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
Match the distributor to your release pattern, not to the cheapest headline price.
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.
A practical decision path
Frequent solo releases: compare DistroKid Musician Plus with TuneCore Rising or Breakout, then choose the workflow you prefer.
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.
Using AI-generated music: confirm the distributor's current AI-content rules and keep your creation, licensing and release documentation organized.
Streaming distribution and direct-to-fan sales are different jobs
A distributor gets your music onto streaming platforms. Bandcamp gives listeners a place to buy music directly from you. Many independent artists benefit from using both instead of treating them as substitutes.
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.
Music Distribution Services 2026 FAQ
Which music distributors use an annual subscription? DistroKid and TuneCore both offer annual unlimited-distribution plans. LANDR also offers annual distribution subscriptions, while CD Baby primarily uses a one-time fee per release.
Which distributor is simplest for occasional releases? CD Baby can be easier to budget for occasional releases because there is no annual account subscription to maintain, but CD Baby takes a percentage of some revenue streams.
Which services let artists keep 100% of standard streaming royalties? DistroKid states that artists keep 100% of the standard streaming and store earnings it collects. TuneCore also emphasizes full ownership and control, although some social-platform monetization programs can have separate fees.
What should frequent releasers compare first? Compare the annual plan cost, artist-slot limits, release-date controls, optional extras, support level and what happens to the catalog if you stop paying.
Is the cheapest distributor always the best value? No. The cheapest headline price can become more expensive if you need add-ons, multiple artist slots or extra services. Compare the total workflow cost, not only the entry price.
Build the rest of your workflow
Choose distribution after your creation and mastering workflow is clear.
Start with the smallest stack that covers the work you actually do, then add services only when they solve a real bottleneck.