AI music generators turn a text prompt into music. Suno is by far the most visited: Semrush estimated about 105 million visits to suno.com in September 2026 (Semrush). The tools are built for different jobs, and the rules for using their output commercially differ.
What each tool is for
- Suno: full songs with vocals and lyrics from a prompt.
- Udio: song generation; after its Universal settlement it has been moving toward a licensed platform (MBW).
- ElevenLabs (Eleven Music): music generation from a company best known for AI voices.
- SOUNDRAW: instrumental, royalty-free tracks you can edit, aimed at video and content creators.
Commercial use: common scenarios
These answers use Suno's own help centre, because it is the most popular tool and states its rules clearly. Other tools have their own terms; read them before you release.
| Your situation | What Suno's help centre says |
|---|---|
| I made a song on the free plan | Free-plan songs are for personal, non-commercial use and can't be monetised. Source |
| I made it free, then upgraded | Subscribing to Pro or Premier does not give retroactive commercial rights to songs made before you subscribed. Source |
| I made it while subscribed | Songs made while subscribed come with commercial use rights. Source |
| I want it on Spotify | Songs made while on Pro or Premier can be distributed to streaming services. Source |
| I wrote the lyrics myself | You own lyrics you wrote, whatever plan you are on. Source |
The legal picture
| Company | Label | Status (as of 25 Oct 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Udio | Universal | Settled, with a licensing deal for a new platform (Oct 2025) | MBW |
| Udio | Warner | Settled (Nov 2025) | Chartlex tracker |
| Udio | Sony | Original case ongoing; a second suit over 30,117 recordings filed 20 Jul 2026 | MBW |
| Suno | Warner | Settled, with a licensing partnership (25 Nov 2025) | SiliconANGLE |
| Suno | Universal and Sony | Original 2024 case ongoing; a second suit over 60,202 recordings and the v6 models filed 18 Sep 2026 | MBW |
A settlement ends one lawsuit between two companies. It does not end the wider dispute: in both cases above, other labels are still suing.
More detail in AI music and the major labels.
How producers actually use them
Many producers use generators for sketches and reference ideas rather than finished releases: trying a chord progression in a new style, making a quick demo for a singer, or creating background music for video. For stems from existing recordings, see AI stem separation explained.
Sources
- Suno help: rights on the free plan
- Suno help: rights with a paid subscription
- Suno help: songs made before subscribing
- Suno help: distributing to Spotify
- Suno help: writing your own lyrics
- Semrush: top music websites (Sept 2026)
- MBW: Universal and Sony sue Suno a second time (18 Sep 2026)
- MBW: Sony sues Udio again (20 Jul 2026)
- MBW: Universal settles Udio lawsuit (Oct 2025)
- SiliconANGLE: Warner Music inks Suno deal (25 Nov 2025)
