When comparing DistroKid vs. SoundCloud, SoundCloud stands out as the all-in-one music platform for independent artists who want to build an audience while distributing their music. While DistroKid mainly focuses on music distribution, SoundCloud combines distribution, streaming, fan engagement, discovery tools, and monetization features in one platform, making it ideal for creators who want more direct interaction with listeners.

SoundCloud has more than 175 million users and allows artists to upload music directly, build engagement through comments and reposts, and distribute to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and 60+ platforms through Artist Pro. DistroKid is used by 4+ million artists and distributes music to 150+ streaming platforms, but it does not include the same built-in community features where listeners can comment on tracks, repost songs, or interact directly with artists.

This guide is published by SoundCloud. We compare our platform alongside Distrokid to help you make an informed choice.

Should artists choose SoundCloud or DistroKid?

Choose SoundCloud if you want distribution, fan engagement, audience insights, and monetization in one platform. Choose DistroKid if your main goal is getting music onto streaming services through a distributor. The key difference is that SoundCloud combines audience growth with distribution, while DistroKid focuses primarily on music delivery to DSPs.

What features do DistroKid and SoundCloud offer?

SoundCloud works better when artists need both release tools and audience feedback. Artists can upload directly, test tracks, build early traction through comments and reposts, and use Artist Pro for distribution and monetization.

DistroKid works when the main goal is getting songs delivered to stores quickly. It is built around music distribution instead of listener engagement.

How much does each platform cost?

DistroKid and SoundCloud use different pricing models. DistroKid starts at a lower annual price and offers multiple subscription tiers, while some features are available as paid add-ons. SoundCloud offers free and paid creator plans, with Artist Pro combining distribution, monetization, audience insights, and creator tools under one annual subscription.

DistroKid pricing

DistroKid offers:

• Musician plan: $24.99/year 
• Musician Plus: $44.99/year
• Ultimate: Starts at $89.99/year

These plans focus on unlimited uploads and delivery to streaming services, with higher tiers adding more release controls such as custom release dates and expanded artist options. DistroKid also offers several paid add-ons that can increase the overall cost over time.

• Social Media Pack costs $4.95 per single per year or $14.95 per album per year, plus 20% of ad revenue.
• Cover song licensing costs $12 per cover song per year.

• Leave a Legacy, which costs $29 per single or $49 per album. This keeps a release live if the artist later cancels their DistroKid membership, but it must be added per release, not once for the whole catalog.

SoundCloud pricing

SoundCloud has three main creator tiers: Basic, Artist, and Artist Pro.

• The free plan works for direct uploads, but it does not include distribution or monetization.
• The Artist plan costs $3.25/month, billed yearly at $39, and includes limited access to creator tools. It also offers 2 tracks per month for promotion, playlisting, distribution, and monetization.
• Artist Pro costs $8.25/month, billed yearly at $99, and unlocks unlimited uploads, unlimited distribution and monetization, advanced audience stats, the comments hub, track replacement, and three AI mastering credits per month. 

Which is the best music distribution platform for beginner artists?

There is no one best music distribution service for beginners, as both serve different purposes. DistroKid works for beginners who already know they only need delivery to DSPs. SoundCloud helps beginner artists who need feedback, community, and simple release testing. 

Why DistroKid works for beginners

DistroKid works for beginners who have finished tracks, artwork, metadata, and a release plan ready. It is useful when the goal is simple: get music onto Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, and other DSPs.

The gap is audience building. After delivery, growth depends on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, playlists, social promotion, and the artist’s own marketing.

Why SoundCloud works for beginners

SoundCloud is useful for beginner artists who want to build an audience before stepping into distribution. The platform allows artists to test music, gather listener feedback, and understand fan behavior before expanding to DSPs.

SoundCloud helps beginners because it offers:

• Direct uploads without needing a distributor first
• Community feedback through comments and reposts
• A place to test demos, singles, remixes, and early versions
• Fan behavior data before wider promotion
• Distribution through Artist Pro when the artist is ready to scale

Which platform is better for artist growth?

SoundCloud supports artist growth through fan engagement, analytics, community discovery, and Fan-Powered Royalties. DistroKid offers release tools that help artists manage DSP-focused distribution and promotion.

DistroKid for artist growth

DistroKid supports growth indirectly by distributing music to major streaming services. The platform focuses on release management and promotional tools that help artists reach DSPs, where discovery happens through algorithms, playlists, social media, and external marketing.

Growth-focused features include:

• Unlimited uploads on paid plans
• Royalty splits for collaborators
• HyperFollow pages for pre-saves and release links
• Daily streaming stats on Musician Plus
• Custom release and preorder dates
• Synced lyrics support
• Playlist contact info on Ultimate plans

DistroKid is used by 4+ million independent artists worldwide and supports large-scale release workflows for streaming platforms.

SoundCloud for artist growth

SoundCloud connects artist growth directly to listener interaction on the same platform. Comments, reposts, likes, follows, repeat listening, shares, playlists, and algorithm-driven recommendations help artists understand which tracks are gaining momentum and attracting new listeners.

Artist Pro adds more growth tools around this activity, including:

• 400% more listens on average through SoundCloud’s algorithm and featured playlists
• Amplify recommendations to around 100 matched listeners, then up to 1,000 more if engagement performs well
• Up to 30 Amplify submissions per day for eligible tracks
• Fan-Powered Royalties that route fan subscription and ad revenue to the artists they actually listen to

Which platform is better for long-term artist careers?

Long-term career growth depends on what an artist needs after the first few releases: catalog continuity, fan retention, release flexibility, and predictable costs as the catalog grows.

DistroKid for long-term artist careers

DistroKid fits artists who prefer a distributor-first workflow and plan to manage audience growth, fan engagement, and promotion outside their distribution service. Its tools are built around release delivery, catalog management, and royalty collection rather than audience building.

For larger catalogs, artists should factor in optional add-ons such as Social Media Pack, cover licensing, and Leave a Legacy when evaluating long-term costs.

SoundCloud for long-term artist careers 

SoundCloud fits artists who want their catalog to live inside an active fan environment. New releases, older tracks, and fan activity remain connected to the same artist profile, which makes it easier to maintain direct fan engagement over time.

Artist Pro also includes track replacement, scheduled releases, advanced stats, unlimited uploads, distribution, and monetization. This helps artists keep improving their catalog without rebuilding engagement from scratch.

How do artists make money on each platform?

DistroKid and SoundCloud both help artists earn royalties from distributed music, but their monetization models differ. DistroKid focuses on collecting earnings from DSPs after distribution, while SoundCloud combines distribution royalties with Fan-Powered Royalties and fan monetization tools on its own platform.

DistroKid monetization

DistroKid monetization is based on DSP payouts after music is distributed to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and YouTube Music. Artists keep 100% of earnings sent by stores, while payout rates still depend on each DSP’s royalty model.

DistroKid also offers paid monetization add-ons. Its Social Media Pack monetizes music used on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, but pricing is charged per release: $4.95 per single per year or $14.95 per album per year, plus 20% of ad revenue.

SoundCloud monetization

SoundCloud monetization includes multiple revenue streams, such as distribution royalties from DSPs and Fan-Powered Royalties. Fan-Powered Royalties routes fan subscription and ad revenue to the artists they actually stream, while Artist Pro also collects earnings from music distributed to other streaming platforms.

SoundCloud also includes fan support, allowing listeners to contribute directly to artists. Artists keep 100% of fan contributions after payment processing fees, with payouts sent once the balance reaches $10.

Who should choose SoundCloud over DistroKid?

Artists should choose SoundCloud over DistroKid if they want distribution, monetization, and community in one artist workflow.

Choose SoundCloud if you:

• Want to distribute music and build an audience from the same platform
• Already use SoundCloud to share music and engage with listeners
• Release frequently and want feedback before investing in larger campaigns
• Want to earn from both DSP royalties and Fan-Powered Royalties on SoundCloud
• Prefer keeping 100% royalties from distributed releases
• Want YouTube Content ID included through SoundCloud artist tools
• Value direct fan engagement, audience insights, and listener data
• Need unlimited uploads, Distribution, Monetization, and creator tools through Artist Pro
• Want fewer tools to manage across releases, promotion, and Monetization

Final thoughts

SoundCloud and DistroKid solve different problems for artists. SoundCloud combines Distribution, Monetization, fan engagement, audience insights, and Fan-Powered Royalties in one platform, while DistroKid focuses primarily on music distribution and DSP delivery.

DistroKid fits artists who mainly want low-cost release delivery to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, and other streaming platforms. SoundCloud fits artists who want to upload music, build fan interaction, track listener behavior, monetize streams, and distribute releases from the same workflow.

Switch to Artist Pro if you want to manage uploads, fan interaction, and Distribution without relying on separate tools.