Music distribution

SoundCloud distribution: what it costs and the limits

SoundCloud distribution means paying for one of two plans: Artist at $39 a year or Artist Pro at $99 a year. Both send your music to Spotify, Apple Music and the other big services and keep none of your royalties, but the free SoundCloud account doesn’t distribute at all. Whether it’s good value depends on how much you release, so compare it in the music distribution calculator.

SoundCloud

Plan Yearly fee Per release Royalty cut YouTube Content ID Limits
Artist $39 None None Included 24 releases a year
Artist Pro $99 None None Included No limits

Releases are removed if you stop paying. The Artist plan allows 2 tracks a month and is only offered in some countries. Prices checked 27th October 2026.

Artist or Artist Pro

  • Artist: distributes up to two tracks a month, 24 a year. Unused credits don’t roll over, and an EP uses one per track. No royalty splits. Only sold in some countries.
  • Artist Pro: unlimited distribution, royalty splits, more mastering credits, priority support and unlimited uploads to SoundCloud itself.

Both keep 0% of your distribution royalties and include YouTube Content ID.

The catches

  • Cancel and your music comes down from other platforms, and stops earning, 30 days after the subscription ends. It’s restored if you subscribe again.
  • Two tracks a month is tight. Drop a five-track EP on the Artist plan and you’ve used more than two months of credits.
  • Payout fees. Each withdrawal carries a processing fee.
  • No splits on Artist, so bands paying several members need Artist Pro.
  • Availability. The Artist plan isn’t offered everywhere.

SoundCloud or a dedicated distributor

SoundCloud makes sense if you already pay for Artist Pro to upload more to SoundCloud itself; distribution then comes with it. If you’d only be paying for distribution, a dedicated distributor is usually cheaper. Our DistroKid pricing page and DistroKid alternatives guide show the options, and the rest of our music distribution guides cover more.

Common questions

Does SoundCloud distribute to Spotify?

Yes, on the Artist and Artist Pro plans. The free plan doesn’t distribute anywhere. Our guide on how to upload music to Spotify covers every route.

Is SoundCloud distribution free?

No. You need a paid Artist or Artist Pro plan.

Does SoundCloud take a cut of my royalties?

Not from distribution: it keeps 0%. You do pay a fee each time you cash out.

What happens if I cancel?

Your releases are taken down from other platforms 30 days after your subscription ends.