Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

Stitcher vs TuneCore

S

Stitcher

Entertainment

Premium podcast subscription service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TuneCore logo

TuneCore

Music

Music distribution owned by Believe, offering both a 0%-royalty annual subscription and an older pay-per-release model side by side

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Stitcher has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Stitcher service discontinued August 29, 2023; TuneCore tuneCore runs two different pricing structures side by side, and it is easy for a buyer to be quoted or compare against the wrong one for their release frequency.
  • They diverge on capability: Stitcher covers Podcast streaming, TuneCore covers Unlimited uploads on subscription plans.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stitcher and TuneCore actually diverge.

Attributes where Stitcher and TuneCore differ
AttributeStitcherTuneCore
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumPer year, subscription or pay-per-release
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakersWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryEntertainmentMusic
Founded2007Unknown

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 Stitcher

  • Podcast streaming
  • Original content
  • Ad-free
  • Offline listening
  • Recommendations
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security

Only in TuneCore

  • Unlimited uploads on subscription plans
  • Pay-per-release legacy option
  • 0% royalty commission on streaming stores
  • Publishing administration
  • Sync licensing marketplace
  • Multiple artist profile support

What people use each for

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

Stitcher

  • Podcast listeningnot TuneCore
  • Audio entertainmentnot TuneCore

TuneCore

  • A prolific artist releasing many singles a year who benefits from an unlimited-upload subscription over per-release feesnot Stitcher
  • An infrequent releaser who prefers paying only for the specific single or album they put out rather than an annual platform feenot Stitcher
  • An artist wanting publishing administration and sync licensing submission alongside distribution, from one vendornot Stitcher
  • A songwriter managing multiple artist identities who is willing to pay the per-name annual fee for each additional profilenot Stitcher

Where each one falls short

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

Stitcher

  • Service discontinued August 29, 2023
  • No longer available for download or use

TuneCore

  • TuneCore runs two different pricing structures side by side, and it is easy for a buyer to be quoted or compare against the wrong one for their release frequency.
  • The pay-per-release album price rises significantly on renewal, from $44.99 in year one to $56.49 in subsequent years, which is not obvious from the headline price.
  • As with DistroKid, the 0%-royalty claim covers streaming stores only; social monetisation and publishing administration both carry a 20% commission.
  • Ownership by Believe means TuneCore’s roadmap and priorities sit within a larger corporate group whose other artist-services brands can create channel conflicts or bundling pressure.
  • Additional artist profiles carry a recurring annual fee, so an artist running several projects under different names pays materially more than the headline single-artist price suggests.

Pricing, plan by plan

Stitcher

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free podcasts
    • Ad-supported
  • Stitcher Premium$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Exclusives

TuneCore

On request
  • Rising Artist (subscription)$24.99/year
    • Unlimited uploads, 0% royalty commission on streaming
  • Breakout Artist (subscription)$44.99/year
    • Unlimited uploads, additional distribution features
  • Professional (subscription)$54.99/year
    • Unlimited uploads, full feature set
  • Pay-per-release: Single$24.99/year
    • One track, renews annually to keep it live

Which should you pick?

Choose Stitcher if

  • You need podcast streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want original content.
Stitcher review

Choose TuneCore if

  • You need unlimited uploads on subscription plans.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want pay-per-release legacy option.
TuneCore review

Questions people ask

Is Stitcher or TuneCore better?
Neither clearly leads. Stitcher starts at Free and TuneCore at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stitcher or TuneCore?
Stitcher has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Stitcher and On request for TuneCore.
Does Stitcher or TuneCore run on more platforms?
Stitcher runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. TuneCore runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Stitcher for free?
Yes. Stitcher has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. TuneCore starts at On request.
What is Stitcher best used for?
Stitcher is most often used for podcast listening, audio entertainment. Of those, podcast listening and audio entertainment are not what TuneCore is typically brought in for.
What can Stitcher do that TuneCore cannot?
Stitcher covers Podcast streaming, Original content, Ad-free, Offline listening. TuneCore covers Unlimited uploads on subscription plans, Pay-per-release legacy option, 0% royalty commission on streaming stores, Publishing administration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stitcher: Is Stitcher still available?

No. Stitcher shut down on August 29, 2023. SiriusXM, which acquired Stitcher in 2020, discontinued the app to consolidate podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription. Users can listen to podcasts via the SiriusXM app instead.

Source
TuneCore: Which pricing model should I use, subscription or pay-per-release?

If you release more than one or two records a year, the unlimited subscription is usually cheaper; infrequent releasers may prefer paying per release.

TuneCore: Who owns TuneCore?

Believe, a French independent music company, has owned TuneCore since 2015.

TuneCore: Does TuneCore take a cut of streaming royalties?

No, on both the subscription and pay-per-release models you keep 100% of streaming store royalties; social platforms and publishing administration are commissioned separately.

Share

Related pages

More on Stitcher

More on TuneCore

Keep looking

Other head to heads