Bottom line: Suno writes whole songs — lyrics, vocals, arrangement — from one prompt, and its $10/month Pro plan is the cheapest way to publishable AI music. AIVA composes instrumental scores you can actually edit: MIDI and sheet-music export, 250+ styles, and full copyright on its Pro plan. Singers and songwriters pick Suno; film, game, and video scorers who need control pick AIVA.
Suno vs AIVA at a glance
| Feature | Suno | AIVA | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it makes | Complete songs with vocals and lyrics from a text prompt | Instrumental compositions, strongest in orchestral and cinematic styles | Suno for songs, AIVA for scores |
| Free tier | Free: 50 credits/day (about 10 songs), no commercial rights | Free: 3 downloads/month, non-commercial, credit to AIVA required | Suno free is more fun; both are trials |
| Entry paid plan | Pro $10/month ($8/month billed annually), 2,500 credits | Standard €11/month billed annually (€15 monthly), 15 downloads/month | Suno is cheaper |
| Top plan | Premier $30/month ($24 annual), 10,000 credits, Suno Studio editor | Pro €33/month billed annually (€49 monthly), 300 downloads/month | Different kinds of power |
| Rights | Commercial use for songs made on paid plans | Pro transfers full copyright to you; Standard allows limited monetization | AIVA Pro for outright ownership |
| Editing control | Prompt-based; stems and Studio editing on higher tiers | MIDI and sheet-music export for editing in your own DAW | AIVA |
| Vocals / lyrics | Yes — core feature | No — instrumental only | Suno |
What is Suno best at?
Suno turns a sentence into a finished song: it writes lyrics, sings them, and arranges the track, and it is strongest in pop, rock, hip-hop, country, and lo-fi. Pro ($10/month, or $8 on annual billing) includes 2,500 monthly credits and commercial rights for songs created while subscribed — note that paid plans now carry monthly download caps (20/month on Pro, 60 on Premier, in effect since September 2026), so download finished tracks, not every experiment. Premier ($30/month) adds 10,000 credits and Suno Studio, a multitrack editor with stem tools. The free tier’s 50 daily credits are the best free taste of AI songwriting anywhere — but free songs cannot be used commercially.
What is AIVA best at?
AIVA is a composer, not a singer. It generates instrumental pieces across 250+ styles and is at its best in orchestral, cinematic, and emotional scoring for film, games, ads, and video. Its killer feature is editability: export MIDI or sheet music, open the piece in Logic, Ableton, or a notation editor, and rework it with your own instruments — something prompt-only song generators cannot offer. Pricing is in euros plus VAT where applicable: Standard (€11/month billed annually) allows limited monetization on platforms like YouTube and Twitch with 15 downloads a month; Pro (€33/month billed annually) raises that to 300 downloads, adds WAV export, and transfers full copyright to you.
The rights difference that matters
Both tools reserve commercial use for paying customers, but the shape differs. Suno grants commercial use for songs made while you hold a paid plan. AIVA’s Pro plan goes further and transfers the copyright itself, which matters for client work, sync licensing, and anyone who needs clean ownership paperwork. AIVA Standard and Free keep copyright with AIVA, with Standard permitting limited platform monetization and Free requiring credit.
Which should you pick?
Pick Suno if you want complete songs with vocals — for streaming, videos, or demos — at the lowest price in the category. Pro at $10/month is the sweet spot. Pick AIVA if you score video, games, or ads, need instrumental control, or want MIDI, sheet music, and full copyright ownership on Pro. Pick neither paid plan yet if you are only experimenting: Suno’s free daily credits and AIVA’s free tier both show you the workflow before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can Suno or AIVA music be used commercially?
Yes, on paid plans. Suno Pro and Premier grant commercial use for songs made while subscribed. AIVA Standard allows limited monetization and AIVA Pro transfers full copyright. Free-tier output on both is personal use only.
Does AIVA generate vocals or lyrics?
No. AIVA composes instrumental music only. If your track needs a singer and words, that is Suno’s job.
Which is cheaper, Suno or AIVA?
Suno. Its Pro plan is $10/month ($8 billed annually) versus AIVA Standard at €11/month billed annually, and AIVA’s full-ownership Pro plan is €33/month billed annually, plus VAT where it applies.
Research-based comparison — pricing checked against vendor and reputable pricing sources in October 2026. AI music terms change frequently; confirm rights and limits on the vendor’s page before relying on them commercially.