Choosing a music distributor is one of the most important decisions you'll make as an independent artist. Two platforms that frequently come up in conversations are ALERA and DistroKid.
Both get your music to streaming platforms, but they take fundamentally different approaches. This comparison will help you understand which one fits your needs, goals, and budget.
We're ALERA, so we have a stake in this comparison. We've done our best to be objective and present factual information about both platforms. We encourage you to verify current pricing and features directly with each service.
Quick Comparison Overview
| Feature | ALERA | DistroKid |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9.99/month | $22.99/year |
| Royalty Split | 100% to artist | 100% to artist |
| Unlimited Releases | Yes (Plus tier) | Yes |
| Store Coverage | 150+ stores | 150+ stores |
| Release Speed | Next-day (Pro) | Standard delivery |
| Automated Splits | Included | Extra fee |
| Smart Bio/Link-in-Bio | Included | Not available |
| Fan CRM | Included | Not available |
| Service Exchange | Included | Not available |
| Music Kept After Cancellation | Yes | Extra fee required |
Pricing Breakdown
ALERA Pricing
- Free: Smart Bio, Basic Fan CRM, Private Music Library
- Plus ($9.99/month): Unlimited releases, 100% royalties, Analytics, ALERA Exchange
- Pro ($24.99/month): Full suite, next-day releases, advanced analytics, Fan Zone, merch store, priority support
- Label: Custom pricing for labels and management companies
DistroKid Pricing
- Musician ($22.99/year): 1 artist, unlimited releases
- Musician Plus ($39.99/year): 2 artists, customizable release dates
- Label ($79.99/year): Up to 5 artists, additional features
Key pricing differences:
- DistroKid uses annual billing; ALERA offers monthly flexibility
- DistroKid's base plan is cheaper annually, but many features require add-on fees
- ALERA includes features that cost extra on DistroKid (splits, release speed, etc.)
Feature Deep Dive
Distribution & Release Speed
Both platforms deliver to 150+ stores including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Amazon, and more.
ALERA Pro offers next-day delivery for urgent releases—valuable when timing matters (think trending moments or social media virality). Standard DistroKid delivery typically takes several days.
Royalty Splits (Paying Collaborators)
Collaborating with producers, songwriters, or featured artists? You'll need to split royalties.
- ALERA: Automated royalty splits included at no extra cost. Set percentages, and collaborators get paid directly.
- DistroKid: Splits available but require an add-on fee. This adds up if you collaborate frequently.
Analytics & Data
Understanding your audience is crucial for growth.
- ALERA: Unified analytics dashboard that aggregates data from streaming, social media, and sales. See your entire career in one view.
- DistroKid: Basic streaming analytics with stats for some platforms.
Beyond Distribution: The Ecosystem
This is where the platforms diverge significantly.
ALERA's Artist Cockpit includes:
- Smart Bio: A dynamic link-in-bio page that updates automatically with new releases. Replaces Linktree.
- Fan CRM: Capture and manage fan data—emails, locations, purchase history. Own your audience.
- Service Exchange: Use your future royalties as currency to pay for professional services (mixing, mastering, PR) without upfront cash.
- Merch Store (Pro): Sell merchandise directly through your Smart Bio.
- Fan Tips & Subscriptions (Pro): Let fans support you directly.
DistroKid focuses primarily on distribution. While it does the core job well, you'll need separate tools for link-in-bio (Linktree), fan engagement (Mailchimp/Beehiiv), and monetization (Shopify/Bandcamp).
What Happens If You Cancel?
This is important and often overlooked.
- ALERA: Your music stays in stores even if you cancel or downgrade.
- DistroKid: Standard plan removes music if you don't renew. You need to pay an extra "Leave a Legacy" fee to keep music live after cancellation.
"Your music is your legacy. Understanding what happens to your catalog if you stop paying is critical before choosing a distributor."
Customer Support
When something goes wrong with a release, responsive support matters.
- ALERA: Priority support for Pro users; dedicated account managers for Label tier
- DistroKid: Email support; response times can vary
Both platforms have help centers and documentation, but for time-sensitive issues (like a release going live incorrectly), having faster access to support can save your release.
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose ALERA if you:
- Want an all-in-one platform (distribution + tools + monetization)
- Collaborate frequently and need included royalty splits
- Value having your Smart Bio and Fan CRM in one place
- Want to use future royalties to access services (Service Exchange)
- Prefer monthly billing flexibility
- Want your music to stay up even if you pause your subscription
Choose DistroKid if you:
- Want the lowest possible annual cost for basic distribution
- Already have separate tools for fan engagement, link-in-bio, and merch
- Primarily need simple, straightforward distribution
- Don't collaborate often (avoiding split fees)
- Prefer to pay annually rather than monthly
The Bottom Line
Both ALERA and DistroKid are legitimate platforms that will get your music to streaming services.
DistroKid excels at being a simple, affordable distribution pipe. If all you need is to upload and go live, it does that well at a low annual cost.
ALERA takes a different approach—building an integrated ecosystem where distribution is just one part. The Artist Cockpit consolidates tools that would otherwise require multiple subscriptions: distribution, link-in-bio, fan management, analytics, and the unique Service Exchange.
The right choice depends on where you are in your career and how you want to manage your music business. If you want everything in one place and value features beyond basic distribution, ALERA is built for that. If you prefer piecing together best-in-class individual tools and want minimal cost, DistroKid might fit better.
Try ALERA Free
Not sure yet? ALERA's free tier lets you explore the Smart Bio and Fan CRM without commitment. When you're ready to distribute, upgrade to Plus or Pro and experience the full Artist Cockpit.