CD Baby vs DistroKid: Which Is Cheaper for One Single? (2026 Math)
Releasing one song this year and nothing else? The "cheapest" distributor depends entirely on your time horizon. Let's do the actual math.
Year 1 costs
- CD Baby: $9.99 one-time. You keep 91% forever. Total year 1: $9.99.
- DistroKid: $24.99/year. You keep 100%. Total year 1: $24.99 (+$4.95 if you want Content ID).
CD Baby wins year 1 by a mile.
Year 3 costs (same single, still earning)
- CD Baby: still $9.99 total. 91% royalties.
- DistroKid: $24.99 × 3 = $74.97 — or your song gets taken down. Add Leave a Legacy ($29) to protect it: $103.97.
For a single release with a long tail, CD Baby costs 90% less over three years.
When DistroKid wins
Release 10+ songs a year and DistroKid's unlimited model crushes per-release pricing: $24.99/year for everything vs $99.90+ on CD Baby. The break-even is around 3 singles per year.
The royalty difference
CD Baby keeps 9% forever; DistroKid gives 100% while subscribed. On a song earning $1,000/year: CD Baby costs you $90/year in commission; DistroKid costs $24.99/year in fees. Above ~$280/year in earnings, DistroKid's 100% beats CD Baby's 91% — if you keep paying the subscription.
The rule of thumb
- 1–2 releases/year, want them up forever: CD Baby
- 5+ releases/year: DistroKid (or TuneCore/Ditto)
- High-earning catalog: 100%-royalty subscription, but budget for Leave a Legacy
- Indian artist, INR payouts, no yearly fee: TIR at upto 85%
Ready to release your music?
Distribute to 200+ platforms worldwide with The Imaginary Records.
Apply →