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The best music distributor for an Indian artist in 2026 depends on three things: whether you want to pay in rupees or dollars, how often you release, and whether you want your music to stay live forever or only while you keep paying. This guide compares the four distributors Indian artists ask about most — DistroKid, Grootin, TuneCore, and CD Baby — on price, royalty splits, platform reach, and support, and tells you plainly which one fits which kind of artist.
If you're brand new to all this, start with our guide to how music distribution works in India and then come back here to choose a service.
The comparison at a glance
Prices are for 2026. Competitor prices are in US dollars (approximate rupee conversion at ₹85/$1 — Indian cards add a small forex fee on dollar charges).
| Feature | DistroKid | Grootin | TuneCore | CD Baby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billing currency | USD | INR (₹) | USD | USD |
| Cheapest way in | $24.99/yr (≈₹2,125) | Free (Rising), or ₹1,299/yr unlimited (Pro) | $9.99/yr per single (≈₹850) | $9.99 one-time (≈₹850) |
| Album cost | Included | Included, or ₹499 one-time (Life-Lock) | $29.99 yr1 / $49.99 renewal | $14.99 one-time (≈₹1,275) |
| Pay once or yearly? | Yearly (music down if you stop*) | Annual — music stays live even if you cancel | Yearly | Pay once, stays up |
| Artist keeps | 100% | 80–95% (by plan) | 100% of distribution | 91% (9% kept forever) |
| Platforms | 150+ | 150+ | 150+ | 150+ |
| Support | WhatsApp + email | |||
| Catalog migration tool | No | Yes | No | No |
*DistroKid music comes down if you stop paying unless you buy "Leave a Legacy" ($29/single, $49/album).
How we compared them
We picked the five things that actually change how much money lands in your bank account and how much hassle you take on: what it really costs in rupees, whether your music stays up if you stop paying, how much of your royalties you keep, how you reach support, and whether moving your existing catalog in is easy.
The rupee problem nobody mentions
DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby all bill in US dollars. That means two hidden costs for an Indian artist. First, your bank adds a foreign transaction fee — usually 2% to 3.5% — on every charge. Second, the dollar-rupee rate moves, so your renewal can quietly cost more next year even if the price never changed. Paying in rupees removes both problems. That's the main reason a local distributor like Grootin exists.
DistroKid — best for artists who release a lot
DistroKid charges a flat yearly fee and lets you upload unlimited songs while subscribed — $24.99/year (≈₹2,125) up to $89.99/year for multiple artists. You keep 100% of royalties. The catch: it's a subscription, not a purchase. Stop paying and your music comes down, unless you buy "Leave a Legacy." Best for: artists who release many tracks a year and will keep paying yearly in USD.
TuneCore — best for artists who also want publishing royalties collected
TuneCore lets you pay per release ($9.99/yr single; $29.99 then $49.99 album) or take an unlimited plan ($24.99–$49.99/yr). You keep 100% of distribution royalties. Its real edge is publishing administration — but it takes 20% of what it collects there, and 50% on sync. Best for: artists who want distribution and publishing-royalty collection in one place.
CD Baby — best for artists who want to pay once and forget it
CD Baby charges a one-time fee — $9.99 single (≈₹850), $14.99 album (≈₹1,275) — with no annual fees, and your music stays live indefinitely. The trade-off is a permanent 9% commission on royalties. Best for: artists who release occasionally and never want to think about renewals.
Grootin — best for Indian artists who want rupee pricing and local support
Grootin is built for the Indian artist. You pay in rupees, so there's no forex fee and no exchange-rate surprise at renewal. Plans run from a free tier (Rising — 1 release a year, 80% royalties) to ₹1,299/year for unlimited releases (Pro, 90%) and ₹2,999/year (Infinity, 95% plus catalog migration and editorial playlist pitching). There's also a one-time ₹499 Life-Lock option that keeps a release live forever. Crucially, your music stays live on every platform even if you cancel — unlike a pure subscription. Two more things competitors don't offer: WhatsApp support in your time zone, and a built-in catalog migration tool that moves your existing music over from DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby without re-uploading by hand. Best for: Indian artists who want rupee billing, local support, and an easy switch. See full plans.
How to choose in 30 seconds
- You release constantly and don't mind yearly USD bills → DistroKid.
- You want your songwriting royalties collected too → TuneCore.
- You'd rather pay once and never renew → CD Baby.
- You're an Indian artist who wants rupee pricing and WhatsApp support → Grootin.
There's no single "best" — only the best for how you release. Once you've chosen, our step-by-step Spotify release guide walks you through the upload.
Already on another distributor? Switching is easier than you think
You don't have to re-upload your whole catalog by hand. Grootin's catalog migration tool connects to your existing releases and moves them over in three steps — ISRCs and release dates included.