DistroKid alternatives: 10 music distribution services tools compared
Artists leave DistroKid when the yearly fee has to be remembered, when a feature they need sits on a higher plan, or when they want a distributor based closer to home. The alternatives below charge per release, take a commission, bundle publishing or sync, or simply sit in Europe, so the right pick depends on how many releases you plan.
Short answer: The first three alternatives to DistroKid in our music distribution services ranking are EmuBands, iMusician and Record Union. We open the ranking with smaller vendors and put the established brands from fourth place onward. Choose EmuBands if you release a few times a year and prefer paying once per release to renewing every year. Below are 10 alternatives, each taken from the Best Music Distribution Services in 2026 ranking, with its main difference from DistroKid.
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Pricing: Published: three annual plans by artist count; keep 100% of earnings
Established in: United States
Built for: Prolific solo artists who release often and want low yearly cost
Not for: Teams needing one plan across several artists without upgrading
01
Why buyers look past DistroKid
01
The fee is yearly and the plan is sized by artist count
DistroKid's pricing page shows Musician at EUR 23.99 a year for one artist or band, Musician Plus at EUR 42.99 for two and Ultimate at EUR 81.99 for up to 100. Every plan allows unlimited uploads, so the arithmetic favours prolific artists. Someone with a single release a year pays the same as a heavy uploader.
02
Useful options sit on the middle and top tiers
Label name customisation, release and preorder date control and custom iTunes pricing start at Musician Plus. Daily streaming stats arrive there too, while advanced analytics, Spotify and Apple Music monitoring, a playlist contact search and 1,000 GB of sharing belong to Ultimate. A releasing artist often discovers a missing option only after choosing the cheapest plan.
03
A US company under New York law
The terms name DistroKid LLC, a Delaware company, say the services are hosted and operated in the United States and place the agreement under United States and New York law. Our category record adds that the agreement lets DistroKid end the term if a card charge is declined, so a lapsed card needs attention. European artists who prefer a local counterparty have other choices.
you want published dollar prices for both per-release and yearly options and can live with the 20% social fee
#10
03
What each one does differently
1
EmuBands
United Kingdom · Published
EmuBands Ltd is registered in Scotland and works from Glasgow. A buyer picks between paying once per release, which keeps the music online permanently, and an annual Premium plan covering unlimited releases. Each level states a 100% royalty rate with daily payouts, though charts registration, custom label names and pre-save links begin at Plus and playlist pitching at Pro.
Switch from DistroKid if you release a few times a year and prefer paying once per release to renewing every year.
iMusician is a Swiss company with offices in Zürich and Berlin, operating since 2008. Starter is paid per release, stays online forever and takes 10% commission, while Rockstar removes the commission and adds YouTube Content ID and editorial playlist pitching. Yearly AMPLIFY plans cover unlimited releases but one artist, so a label would need AMPLIFY+.
Switch from DistroKid if you want a Swiss distributor and a choice between per-release payment and a yearly plan.
Record Union is operated by DFP Group AB in Stockholm and has distributed since 2008. Opening an account costs nothing, and the first payment falls due at the first release. Each release carries its own yearly subscription, while Pro bundles three releases with team permissions. The store list stretches over 20-plus services, shorter than rivals quoting 150-plus.
Switch from DistroKid if you want to open an account first and pay only when the first release goes out.
Amuseio AB of Stockholm sells three yearly plans sized by artist profiles, all with unlimited releases, delivery to 120-plus stores and a release importer. Music stays live after a downgrade, yet a 25% royalty commission starts once no subscription is active. Royalty advances reach only eligible accounts, and automatic delivery to new stores costs extra on the entry plan.
Switch from DistroKid if you want a Swedish distributor with an importer that moves an existing catalogue across.
Ditto Ltd trades as Ditto Music from Liverpool and bills only annually. Starter covers one artist with unlimited releases to 150-plus platforms, Pro takes two artists and adds sync pitching, publishing collection and YouTube Content ID, and Labels begins at five artists. Streaming income stays whole, but publishing and sync income carry a 15% commission.
Switch from DistroKid if you want publishing collection and sync pitching beside distribution from a British company.
LANDR works from Montreal and sells distribution next to online mastering, plugins, samples and courses. Its distribution page quotes a yearly price that starts from a stated figure, 100% of streaming revenue and 150-plus stores. Music stays live after the subscription is cancelled. Because the price is given as a starting point, the plan you need may cost more.
Switch from DistroKid if you already master tracks online and want distribution under the same account.
Audio and Video Labs, Inc., trading as Soundrop, charges a fee per song and keeps 15% of what the music earns, with no recurring charges. Cover-song licensing, collaborator splits and delivery to new platforms are covered by that fee. Its footer credits Virgin Music Group. A per-song fee multiplies on albums, and 15% exceeds CD Baby's stated 9%.
Switch from DistroKid if your catalogue is small and you would rather pay per song than keep a yearly plan.
CD Baby is based in Portland, Oregon, and its footer credits Virgin Music Group. A single costs one fee and an album another, with no annual subscription, and CD Baby keeps 9% of digital distribution revenue for as long as the music earns. UPC barcodes and ISRCs come with each release, and payments are described as weekly. Sync and publishing need the CDB Boost add-on.
Switch from DistroKid if you want to pay once per release and accept a lasting 9% share.
UnitedMasters, Inc. in Brooklyn sells distribution to 150-plus stores and states that artists keep 100% of royalties. DEBUT+ covers distribution and scheduling, SELECT adds sync opportunities, advanced analytics, real-time royalty payments and priority support, and PARTNER is by invitation. The plans page lists no amounts, so the cost becomes known only at sign-up.
Switch from DistroKid if sync placements and real-time royalty payments matter and you accept an unpublished price.
TuneCore, Inc. issues its terms jointly with Believe International, and the terms are governed by Luxembourg law. Rising Artist costs $24.99 a year, Breakout Artist $44.99 and Professional $54.99; a single is $24.99 per release and an album $44.99, renewing at $56.49. Social platform earnings carry a 20% fee, and extra artist profiles cost $14.99.
Switch from DistroKid if you want published dollar prices for both per-release and yearly options and can live with the 20% social fee.
EmuBands: A one-time fee per release keeps the music online permanently, and every level states a 100% royalty rate.
02
You want a Swiss company and a way to drop commission
iMusician: Starter takes 10% commission per release, while Rockstar removes it and adds YouTube Content ID.
03
You want to open an account now and pay at the first release
Record Union: Setup costs nothing and payment falls due at the first release, though the store list covers 20-plus services.
04
You want publishing collection and sync pitching with distribution
Ditto Music: Pro adds sync pitching, publishing collection and YouTube Content ID, with a 15% commission on publishing and sync income.
05
You have a handful of songs and want to pay per song
Soundrop: It charges a fee per song and keeps 15% of earnings, with no recurring charges.
04
When DistroKid is still the right choice
DistroKid remains a sound choice for an artist who releases often and wants one low yearly fee. Its pricing page shows unlimited uploads on every plan, the statement that you keep 100% of earnings, and prices from EUR 23.99 a year for one artist. Royalty splits and a Spotify registered artist profile are part of each plan. If you issue many singles a year, per-release pricing elsewhere usually costs more.
05
What moving off DistroKid involves
01
Check what is still live and who gets paid
List every release, its UPC and ISRC, and the stores it sits in. Ask the new service whether it can take over existing codes so streams and playlist history stay attached. Collect the last statements before you close the account.
02
Time the switch around renewal and card charges
Your DistroKid term runs a year at a time, so line the move up with the renewal date instead of paying twice. Keep the card on file valid until the last release is handed over, because a declined charge can end the term.
03
Move one release first
Send a single new release through the replacement service, watch it reach the main stores and confirm the payout details. Then transfer the back catalogue in batches rather than all at once.
06
Questions about replacing DistroKid
5 answers
Which service comes closest to DistroKid's flat yearly fee?
Ditto Music and Amuse also bill yearly with unlimited releases, sized by the number of artists. Ditto bills only annually, while Amuse applies a 25% commission once no subscription is active. EmuBands offers an annual Premium plan covering unlimited releases.
Is a pay-per-release distributor cheaper?
It depends on volume. CD Baby, Soundrop, EmuBands and iMusician sell per release or per song, and music stays online permanently. CD Baby keeps 9% and Soundrop 15%, so a one-off payment can still carry a share of every future stream.
Who is based in Europe?
EmuBands in Glasgow, iMusician in Zürich and Berlin, Record Union and Amuse in Stockholm, and Ditto Music in Liverpool. TuneCore's terms are issued with Believe International and governed by Luxembourg law, although TuneCore, Inc. is a US operator.
Do other distributors keep 100% of streaming income?
Ditto Music, LANDR, EmuBands and UnitedMasters state 100% of royalties on their pages. Read the extras: Ditto takes 15% of publishing and sync income, and EmuBands reserves some options for higher levels.
Can I leave my music online if I stop paying?
At LANDR and Amuse music stays live after you cancel or downgrade, but Amuse then takes 25% of royalties. CD Baby, Soundrop, iMusician Starter and EmuBands single releases are paid once and remain online.
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Sources
Checked 7 November 2026
DistroKid pricing: Musician EUR 23.99, Musician Plus EUR 42.99, Ultimate EUR 81.99 a year; unlimited uploads; 100% of earnings; tier features.
DistroKid terms: DistroKid LLC, Delaware company, services operated in the United States, New York law.
EmuBands: Scotland-registered, Glasgow office, one-time fee per release or annual Premium, 100% royalty rate, level features.
iMusician: Swiss company, Zürich and Berlin offices, founded 2008, Starter 10% commission, Rockstar, AMPLIFY plans.
Record Union: DFP Group AB Stockholm, since 2008, yearly subscription per release, Pro with three releases, 20-plus stores.
Amuse: Amuseio AB Stockholm, yearly plans by artist profiles, 120-plus stores, 25% commission without subscription.
Ditto Music: Ditto Ltd Liverpool, annual Starter, Pro and Labels plans, 150-plus platforms, 15% commission on publishing and sync.
LANDR: Montreal, yearly distribution subscription from a stated price, 100% of streaming revenue, 150-plus stores.
Soundrop: Fee per song, 15% of earnings, no recurring fees, Virgin Music Group footer credit.
CD Baby: Portland, one fee per single or album, 9% commission, UPC and ISRC included, CDB Boost add-on.
UnitedMasters: Brooklyn, DEBUT+, SELECT and PARTNER plans, 150-plus stores, 100% of royalties, no amounts on the plans page.
TuneCore pricing: Rising $24.99, Breakout $44.99, Professional $54.99 a year; single $24.99, album $44.99, renewal $56.49; support times; $14.99 extra artist profile.
TuneCore terms: TuneCore, Inc. operator, Believe controlled from the EU, Luxembourg law.
Founder of The Knowledge Engineers and of 2 Steps Ahead, an AI search visibility agency. Editorially responsible for every page on this site; research and drafting are AI-assisted.
Sebastiaan Smits wrote and checked this page, most recently on 7 November 2026. See how we review.
