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Music · head to head

DistroKid vs Peacock

DistroKid logo

DistroKid

Music

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Peacock logo

Peacock

Entertainment

Stream iconic movies, shows, and live sports

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Peacock has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Peacock geographic restrictions prevent US access verification
  • They diverge on capability: DistroKid covers Unlimited uploads, Peacock covers Streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DistroKid and Peacock actually diverge.

Attributes where DistroKid and Peacock differ
AttributeDistroKidPeacock
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
CategoryMusicEntertainment
FoundedUnknown2020

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 DistroKid

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

Only in Peacock

  • Streaming
  • Live sports
  • News
  • Original content
  • Smart TVs
  • Mobile devices
  • Parental controls
  • Profile PINs

What people use each for

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

DistroKid

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

Peacock

  • Streamingnot DistroKid
  • Sportsnot DistroKid
  • Newsnot DistroKid

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Peacock

  • Geographic restrictions prevent US access verification

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Peacock

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited content
    • Ads
  • Premium$5.99/month
    • Full library
    • Ads
  • Premium Plus$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Downloads

Which should you pick?

Choose DistroKid if

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

Choose Peacock if

  • You need streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want live sports.
Peacock review

Questions people ask

Is DistroKid or Peacock better?
Neither clearly leads. DistroKid starts at On request and Peacock at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DistroKid or Peacock?
Peacock has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for DistroKid and Free for Peacock.
Does DistroKid or Peacock run on more platforms?
DistroKid runs on Web, iOS, Android. Peacock runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Peacock for free?
Yes. Peacock has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DistroKid starts at On request.
What is DistroKid best used for?
DistroKid is most often used for a working artist releasing multiple singles a year who wants to keep 100% of streaming royalties above a flat annual fee, a songwriter needing automated collaborator splits handled at the point of release, a small label managing several artists under one account using a label tier, an artist who wants their catalogue to survive a lapsed subscription and pays for leave a legacy on key releases. Of those, a working artist releasing multiple singles a year who wants to keep 100% of streaming royalties above a flat annual fee and a songwriter needing automated collaborator splits handled at the point of release are not what Peacock is typically brought in for.
What can DistroKid do that Peacock cannot?
DistroKid covers Unlimited uploads, 0% royalty commission on streaming, Scheduled release dates, Leave a Legacy. Peacock covers Streaming, Live sports, News, Original content.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Peacock: What is Peacock's pricing?

Peacock pricing information is not available. The website shows geographic restrictions and states the service requires US physical location for domestic customers.

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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