Udio is an AI music generator that creates full songs — vocals, lyrics and instrumentation — from a text prompt, aimed at hobbyists and musicians who want to create original music without playing an instrument. It runs on a credit-based freemium model (Free, Standard at $10/month, Pro at $30/month, plus non-expiring pay-as-you-go credit packs), but as of its October 2025 licensing settlement with Universal Music Group, Udio operates as a "walled garden": songs can be created and shared inside the platform, but downloading audio, video and stems has been disabled while a new fully-licensed version is prepared for a 2026 relaunch.
Who builds it
Udio is built by Udio, a US-based AI music startup. Users type a genre, mood, lyrics or style description, generate multiple full-length song variations, and can extend, remix or blend styles within the app — though, unlike before the UMG settlement, exporting finished tracks outside the platform is currently restricted.
Core features
- Full song generation (vocals, lyrics, instrumentation) from a text prompt, with Voice Control and Style Blending on paid tiers
- Credit-based generation: 32-second songs cost 1 credit each, 130-second (full-length) songs cost 2 credits each
- 5 concurrent generation slots and permission controls on published catalogs on the Pro tier
- Free trimming of generated tracks with no credit cost
- Pay-as-you-go credit packs (100 credits for $3, 1,000 for $25) that never expire, layered on top of monthly subscription credits
- Following the UMG partnership, Udio disabled downloading of audio, video and stems platform-wide, operating as a listen-and-remix-only "walled garden" while a new licensed platform (with UMG, Warner and Merlin catalog participation) is prepared for a 2026 relaunch
Pricing
- Free: 10 credits/day plus 100 bonus credits/month once the daily cap is used, capped at 3 full-length (130-second) songs/day
- Standard: $10/month ($8/month billed annually) — 2,400 credits/month (increased from 1,200 as part of UMG-partnership changes), Voice Control, Style Blending
- Pro: $30/month ($24/month billed annually) — 6,000 credits/month (increased from 4,800), 5 concurrent generation slots, catalog permission controls
- Pay-as-you-go add-on credits: 100 credits for $3, or 1,000 credits for $25, non-expiring
- All subscribers received a one-time grant of 1,000 non-expiring bonus credits as part of the UMG-partnership changes announced February 17, 2026
- Check udio.com/pricing for current rates, since credit allowances have already changed once in the last year
Who it's for
Casual users who want to experiment with AI-generated songs inside Udio's own interface, without needing to export files, can use the Free or Standard plans. Heavier users wanting more concurrent generations and catalog controls fit Pro. Anyone who needs to download, distribute or monetize a track outside Udio's own platform should currently look elsewhere or wait for the licensed 2026 relaunch, since downloads are disabled under the post-UMG-settlement walled-garden model.