Stem separation comparison
Should I choose Extract Stems or LALAL.AI?
Choose Extract Stems for occasional audio jobs when you want downloadable 2, 4 or 6-stem results and one-time minute packs without a subscription. Choose LALAL.AI when you need more specialized instrument targets, larger paid-plan uploads, or desktop and mobile apps alongside the website.
Published by Extract Stems, the service compared here. Updated 2026-11-11.
Prices, outputs and limits at a glance
| What matters | Extract Stems | LALAL.AI |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 / 15 minutes; $5.99 / 40 minutes; $11.99 / 100 minutes; $29.99 / 300 minutes (USD). One-time packs; purchased minutes do not expire. | Starter: free. Lite: $9.99/month or $90/year ($7.50/month equivalent). Pro: $19.99/month or $180/year ($15/month equivalent), USD. Annual prices require annual billing. |
| Free allowance | 5 minutes once after account verification; no card required; complete results and downloads. | Starter: 10 minutes in the Relaxed Queue; full downloads are not included. |
| Stem types | 2: vocals, instrumental. 4: vocals, drums, bass, other. 6: vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, other. | Vocal/instrumental, drums, bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, synthesizer, voice/noise, strings and wind instruments. Each selected separation type produces a target stem and its complementary mix. |
| Audio output formats | MP3, WAV, FLAC; individual files or a ZIP. | MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AAC; also offers original-format output. |
| File size limit | 100 MB per file. | Starter: 200 MB per file. Lite and Pro: 2 GB per file. |
| File duration limit | 10 minutes per file. | Not stated on the official website pages checked. |
Data checked: 2026-11-11. Competitor sources: LALAL.AI pricing and Stem Splitter features and FAQ. Extract Stems sources: pricing, help and stem splitter. Missing values are left unspecified; they are not estimates.
Where LALAL.AI has the advantage
- More specific instrument targets. Its separate acoustic and electric guitar options, synthesizer, strings and wind instruments go beyond the six-part grouping available here. It also offers vocal de-echo controls.
- Larger files and more formats. Paid plans accept files up to 2 GB, and its documented inputs include video. OGG and AAC audio export are additional options beyond Extract Stems' MP3, WAV and FLAC.
- More ways to work. LALAL.AI lists native desktop and mobile apps. Its paid plans include unlimited Relaxed Queue minutes, which may suit frequent work if variable queue waits are acceptable.
Where Extract Stems fits better
- Occasional spending. Buy a small one-time pack when you need it; purchased minutes do not expire. That is useful when a monthly subscription does not match how often you separate songs.
- A downloadable first job. The verified-account allowance provides five minutes once with complete results, so a short authorized recording can become a usable download without buying a pack.
- A set of tracks in one workflow. Choose the 4 or 6-stem mode and download the resulting files together as a ZIP for your DAW. LALAL.AI instead describes target-plus-complement pairs for each separation type.
LALAL.AI deducts minutes by file length multiplied by the number of separation types. Its Lite and Pro plans list 90 and 250 Fast minutes per month respectively, followed by unlimited Relaxed processing; Fast-minute top-ups are also offered. These are different billing models, so comparing pack prices alone does not establish a universal cheaper option.
Three real-world choices
1. Remove vocals for an occasional cover
Choose Extract Stems' 2-stem mode for a short song you are authorized to use when a downloadable trial or a one-time purchase is your priority. Download the instrumental and record your own vocal in your music software. Neither service's stem separation gives you rights to release someone else's composition or recording.
2. Take drums and bass into a DJ edit
Choose Extract Stems' 4-stem mode when you want vocals, drums, bass and other instruments together for arrangement in a DAW. Choose LALAL.AI instead if your task is specifically an isolated drum track plus a drumless mix. Neither comparison establishes which output will sound cleaner on your song.
3. Practice piano against a piano-free backing
Choose LALAL.AI's piano separation if you want the piano and its complementary mix as a pair. Extract Stems' 6-stem mode supplies a piano stem, but making a piano-free backing requires combining the other five files in an external editor; it is not a built-in mixback feature.
Before choosing
Start with a recording you own or have permission to process. Listen for vocal bleed, missing transients and instrument overlap before relying on any separated track. This comparison covers published capabilities and conditions, not measured audio quality or processing speed.
How we compared
Official public pricing and product pages were checked on 2026-11-11. No hands-on output testing was performed for this page. Recommendations match documented features to a task; they do not rank audio quality. Prices and conditions can change.
Frequently asked questions
Is Extract Stems cheaper than LALAL.AI?
It depends on usage. Extract Stems starts at $2.99 for a one-time 15-minute pack. LALAL.AI Lite starts at $9.99 with monthly billing, or $90 for a year, and includes a different Fast/Relaxed processing model. Compare your expected workload rather than treating the two minute allowances as identical.
Can I download a free result from both services?
Extract Stems includes complete downloads within its one-time five-minute verified-account allowance. LALAL.AI says its free Starter plan includes ten Relaxed Queue minutes but does not include full downloads.
Does Extract Stems separate acoustic and electric guitar individually?
No. Its six-stem mode has one guitar stem. LALAL.AI lists separate acoustic guitar and electric guitar targets.
Which one makes cleaner stems?
This page does not contain hands-on output testing, so it does not rank separation quality. Results depend on the recording; audition an authorized track and check the specific stem you need.
How does Extract Stems handle uploaded audio?
ExtractStems does not use your uploaded audio to train AI models. Audio separation is processed by Replicate; its data handling is governed by its terms and privacy policy.