You want a distributor that fits your release plan, budget, and workflow. Here is a straight
comparison of LANDR vs TuneCore, two of the leading online music distribution platforms.
In this article, we will go in-depth comparing the differences in pricing, features, royalties,
cover songs, social monetization, support and more, so you can make an informed decision
when choosing a distributor for your music.
Comparison Summary
● LANDR is more affordable for unlimited releases and keeps your music live if you
stop paying, with a 15% commission applied after cancellation.
● TuneCore uses a tiered plan system. Features and revenue terms change by tier.
● Both reach 150+ stores and streaming platforms.
● LANDR offers cover song mechanical licensing for a one-time fee of $15, with some territory limits, while TuneCore charges between $17 and $70 depending on your expected downloads.
● YouTube Content ID is included in LANDR Distribution Pro. TuneCore offers this
feature in its yearly plans.
Who to pick for your distribution
● Pick LANDR for low yearly cost, unlimited releases, and simple plans.
● Pick TuneCore if you want tiered options and add-ons inside one ecosystem, and you
are fine with comparing plan trade-offs.
Pricing and plans
LANDR
● Distribution Basic costs $23.99 USD per year. Unlimited releases. 100% royalties
while your plan is active.
● Distribution Pro costs $44.99 USD per year. Distribution Pro adds YouTube Content
ID, TikTok and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) monetization features.
● If you cancel, your releases stay live, and LANDR keeps 15% of future royalties until
you renew. This is unique among distribution subscriptions and is very helpful if
you pause billing.
● Pay-per-release is available at $9 USD per single, with a 15% commission model,
unlike their subscription plans, which pay out 100% of royalties.
TuneCore
● Plans start from $28.99 to $63.99 USD per year, with features and revenue terms
that scale up by tier.
● Rising Artist starts at $28.99 USD per year and pays 100% of royalties but offers
slower customer support times and leaner features. Breakout Artist at $39.99 per
year distributes to all major platforms and adds reporting and a cover art creator.
The professional plan adds more advanced features like promotional opportunities
and partnerships.
● TuneCore offers pay-per-release pricing, but it can be a bit confusing. It’s actually the
same cost as their yearly Rising plan: $28.99 USD/year for a single or $47.99
USD/year for an album.
We recommend LANDR Distribution for artists releasing more music per year as well as for
artists with very low release volumes, as their pricing tiers are more reasonable compared
to Tunecore.
Distribution reach and delivery
Coverage
● LANDR reaches more than 150 online stores and streaming platforms, including
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer. It also integrates
lyrics syncing through Musixmatch.
● TuneCore also lists 150+ outlets and covers all major platforms.
Speed and scheduling
● LANDR reviews releases within two to seven business days, depending on your plan
tier. You can schedule your music for release in advance. If you’re releasing a cover
song, expect an additional three business days for license processing.
● TuneCore delivery times vary by plan and by store. On average, releases go live
within 24 hours to five business days, depending on the platform and current queue.
Pre-scheduling is also available.
Metadata and codes
● Both support ISRC and UPC assignment. LANDR accepts your own ISRC at no extra
cost.
Social monetization
● LANDR includes YouTube Content ID, TikTok, and Meta monetization with the
Distribution Pro plan.
● TuneCore offers YouTube Content ID as an add-on for all of its plans.
Royalties and payouts
LANDR
● You keep 100 percent of royalties with an active subscription.
● Royalty splits are included with all plan levels.
● If your subscription expires, LANDR applies a 15% cut on future royalties and keeps
your tracks live. Renewing returns you to the full cut of royalties.
TuneCore
● With TuneCore’s new pricing plans, artists keep 100% of royalties. No free tier (New
Artist plan) is offered anymore since June 2025.
● Artist revenue splits are included with the three pricing plans.
● Upon cancellation, TuneCore will remove your music from digital stores and
streaming services.
LANDR’s free “keep your music live forever” feature is great for users who are worried about
their music being removed from streaming platforms if they cancel their subscription or if it
lapses.
Payment timing
● LANDR processes payouts after receiving funds from stores on a monthly basis,
usually in the first week of the month. Reporting and transfers follow normal store
cycles. It usually takes 90 days for LANDR to start receiving royalties from digital
stores.
● TuneCore pays quarterly, usually 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter.
However, the first payment could take 9-12 months to arrive.
● TuneCore uses Payoneer for payments, which adds additional fees for transactions.
Artists in a rush will find LANDR’s payment schedule offers a more regular stream of income
compared to TuneCore. LANDR direct payment also means that you do not have to pay
additional fees to Payoneer on your earnings.
YouTube Content ID
LANDR
● YouTube Content ID is included in Distribution Pro. LANDR collects this revenue
with a standard 20% commission, which aligns with common terms for Content ID
services.
TuneCore
● Official TuneCore support states that Content ID is an opt-in service tied to
distribution to YouTube Music. TuneCore takes 20%of Content ID revenue. You can
add this at release or later through the store manager.
Cover song licensing
LANDR
● LANDR offers cover song licensing for $15, paid only once per track.
● Licensing adds about three business days to processing. You need exact song data for
the original composition. LANDR relies on the HFA database for match checks, so be
sure to provide precise titles, writers, and the original performer.
● LANDR does not license cover songs for some territories. These include India,
Pakistan, Brazil, and Mexico.
TuneCore
● TuneCore also supports cover song licensing. A limited license costs $17 and is for
under 500 downloads. A standard license costs $70 and is for artists who expect to
sell more than 500 digital downloads.
● TuneCore licensing is provided by a third party partner called Royalty Solutions.
For users looking for low-cost entry for cover song licensing, LANDR offers a simpler and
more cost effective option compared to TuneCore.
Extra services and tools
LANDR
● LANDR offers built-in mastering powered by machine learning. You can master
inside the platform and get quality results without hiring a third party engineer.
LANDR Studio plans include unlimited MP3 mastering. Studio Pro offers unlimited
WAV and high-resolution mastering. There is also a desktop plugin for mastering in
your DAW.
● Sample library access is available, giving you access to a library of over 3 million
samples.
● LANDR Studio subscription plans include licenses for over 50 high quality VST
plugins, tools and DAWs.
● Studio plans also include courses and tutorials covering music production and
release lessons.
TuneCore
● Marketing add-ons include online radio airplay campaigns and an accelerator
program. Prices range from $12 to $250 for airplay services.
● Publishing administration is available. Setup fee is $75, commission is 15%, and the
minimum term is two years. This helps collect global publishing royalties you may
miss on your own.
Author’s note: The quality of paid promotion services is questionable and could get artists
in trouble with some streaming platforms. We recommend avoiding paying for paid
promotional services such as playlisting services and instead use built-in playlisting tools
like Spotify for Artists to pitch to Spotify playlists.
Support and service quality
LANDR
● LANDR provides support by email during business hours. The listed hours
are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern time. The support team requests
detailed info for faster help, such as track titles, UPC, and file specs when you
ask about a release.
● Response times are based on ticket volume. The contact hub lists categories
for faster routing.
● LANDR has a 4.2 star average rating on TrustPilot.
TuneCore
● Support by email only.
● User review data shows concerns. TuneCore has a 4.1 star rating on
TrustPilot but only a 2.1 star rating on Pissedconsumer.com – Only 13%
would recommend the service, based on that sample. The most common
complaints call out slow replies and poor case handling.
User interface and workflow
LANDR
● Modern dashboard. Guided release steps. Helpful tooltips. Easy metadata entry.
Integrated mastering next to release creation. This shortens the time between
upload and release.
● Musixmatch integration for lyrics delivery improves your presence on supported
platforms. This is set up through the LANDR flow.
● Easy scheduling of releases through the distribution dashboard.
TuneCore
● Full-featured dashboard with many options. Plan tiers affect which pages and tools
you see. You can pre schedule and manage releases in one place.
Which is better for you
Pick LANDR if you want:
● Low annual cost for unlimited releases
● Social monetization included in Pro for a low yearly cost
● Music stays live if you pause your plan, with a 15% cut until you renew
● Built in mastering, plugins and samples under one login
● Cover licensing at $15 with guided intake steps
Pick TuneCore if you want:
● Multiple plan tiers to match your stage and budget
● Add-ons like Content ID, publishing admin, and promo services
● Fast payouts through Payoneer but with additional fees tacked on
● Large store reach and a long track record
Cost comparisons by profile
Low volume artist
● One or two singles per year. LANDR Basic at $23.99 per year is cheaper than
TuneCore per-release pricing at $22.99 per single. If you use TuneCore, a low tier
plan may be better than per release pricing.
Active single strategy
● Monthly releases. LANDR Basic or Pro will likely cost less per year than TuneCore
per-release pricing. Compare TuneCore subscription tiers if you want their add ons.
Album focused
● One or two albums a year. LANDR’s flat annual price can be lower than annual album
fees on TuneCore if you use per release pricing. If you use a TuneCore plan with
unlimited releases, run the math with your catalog size.
Content ID heavy
● Both LANDR Distribution Pro & TuneCore include Content ID with a 20%
commission on that revenue stream.
Cover song heavy
● LANDR licensing is simple and low-cost at $15 per track, but it excludes some
territories. TuneCore offers licensing at $17 to $70 through a third-party provider
which might lead to more accounts and hassle.
Risks and checks before you pick
● Confirm current plan prices and royalty terms on TuneCore. Multiple sources show
different numbers. Do not rely on old info.
● Check which plan tier includes the features you need. Content ID, splits, and social
monetization may sit behind add-ons or higher tiers.
● Review support quality if your releases are time sensitive. TuneCore’s public ratings
are low on pissedconsumer.com. LANDR lists support hours and contact flow, but
response time still depends on volume with any provider.
● If you cancel, know the outcome. LANDR keeps your music live with a 15% cut until
you renew. Some distributors remove releases when you stop paying. This policy
matters for cash flow dips.
Bottom line
Pick the service that fits your release pace, add-on needs, and comfort with support. LANDR
is simple and cost effective for unlimited releases, with extras like mastering inside one
login. TuneCore has more plan paths and add-ons. That helps if you want an all-in-one store
with publishing admin and promo tools. For Content ID and cover songs, both platforms
work. The right choice depends on your release strategy and your must-have features.