Well, if the uploader remembered to enable that setting, you can download the mixes in a much better quality than the 128 kbps streaming quality that both services use. Sometimes even in WAV of FLAC format. This was not possible on Mixcloud the last time(s) I looked, but do speak up if you know it to be possible! Without this option, you (obviously) risk loosing your favorite mixes whenever the funding runs out of the service, so I believe this to be a differentiating factor. Apart from how it sounds when you play it back on a real stereo setup, of course.
As someone who uses both platforms and actually prefers Mixcloud as a product, the user base is simply not there. I see much more engagement on Soundcloud.
Maybe it's different for other creators, artists, DJs, but I'd guess that's a very common experience when comparing both services.
Mixcloud founder here, thanks its appreciated. Theres one big different on engagement, we tend to see lower play counts, but higher number of minutes listened per play. You'll start to see us surfacing this data more in the upcoming months, and I expect everyone to be pleasantly surprised.
Since you are here, can you also surface anything about potential plans for offering an improved (and possibly paid-for) streaming quality and/or offering the mixes available for download? I'm in it for the mixes and I want to love Mixcloud, but there is only so much fun to be had with discovering a mix that cannot be played on a quality stereo and/or in a place without internet connection (so at the party, in other words) and those will in any case go on my priority list if and when Soundcloud finally goes down.
Ouch. I hope they get the money. I really don't want it to go away. I have not found an alternative that has so many 1+ hour long megamixes :(