# DistroKid vs BMI Online Services

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DistroKid at 64% against BMI Online Services's 18%. DistroKid also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.7) and ratings volume (27K vs 50). BMI Online Services's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

DistroKid holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DistroKid has 27K ratings behind it against 50, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of DistroKid's written reviews are positive against 18% of BMI Online Services's.

DistroKid ships an update every 5 weeks, BMI Online Services every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DistroKid | BMI Online Services |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distrokid/id1548832265/reviews)** | [2.7 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bmi-online-services/id6450683410/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 50 |
| Positive reviews | **64.1% of reviews** | 17.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#16** | — |
| Size | 106 MB | 256 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DistroKid Holdings, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1533685484) | [Broadcast Music, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/417482128) |

## What reviewers say

### DistroKid

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

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Grossing · Music, #117 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


### BMI Online Services

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bmi-online-services/id6450683410)

Manage your BMI songwriter, composer, or music publisher account on the go. View registered songs, track royalties, update your information, and access career advice. Streamlined tools help you manage your catalog and ensure timely payments.

**Highlights:** View royalty distributions and top earning songs, Manage catalog of musical works, Register live music performances, Update contact and direct deposit information, Access past royalty statements and tax documents, Read career tips and advice articles

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DistroKid free?

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

### Is BMI Online Services free?

BMI Online Services is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DistroKid or BMI Online Services?

DistroKid is rated higher. DistroKid averages 4.9 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while BMI Online Services averages 2.7 from 50 ratings.

### Do DistroKid or BMI Online Services have ads?

Neither DistroKid nor BMI Online Services shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DistroKid or BMI Online Services?

DistroKid ships an update every 5 weeks, and BMI Online Services every 3 weeks. Most recently, DistroKid was updated on October 31, 2026 and BMI Online Services on October 30, 2026.

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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.*