Updated September 2026. Suno capped downloads on September 3, 2026 and launched v6 on September 9, retiring its earlier models as v6 rolls out, while Udio still has downloads switched off. This comparison now centers on what each tool lets you take home.
In September 2026, Suno is the AI music generator to pick if you need finished songs you can download. Suno Pro costs $10 a month ($8 billed yearly) for 2,500 credits, 20 song downloads a month, commercial use rights and the v6 and v6-wild models. Udio charges the same, $10 for Standard and $30 for Pro, but downloads of audio, video and stems have been disabled since its October 2025 deal with Universal Music Group, so nothing you make there can leave the platform. The strongest third option is ElevenLabs Music v2.5, whose free plan includes five lossless downloads a day.
Quick verdict
- Pick Suno v6 if you want finished songs you can download and release. Pro ($10 a month, $8 billed yearly) includes 20 downloads a month with commercial rights; Premier ($30, $24 billed yearly) includes 60 plus unlimited stem and multitrack export from Suno Studio. The default for most creators making complete songs.
- Pick Udio only if your songs can stay inside Udio. Downloads of audio, video and stems are disabled while Udio moves to a licensed platform with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, so it cannot supply files for a video, podcast or DAW session today.
- Pick ElevenLabs Music if you need downloads on a free plan or an API. Music v2.5 gives free accounts five lossless downloads a day, with commercial use if you credit ElevenMusic.
- Pick ACE-Step 1.5 (open source, MIT license) if you self-host and want zero cost per track. Its 2B model runs in under 4GB of VRAM.
How we compared them
This September 2026 update compares the plans, models, download rules and licensing terms that Suno, Udio, ElevenLabs and the ACE-Step project publish on their own pricing pages, blogs, help centers and repositories, checked on September 27, 2026. Our May 2026 listening test used Suno v5, which Suno has since retired for v6, so those scores no longer describe a model you can use and have been removed.
Suno vs Udio comparison table (September 2026)
| Feature | Suno | Udio |
|---|---|---|
| Current models | v6 and v6-wild (Pro, Premier); v6-mini (Free) | v1, v1.5 and v1.5 Allegro |
| Free plan | 50 credits a day, v6-mini, no commercial rights, no monthly downloads | 10 credits a day and 100 a month, up to 3 full-length (2:10) songs a day |
| Entry paid plan | Pro: $10 a month or $8 billed yearly, 2,500 credits | Standard: $10 a month or $8 billed yearly, 2,400 credits |
| Top plan | Premier: $30 a month or $24 billed yearly, 10,000 credits, Suno Studio | Pro: $30 a month or $24 billed yearly, 6,000 credits |
| Downloads | Pro 20 a month, Premier 60 a month, extra downloads for purchase (since September 3, 2026) | Disabled for audio, video and stems |
| Stems | Pro: 2 separation types; Premier: 3, plus unlimited 32-bit/48kHz stem and multitrack export from Suno Studio | Stem downloads disabled |
| Commercial use | Pro and Premier, for songs downloaded on a paid plan | Nothing can be exported during the transition |
| Songs at once | 10 on Pro and Premier, 4 on Free | 10 on Pro, 6 on Standard, 4 on Free |
| Label partners | Warner Music Group, BMG, Believe | Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group |
| Distribution path | v6 industry partner model tracks eligible via Believe and TuneCore | Share inside Udio and through udio.com links |
| Best for | Finished songs you download and release | Creating and sharing inside Udio |
Models: Suno v6 vs Udio v1.5
Suno launched v6 on September 9, 2026 as three models: v6, the flagship for Pro and Premier; v6-wild, a less predictable model for exploration on the same plans; and v6-mini, the faster model available to everyone. Suno developed v6 with Warner Music Group, BMG and Believe, and said it would retire its previous models as v6 rolls out. Its pricing page now lists only v6-generation models. Our Suno v6 deep dive covers what the retirement means for older songs and custom models.
v6 adds plain-language edits to one section of a finished song, single-lyric changes without regenerating the track, mashups built from several of your songs, and prompts from text, audio, images or video. Udio's help center still lists the v1, v1.5 and v1.5 Allegro models it offered in November 2025, and Udio's blog has announced no new model since. For podcast intros and YouTube music you need as a file, Suno is the only one of the two that can deliver it.
Stems and downloads: where Suno now wins
Stem export used to be Udio's advantage, and it is gone. Udio's help center states that downloading of audio, video and stems has been disabled since its October 29, 2025 partnership with Universal Music Group. Udio runs under a transition Terms of Service until its licensed platform launches; you can still create, extend and remix, and share songs through udio.com links.
Suno Pro includes two stem separation types (Auto and Split from mix), and Premier adds Advanced split. Premier also includes Suno Studio 2.0, the browser DAW Suno updated on August 13, 2026 with MIDI, effects and automation, where Premier subscribers can export 32-bit/48kHz multitracks and stems with no download limit. For producers who mix in Ableton, Logic or Pro Tools, Suno Premier is now the only one of the two that gets stems into your DAW.
Song editing and structure: where Suno wins
Suno v6 is built to edit a song rather than regenerate it. You describe a change to one section, such as Suno's own example of a chorus sung by a gospel choir, and the rest of the track stays as it was; a single lyric line can be changed the same way. Udio generates 32-second or 130-second songs, and a free account can make only three 130-second songs a day; longer songs are built with Extend.
For creators who want a finished, editable song, Suno wins. Udio's extend-and-remix flow still suits people who enjoy iterating inside the app, as long as the result never needs to leave it.
Pricing math: cost per downloaded song
Since September 3, 2026, the limit that decides your cost on Suno is downloads, not credits:
- Suno Pro: $10 a month for 20 downloads is $0.50 per downloaded song, or $0.40 on yearly billing. Extra downloads can be bought.
- Suno Premier: $30 a month for 60 downloads is also $0.50 per song ($0.40 yearly), plus unlimited stem and multitrack export from Suno Studio.
- Udio Standard or Pro: $10 or $30 a month buys 2,400 or 6,000 credits but no downloads, so there is no cost per song you can use outside Udio.
Credits still limit how many drafts you generate (2,500 a month on Suno Pro, 10,000 on Premier), but the download cap decides how many finished songs you ship. If you release more than 20 songs a month, Premier's 60 downloads cost the same per song as Pro and add Studio.
Commercial use + licensing
Suno grants commercial use rights on Pro and Premier; Free plan songs are for personal use. Under the Terms of Service Suno introduced on September 3, 2026, songs downloaded on paid plans "remain yours to use commercially or personally." Suno also announced on September 8, 2026 that tracks made with its new industry partner model become eligible for distribution through Believe and TuneCore, which had earlier said they would not distribute music from Suno's previous models.
Udio settled with Universal Music Group (October 29, 2025) and Warner Music Group (November 19, 2025) and is building a licensed platform where fans remix and create with the voices and styles of artists who opt in. Until it launches, there is nothing to license outside Udio. Practical guidance: for video soundtracks, podcast intros, social content and ad music, Suno Pro or Premier covers you. For a major release or a sync deal for TV or film, keep your paid-plan download records and consult a music lawyer.
Open-source alternative: ACE-Step 1.5
For creators who self-host, ACE-Step 1.5 is the strongest open-source option in 2026. It is MIT-licensed, generates songs from 10 seconds to 10 minutes, and its README says the 2B model runs in under 4GB of VRAM and takes under 10 seconds per song on an RTX 3090. The 4B XL models released on April 2, 2026 need at least 12GB of VRAM with offloading, or 20GB without. The developers rate its quality between Suno v4.5 and Suno v5, the generation Suno has now replaced with v6.
For podcasters making more than 20 tracks a month, ACE-Step's zero per-track cost and unlimited local files beat Suno's download caps. Setup takes a Python environment or the project's portable Windows and macOS packages. For occasional use, Suno's cloud convenience beats the setup cost.
The third option: ElevenLabs Music
ElevenLabs is now the main alternative for creators who need files. It released Music v2.5 on September 11, 2026 as the default model in ElevenMusic. Free accounts get five lossless downloads a day and can use tracks commercially if they credit ElevenMusic; Pro gets 400 lossless downloads a month. The rights attached when you create a track stay with it after you cancel or downgrade, and downloads are blocked on tracks that reference another artist's song.
ElevenLabs also signed a multi-year agreement with Universal Music Group on September 10, 2026 to build a separate fan platform for remixes and mashups. For the full head-to-head, read ElevenLabs Music v2 vs Suno and our Music v2.5 download breakdown.
Which one fits which creator
Pop / rock / mainstream-genre creators making 1-3 finished songs per week: Suno Pro. 20 downloads a month covers it, with commercial rights and the v6 models.
Producers integrating AI music into Ableton / Logic / Pro Tools workflows: Suno Premier. Unlimited stem and multitrack export from Suno Studio; Udio stems cannot be downloaded.
Indie / electronic / experimental creators wanting more sonic exploration per dollar: Suno's v6-wild, built for less predictable results, or Udio if your songs only need to live inside Udio.
High-volume podcasters / YouTubers needing cheap intro music at scale: ACE-Step 1.5 self-hosted for unlimited files, ElevenLabs Music for five free lossless downloads a day, or Suno Premier for 60 downloads a month.
Beginners just exploring AI music: Either free tier. Suno Free gives 50 credits a day on v6-mini; Udio Free gives 10 credits a day and 100 a month. Neither free plan includes monthly downloads.
Is it worth paying for both?
Not while Udio downloads are off. Paying for both made sense when Udio supplied stems; today a second $10 subscription only buys songs that stay inside Udio. A better pairing is Suno for finished songs plus ElevenLabs Music or ACE-Step 1.5 for extra downloads. Revisit Udio when its licensed platform launches.
For the wider tool comparison covering ElevenLabs, Fish Speech, ACE-Step, and Stable Audio, see Best AI Music Tools 2026: Tested + Compared. For the full producer guide pillar, see AI Music + Audio 2026: The Complete Producer Guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI music generator in 2026?
For most creators who need finished, downloadable songs, Suno v6 on the Pro plan ($10 a month, 20 downloads) is the best pick in September 2026. Udio has disabled downloads, so it only suits songs you share inside Udio. ElevenLabs Music v2.5 is the best free option for downloads (five lossless a day), and ACE-Step 1.5 is the best open-source model for self-hosting.
Is Udio better than Suno for stems?
Not anymore. Udio's help center states that downloading of audio, video and stems has been disabled since its Universal Music Group deal. Suno Pro includes two stem separation types, and Suno Premier ($30 a month) adds Advanced split and unlimited stem and multitrack export from Suno Studio.
Can I use Suno or Udio commercially?
Suno: yes, on Pro and Premier. Its Terms of Service from September 3, 2026 say songs downloaded on paid plans remain yours to use commercially or personally; Free plan songs and trial downloads are personal use only. Udio: songs cannot be downloaded during its move to a licensed platform, so there is nothing to use outside Udio. For a major release or sync deal, keep your download records and consult a music lawyer.
How much do AI music generators cost in 2026?
Suno Pro and Udio Standard cost $10 a month ($8 billed yearly); Suno Premier and Udio Pro cost $30 a month ($24 billed yearly). Suno's download caps work out to $0.40-0.50 per downloaded song on either paid plan. ElevenLabs paid plans start at $6 a month, and self-hosting ACE-Step 1.5 is free with a suitable GPU.
Are AI-generated songs accepted on Spotify and Apple Music?
Yes, if you hold the rights and follow each platform's rules. Suno says tracks from its new industry partner model are eligible for distribution through Believe and TuneCore, which deliver to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube. Spotify filters spam uploads, supports AI disclosures in music credits, and from mid-September 2026 shows an AI Persona badge on AI-generated artist identities, which it keeps out of recommendations by default.
Which is best for making music for YouTube videos?
Suno Pro at $10 a month covers most YouTube channels: 20 downloads a month with commercial rights. Udio cannot export audio today. If you need more than 20 tracks a month, Suno Premier (60 downloads), ElevenLabs Music (five free lossless downloads a day) or self-hosted ACE-Step 1.5 covers the volume.
