Quick comparison
Best for: Artists releasing frequently
A strong default for independent artists who want unlimited releases and a simple annual plan.
Best for: Artists who want more plan tiers and release controls
A solid alternative with unlimited plans, analytics and release-management features.
Best for: Artists who dislike annual subscriptions
Good for occasional releases because you pay per release instead of maintaining an annual distribution subscription.
Best for: Artists who also use LANDR mastering or Studio
Makes the most sense when distribution is part of a wider LANDR production workflow.
Our short answer
If you release several singles or albums every year, an unlimited annual distributor is usually the cleaner business model. DistroKid and TuneCore both fit that use case. If you only release occasionally and do not want another annual subscription, CD Baby is worth considering. LANDR becomes more attractive when you already pay for LANDR production or mastering tools.
Best simple annual option for frequent releases
1. DistroKid
DistroKid currently lists its Musician plan at $24.99 per year, Musician Plus at $44.99 per year and Ultimate from $89.99 per year in the US. All plans include unlimited song uploads and the company says artists keep 100% of their streaming earnings. Musician Plus adds features such as customizable release dates, label name and daily streaming statistics.
Referral disclosure: If you sign up through this DistroKid link, you can receive 7% off your first year and Indie Artist Stack may earn a referral reward at no extra cost to you.
Official reference: DistroKid pricing.
Best for artists who want multiple annual tiers
2. TuneCore
TuneCore currently lists its Rising Artist plan at $24.99 per year, Breakout Artist at $44.99 per year and Professional at $54.99 per year in the US. The annual plans include unlimited distribution to more than 150 digital stores, with higher tiers adding more management and support features.
Official reference: TuneCore pricing.
Best for occasional releases without an annual subscription
3. CD Baby
CD Baby uses a different model. It currently charges a one-time fee of $9.99 for a single and $14.99 for an album, with no recurring subscription required to maintain the artist account. CD Baby does, however, take commissions from certain revenue streams, including a 9% commission on download and streaming revenue.
Official reference: CD Baby pricing and commissions.
Best bundled with a production workflow
4. LANDR Distribution
LANDR currently offers Distribution Basic at $24 per year and Distribution Pro at $45 per year. Unlimited distribution is also included with LANDR Studio subscriptions, which can make LANDR attractive if you already use its mastering, samples or production tools.
Official reference: LANDR distribution pricing.
Which one should you choose?
Frequent solo releases: start by comparing DistroKid Musician Plus and TuneCore Rising or Breakout.
Only one or two releases: CD Baby can be economically simpler because there is no annual distribution subscription.
Already paying for LANDR: check whether your existing plan already includes distribution before buying another service.
Managing several artists: compare DistroKid Ultimate and TuneCore Professional rather than entry-level plans.
Do not choose on price alone
The cheapest headline price is not automatically the cheapest long-term option. Check release-date controls, artist limits, royalty splits, YouTube tools, optional extras, withdrawal fees and what happens to your catalog if you stop paying. Those details can matter more than a few dollars in annual membership cost.
Create before you release
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