Comparison · UnitedMasters alternative
TrackRiot vs UnitedMasters
UnitedMasters has a free tier — but it takes 10% of your royalties. Here's how TrackRiot's flat-fee, keep-everything model compares.
The short answer
UnitedMasters Free lets you distribute at no upfront cost, but takes 10% of your streaming royalties forever. The paid Select tier ($5/month) drops that to 0% but has release limits. Their real focus is sync licensing and brand deals via the SelectPro tier.
TrackRiot is $29.99/year flat, unlimited releases, 100% royalties, plus AI cover art, beat licensing, promo, and an AI manager. For any artist streaming more than a few thousand times a month, TrackRiot is dramatically cheaper.
TrackRiot vs UnitedMasters: feature comparison
| Feature | TrackRiot | UnitedMasters |
|---|---|---|
| Starting annual price | $29.99 | Free (10% cut) |
| Keep 100% of royalties | Paid tier only | |
| Unlimited releases | Paid tier only | |
| AI cover art included | ||
| Beat marketplace built in | ||
| Promo tools included | Add-on | |
| AI manager | ||
| Focus | Full-stack artist workspace | Sync & brand deals |
The 10% math
10% sounds small until you run the numbers. At 100k streams a month (~$400 in royalties) UnitedMasters Free takes ~$40/month, or $480/year — sixteen times TrackRiot's annual fee. The "free" tier is only cheap for artists with almost no streams.
Different products for different artists
UnitedMasters is really a sync-licensing and brand-partnership marketplace with distribution attached. TrackRiot is a distribution + release + growth workspace. If you want NBA deals and ad placements, UnitedMasters. If you want a modern self-serve artist toolkit, TrackRiot.
Who should pick which
Stick with UnitedMasters if sync licensing and brand partnerships are the core of your strategy and you're happy with their royalty terms.
Switch to TrackRiot if you want to keep 100% of royalties, unlimited releases, and a full artist toolkit for one flat fee.
Frequently asked questions
Does UnitedMasters really take 10%?
Yes, on the free tier. The paid Select tier lets you keep 100% but has release caps and a monthly fee.
Is UnitedMasters free actually free?
There's no upfront fee, but they take a percentage of every royalty payout. For active artists, TrackRiot's flat annual fee ends up much cheaper.
Can I move a catalog from UnitedMasters?
Yes. Take your releases down and re-upload via TrackRiot. Your ISRC and stream history stay with each song.
Try TrackRiot free
Unlimited releases, AI cover art, beat marketplace, and promo — one flat annual fee.