DistroKid vs TuneCore

DistroKid is the better choice if you put out multiple singles or EPs a year, because its core subscription covers unlimited uploads without an extra bill per release. TuneCore makes more sense if you want integrated publishing administration to collect mechanical royalties, or if you release music rarely and prefer paying per drop rather than keeping up an annual recurring fee. For an active DIY heavy band playing shows and releasing tracks steadily, DistroKid is usually the simpler and cheaper route.

How the payment models differ

DistroKid operates on an annual subscription that lets you upload as many tracks, EPs and albums as you like while your account remains active. You pay once for the year, upload your files, and keep your music live on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music as long as that membership renews. If you stop paying the yearly fee, your catalogue risks being pulled from streaming services unless you buy their optional legacy add-on per release.

TuneCore offers both an unlimited annual tier and a pay-per-release structure. The pay-per-release option means you pay a standalone fee for an individual single or album, which keeps that specific record online without requiring an ongoing account-level subscription. Check their respective pricing pages before signing up, as tiers and add-on structures change often.

For heavy bands releasing a couple of stand-alone tracks ahead of a tour, an EP six months later, and an album the following year, DistroKid tends to keep costs lower over time. TuneCore becomes competitive if your band splits up or goes on hiatus, because paying once per release prevents your back catalogue from disappearing when you cancel an ongoing subscription.

Hidden fees and add-ons

The sticker price never tells the whole story with either distributor. Both services present a checkout page packed with optional extras that quickly double your bill if you leave the boxes ticked without reading them.

DistroKid charges separate extra fees for items that many musicians assume are standard. These include YouTube Content ID collection, store discovery features, and their leave a legacy option, which ensures your release stays in stores even if your account lapses. If you have multiple contributors on a track, DistroKid makes it easy to split payouts automatically, but each collaborator needs their own paid DistroKid account to receive their cut directly through the system.

TuneCore includes basic distribution features in its higher-tier unlimited plans, but charges a percentage cut on certain lower tiers and social media monetisation streams. If you use TuneCore to collect money from social video platforms, they retain a cut of that specific revenue. You need to inspect their pricing breakdown carefully to see which store platforms require a percentage cut under your chosen plan.

If you want to see what streaming platforms actually return to bands before choosing where to put your catalogue, run your figures through our streaming royalty calculator.

Splitting payouts between band members

Few things cause as much friction in a band as sorting out digital payouts. How each distributor handles royalty splits decides whether you can automate payouts or end up calculating shares manually every month.

DistroKid built a clean tool called Splits. You go to the release page, enter the email address of each band member, and assign them an exact percentage of the earnings. DistroKid handles the accounting, pays each person directly into their personal bank or PayPal account, and sends them their own tax forms. The annoyance is that every band member must pay for a DistroKid account to claim their money. If your drummer does not want to pay for a subscription, one person has to collect everything and transfer the shares manually.

TuneCore also offers revenue splits on its newer unlimited plans. You assign percentages to your co-writers or bandmates from the dashboard. Like DistroKid, collaborators need an account with the service to receive their split directly, though the exact account requirements depend on the plan tier you hold.

If your band operates as a registered business entity or runs a single shared bank account for all band income, you can avoid split fees altogether on either platform. Direct the entire balance to the band bank account and manage the payout on your own ledger.

Publishing and mechanical royalties

Neither distributor collects your songwriting royalties through their standard distribution plan. Streaming creates two separate royalties: master recording royalties from the audio file, and publishing royalties from the underlying song composition.

DistroKid focuses almost exclusively on master recording royalties. They collect the revenue generated when someone hits play on streaming services and pass it on to you. If your song is streamed outside the UK, or played on non-interactive radio, DistroKid does not collect the mechanical or performance royalties generated by the composition. You must register with an external collection society or a dedicated publishing administrator to get that money.

TuneCore runs a separate publishing administration wing alongside its distribution. You pay an extra one-time setup fee, and TuneCore registers your songs across global societies, collecting mechanical royalties from international streams and sync placements. They take a percentage commission on the publishing royalties they recover for you. If you write your own material, release music internationally, and do not want to register individually with publishing societies worldwide, TuneCore Publishing handles that side of the business under one roof.

Uploading and delivery speeds

Getting a release approved and sent to stores in time for a tour announcement requires a dependable delivery pipeline. Both platforms deliver to the major services, but their intake checks operate differently.

DistroKid is typically faster from upload to delivery. Once you submit your audio and artwork, it often hits Spotify within hours, though other platforms take longer. This quick turnaround is useful if you are working close to a release date, though leaving at least four weeks before release day is still standard practice if you want to submit your track for playlist consideration in Spotify for Artists.

TuneCore employs a stricter human review process before sending files to digital service providers. This review can add days to your submission timeline. If your artwork violates store guidelines or your metadata lists featured artists incorrectly, TuneCore flags it and waits for you to upload corrections. The benefit of this slower check is fewer rejections from the streaming services themselves.

Which one to pick

Choose DistroKid if you are an active, independent heavy band putting out singles, demos, and EPs regularly. The flat yearly cost keeps overheads predictable, and the upload interface is fast enough that you can get a single online without unnecessary admin. Untick all the optional upsells on the submission form unless you explicitly need them.

Choose TuneCore if you want an all-in-one system that includes publishing administration, or if you release material so infrequently that an ongoing annual subscription is poor value. If your band puts out an album every four years and plays sporadically, paying once per release through TuneCore means you can step away without your music vanishing when a yearly invoice fails.