Last tested: June 2026

TuneCore vs CD Baby (2026) — Subscription vs One-Time, Compared

Bottom line up front

TuneCore uses subscription tiers but takes 0% of streaming royalties and offers strong publishing administration. CD Baby charges once per release (no renewal) but keeps ~9% of royalties. Pick by cash-flow: ongoing fee + keep-everything, or pay-once + give-up-a-slice.

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TuneCore vs CD Baby — compared

FeatureTuneCoreCD Baby
Pricing modelSubscription tiersOne-time per release
Royalty cut0% on paid plans~9% of streaming
Stays live without renewal
Publishing administrationYes (20% cut)Yes
Sync licensingYesYes
Best forActive releasers wanting 0% cutSet-and-forget catalog

Verified June 2026. Pricing & features change — check each vendor's own page for the latest. "—" = not a standard feature to our knowledge.

Some links to third-party tools are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our honest, dated picks.

The verdict

Want 0% royalty cut + publishing admin → TuneCore. Want a one-time fee and no renewals → CD Baby.

FAQ

Does TuneCore or CD Baby keep more of my money?

On streaming royalties, TuneCore keeps 0% (paid plans) while CD Baby keeps ~9%. But TuneCore charges an ongoing subscription, whereas CD Baby is a one-time fee per release. Model your release volume to decide.

Which is better for publishing royalties?

Both offer publishing administration. TuneCore's is well-established (it takes ~20% of publishing collected). Compare current terms before enrolling.

Sources: Ari's Take — distribution comparison 2026

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