DistroKid vs UnitedMasters (2026): Which Distributor Fits You?

The short answer: DistroKid is the simpler, cheaper choice for most artists who release regularly: one flat yearly fee (around $23), unlimited releases, keep 100% of royalties. UnitedMasters' free tier costs nothing upfront but keeps a share of your royalties (around 10%), which gets expensive once your music earns; its paid SELECT plan removes that cut for a yearly fee and adds its main differentiator, access to brand partnership and sync opportunities. Pick DistroKid for low cost and volume, UnitedMasters if brand-deal exposure is part of your strategy. Both are non-exclusive; you keep your masters either way.

I've released through Sony, Universal, Ultra, and Dim Mak, and independently. Distributor pricing changes often, so treat the numbers here as September 2026 guides and verify current plans before signing. No affiliate links.

Head to head

The math that decides it

The free tier's 10% cut is cheap only while your music earns little. Once your yearly royalties pass about $230, that 10% costs more than a DistroKid subscription. At typical per-stream payouts that's somewhere around 40,000 to 70,000 streams a year, depending on your platform mix. Past that point, the free tier is the expensive tier. Run your last year of royalties against 10% and you have your answer. The same break-even logic applies to CD Baby's commission.

What UnitedMasters actually offers beyond distribution

UnitedMasters' real product is exposure: it has run partnerships with major brands and leagues where artists on the platform can be selected for placements. For an artist whose strategy includes sync and brand work, that access is worth weighing. The honest caveat: selection isn't guaranteed, and most artists on any platform never land a brand deal. Pay for the opportunity only if you'd actively pursue it.

What DistroKid does better

Simplicity and cost at volume. One fee covers everything you release, uploads are fast, and the dashboard is the most familiar in independent music. Its weakness is the upsell list of paid extras; the full DistroKid review covers which ones are worth it. If you want to compare the wider field, DistroKid vs TuneCore vs Symphonic and the DistroKid alternatives cover it.

Switching later

Both are non-exclusive and your stream counts follow the ISRC, not the distributor. Upload with your existing ISRCs to the new service first, confirm the store pages match, then take down the old versions. Owning your masters is what makes that flexibility possible.

Quick answers

Is UnitedMasters better than DistroKid? For low cost at volume, DistroKid wins. For artists actively pursuing brand and sync opportunities, UnitedMasters SELECT is worth a look.

Does UnitedMasters take a percentage? The free tier keeps a share of royalties (around 10%). The paid SELECT plan lets you keep 100% for a yearly fee. Verify current terms.

Can I switch from UnitedMasters to DistroKid? Yes. Upload to DistroKid with your existing ISRCs first, then take down the UnitedMasters versions. Your streams stay attached to the songs.

Do I keep my masters with both? Yes. Both are non-exclusive distribution; you own your recordings either way.