Artyfile Your music should not disappear
when a card expires.
DistroKid is fast and takes 0% commission — but it is a yearly subscription, and releases can be removed when it lapses. Artyfile charges €9.90 once per track and keeps your music online.
What is a good DistroKid alternative?
If you do not want to pay every year, look for a distributor with a one-time fee per release. DistroKid’s Musician plan costs $24.99 per year (as of October 2026), and according to DistroKid’s own help center your music is removed if you do not renew — unless you buy “Leave a Legacy” for $29 per single or $49 per album. Artyfile charges €9.90 per track or €39 per album, once, with no takedown for non-payment. In exchange, Artyfile takes 15% of the revenue it generates; DistroKid takes 0%.
Updated: October 2026
DistroKid pricing in October 2026
DistroKid sells three yearly plans. All of them let you upload unlimited songs and keep 100% of your earnings. Prices below are what DistroKid shows on its pricing page; European visitors see euro prices.
| Plan | Price per year | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| Musician | $24.99 | 1 artist or band |
| Musician Plus | $44.99 | 2 artists or bands |
| Ultimate | from $89.99 | 1–100 artists or bands |
On top come optional Album Extras. Some are one-time, others renew yearly: Store Maximizer $7.95 per album per year, Discovery Pack $0.99 per song per year, Social Media Pack from $4.95 per single per year plus 20% of ad revenue. Your renewal date is the day you first signed up.
What happens if you stop paying DistroKid?
DistroKid answers this openly in its help center: “If you don’t renew your subscription to DistroKid, your music will be removed from services.” You can still log in and you still receive earnings that are owed to you. If a card is declined, DistroKid says it gives notice before removing anything, and restores releases once the past-due charge succeeds.
To keep a release online without a subscription, DistroKid offers the Leave a Legacy extra: $29 per single, $49 per album of 2+ tracks, paid once. It has to be bought for each release separately, and it does not replace the yearly fee while your account is active.
This is not a trick — it is how a subscription works, and DistroKid documents it clearly. The question is simply whether you want to pay rent on your catalogue, or pay once.
DistroKid vs Artyfile, side by side
| Artyfile | DistroKid (Musician) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | €9.90 per track or €39 per album, once | $24.99 per year, every year |
| Commission | 15% only on revenue Artyfile generates | 0% |
| Uploads | Per track or album | Unlimited while subscribed |
| If you stop paying | Nothing to stop — music stays online | Releases removed unless each has Leave a Legacy |
| Master rights | 100% yours, non-exclusive | 100% yours |
| Curation | A&R review by a person; no AI-generated music | Open upload |
| Extra channels | Artyfile Stream (€0.03–€0.20 per stream), sync marketplace | Add-ons such as Social Media Pack |
| Fan Limited Editions | Optional: up to 20 numbered 1% shares per track | Not offered |
Over five years, one album and two singles cost €58.80 at Artyfile in fees. On DistroKid’s Musician plan the same five years cost about €120 — and if you then want to stop, Leave a Legacy for those three releases adds $107. Full breakdown on the pricing page.
When DistroKid is the better choice
An honest comparison has to say this: for some artists, DistroKid is the right tool.
- ✓You release a lot. Ten singles a year on one subscription is hard to beat. At €9.90 per track, Artyfile only makes sense when you release less often or want to stop paying at some point.
- ✓You earn a lot from streaming. 0% commission means every cent of a large streaming income stays with you. Our 15% costs more once your streaming revenue is high.
- ✓You need speed and self-service. DistroKid is built for instant uploads. Artyfile has a human A&R review before anything goes out.
- ✓You make AI-generated music. Artyfile does not accept it.
When Artyfile fits better
- ✓You release a few tracks a year and want them online for good, without a renewal date.
- ✓You want more than DSP delivery: Artyfile Stream pays €0.03–€0.20 per stream, and the sync marketplace licenses music for film, TV and advertising (average license €96.90). You keep 85%.
- ✓You have a small, loyal fan base. With optional Fan Limited Editions, fans can buy up to 20 numbered 1% shares of a track at €69.90 each; you receive 85% upfront, up to €1,188.30 per track. Fan payouts are a bonus of ownership and can be zero.
- ✓You want to be listened to. Every application gets an A&R review by a person.
Already on DistroKid? Read how to switch distributors without losing streams before you change anything.
DistroKid alternative: common questions
What happens if I stop paying DistroKid?
According to DistroKid’s help center, your music is removed from streaming services if you do not renew. You can still log in and receive earnings owed to you. Releases with the Leave a Legacy extra stay online.
How much is DistroKid Leave a Legacy?
$29 per single and $49 per album of two or more tracks, paid once per release (DistroKid help center, October 2026). It does not cover your whole catalogue — each release needs its own.
How much does DistroKid cost per year?
The Musician plan costs $24.99 per year, Musician Plus $44.99 and Ultimate from $89.99 (US list prices, October 2026; DistroKid shows local-currency prices in some regions). Optional extras cost more.
Is Artyfile cheaper than DistroKid?
For artists who release a few tracks and keep them online for years, yes: €9.90 once versus a yearly fee. For prolific artists or high streaming earners, DistroKid can be cheaper, because it takes 0% commission and Artyfile takes 15% of the revenue it generates.
Can I move my songs from DistroKid to Artyfile?
You own your masters, so you can release them through any distributor. Apply with your track first; if it is accepted, follow our switching guide so the new release is live before the old one is taken down.
Does Artyfile take my rights?
No. You keep 100% of your master rights and all songwriting and publishing rights. Only streaming distribution runs exclusively through Artyfile while a track is active.
Keep reading
Pricing: €9.90 once
Every cost of releasing with Artyfile on one page, plus a 5-year comparison with subscription distributors.
Distribution without subscription
Subscription, one-time fee or commission-only: the three pricing models compared, with who each one suits.
Switch distributor safely
Seven steps to move your releases without losing play counts, playlists or a single day online.
Pay once. Stay online.
Applying is free. If your track is accepted, you pay €9.90 once — no subscription, no renewal date, no takedown when a card expires.