# Spotify for Artists vs DistroKid

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DistroKid at 64% against Spotify for Artists's 18%. DistroKid also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.9) and ratings volume (27K vs 1.8K). Spotify for Artists's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DistroKid sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. Spotify for Artists asks for nothing beyond the download.

DistroKid holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DistroKid has 27K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of Spotify for Artists's written reviews are positive against 64% of DistroKid's.

Spotify for Artists ships an update fortnightly, DistroKid every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spotify for Artists | DistroKid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spotify-for-artists/id1222021797/reviews) | **[4.9 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distrokid/id1548832265/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K | **27K** |
| Positive reviews | 18.2% of reviews | **64.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #142 | **#15** |
| Size | 53 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spotify](https://appshunter.io/developer/324684583) | [DistroKid Holdings, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1533685484) |

## What reviewers say

### Spotify for Artists

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spotify-for-artists/id1222021797)

**Currently charting:** #142 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

This official app provides artists and their teams with free tools to grow their fanbase and manage their music business on Spotify. Understand your audience, update your profile, and track your music's performance in real-time from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Audience insights, Real-time listener stats, Profile management, Playlist and follower milestones, Canvas visuals for tracks, Artist roster management

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 📊 Helpful analytics
- 🎨 Customizable profile
- 🚀 Smooth performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔒 Login issues
- 📉 Inaccurate or missing data
- 🚫 Lack of features for smaller artists

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to update profile images and bio
- App crashing or not loading
- Streams and listener counts not updating properly
- Forced updates requiring newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to see all-time stream counts for songs under 1,000 streams
- More granular date range options for analytics
- Integration with other streaming platforms
- Tools for interacting with fans


### DistroKid

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distrokid/id1548832265)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Grossing · Music, #128 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

This app simplifies music distribution, allowing artists to upload unlimited songs to over 150 streaming platforms. Artists retain 100% of their earnings and can manage their official artist accounts, track stats, and create promotional materials on the go.

**Highlights:** Unlimited music uploads, 100% earnings retention, Access to official artist accounts, Create promo cards, Real-time streaming stats, Seamless earnings withdrawal

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Musician  Plan | $24.99 | per year |
| Musician Plus | $44.99 | per year |
| Ultimate - 5 | $89.99 | per year |
| Ultimate - 10 | $157.99 | per year |
| Ultimate - 20 | $269.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick distribution
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Affordable pricing
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Withdrawal issues
- 🐛 Accounts being deleted without notice
- 🐛 Delayed customer support response
- 💰 Expensive additional features
- 🐛 Inability to edit artist profiles

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription plan issues
- Inability to log in or access account
- Incorrect file uploads
- Unresponsive customer support

**Requested features**

- Add draft option for uploads
- Expand genre options
- Improve credit management during uploads
- Reevaluate pricing structure
- Integrate music video distribution


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spotify for Artists free?

Spotify for Artists is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DistroKid free?

DistroKid is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Spotify for Artists or DistroKid?

DistroKid is rated higher. Spotify for Artists averages 2.9 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while DistroKid averages 4.9 from 27K ratings.

### Do Spotify for Artists or DistroKid have ads?

Neither Spotify for Artists nor DistroKid shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spotify for Artists or DistroKid?

Spotify for Artists ships an update fortnightly, and DistroKid every 5 weeks. Most recently, Spotify for Artists was updated on November 1, 2026 and DistroKid on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Spotify for Artists or DistroKid?

Spotify for Artists currently peaks at #142 in the App Store charts, and DistroKid at #15. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*