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Music · head to head

Bandcamp vs Showtime

Bandcamp logo

Bandcamp

Music

An artist-first music platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Showtime logo

Showtime

Entertainment

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
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; Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • They diverge on capability: Bandcamp covers Music streaming, Showtime covers Streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bandcamp and Showtime actually diverge.

Attributes where Bandcamp and Showtime differ
AttributeBandcampShowtime
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modeltransactionsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
CategoryMusicEntertainment
Founded20081983

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

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 Showtime

  • Streaming
  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Bandcamp

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

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Bandcamp
  • Sports watchingnot 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

Showtime

  • Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

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 Showtime if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want original series.
Showtime review

Questions people ask

Is Bandcamp or Showtime better?
Neither clearly leads. Bandcamp starts at Free and Showtime at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bandcamp or Showtime?
Bandcamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bandcamp and $10.99/month for Showtime.
Does Bandcamp or Showtime run on more platforms?
Bandcamp runs on Web, Ios, Android. Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Bandcamp for free?
Yes. Bandcamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Showtime starts at $10.99/month.
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 Showtime is typically brought in for.
What can Bandcamp do that Showtime cannot?
Bandcamp covers Music streaming, Downloads, Artist support, Merchandise. Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

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
Bandcamp: Does Bandcamp charge subscription or setup fees?

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

Source
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