Both let you distribute music through an annual fee, but they organize artists, reviews, add-on services and catalog continuity differently. This comparison uses official information to help you choose based on how you operate.
Information reviewed on July 22, 2026. Prices and terms may change.
Choose UXEM when
You manage up to 3, 25, or multiple artists.
You prefer paying in your local currency (COP, USD, or EUR depending on your country).
You need native Spanish support with defined timelines.
You value manual review and operational traceability.
You need YouTube Content ID included in Studio or PRO for eligible content.
Consider DistroKid when
You mainly manage one artist.
You prioritize a lower starting price in USD.
You prefer a highly self-service operation.
You need generally shorter initial delivery times.
You find their ecosystem of extras and optional tools useful.
The best option depends on the operation you need, not on who racks up more checkmarks.
How each company works
UXEM
Music infrastructure with operational review and plans based on catalog capacity.
Start: up to 3 artists.
Studio: up to 25 artists.
PRO: unlimited artists.
Review timeline depends on plan.
Billing in COP, USD, or EUR depending on your country.
Continuity mode if not renewed.
DistroKid
A mostly self-service distribution service with plans based on artist count and optional extras.
Musician: 1 artist.
Musician Plus: 2 artists.
Ultimate: 5 to 100 artists.
Billing in USD.
Certain capabilities purchased as extras.
Comparison
IncludedAdd-onSubject to conditionsNot availableTo confirm
Plans and capacity
UXEM
DistroKid
Entry plan
Start: COP 99,890/year
Musician: USD 24.99/year
Artists at entry level
Up to 3
1
Next tier
Studio: up to 25
Musician Plus: 2
Top tier
PRO: unlimited
Ultimate: 5–100
Published currency
COP, USD, or EUR depending on country
USD
Billing
Annual
Annual
Distribution
UXEM
DistroKid
Releases
Unlimited with an active plan
Unlimited
Published destinations*
More than 250
More than 150
Review model
Quality control with a plan-based timeline
Review and delivery generally take several days
Custom release date
Depends on how UXEM operates
Musician Plus and Ultimate
Distribution royalties
0% UXEM commission with an active plan
100% of what's received, minus bank charges and applicable taxes
DistroKid states it passes through 100% of what it receives from services, minus bank charges and applicable taxes.
Monetization and collaboration
UXEM
DistroKid
YouTube Content ID
Studio and PRO, subject to eligibility
Social Media Pack, purchased per release
Share of Content ID income
No additional UXEM withholding on that royalty
DistroKid retains 20%
Splits between collaborators
Included; the collaborator must create a free UXEM account to accept and withdraw
Included; the collaborator needs a membership or the owner covers USD 10/year
Editorial pitching
PRO, subject to selection
To confirm — no equivalent official source found
Continuity and support
UXEM
DistroKid
If not renewed
Continuity mode; 30% administrative fee on processed royalties
Releases may be taken down, subject to applicable conditions or add-ons
New releases without a plan
No
No
Support
Native Spanish; timeline depends on plan
Multilingual help center and assisted contact system
Local operation
Colombia
United States
International tax documentation
Depends on UXEM's structure
W-8BEN for non-US users
DistroKid states that if a subscription lapses, releases may be taken down; it offers an add-on called "Leave a Legacy" for certain cases.
* Figures use each company's published definitions and may not represent an equivalent list of integrations. More isn't always better if the destinations that matter for your operation are already included.
How much it changes based on your operation
Total cost depends on your catalog, not just the cheapest plan.
One artist
Compare the annual subscription alongside Content ID, splits, extras like Beatport, and takedown costs where applicable — not just the entry price.
Three artists
On UXEM, Start already covers up to 3 artists. On DistroKid, you'd need Musician Plus (2 artists) plus one more artist, or move straight to Ultimate.
Twenty-five artists
On UXEM, Studio covers up to 25 artists in a single plan. On DistroKid, Ultimate's entry tier doesn't cover any number — confirm the exact tier for the real artist count.
Label or large catalog
Compare advanced capabilities (custom label name, specialized distribution), artist limits, and what's billed as an extra in each case.
Prices are shown in their official currency. A conversion is always an estimate at the exchange rate checked on the review date — not an official price.
What changes when using each system
Review
UXEM
Manual quality control with plan-defined timelines.
DistroKid
A more self-service model with generally faster initial delivery.
Multi-artist catalog
UXEM
3, 25, or unlimited artists depending on the plan.
DistroKid
1, 2, or 5 to 100 artists depending on the tier purchased.
Content ID
UXEM
Included in Studio and PRO for eligible content, per the service's actual conditions.
DistroKid
Purchased per release through the Social Media Pack and subject to a 20% deduction on that income.
Continuity
UXEM
The catalog remains administered under a mode that applies a commission.
DistroKid
Releases may be taken down once the subscription ends, subject to applicable add-ons.
UXEM may fit better if
You manage several artists, work in Spanish, want to pay in your local currency (COP, USD, or EUR), and value a layer of review and operational support.
DistroKid may fit better if
You're an individual artist, prioritize the lowest starting price, handle the process independently, and prefer purchasing additional capabilities per release.
No comparison replaces
Reviewing current terms.
Confirming specific destinations.
Evaluating tax implications.
Checking Content ID eligibility.
Calculating extras and takedown costs.
Understanding what happens if you don't renew.
How we built this comparison
UXEM information obtained from its current plans and terms.
Competitor information taken solely from their official pages.
Prices kept in their original currency.
Services compared by function, not just by name.
Last review visible on this page.
When we don't find a sufficient official source to compare a data point precisely, the row marks it as "To confirm" instead of filling it in with a guess.
It depends on the number of artists, add-on services and currency. DistroKid has a lower starting price for one artist; UXEM includes up to three artists in Start.
DistroKid can deliver releases within a few days per its documentation. UXEM performs a review with timelines of up to 30 days, two weeks, or seven business days depending on the plan. Final publishing time also depends on each platform.
Both state 0% commission or full pass-through for certain distribution royalties while the subscription is active. Content ID, taxes, bank fees, withdrawals, and post-expiration modes need to be analyzed separately.
It depends on the number of artists, support, currency, review process, specialized services, and total operating cost.
Its help center is available in Spanish. UXEM offers native Spanish support with timelines tied to the plan.
Choose with full context
The right distributor depends on how you work.
Review capacity, timelines, add-on services, and continuity terms before deciding.
