Top 10 DIY Music Distribution Software for Independent Artists in 2026

Every DIY distributor promises the same thing: your music on Spotify, Apple Music and TikTok, and the money back in your account. The differences sit in the small print. Who takes a cut, what happens when you stop paying, which currencies you can be paid in, and who owns the company holding your catalogue.

We checked ten platforms against their own pricing pages and help centres on 3 October 2026. Every price and percentage below links to the page it came from.

Disclosure: InterSpace Distribution publishes InterSpace Daily and appears first on this list. Its entry is held to the same standard as everyone else’s: only what its own public pages state.

The short answer

The best DIY music distribution software in 2026 is InterSpace Distribution for artists who want a flat yearly fee, 100% of royalties and payouts in their own currency in more than 50 territories. DistroKid and TuneCore suit prolific US and European releasers, CD Baby suits artists who release rarely and dislike subscriptions, and RouteNote is the strongest genuinely free option.

1. InterSpace Distribution: best for flat fees and global multi-currency payouts
2. DistroKid: best for high-volume releasing
3. TuneCore: best for Content ID and splits on the entry plan
4. CD Baby: best for no subscription at all
5. Ditto Music: best budget plan from a founder-owned company
6. Amuse: best for fast releases and in-app advances
7. UnitedMasters: best for brand and sync opportunities
8. RouteNote: best free option
9. Too Lost: best budget label account
10. LANDR: best for mastering and distribution together

How we compared them

• Price: the entry plan as listed in US dollars on the vendor’s pricing page. Several vendors charge different amounts by country.
• Royalties kept: the share of store income the artist keeps, in the vendor’s own words.
• Store reach: quoted exactly as each vendor states it. Vendors count stores, storefronts and territories differently, so a bigger number is not automatically wider reach.
• When you stop paying: whether your releases stay live.
• Ownership: who owns the platform today. Where a deal is announced but not confirmed closed, we say so.

Only platforms any artist can join made the list. That ruled out ONErpm, whose registration page now says it “is now invite only and is for professional artists and content owners”.

DIY distribution platforms compared

Ownership for each platform is set out in the next section.

Who owns your distributor

Ownership used to be trivia. In 2026 it decides who sees your sales data and whose priorities shape the product. Universal Music Group’s Virgin Music Group completed its $775 million purchase of Downtown in February, bringing CD Baby inside a major. We covered what that means in Universal Now Owns CD Baby and FUGA.

• Independent or founder-owned: InterSpace Distribution, Ditto Music, RouteNote.
• Investor-backed: DistroKid, Amuse, UnitedMasters, Too Lost, LANDR.
• Inside a larger music group: CD Baby (Universal), TuneCore (Believe).

1. InterSpace Distribution

Best for: artists who want one flat fee and payouts in their own currency in more than 50 territories, with particular strength in Africa, France and Asia.

InterSpace Distribution was founded in 2021 in Port Harcourt and has since built a strong foundation in France and across Asia, with team members in Accra, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Mumbai and Hanoi. Its about page says the platform was built in-house “with no venture capital and no acquisition roll-up”, and the site runs in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Vietnamese.

The pricing page lists three paid plans, all with unlimited releases:

• Artiste: $19 a year for one artist.
• Artist Plus: $59 a year for up to three artists, adding automatic royalty splits, team seats and AI-generated music releases.
• Label: $99 a year with 10 artists included, then $12 a year per extra artist.

Paid plans keep 100% of store royalties and reach 150+ stores, with YouTube Content ID included. Payouts run monthly to more than 50 territories in a wide range of currencies, including US dollars, euros, pounds, Chinese yuan, naira, cedi and rand. The store list goes well beyond the global services: French platforms Deezer and Qobuz, Asian services from JioSaavn and NetEase Cloud Music to QQ Music, KKBOX, JOOX and LINE Music, and Africa’s Boomplay, Audiomack and Mdundo.

The policy that stands out is what happens at renewal. If your plan expires, the pricing FAQ says your music stays live and keeps earning, with free-tier terms applying to new earnings. There is also a free tier: three lifetime releases to 50 platforms, keeping 70%.

Watch out for: splits start on Artist Plus, not the $19 plan, and the minimum payout threshold is shown in the dashboard rather than published.

2. DistroKid

Best for: artists who release constantly and want everything in one large ecosystem.

DistroKid’s pricing page lists Musician at $24.99 a year for one artist, Musician Plus at $44.99 for two, and Ultimate from $89.99. Artists “keep 100% of earnings” and royalty splits are on every plan. Its Spotify guide promises “150+ streaming platforms”.

Several useful things are paid extras. According to DistroKid’s help centre, the Social Media Pack (YouTube Content ID, TikTok and Meta) costs $4.95 per single per year, plus 20% of that revenue. Leave a Legacy, which keeps a release online if you stop paying, is a one-off $29 per single or $49 per album. Without it, DistroKid says releases “may be removed” when a subscription lapses. The minimum payout is $6.

Ownership: CVC Capital Partners agreed in July 2026 to buy a majority stake, with Insight Partners keeping a significant minority. The deal was expected to close in the third quarter; we found no confirmation that it had closed when we published. Background: CVC Capital Partners to Acquire Majority Stake in DistroKid.

3. TuneCore

Best for: artists who want Content ID and splits included on the entry plan.

TuneCore’s US pricing runs from Rising Artist at $24.99 a year to Breakout Artist at $44.99 and Professional at $54.99. You can also pay per release: $24.99 a year for a single, or $44.99 for an album in year one and $56.49 each year after. Every unlimited plan includes “Unlimited Distribution to 150+ Digital Stores”, YouTube Content ID and revenue splits, and TuneCore’s homepage promises “no commission on your music revenue”. Social platform income carries a 20% fee.

Prices are localised: the UK page starts at £20.99 and the India page at ₹1,599 plus GST.

Watch out for: TuneCore ended its free plan in June 2025, and its help centre says releases are taken down 42 days after a missed renewal. TuneCore is owned by Believe, which founder Denis Ladegaillerie, the EQT X fund and TCV-advised funds took private in 2025.

4. CD Baby

Best for: artists who release once or twice a year and want no subscription.

CD Baby charges once per release: $9.99 for a single and $14.99 for an album, with “no subscription fees” and distribution to “150+ global platforms”. In exchange it keeps 9% of download and streaming revenue, so you keep 91%, for as long as the release is live. YouTube Content ID, Meta and TikTok monetisation are included at a 70/30 split, and CDB Boost adds mechanical, SoundExchange and sync collection for $39.99 per release.

Payouts are weekly once your balance reaches a Pay Point you set yourself, from $1 by ACH, according to the help centre.

Watch out for: the 9% never expires, so a release that takes off ends up costing more than a subscription would. CD Baby’s about page confirms it is now “part of Virgin Music Group”.

5. Ditto Music

Best for: budget-minded artists who want 100% of streaming income from a founder-owned company.

Ditto’s pricing page lists Starter at $19 a year for one artist and Pro at $59 a year for two, with a Labels plan priced by roster size. Its FAQ is direct: “100% of your streaming income is yours on every plan.” Releases go to “150+ platforms”. YouTube Content ID and Official Artist Channel setup are Pro features.

Payouts start at £25, or £30 by SWIFT, to a bank account, PayPal or Payoneer, with a £0.75 fee in the UK, US and most of Europe, per its help centre. In January 2025 Music Business Worldwide reported that Ditto was “still 100% owned by its founders”.

Watch out for: Ditto states its publishing commission differently on different pages, so confirm the current rate before you opt in.

6. Amuse

Best for: artists who want quick turnarounds and access to royalty advances.

Amuse’s plans are Artist at $23.99 a year for one artist, Artist Plus at $39.99 for two and Professional at $59.99 for three or more. The pricing table promises “100% Royalties”, except YouTube Content ID income on the Artist plan, which carries a 15% fee. All plans include an “ASAP Release in 24 Hours” option and data-calculated royalty advances, subject to eligibility.

Amuse retired its free tier in 2024. If you stop paying, the help centre says releases stay up but “a 25% royalty commission is applied”. Amuse describes its reach as “all major streaming services and social networks” without publishing a count.

7. UnitedMasters

Best for: US artists who want a route to brand partnerships and sync.

UnitedMasters’ artist plans are DEBUT+ at $19.99 a year and SELECT at $59.99, both keeping 100% of royalties, plus an invite-only PARTNER tier. Its homepage advertises “150+ platforms in 48 hours”. Brand and sync deals start at SELECT. YouTube Content ID costs $4.99 per release, and UnitedMasters keeps 20% of that income.

Watch out for: the free DEBUT tier stopped distributing in October 2025. The company was founded by Steve Stoute, and its about page and company blog list Alphabet, Andreessen Horowitz and Apple among its investors.

8. RouteNote

Best for: artists who want to release without paying anything up front.

RouteNote lets you choose a model for each release. On its pricing page, RouteNote Free costs nothing and you “keep 85% of your streaming and download revenue”. Premium keeps 100%, and its help centre prices it at $10 for a single, $20 for an EP, $30 for an album and $45 for an extended album, then $9.99 a year. YouTube Content ID follows the same split: a 15% cut on Free, none on Premium. Splits between RouteNote accounts are supported.

Watch out for: reach is described as “over 50 of the biggest digital platforms”, fewer than most rivals claim, and payouts need at least $50 in your balance, paid by bank transfer through Wise or by PayPal.

9. Too Lost

Best for: small labels and multi-artist crews on a tight budget.

Too Lost’s pricing page lists an Artist Account at $19.99 a year (or $2.99 a month) for one artist, and a Label Account at $35.99 a year (or $5.99 a month) with unlimited artists, the cheapest roster plan on this list. Its help centre says it “does not take a cut” of master earnings, and lapsed accounts keep earning 85%. It advertises “same-day delivery to 450+ stores & platforms”, by far the biggest number on this list, so we read the published list behind it.

It is a genuine list of 468 entries, but it counts generously. Kugou and Kuwo each appear six times and Huawei eight times as separate services, a handful of names are listed twice under slightly different spellings, and the total includes eight airlines and recognition services such as Shazam and Gracenote. That does not make the reach any less real, but it is not a like-for-like count of music stores, and every vendor on this list, ours included, counts in its own way.

The plans bundle royalty splits, YouTube Content ID, publishing administration “with BMG” and instant advances of “up to 10 years of future earnings”. In March 2026 TA Associates and Goldstate Music Group made strategic investments, and Billboard reported the founders remain the largest individual shareholders.

10. LANDR

Best for: producers who want mastering and distribution under one subscription.

LANDR’s release pricing starts at $24 a year for Distribution Basic (one artist), with Distribution Pro at $45 a year for five artists (shown as 50% off $90 when we checked) and Distribution + Mastering at $70. Subscribers keep “100% of your royalties” across “150+ platforms”. Pay-per-release costs $9 a single or $19 an album, with a 15% commission, and cancelled subscribers keep 85%.

Watch out for: LANDR takes 20% of Content ID income on every plan, and Basic releases are reviewed in 7–10 days against 2–5 on Pro. Montreal-based LANDR Audio is venture-backed and bought Reason Studios in January 2026.

How to choose

• Releasing monthly? A flat subscription wins. At $19 a year, InterSpace’s Artiste plan and Ditto’s Starter plan are the cheapest unlimited US-dollar plans on this list.
• Releasing once a year? Compare CD Baby’s one-time fee with a free tier. Just remember that a commission costs more as a song grows.
• Getting paid outside the US or Europe? Check which currencies a platform pays in and the minimum withdrawal before you upload, not after your first statement. InterSpace pays out to more than 50 territories, in currencies from Chinese yuan to naira.
• Planning a break? Read the expiry policy. InterSpace keeps music live on free-tier terms, Too Lost and LANDR keep it earning at 85%, Amuse keeps it live at a 25% commission, DistroKid may remove it, and TuneCore takes it down 42 days after a missed renewal.
• Thinking of moving later? Switching is a re-delivery, not a transfer. Our guide to switching distributors without losing streams sets out the order.

Want platforms beyond the household names? See 12 Music Distributors Beyond the Usual Suspects. Artists based in Africa should also read our Top 10 for African musicians.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest DIY music distribution?

RouteNote Free costs nothing and keeps 85% of streaming and download revenue, and InterSpace Distribution’s free tier gives three lifetime releases at 70%. For unlimited releases, InterSpace’s Artiste plan and Ditto’s Starter plan cost $19 a year at US prices, with Too Lost and UnitedMasters at $19.99.

Which DIY distributors let you keep 100% of royalties?

On their subscription plans, InterSpace Distribution, DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto Music (streaming income), UnitedMasters, Too Lost, LANDR and RouteNote Premium all say you keep 100% of store royalties. Amuse does too, except Content ID income on its entry plan. Watch the add-ons: Content ID and social platform income often carry their own cut.

Will my music come down if I stop paying?

It depends on the platform. InterSpace Distribution keeps releases live on free-tier terms, Too Lost and LANDR keep paying 85%, and Amuse keeps them live at a 25% commission. CD Baby charges once per release. DistroKid says releases may be removed after a lapse unless you have bought Leave a Legacy, and TuneCore says it takes releases down 42 days after a missed renewal.

Do I need YouTube Content ID?

If your music gets used in other people’s videos, yes. Check whether it is included or sold as an add-on, and what cut is taken. Our YouTube Content ID guide explains how it works.

Sources and corrections

Prices, percentages and store counts were checked on each vendor’s own public pages on 3 October 2026, from a US connection. Regional prices differ, and vendors change plans often, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you sign up.

• InterSpace Distribution: pricing, royalties and payout currencies, stores, about
• DistroKid: pricing, extras, payout minimum, lapsed plans
• TuneCore: pricing, homepage, renewals, ownership
• CD Baby: cost, fees, about
• Ditto Music: pricing, payouts
• Amuse: pricing, no-subscription royalties
• UnitedMasters: plans, Content ID, about
• RouteNote: pricing, Premium prices, Content ID, payout minimum, Companies House
• Too Lost: pricing, store list, royalties, Billboard on ownership
• LANDR: pricing, Content ID, MBW on Reason Studios
• ONErpm: registration page

Spotted something out of date? Email editor@interspacemusic.com and we will correct it.

Featured image: Mixing Console, Piano and Laptop by Dejan Krsmanovic, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.