Best DistroKid alternatives in 2026 (my honest picks)
Looking for a DistroKid alternative? Here’s my honest take after releasing music through DistroKid and SoundCloud for Artists and exploring Ditto’s features
Are you looking for a new music distributor that isn’t DistroKid? I’ve used DistroKid to release my own music for the past few years, but it isn’t necessarily the best option for every artist.
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In this article, I’m going to cover the best alternatives to DistroKid on the market right now. I’ll focus on two leading alternatives — Ditto Music and SoundCloud — while also explaining why you may actually want to stick with DistroKid.
Quick verdict
If you’re looking for a DistroKid alternative, Ditto Music is the best all-round option I’d recommend based on my research. SoundCloud for Artists is also a solid choice if you’re already building an audience on SoundCloud. That being said, DistroKid still remains my distributor of choice and is the one I personally use.
Ditto Music (best overall alternative)
Ditto Music is one of the leading music distributors and a solid alternative to DistroKid. I personally use DistroKid for my releases, but I signed up for a Ditto account to see how the onboarding process and dashboard work. I must admit that I really like the modern design and feel of the website — it feels more up to date than DistroKid.
Ditto is a well-established digital music distributor, having been founded in the early 2000s, and it provides a good way for artists to get their music distributed to major streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music.
Why consider Ditto?
Ditto Music lets you keep 100% of your streaming royalties (the distributor doesn’t take a percentage cut) and offers distribution to most of the major streaming platforms you’d expect. This includes Spotify, Apple Music, Facebook/Instagram, and TikTok.
At the time of writing, Ditto offers three different plan levels, with the more expensive plans unlocking additional features. All plans are paid yearly, and there is no option to pay monthly.
As standard, all of Ditto’s plans offer unlimited releases for at least one artist. Features such as YouTube Content ID and the ability to set exact release times are available depending on the plan you select. The higher-tier plans also unlock extra features and opportunities, such as the option to apply for TV and film sync pitching.
If you make electronic music, you’ll be pleased to know that Ditto does support Beatport distribution — although you’ll need to set up a Beatport label through Ditto, which is something I haven’t done myself.
How much does Ditto cost?
Ditto’s plans are paid yearly, with the most basic plan priced at about $19 / €19 / £19 per year (correct at the time of writing, check the Ditto website for the latest pricing). The higher tiers cost more and unlock additional features, such as the ability to release music under multiple artists.
SoundCloud for Artists (best option if you’re already building on SoundCloud)
SoundCloud for Artists is another solid alternative and is the distributor I first used when I started releasing music back in 2022. If you’re already focused on building a following on the SoundCloud platform, then SoundCloud for Artists is a logical choice for getting your music distributed to other major streaming platforms.
I used SoundCloud for Artists to release about 10 tracks before I decided to switch to DistroKid. This was mainly because SoundCloud for Artists didn’t offer Beatport distribution at the time I was using it. Overall, my experience with SoundCloud for Artists was very positive.
Why consider SoundCloud for Artists?
SoundCloud for Artists, previously known as Repost Network, provides a straightforward way to get your music distributed to most major streaming platforms. If you’re already actively putting out music on SoundCloud, it’s a convenient option thanks to how tightly integrated it is with the platform.
At the time of writing, there are two paid plans available: “Artist” and “Artist Pro”. The Artist Pro plan is more expensive and offers the most features, including unlimited releases. You also have the option of paying monthly or yearly, which is something not all distributors offer.
The upload and release process is very straightforward, and I like the fact that features such as YouTube Content ID are included in both paid plans as standard.
How much does SoundCloud for Artists cost?
SoundCloud for Artists offers both monthly and yearly subscription options, which is a nice feature that not all distributors offer. Plans start from about $39 / €36 / £27 per year (pricing at the time of writing), with higher tiers available if you want unlimited releases and access to additional tools and features.
Why you may want to stick with DistroKid
If you’re thinking about leaving DistroKid or are looking for an alternative, you may want to reconsider. DistroKid is one of the world’s leading music distributors and remains my distributor of choice.
I’ve been using DistroKid to distribute all of my music since moving away from SoundCloud for Artists, and overall my experience has been very positive. I personally pay for the “Ultimate” plan, which unlocks the most features, and I also pay for the separate Beatport distribution add-on, which is really important if you make electronic music.
Like with most distributors, there are some pros and cons to weigh up. One example of a drawback is that if you want to get your music submitted to YouTube Content ID, you’ll need to pay an additional fee, which is charged per release. As mentioned above, Beatport distribution also comes at an extra cost.
One of the main pros of DistroKid is the sheer speed at which releases are delivered to streaming services such as Spotify. It’s genuinely very fast, although delivery times can vary from store to store. Overall, I’m a big fan of DistroKid and continue to use it to release all of my music.
Final thoughts and conclusion
So, that brings us to the end of my article looking at some of the best DistroKid alternatives available right now. I’ve covered two solid options in Ditto Music and SoundCloud for Artists, and have also explained why sticking with DistroKid may still make sense for many artists.
If I were an artist looking for my first music distributor, I’d probably be weighing up either Ditto Music or DistroKid, although SoundCloud for Artists is also a strong option, particularly if you’re already building an audience on SoundCloud. I recommend taking the time to compare pricing, features, and long-term costs, and considering your own requirements before making a decision.
If you’re looking for a more detailed breakdown of my selection of the best music distributors for independent artists right now, be sure to check out my separate dedicated guide.