Softwr

Music · head to head

Amazon Music vs DistroKid

Amazon Music logo

Amazon Music

Music

Unlimited music for every moment

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DistroKid logo

DistroKid

Music

Flat annual subscription music distribution where artists keep 100% of streaming royalties

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Amazon Music has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Music amazon Music Unlimited is required for on-demand access to the 100 million song catalogue, ad-free podcasts and Audible audiobooks; DistroKid if the annual fee is not paid, DistroKid can pull releases from stores, and only releases with the separate Leave a Legacy add-on are protected from that.
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Music covers Music streaming, DistroKid covers Unlimited uploads.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Music and DistroKid actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Music and DistroKid differ
AttributeAmazon MusicDistroKid
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, EchoWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2007Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Amazon Music

  • Music streaming
  • HD audio
  • Podcasts
  • Alexa integration
  • Echo devices
  • Fire TV
  • Alexa
  • Amazon account security

Only in DistroKid

  • Unlimited uploads
  • 0% royalty commission on streaming
  • Scheduled release dates
  • Leave a Legacy
  • Songwriter splits
  • YouTube Content ID

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amazon Music

  • On-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakersnot DistroKid
  • Listening to podcasts and Audible audiobooks in one appnot DistroKid
  • Offline playback for subscribersnot DistroKid

DistroKid

  • A working artist releasing multiple singles a year who wants to keep 100% of streaming royalties above a flat annual feenot Amazon Music
  • A songwriter needing automated collaborator splits handled at the point of releasenot Amazon Music
  • A small label managing several artists under one account using a Label tiernot Amazon Music
  • An artist who wants their catalogue to survive a lapsed subscription and pays for Leave a Legacy on key releasesnot Amazon Music

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amazon Music

  • Amazon Music Unlimited is required for on-demand access to the 100 million song catalogue, ad-free podcasts and Audible audiobooks
  • Unlimited skips require the Amazon Music Unlimited subscription
  • Subscriptions bought through iTunes renew automatically each month unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
  • The account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of each membership period
  • The iOS app requires iOS 16.0 or later

DistroKid

  • If the annual fee is not paid, DistroKid can pull releases from stores, and only releases with the separate Leave a Legacy add-on are protected from that.
  • The 0% royalty claim applies to streaming stores only; social platform monetisation through TikTok, Instagram and YouTube is charged at a 20% commission.
  • Publishing administration, if used, carries its own 20% commission on top of the base subscription.
  • Extra artist profiles beyond the one included per plan cost an additional $14.99 a year each, which adds up for artists running side projects.
  • Customer support is primarily self-serve and ticket-based rather than a dedicated account manager, which some artists moving from CD Baby’s more service-heavy model find thin.

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Music

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited selection
    • Ads
  • Unlimited$9.99/month
    • Full catalog
    • HD audio

DistroKid

On request
  • Musician$24.99/year
    • Unlimited uploads, 0% royalty commission on streaming stores
    • No custom release scheduling
  • Musician Plus$44.99/year
    • Scheduled release dates, daily stats
    • Custom label name, multiple artist names
  • Ultimate$89.99/year
    • Everything in Musician Plus
    • Higher-tier support and additional artist management features
  • Label plans$undefined/year
    • Label 5, Label 10 and Label 25 tiers for multiple managed artists

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Music if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo.
  • You also want hd audio.
Amazon Music review

Choose DistroKid if

  • You need unlimited uploads.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want 0% royalty commission on streaming.
DistroKid review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Music or DistroKid better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Music starts at Free and DistroKid at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Music or DistroKid?
Amazon Music has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Amazon Music and On request for DistroKid.
Does Amazon Music or DistroKid run on more platforms?
Amazon Music runs on Web, Ios, Android, Fire-tv, Echo. DistroKid runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Amazon Music for free?
Yes. Amazon Music has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DistroKid starts at On request.
What is Amazon Music best used for?
Amazon Music is most often used for on-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakers, listening to podcasts and audible audiobooks in one app, offline playback for subscribers. Of those, on-demand music streaming across phone, watch and speakers and listening to podcasts and audible audiobooks in one app are not what DistroKid is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Music do that DistroKid cannot?
Amazon Music covers Music streaming, HD audio, Podcasts, Alexa integration. DistroKid covers Unlimited uploads, 0% royalty commission on streaming, Scheduled release dates, Leave a Legacy.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amazon Music: What are the pricing options for Amazon Music?

The main Amazon Music page does not display pricing information. Users must visit additional pages on Amazon's website or the app store to see subscription costs.

Source
DistroKid: Does DistroKid really take 0% of royalties?

On core streaming store royalties, yes. It takes 20% on social platform monetisation (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) and 20% on publishing administration if used.

Amazon Music: Is there a free tier or trial period?

The page does not disclose whether a free trial, free tier, or evaluation period is available for Amazon Music. Pricing and trial details would need to be found on related pages.

Source
DistroKid: What happens if I stop paying?

Your releases can be removed from stores. Leave a Legacy is a per-release add-on that keeps specific releases live regardless of subscription status.

Amazon Music: Can I cancel my Amazon Music subscription anytime?

The page does not specify cancellation policies or contract terms for Amazon Music subscriptions.

Source
DistroKid: Is there a free tier?

No. Every tier is a paid annual subscription; there is no free plan.

Share

Related pages

More on Amazon Music

More on DistroKid

Keep looking

Other head to heads