while it prepares a new licensed app, whereas Suno still lets paying subscribers download songs and use them commercially, with new licensed v6 models. This guide compares the two on availability, pricing, features, ownership and legal risk, so you can decide which one, if either, suits you.

Details below were checked on 12 October 2026 against Suno’s pricing and help pages and reporting from Music Business Worldwide, Digital Music News and other music-industry outlets. Udio’s own pricing page could not be loaded at the time of checking, so its plan details are marked as reported by third parties. We have not run our own listening tests. AI music licensing is changing quickly, so confirm current terms before using any track commercially.

Suno vs Udio: The Short Answer

• Choose Suno if you want to create songs you can download and use, for example in videos, podcasts or demos. Paid plans include downloads and commercial use rights.
• Udio is not a practical choice for downloadable music right now. Downloads were disabled after its settlement with Universal Music Group in October 2025, and its licensed replacement app has not yet launched widely.
• Consider alternatives such as ElevenLabs’ music platform or Google’s Lyria 3 in the Gemini app if you want licensed models from other companies.

Side-by-Side Comparison

What Happened to Udio?

In June 2024, Universal, Sony and Warner sued both Suno and Udio in the US, alleging their models were trained on copyrighted recordings. Udio then settled:

• Universal (29 October 2025): settled and agreed to build a licensed AI music platform with Udio. Music Business Worldwide reported that the existing product would stay available during the transition, with creations “controlled within a walled garden”.
• Downloads switched off (late October 2025): Digital Music News reported that Udio disabled downloads immediately after the Universal deal.
• Warner (November 2025), Merlin (January 2026) and Kobalt (April 2026): further licensing deals followed, based on training with licensed music and artist opt-in.

Udio’s licensed app, reported to be called Starstruck, is designed around remixing and reimagining licensed songs inside the app, with four modes reported as Cover, Reimagine, Remix and Create. According to Music Business Worldwide’s report in May 2026, users would not be able to export or distribute what they make outside the app, and would not own it. Kobalt said in April 2026 that the service was expected to launch later in the year; we could not confirm a launch date.

Sony has not settled with Udio. It filed a second lawsuit in July 2026 covering more than 30,000 recordings, and Udio also faces an artist-led class action.

What Changed at Suno?

Suno settled with Warner Music Group in November 2025 and partnered with Warner, BMG and Believe on new licensed models. On 9 September 2026, Suno launched v6, v6-wild and v6-mini, and said older models would be retired. The Warner deal also introduced limits on downloads: only paying subscribers can download songs, and each plan has a monthly cap.

Suno has also added a range of tools: Suno Studio for production (launched in September 2025), Voices for applying your own recorded voice to songs, and a Speech beta, opened to all users on 1 October 2026, that creates spoken audio with a soundtrack. Our Suno beginner’s guide explains how to use each one.

Universal and Sony have not settled with Suno. They filed a second US lawsuit in September 2026 covering more than 60,000 recordings, including claims about the data behind v6. Suno argues that its training is fair use.

Pricing Compared

Suno pricing

Suno says annual billing saves 20%. Premier adds Suno Studio, more stem types and longer uploads. Both paid plans can buy extra credits and downloads. Prices are listed in US dollars; UK and EU buyers may see VAT or currency conversion at checkout.

Udio pricing

Udio’s pricing page did not load when we checked. Third-party reviews in 2026 report a free tier with a small daily credit allowance, a Standard plan at about $10 a month and a Pro plan at about $30 a month. Because downloads are disabled, these plans currently let you create and listen inside Udio rather than export music. Check Udio’s site for current plans before paying.

Features Compared

Song creation

Both tools generate complete songs with vocals from a text prompt or your own lyrics. Suno’s v6 models also accept audio, images or video as prompts and add partial editing, mashups, audio isolation and sampling, according to reports on the launch. With Udio, the practical limitation is not creation but what you can do with the result.

Editing and production

Suno Studio, included with Premier, offers a browser-based workspace with stems, MIDI, effects and automation, which makes Suno more useful for musicians who want to rework a track. Udio’s walled-garden model means its creations stay inside the platform.

Apps

Suno has apps for iPhone and Android. Udio’s planned Starstruck app is described as mobile-first.

Ownership and Commercial Use

This is the area where you need to be most careful.

• Suno: paid plans include commercial use rights, and Suno’s help centre says Pro and Premier users keep commercial rights to songs made while subscribed, even after cancelling. Free-plan songs are non-commercial. However, reports after the Warner deal said Suno’s terms changed wording on ownership, so read the current terms of service rather than relying on older articles.
• Udio: with downloads disabled, you cannot currently use tracks outside the platform. The planned Starstruck app is reported to keep creations in-app without user ownership.

Whichever tool you use, do not imitate a real artist’s voice or upload copyrighted material you do not have rights to, and check the rules of any platform where you publish, such as YouTube or streaming distributors.

Legal Risk: What UK and European Users Should Know

Several European cases are relevant:

• Germany: on 31 July 2026, the Munich Regional Court largely ruled in favour of the collecting society GEMA against Suno, finding that storing works in the model and reproducing them infringed copyright. The judgment is not yet final.
• Denmark: Koda, the Danish collecting society, sued Suno in November 2025.
• Italy: Italy’s competition and consumer authority was reported in October 2026 to have opened an investigation into Suno’s terms of service.

We found no evidence that either service is blocked in the UK or EU. These cases do not make it illegal for individuals to use Suno, but they show that the legal position of AI-generated music is still being decided. Businesses using AI music in adverts or products should take advice and keep records of which tool and plan created each track.

Suno and Udio Alternatives

• ElevenLabs Music: launched as a full platform in May 2026, using a licensed model with partners including Merlin, Kobalt and Believe. Our ElevenLabs guide covers the company’s voice tools.
• Google Lyria 3: available in the Gemini app since February 2026 in beta, creating 30-second tracks with a SynthID watermark for users aged 18 and over.
• Mureka: another AI song generator with free and paid plans.

If you also need AI voiceovers rather than songs, see our guide to the best ElevenLabs alternatives. For creators building channels with AI, our YouTube automation guide shows where music fits.

Which Should You Choose?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Suno or Udio better in 2026?

For most people, Suno, because it still allows paying users to download songs and use them commercially. Udio’s downloads have been disabled since October 2025.

Can you still download songs from Udio?

Not at the time of writing. Downloads were switched off after Udio’s settlement with Universal, apart from a brief temporary window reported in November 2025.

How much does Suno cost?

Suno Pro is $8 a month and Premier $24 a month when billed yearly. The free plan gives 50 credits a day but no downloads or commercial rights.

Do I own songs I make with Suno?

Paid plans include commercial use rights. Ownership wording has changed since Suno’s Warner deal, so read Suno’s current terms before relying on ownership claims.

Is AI music legal to use in the UK?

Using tools such as Suno is not illegal for individuals, but copyright questions around training data are still before the courts, including in Germany. Follow each platform’s terms and take advice for commercial projects.

Conclusion

The Suno vs Udio decision is simpler than it used to be. Suno remains a complete AI song generator with licensed v6 models, paid downloads and commercial use, although it still faces lawsuits from Universal, Sony and European collecting societies. Udio has turned into a licensed, in-app experience without downloads while its new Starstruck app is prepared. If you need music you can actually use, start with Suno’s free plan, then upgrade only if the results are good enough to publish.

Sources: Suno pricing; Suno Help – ownership and commercial use; Suno – introducing Suno Studio; Music Business Worldwide – Universal settles with Udio; Digital Music News – Udio downloads disabled; Music Business Worldwide – Udio’s Starstruck app; SiliconANGLE – Warner and Suno deal; Music Business Worldwide – second Suno lawsuit; CMU – Sony’s second Udio lawsuit; CMS – GEMA v Suno; Koda – lawsuit against Suno; Music Business Worldwide – ElevenMusic launch; Google – Lyria 3 in Gemini.