The Giants of Digital Distribution

When it comes to getting your music on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon, two names dominate the conversation: DistroKid and TuneCore. Both services have been around for years and have distributed millions of songs. However, they operate on completely different philosophies. Choosing the wrong one can cost you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

Pricing Philosophy

The biggest difference between the two is how they charge you.

DistroKid: The Buffet Model

DistroKid charges a flat annual fee (starting at $22.99) for unlimited uploads. Whether you release 1 song or 1,000 songs, the price is the same. You keep 100% of your royalties.

TuneCore: The Pay-Per-Release Model

TuneCore originally charged per single ($9.99/year) or per album ($29.99/year). While they have recently introduced "Unlimited" plans similar to DistroKid, their legacy model still appeals to artists who only release music occasionally. They also offer a "New Artist" plan which is free to start but takes a 20% commission on your earnings.

Royalty Collection & Splits

DistroKid Splits

DistroKid's "Auto-Splits" feature is legendary. You just enter the email of your collaborator and what percentage they should get, and DistroKid handles the rest. This is a massive time-saver for producers and featured artists.

TuneCore Revenue Share

TuneCore provides very detailed accounting, which some professionals prefer. However, their splitting system is traditionally more manual than DistroKid's. On their free/basic tiers, pay close attention to the commission they take—a 20% cut can quickly become more expensive than a flat annual fee if your song goes viral.

Feature Comparison

The "Stay Live" Factor

This is where TuneCore often wins for "One-Hit Wonders" or occasional artists.

With DistroKid, if you stop paying your annual subscription, your music will be removed from stores unless you have paid the "Leave a Legacy" fee per release.

With TuneCore (on their legacy per-release model), as long as you keep paying the renewal fee for that specific release, it stays up. For artists who want to "set it and forget it" for a single album, TuneCore's model can feel safer.

Verdict: Which is right for you?

Choose DistroKid if:

• You plan on releasing music frequently (more than 2-3 times a year).
• You want 100% of your royalties and don't want any percentages taken.
• You collaborate often and need automated splits.
• You need your music to go live as fast as possible.

Choose TuneCore if:

• You only have one or two releases and don't mind a slower, more deliberate process.
• You want to start for free (and don't mind losing 20% of your royalties).
• You prefer a more established, corporate-style dashboard with deeper reporting.