How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- DistroKid is still the default pick for most independent artists at $24.99 per year for the Musician plan, with 100 percent of streaming royalties and store delivery in 24 to 72 hours.
- Ditto Music has the cheapest annual plan at $19 per year, while CD Baby charges a one-time $9.99 per single with a permanent 9 percent commission.
- TuneCore matches DistroKid at $24.99 per year for Rising Artist and bundles YouTube Content ID, but keeps 20 percent of social platform earnings.
- The real question is not who can upload your track, since anyone can do that. It is who you trust with your catalog and your cut, and what happens when you stop paying.
- Your best choice comes down to release frequency, earnings level, and which extra services matter to your career.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 DistroKid | Frequent releases | $24.99 per year | No |
 TuneCore | Analytics and publishing | $24.99 per year | No |
 CD Baby | One-time-fee releases | $9.99 per single | No |
 Ditto Music | Budget-conscious artists | $19 per year | No |
 Amuse | Free distribution start | Free | Yes |
 UnitedMasters | Brand deals and hip-hop | Free | Yes |
 RouteNote | Zero upfront cost | Free | Yes |
 LANDR | Mastering plus distribution | $24 per year | No |
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The best music distribution services
Starting price$24.99 per year
Free planNo
DistroKid is the default pick for most independent artists, with the Musician plan at $24.99 per year covering unlimited uploads for one artist name, full royalty pass-through on streaming, and delivery to 150-plus stores. For artists releasing two or more projects per year, the flat fee creates a very low per-release cost.
The headline price hides add-on costs: YouTube Content ID costs $4.95 per single per year, and Leave a Legacy is the only way to keep music live after cancellation, at $29 per single or $49 per album. For high-volume artists who actively manage their subscription, DistroKid remains the best value here.
What we like- Unlimited uploads for one artist
- 100 percent of streaming royalties
- Fast store delivery in 24 to 72 hours
- Automatic royalty splits for collaborators
Watch out for- Releases come down unless Leave a Legacy is paid ($29 per single, $49 per album)
- YouTube Content ID costs $4.95 per single per year plus a 20 percent cut
- Chatbot-first support
Starting price$24.99 per year
Free planNo
TuneCore matches DistroKid at $24.99 per year for Rising Artist with unlimited releases, and bundles YouTube Content ID rather than charging per single. Its analytics, Store Automator, royalty advances, and publishing tools suit growing artists who want distribution and publishing in one place.
The trade-offs are a 20 percent cut of social and user-generated content revenue, and releases coming down the day the plan expires. For an artist who wants publishing tools alongside distribution, TuneCore is the strongest pick here.
What we like- Rising Artist at $24.99 per year with unlimited releases
- YouTube Content ID included
- Store Automator
- Royalty advances and publishing tools
Watch out for- Keeps 20 percent of social platform earnings
- Releases come down the day the plan expires
- Support replies in 3 business days on Rising Artist
Starting price$9.99 per single
Free planNo
CD Baby is the right trade for artists who release rarely and want music that stays live forever. Its one-time fee of $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album carries no annual renewal, and YouTube Content ID is included in the release fee.
The permanent 9 percent commission means you keep 91 percent of streaming and download revenue forever, which costs more than a flat annual fee once earnings grow. For one or two releases a year with no subscription to manage, CD Baby is the simplest choice here.
What we like- One-time fee with no annual renewal
- $9.99 per single, $14.99 per album
- YouTube Content ID included
- Music stays live with no subscription to lapse
Watch out for- Permanent 9 percent commission on streaming and downloads
- Slower delivery at 2 to 5 days
- Support via help center requests
Starting price$19 per year
Free planNo
Ditto Music offers the cheapest annual plan here at $19 per year for one artist, with 100 percent of core royalties and unlimited releases. Sync pitching and chart registration add value for artists chasing placements and chart eligibility.
Its brand and analytics tools are smaller than the top two, and support varies by plan. For a budget-conscious artist who wants unlimited releases at the lowest annual price, Ditto is the best pick here.
What we like- Cheapest annual plan at $19 per year
- 100 percent of core royalties
- Unlimited releases
- Sync pitching and chart registration
Watch out for- Smaller brand than DistroKid or TuneCore
- Fewer analytics tools
- Support quality varies by plan
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Amuse suits mobile-first artists who want to start free and upgrade later. Its free tier distributes music with no upfront cost, while the Artist plan at $23.99 per year adds faster delivery and full features, with royalty advances available for qualifying artists.
If a paid subscription lapses, Amuse takes a 25 percent commission while music stays live, which is gentler than removal but still a cost. For an artist testing distribution before committing money, Amuse is the best free start here.
What we like- Free distribution tier
- 100 percent of royalties on paid stores
- Royalty advances
- 24-hour delivery on paid plans
- Mobile-first experience
Watch out for- Artist plan at $23.99 per year
- 25 percent commission if subscription lapses
- YouTube Content ID terms vary by plan
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
UnitedMasters suits hip-hop artists and creators chasing brand deals, with a free tier and DEBUT+ at $19.99 per year offering 100 percent royalties and unlimited releases. Its brand and sync deal pipeline connects artists with commercial opportunities that pure distributors do not offer.
The free tier keeps only 90 percent of royalties, and its catalog removal policy is not clearly documented, so read terms before building a large catalog there. For brand-focused artists, UnitedMasters is the most distinctive pick here.
What we like- Free tier available
- DEBUT+ at $19.99 per year with 100 percent royalties
- Brand and sync deal pipeline
- Strong hip-hop community
Watch out for- Free tier keeps only 90 percent of royalties
- Policy on catalog removal is not clearly documented
- Brand deals favor certain genres
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
RouteNote is the best zero-upfront-cost option, with a free tier taking a 15 percent revenue share and Premium at $10 per single one-time for 100 percent royalties. That structure suits an artist who wants to test distribution without paying anything before the first stream.
Premium adds $9.99 annually from year two, and its catalog removal policy is not clearly documented. For a first release with no budget, RouteNote is the lowest-risk start here.
What we like- Free tier with no upfront cost
- 85 percent revenue share free
- Premium at $10 per single one-time for 100 percent royalties
- Good for testing
Watch out for- Premium adds $9.99 annually from year two
- Catalog removal policy not clearly documented
- Smaller analytics than TuneCore
#8LANDR
Best for: Mastering plus distribution2.5/5 on
G2 (3 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit landr.com
Starting price$24 per year
Free planNo
LANDR suits producers and self-releasing musicians who also need mastering, samples, and plugins, combining those tools with distribution from $24 per year. Its Studio membership bundles distribution with its creative tools, and LANDR says releases stay live forever.
After cancellation, LANDR takes a 15 percent commission, and YouTube Content ID is curated, excluding AI-assisted tracks and non-exclusive samples. For a producer who wants mastering and distribution together, LANDR is the best combined pick here.
What we like- Distribution from $24 per year
- 100 percent royalties while subscribed
- Mastering, samples, and plugins in one subscription
- Releases stay live forever according to LANDR
Watch out for- 15 percent commission after cancellation
- YouTube Content ID curated, excluding AI-assisted tracks and non-exclusive samples
- Email-only support on weekdays
How we chose
We compared services on annual cost, royalty split, catalog removal policy, YouTube Content ID terms, support quality, and current status in 2026 guides and vendor pricing pages. We included only services with a credible current product and left out label-style services that require auditions or contracts, except where noted. Prices and terms were checked on official pricing and support pages in September 2026, and add-on costs are flagged rather than hidden, since they change the real cost more than the headline price.
How to pick a music distribution service
Start with release frequency. Four or more singles per year point to DistroKid or Ditto. One or two releases per year point to CD Baby one-time fees. A first release with no budget points to RouteNote or Amuse free. Publishing and analytics point to TuneCore. Brand deals point to UnitedMasters. Mastering plus distribution points to LANDR.
Read the exit terms before you upload
Check what happens when you stop paying: DistroKid and TuneCore remove releases unless you pay extra, CD Baby has no subscription to lapse, Amuse takes 25 percent, and LANDR takes 15 percent. Also check YouTube Content ID terms, since DistroKid charges per single plus 20 percent while TuneCore includes it with a 20 percent social cut. A cheap annual fee with expensive exit terms costs more than a pricier plan with clean terms, especially for a large catalog.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best music distribution service?
DistroKid at $24.99 per year is the default for frequent releases with 100 percent royalties. CD Baby at $9.99 per single suits rare releases with no annual fee, Ditto at $19 per year is cheapest annually, and TuneCore at $24.99 per year suits artists wanting publishing tools.
How much do artists keep from streaming?
DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto, and Amuse paid plans pass 100 percent of streaming royalties, while CD Baby keeps 9 percent permanently, RouteNote free keeps 15 percent, and UnitedMasters free keeps 10 percent. Social platform earnings differ: TuneCore keeps 20 percent and DistroKid Content ID takes 20 percent plus a per-single fee.
What happens to my music if I stop paying?
It depends. DistroKid and TuneCore remove releases when the plan expires unless you buy a legacy option. CD Baby has no subscription, so nothing changes. Amuse takes 25 percent and LANDR takes 15 percent while music stays live. Read exit terms before uploading a large catalog.
Can I distribute music for free?
Yes. Amuse, UnitedMasters, and RouteNote offer free tiers, with revenue shares of 0 to 15 percent depending on the service. Free tiers suit a first release, while paid plans suit regular releases with full royalties.
How long does it take for music to go live?
DistroKid delivers in 24 to 72 hours, TuneCore in 1 to 3 days, CD Baby in 2 to 5 days, and most others in 2 to 4 days. Submit at least two weeks before a planned release date to allow for store review and playlist pitching.
Do I need a label to get on Spotify?
No. Independent artists can reach Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube Music, Tidal, and Deezer through any distributor here, with no label required. Distributors handle metadata, ISRC codes, royalty collection, and store delivery that labels once controlled.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.distrokid.com
- https://www.tunecore.com
- https://www.cdbaby.com
- https://www.dittomusic.com
- https://www.amuse.io
- https://www.unitedmasters.com
- https://www.routenote.com
- https://www.landr.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.