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Music · head to head

CD Baby vs REAPER

CD Baby logo

CD Baby

Music

Music distribution charging an upfront per-release fee plus a permanent 9% commission on royalties, now owned by Universal Music Group

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
REAPER logo

REAPER

Music

Full digital audio workstation with a 60 day evaluation and a USD 60 personal licence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only REAPER has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CD Baby the 9% commission is permanent and cannot be bought out, so an artist with growing streaming income pays CD Baby more every year indefinitely, unlike a flat subscription fee.; REAPER the USD 60 discounted licence requires that yearly gross revenue does not exceed USD 20,000, above which the commercial licence at USD 225 applies
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CD Baby and REAPER actually diverge.

Attributes where CD Baby and REAPER differ
AttributeCD BabyREAPER
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchase plus ongoing commissionone-time
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows, macOS, Linux

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 CD Baby

  • One-time per-release fee
  • Permanent royalty retention
  • CDB Boost
  • Royalty collection
  • Social monetisation
  • DIY musician tools

Only in REAPER

Nothing recorded that CD Baby does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

CD Baby

  • An artist who releases rarely and wants to pay once with no risk of losing distribution over a missed renewalnot REAPER
  • A musician comfortable trading a permanent 9% royalty cut for the certainty of never facing a subscription lapsenot REAPER
  • An artist wanting publishing administration and sync submission bundled through the optional CDB Boost add-onnot REAPER
  • A legacy CD Baby user with an existing catalogue who prefers not to migrate to a subscription-based competitornot REAPER

REAPER

  • Music productionnot CD Baby
  • Audio recordingnot CD Baby
  • Audio editingnot CD Baby
  • Post productionnot CD Baby
  • Podcast editingnot CD Baby

Where each one falls short

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

CD Baby

  • The 9% commission is permanent and cannot be bought out, so an artist with growing streaming income pays CD Baby more every year indefinitely, unlike a flat subscription fee.
  • It is now owned by Universal Music Group following the 2026 Downtown Music Holdings acquisition, which sits awkwardly against its original positioning as an independent alternative to major labels.
  • Sync placements CD Baby secures on an artist’s behalf carry up to a 40% commission, among the highest cuts in the category.
  • Social platform monetisation is commissioned at 30%, higher than DistroKid’s or TuneCore’s 20%.
  • The one-time fee model looks cheaper upfront than a subscription, but for any artist with meaningful and growing streaming revenue the compounding 9% cut typically costs more over a few years.

REAPER

  • The USD 60 discounted licence requires that yearly gross revenue does not exceed USD 20,000, above which the commercial licence at USD 225 applies
  • The commercial licence at USD 225 is nearly four times the discounted one for identical software, since the price is set by who is using it rather than by what it does
  • The evaluation lasts 60 days, after which continued use requires a purchased licence
  • Sold as a paid licence with no free tier beyond the evaluation period

Pricing, plan by plan

CD Baby

On request
  • Single$9.99/month
    • One-time upfront fee per single
    • 9% commission on digital royalties, permanent
  • Album$14.99/month
    • One-time upfront fee per album
    • 9% commission on digital royalties, permanent
  • CDB Boost$39.99/month
    • Optional per-release add-on for publishing and sync submission

REAPER

Free
  • Discounted License$60/one-time
    • For individuals using REAPER personally
    • For businesses with yearly gross revenue under 20000 USD
    • For educational and non-profit organizations
  • Commercial License$225/one-time
    • For commercial use by businesses exceeding revenue threshold
    • Includes free upgrades through REAPER version 8.99

Which should you pick?

Choose CD Baby if

  • You need one-time per-release fee.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want permanent royalty retention.
CD Baby review

Choose REAPER if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
REAPER review

Questions people ask

Is CD Baby or REAPER better?
Neither clearly leads. CD Baby starts at On request and REAPER at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CD Baby or REAPER?
REAPER has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for CD Baby and Free for REAPER.
Does CD Baby or REAPER run on more platforms?
CD Baby runs on Web, iOS, Android. REAPER runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use REAPER for free?
Yes. REAPER has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CD Baby starts at On request.
What is CD Baby best used for?
CD Baby is most often used for an artist who releases rarely and wants to pay once with no risk of losing distribution over a missed renewal, a musician comfortable trading a permanent 9% royalty cut for the certainty of never facing a subscription lapse, an artist wanting publishing administration and sync submission bundled through the optional cdb boost add-on, a legacy cd baby user with an existing catalogue who prefers not to migrate to a subscription-based competitor. Of those, an artist who releases rarely and wants to pay once with no risk of losing distribution over a missed renewal and a musician comfortable trading a permanent 9% royalty cut for the certainty of never facing a subscription lapse are not what REAPER is typically brought in for.
What can CD Baby do that REAPER cannot?
CD Baby covers One-time per-release fee, Permanent royalty retention, CDB Boost, Royalty collection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CD Baby: Does CD Baby ever take a subscription fee?

No, it charges a one-time upfront fee per release, but keeps a permanent 9% commission on royalties with no way to remove it.

REAPER: How much does REAPER cost?

REAPER costs 60 USD for a discounted license (individuals, non-profits, organizations under 20000 USD annual revenue) or 225 USD for commercial use. All licenses include free updates through version 8.99.

Source
CD Baby: Who owns CD Baby now?

Universal Music Group, following its February 2026 acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, CD Baby’s previous owner.

REAPER: Can I try REAPER before buying?

Yes, REAPER offers a 60-day full evaluation period with no artificial feature limitations, allowing you to test all capabilities before purchasing.

Source
CD Baby: What happens if I never pay again after the initial fee?

Releases stay distributed since there is no recurring distribution fee; the ongoing 9% commission is deducted automatically from royalties as they are earned.

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