DistroKid and UnitedMasters both offer unlimited distribution and 100% streaming royalty retention on their standard paid artist plans.

But they feel like very different products.

DistroKid

DistroKid starts at $24.99 per year in the US.

Its proposition revolves heavily around efficient DIY distribution, unlimited uploads and a collection of artist utilities.

UnitedMasters

UnitedMasters currently offers DEBUT+ for $19.99 per year and SELECT for $59.99 per year.

Both allow unlimited releases and 100% streaming royalty retention.

SELECT adds access to exclusive brand and sync opportunities, although being eligible for opportunities doesn’t guarantee placement.

Where DistroKid is stronger

DistroKid’s core distribution product is extremely mature.

For artists who simply want to upload large amounts of music efficiently, it remains appealing.

Where UnitedMasters is interesting

UnitedMasters positions itself much more heavily around artist development, brand partnerships and sync.

For an artist trying to build a wider career rather than simply put music into stores, those opportunities can be attractive.

The bigger question

Both platforms increasingly want to become ecosystems rather than basic distributors.

That’s good for artists.

But it also means musicians should evaluate which ecosystem they’ll actually use.

Paying for tools you never touch has little value.

What about completely free distribution?

Neither DistroKid nor UnitedMasters’ current mainstream DIY plans are free.

RouteNote Free offers another model: distribute without an upfront or annual charge while retaining 85% of net revenue.

That can be particularly useful when you’re still testing whether an artist project will generate meaningful income.

The winner therefore depends less on brand recognition and more on where you are in your career.