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Music · head to head

Bandcamp vs DistroKid

Bandcamp logo

Bandcamp

Music

An artist-first music platform

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 Bandcamp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bandcamp bandcamp takes 15% of digital sales initially (10% after $5,000 threshold); payment processing adds 4-6% per transaction; 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: Bandcamp 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 Bandcamp and DistroKid actually diverge.

Attributes where Bandcamp and DistroKid differ
AttributeBandcampDistroKid
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modeltransactionOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Bandcamp

  • Music streaming
  • Downloads
  • Artist support
  • Merchandise
  • Community
  • Social media
  • Payment processing
  • Artist tools

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.

Bandcamp

  • Music distribution and salesnot DistroKid
  • Physical media salesnot DistroKid
  • Artist monetizationnot DistroKid

DistroKid

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

Where each one falls short

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

Bandcamp

  • Bandcamp takes 15% of digital sales initially (10% after $5,000 threshold); payment processing adds 4-6% per transaction

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

Bandcamp

Free
  • Artist PlatformFree
    • 15% revenue share on digital items initially
    • 10% revenue share after reaching $5,000 in sales
    • 10% revenue share on physical goods

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 Bandcamp if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want downloads.
Bandcamp 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 Bandcamp or DistroKid better?
Neither clearly leads. Bandcamp 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, Bandcamp or DistroKid?
Bandcamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bandcamp and On request for DistroKid.
Does Bandcamp or DistroKid run on more platforms?
Bandcamp runs on Web, Ios, Android. DistroKid runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Bandcamp for free?
Yes. Bandcamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DistroKid starts at On request.
What is Bandcamp best used for?
Bandcamp is most often used for music distribution and sales, physical media sales, artist monetization. Of those, music distribution and sales and physical media sales are not what DistroKid is typically brought in for.
What can Bandcamp do that DistroKid cannot?
Bandcamp covers Music streaming, Downloads, Artist support, Merchandise. DistroKid covers Unlimited uploads, 0% royalty commission on streaming, Scheduled release dates, Leave a Legacy.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bandcamp: How much commission does Bandcamp take?

15% on digital items initially, reducing to 10% once you reach $5,000 in sales. 10% on physical goods. Plus 4-6% payment processing fees per transaction. Tips are not subject to the revenue share on amounts over $100.

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.

Bandcamp: Does Bandcamp charge subscription or setup fees?

No subscription tiers or setup fees. Bandcamp uses a transaction-based revenue sharing model only.

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.

DistroKid: Is there a free tier?

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

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