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Music · head to head

iHeartRadio vs LANDR

iHeartRadio logo

iHeartRadio

Music

All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LANDR logo

LANDR

Music

AI mastering and music distribution, sold as separate mastering, distribution and bundled Studio subscriptions

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iHeartRadio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: iHeartRadio ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription; LANDR mastering and distribution are separate subscription lines, so a producer wanting both is typically paying for two products, not one, unless they specifically choose the bundled Studio plan.
  • They diverge on capability: iHeartRadio covers Live radio, LANDR covers AI mastering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iHeartRadio and LANDR actually diverge.

Attributes where iHeartRadio and LANDR differ
AttributeiHeartRadioLANDR
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per month, separate mastering and distribution subscriptions
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersWeb
Founded2008Unknown

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 iHeartRadio

  • Live radio
  • Custom stations
  • Podcasts
  • Events
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security
  • Web support

Only in LANDR

  • AI mastering
  • Digital distribution
  • 100 percent royalty retention
  • Pay-per-track mastering
  • Sample packs and plugins
  • Collaboration tools

What people use each for

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

iHeartRadio

  • Streaming live AM and FM radio stations over the internetnot LANDR
  • Listening to podcasts and live sports commentarynot LANDR
  • Building music playlists on a paid tiernot LANDR

LANDR

  • An independent producer wanting fast, low-cost mastering for demos or lower-stakes releasesnot iHeartRadio
  • A self-releasing artist who wants distribution to Spotify and Apple Music without a label or aggregator contractnot iHeartRadio
  • A producer wanting to pay for a single mastered track without committing to a subscriptionnot iHeartRadio
  • An artist who wants sample packs, mastering and distribution bundled together under one Studio plannot iHeartRadio

Where each one falls short

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

iHeartRadio

  • Ad-free listening requires an iHeartRadio Plus or All Access subscription
  • Unlimited skips and unlimited playlist creation require a paid subscription
  • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends
  • Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when a subscription is purchased
  • The iOS app requires iOS 15.0 or later

LANDR

  • Mastering and distribution are separate subscription lines, so a producer wanting both is typically paying for two products, not one, unless they specifically choose the bundled Studio plan.
  • AI mastering is generally regarded by working audio engineers as producing a less considered, more generic result than a human mastering engineer for a release meant to matter to an artist career.
  • The lowest mastering tier caps output at lower-resolution MP3, so getting WAV and HD WAV masters requires the more expensive Pro tier.
  • Distribution plans are billed annually, which is a less flexible commitment than platforms offering month-to-month or per-release distribution pricing.
  • Frequent promotional discounting on LANDR pricing makes the real ongoing renewal price harder to predict from marketing pages alone.

Pricing, plan by plan

iHeartRadio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live radio
    • Podcasts
    • Ads
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited skips
    • Offline playlists

LANDR

On request
  • Mastering Basic$4/month
    • Unlimited lower-resolution MP3 masters
    • Digital distribution not included
  • Mastering Pro$25/month
    • Unlimited WAV and HD WAV masters
    • Highest mastering resolution tier
  • Distribution Basic$24/year
    • Distribution to major streaming platforms
    • Billed separately from mastering plans
  • Distribution Pro$45/year
    • Higher-tier distribution features
    • 100 percent royalty retention

Which should you pick?

Choose iHeartRadio if

  • You need live radio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want custom stations.
iHeartRadio review

Choose LANDR if

  • You need ai mastering.
  • You also want digital distribution.
LANDR review

Questions people ask

Is iHeartRadio or LANDR better?
Neither clearly leads. iHeartRadio starts at Free and LANDR at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iHeartRadio or LANDR?
iHeartRadio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for iHeartRadio and On request for LANDR.
Does iHeartRadio or LANDR run on more platforms?
iHeartRadio runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. LANDR runs on Web.
Can I use iHeartRadio for free?
Yes. iHeartRadio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LANDR starts at On request.
What is iHeartRadio best used for?
iHeartRadio is most often used for streaming live am and fm radio stations over the internet, listening to podcasts and live sports commentary, building music playlists on a paid tier. Of those, streaming live am and fm radio stations over the internet and listening to podcasts and live sports commentary are not what LANDR is typically brought in for.
What can iHeartRadio do that LANDR cannot?
iHeartRadio covers Live radio, Custom stations, Podcasts, Events. LANDR covers AI mastering, Digital distribution, 100 percent royalty retention, Pay-per-track mastering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iHeartRadio: How much does iHeartRadio cost?

iHeartRadio does not publish pricing on their website. The service offers free podcast streaming with optional premium content for certain shows. A reference to 'Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content' is mentioned, but no pricing is provided. Customers must visit linked premium content pages for pricing information.

Source
LANDR: Do mastering and distribution cost the same subscription?

No, they are billed as separate plans; a bundled Studio plan combines them along with sample packs and plugins.

LANDR: Do I keep 100 percent of royalties through LANDR distribution?

Yes, artists retain full royalties from tracks distributed through LANDR.

LANDR: Can I master a single track without a subscription?

Yes, a pay-per-track option is available for around 9.99 USD per master.

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