Guide
Amuse vs DistroKid: prices, stores and what happens if you stop paying
Amuse and DistroKid have similar entry prices, but they handle two things differently: SoundCloud is on Amuse's store list and not on DistroKid's, and Amuse keeps your music live after your plan ends, for a bigger cut.
Updated November 2, 2026
Short answer
Amuse starts at $23.99 a year and DistroKid at $24.99. Amuse lists SoundCloud, while DistroKid's store list doesn't name SoundCloud. If your Amuse plan ends, your music stays up and Amuse takes 25%. If you stop paying DistroKid, music can be removed unless the release has Leave a Legacy. Amuse's free account can prepare releases, but distributing needs a plan.
What to do, in order
List the platforms you need
Check the store list for any platform your fans use. A service can be missing from one company's list and offered as an opt-in by another.
Work out what you'd pay over time
Compare the yearly price with any cut of your earnings, and with what each extra costs, such as Content ID.
Check what happens if you stop paying
Some services take music down, some keep it up for a bigger cut, and some charge per release to keep it up.
Check you can keep your codes
If you are moving music, ask whether you can bring your ISRCs and UPCs. Keeping the ISRC helps a store recognize the same recording.
Amuse and DistroKid side by side
Prices are in US dollars. Amuse has larger plans above Artist Pro.
| Feature | Amuse | DistroKid |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly plans | Artist $23.99, Artist Plus $39.99, Artist Pro $59.99 | Musician $24.99, Musician Plus $44.99, Ultimate from $89.99 |
| What you keep | All earnings after conversion and service fees | 100% |
| SoundCloud | Listed | Not on its list |
| Audiomack | Listed | Free opt-in |
| Content ID | 15% on Artist; no commission on Plus or Pro | Social Media Pack: $4.95 per single or $14.95 per album a year, plus 20% of ad revenue |
| If you stop paying | Stays up at 25% commission; no Content ID monetization and no uploads | Music can be removed unless the release has Leave a Legacy |
| Your own ISRC | Yes, and it must be kept | Musician Plus and Ultimate |
| Your own UPC | Not described | Not on any plan |
| Artificial streaming fee | $10 per track deducted from your wallet | Not described |
| Store change alerts | Not described. Stream Check shows artificial activity on Spotify | Ultimate: Spotify and Apple Music |
Not on its list means the company's public store list doesn't name it. It doesn't prove the service can't deliver there.
What each is better for
Their prices are close enough that the deciding rows are elsewhere.
- Amuse suits you if you want SoundCloud on the list and music that stays up if your plan ends.
- DistroKid suits you if you want store alerts for Spotify and Apple Music on its top plan, or a one-time fee to keep a release up.
- Amuse lists Pandora as US only, so check any store that matters to you.
How Traxure helps
Traxure is not a distributor, and it works with whichever one you pick. If you have DistroKid Ultimate, Artist Profile Alerts already covers Spotify and Apple Music. Traxure checks your Spotify profile every 12 hours and your full catalog every day, and it also checks Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, TIDAL, SoundCloud and Pandora. It confirms a change with a second check, then emails you the before, the after and a note to your distributor ready to send. If you switch, Move Guard gives you your UPC, ISRCs and release details for the new distributor and tells you when it's safe to take the old upload down. Monitoring starts with a seven-day free trial.
Prices, store lists and terms were checked on each company's own pages on 2 November 2026. They change, so check before you decide.
Questions artists ask
Is Amuse free?
You can create an account and prepare a release free, but you need a paid plan to distribute it.
What happens if my Amuse plan ends?
Your music stays up and Amuse takes a 25% commission. YouTube Content ID monetization is removed and you can't upload.
Does Amuse deliver to SoundCloud?
Yes, SoundCloud is on Amuse's store page.
Sources
Traxure
Know the same day, not weeks later.
Traxure checks your releases on Spotify and other platforms around the clock, confirms a change before alerting you and tells you what to do next. Seven-day free trial.
Pricing
Plans from $12 a month.
7-day free trial on every plan. Cancel anytime.
- Artist $12/mo
- Manager $69/mo
- Label $199/mo