The short answer
LUCY may suit you if you want to release without paying anything first, pay month to month, and keep your music live if you stop paying.
- DistroKid may suit you if you release often, are happy to pay a year upfront in dollars, and want the lowest yearly price.
LUCY and DistroKid side by side
From each company's own website, checked on 5 October 2026. Prices change, so check before you sign up.
| What | LUCY | DistroKid |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest way to start | £0 a month (Free) | $24.99 a year (Musician) |
| Billing | Monthly, in British pounds (GBP). No contract. | Yearly, in US dollars. Musician Plus is $44.99 and Ultimate $89.99 a year. |
| Releases | Free: 1 a month. Pro and Label: unlimited. | Unlimited on every plan. |
| Royalties you keep | Free: you keep 70%. Pro and Label: you keep 100%. | 100% on every plan. |
| Artists | Free and Pro: one artist. Label: many artists in one account. | Musician: one artist or band. Ultimate: 5 to 100 artists. |
| If you stop paying | If you stop paying for Pro, your music stays live on Free and you keep 70%. | Releases may be removed from stores, unless you pay for Leave a Legacy on them. |
| Promotion tools | Smart links, pre-saves and a fan email list on every plan. Pro adds social posting with LUCY AI drafts, a content calendar and campaign stats. | HyperFollow pre-save pages and free promo tools. |
| Rights and extra income | Pro and Label: royalty splits, YouTube Content ID and 10 more delivery services. | Royalty splits on every plan. |
What it costs you
LUCY prices are in pounds and DistroKid's in dollars, as each shows them. We don't convert them.
One release this year
LUCY: Free: £0. You keep 70%.
DistroKid: Musician: $24.99 for the year. You keep 100%. Renew each year, or buy Leave a Legacy, to keep it in stores.
A release every month
LUCY: Free covers one release a month for £0 (you keep 70%). Pro is £8 a month, £96 for a year, and you keep 100%.
DistroKid: Musician: $24.99 a year for unlimited releases. You keep 100%.
Moving your music from DistroKid to LUCY
- 1In DistroKid, open each release. The UPC is beside the artwork, and each track's ISRC is to the right of its title. Copy them with the exact titles and artist names.
- 2In LUCY, open Studio and choose Import Releases. Search for the release and import it as a draft: LUCY fills in the title, the ISRC for each track and the UPC. Check every field against your old account.
- 3Use the same audio files you sent to DistroKid. A new mix needs a new ISRC.
- 4Send the release on LUCY and wait until it is live in the main stores.
- 5Then remove it in DistroKid. Keep paying DistroKid until then: its help pages say releases may be removed when the yearly fee lapses.
Stores try to keep your plays and playlist places when the ISRCs, titles, artist names and audio match exactly. Nobody can guarantee it, because the stores decide. DistroKid's own switching guide says the same, and adds that iTunes and Amazon reviews may be lost.
Sources (checked 5 October 2026)
- https://lucysounds.com/pricing
- https://distrokid.com/pricing/
- https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013648973-How-Much-Does-DistroKid-Cost
- https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013535494-What-Happens-If-I-Stop-Paying-the-Annual-Fee
- https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013648133-Switching-from-a-Different-Distribution-Company-to-DistroKid
Questions? Easy answers.
Will I lose my Spotify plays if I leave DistroKid?+
Not if the stores match the new release to the old one. Use the same ISRCs, titles, artist names and audio. Stores usually keep plays and playlists that way, but no distributor can promise it.
Do I need Leave a Legacy before I move?+
No. Leave a Legacy keeps releases in stores if your DistroKid payment lapses. If you are moving, keep your plan active until each release is live on LUCY, then remove it in DistroKid.
Is LUCY cheaper than DistroKid?+
To start, yes: LUCY Free is £0 and DistroKid starts at $24.99 a year. A year of Pro is £96, more than DistroKid's Musician plan. Which costs less depends on how often you release and what your songs earn.
Can I keep using DistroKid for older songs?+
Yes. Both are non-exclusive, so you can move one release at a time. Just never have the same release live from both for long.