Creating music takes a lot of skill and effort, so having the right tools for the job is incredibly important. One of the most useful tools to make good music and save time is a sound library with top-notch royalty-free samples. That is part of what Splice offers, but while it does have a vast library of sounds, the platform fails in more ways than one.
Right from the start, Splice makes a lot of promises, offering a constantly expanding library of samples and software to help creators succeed. There are also tutorials meant to usher in beginners or those looking to master a new skill under the guidance of experts and artists. They even have a free trial for those who want to give the platform a try without any commitment. Or so they claim.
However, Splice has consistently failed to manage its free trial subscription properly. The company has a poor rating on Sitejabber and 19 complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s website, with the primary cause of the complaints being the free trial.
Users report that once they cancel the trial, they are still charged for it, and the problem persists even when they unsubscribe. In these cases, customer service proved unhelpful or outright refused to cooperate. Additionally, multiple users have reported receiving a charge for a year’s worth of service directly after the free trial despite having signed up for a different subscription plan.
Others have reported receiving charges for items they did not purchase or seeing changes in cost without receiving any notice.
Even if the trial doesn’t create problems, it does not provide much benefit, either. The free trial allows users to view the platform, but they do not have any significant access without paying. That means they face potential problems with the free trial like those reported without getting anything in return.
Another issue users face is losing the credits they already paid for if they decide to stop their subscription at any time.
Splice users are provided with credits for their subscription, which is the platform’s currency and how they get sounds. These credits can be used in whatever way a user wants. However, if a user cancels their subscription, even if for a single month, all credits they save are wiped from the account.
Because of this, users with account trouble or financial difficulties have lost credits, which is the main point of having a subscription in the first place. Even if they decide to resubscribe the following month, all saved-up currency is permanently gone.
Professionals might also find Splice difficult to use because it only works with certain digital audio workstations (DAWs). There have also been some reports of copyright strikes when using royalty-free samples, along with subpar support when issues crop up.
But poor customer service is nothing new, judging by the outcry of unsatisfied users. The poor communication and issue management has led to a low rating for Splice and makes it difficult to trust as a platform. Therefore, for professionals relying on it for work or beginners wanting a place to experiment freely and learn, it might be best to steer clear until the company starts putting customers first.
