Comparison · 2026

CrateMatch alternative: playlists to Serato crates, compared.

MLT’s CrateMatch and Crate Cleaner’s Spotify Import and Import List do the same core job: take a list of songs and build a Serato crate from the files you already own. They differ on sources, how matching works, platforms and how you pay. Here is the honest comparison.

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No fake reviews · Pricing checked September 2026

The short version: if you DJ on Windows, want to paste a Spotify link without setting anything up, or already own MLT Pro, CrateMatch is the straightforward pick. If you are on a Mac and want matching you can try for free, version-aware matching that keeps radio edits and extended mixes apart, or M3U files as a source, that is Crate Cleaner.

CrateMatch keeps unmatched tracks in a Plan so you can fill the gaps later, which is a genuinely useful touch. Crate Cleaner’s Spotify connection needs a free Spotify developer app you set up once, and Spotify limits what those apps can read; we would rather say that up front.

Side by side

Feature and pricing comparison

 Crate CleanerCrateMatch (MLT)
SourcesYour own Spotify playlists; pasted tracklists; TXT, CSV, TSV, M3U and M3U8 filesSpotify playlist links; pasted text lists; CSV files
Spotify setupConnect through your own free Spotify developer app, set up once. Spotify limits these apps to 5 users and cannot read playlists you only followPaste a playlist link
MatchingTitle, artist and duration, scored into auto, review and missing tiers. Clean, extended and remix versions matched explicitly; FLAC preferred on ties; your decisions rememberedChecks the tracks already in your Serato library
Unmatched tracksKept on a gap listKept in a Plan to work through later
PlatformsMacMac and Windows
SeratoSerato DJ Pro; Serato 4 library support in progressSerato 3 and later
PriceMatching and saving a crate are free. Exporting straight into Serato is Studio ($15/mo) or Lifetime ($199)£34.99 one-time, or part of MLT Pro (£159.99)
Also doesLibrary cleanup, duplicates, repair, fake-320 scan, Smart CratesPart of the MLT suite of Serato tools

Checked on each vendor’s own site in September 2026.

Choose CrateMatch if…

When CrateMatch is the better buy

Choose Crate Cleaner if…

When Crate Cleaner is the better fit

FAQ

Questions about playlist-to-crate tools

What is CrateMatch?
CrateMatch is an app from Music Library Tools that builds a Serato crate from a Spotify playlist link, a pasted text list or a CSV, using the tracks already in your Serato library. It costs £34.99 once and is included in MLT Pro.
Does Crate Cleaner download music from Spotify?
No. It only matches playlist tracks to audio files you already own. Nothing is downloaded or streamed.
Why does Crate Cleaner need a Spotify developer app?
Spotify only gives full access to apps from registered businesses with 250,000 monthly users. Until then, each DJ connects through their own free developer app, which Spotify limits to 5 users and which cannot read playlists you only follow.
Can I turn a tracklist without Spotify into a crate?
Yes, with either tool. Crate Cleaner’s Import List takes pasted text, TXT, CSV, TSV, M3U and M3U8; CrateMatch takes pasted text and CSV. See how to import a tracklist into Serato as a crate.

Match a playlist on your own library, free

Connect Spotify or paste a tracklist and see every match before you pay anything.

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Related pages

Feature

Spotify Import: turn your Spotify playlists into Serato crates
Feature

Import List: turn any tracklist into a Serato crate
Comparison

MLT Pro Alternative: Crate Cleaner vs Music Library Tools (2026)
Guide

How to Convert a Spotify Playlist to a Serato Crate (2026 Guide)