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DistroKid vs TuneCore: Pricing, Royalties, and Features Compared

DistroKid and TuneCore are the two best-known names in DIY music distribution, and they take different routes to the same destination: getting your songs onto Spotify, Apple Music, and 150+ other platforms. Both let you keep 100% of your ordinary streaming royalties. The real differences are in how they charge, what costs extra, and what happens when you stop paying.

Pricing: flat subscription vs tiers

DistroKid's entry plan, Musician, costs $24.99 per year and covers one artist with unlimited uploads. Musician Plus is $44.99 per year and Ultimate starts at $89.99 per year for more artists and features. TuneCore's subscription tiers are similarly priced: Rising Artist at $24.99 per year, Breakout at $44.99, and Professional at $54.99. Both models mean you pay the same whether you release one song or fifty, which rewards artists who release often.

Royalties: 100% on both, with exceptions

Both services pass through 100% of ordinary streaming and download royalties. The exceptions are in add-on services. DistroKid's YouTube Content ID add-on costs $4.95 per song per year, and DistroKid keeps 20% of the YouTube revenue it collects. TuneCore also takes a cut of YouTube Content ID revenue on some plans, so check the current terms for the tier you choose. Neither service takes a percentage of your Spotify or Apple Music income.

Add-ons and hidden costs

DistroKid's low headline price grows once you add essentials. Its cover song service costs $12 per year per cover. If you cancel, your music is removed from stores unless you paid $29 per release for the Leave a Legacy add-on. TuneCore bundles more into its tiers and offers publishing administration as an additional paid service, which DistroKid does not offer directly. Before choosing, add up the extras you actually need — release-date scheduling, Content ID, cover licensing, and catalogue permanence — because those decide the true yearly cost.

Support and payout speed

TuneCore is generally regarded as having human support, while DistroKid's base-plan support runs largely through an automated chatbot, which can be frustrating when a release is stuck. On payouts, DistroKid is among the fastest, typically paying 1 to 7 days after royalties clear, while TuneCore is slower at around 2 to 4 weeks. If you depend on streaming income for monthly cash flow, that gap matters.

Which one should you pick?

Choose DistroKid if you release frequently, want the lowest entry price, and are comfortable managing add-ons yourself. Choose TuneCore if you want publishing administration, human support, and a more bundled package. Either way, verify the current pricing page before signing up, because both companies adjust plans and prices over time.

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