Comparison · DistroKid alternative
TrackRiot vs DistroKid
DistroKid is cheap and famous. But if you need cover art, beat licensing, promo, or an AI manager, you buy each one separately. Here's how TrackRiot stacks up as a full-stack alternative.
The short answer
DistroKid is the cheapest way to move a finished track onto Spotify — $22.99/year for unlimited uploads. Everything beyond upload (cover art, publishing admin, YouTube ID, promo) is a paid add-on that stacks on top of the base fee.
TrackRiot is $29.99/year and bundles distribution with AI cover art, beat marketplace, songwriting tools, promo, and an AI manager. If you use even two of DistroKid's paid add-ons, TrackRiot ends up cheaper — and everything lives in one workspace.
TrackRiot vs DistroKid: feature comparison
| Feature | TrackRiot | DistroKid |
|---|---|---|
| Starting annual price | $29.99 | $22.99 |
| Unlimited releases | ||
| Keep 100% of royalties | ||
| AI cover art included | ||
| Beat marketplace built in | ||
| Playlist & promo tools included | Add-on | |
| AI manager | ||
| Songwriting & studio tools | ||
| Single flat fee (no upsells) |
Pricing: DistroKid stacks add-ons, TrackRiot bundles
DistroKid's base plan is $22.99/year, but the moment you need extras the price climbs: label features, cover art, YouTube Content ID, lyric publishing, and Shazam boost are all add-ons. Two or three add-ons and you're at TrackRiot's price without any of the extras.
TrackRiot is $29.99/year flat — cover art, beat licensing, promo, songwriting, and the AI manager are all included.
What you actually get past the upload
DistroKid is a pure upload pipe. TrackRiot ships six tools under one login: distribution, RiotCover (AI cover art), TuneZeo + NationOfBeats (beat search and licensing), SonicStu (songwriting), MediaFamous (promo), and an AI manager that scores your career and suggests next steps.
Who should pick which
Stick with DistroKid if you already have your cover art, promo plan, and beats sorted, and you just want the cheapest upload pipe.
Switch to TrackRiot if you're tired of juggling five tools, or if you're already paying for DistroKid + cover art + promo separately.
Frequently asked questions
Is TrackRiot cheaper than DistroKid?
Not on the base plan — DistroKid starts at $22.99/year vs TrackRiot at $29.99/year. But TrackRiot bundles cover art, promo, and beat licensing that cost extra on DistroKid, so the total cost is lower for most active artists.
Can I move my catalog from DistroKid to TrackRiot?
Yes. Take your releases down on DistroKid and re-upload on TrackRiot. Your ISRCs and streaming history stay with the songs.
Does TrackRiot take a cut of royalties?
No — like DistroKid, you keep 100% of your streaming royalties. TrackRiot's revenue is the flat annual fee.
Try TrackRiot free
Unlimited releases, AI cover art, beat marketplace, and promo — one flat annual fee.