DistroKid Payment Methods: How to Pay for Your Plan
Every way to pay for DistroKid, what each plan costs, and how to pay without a credit card or US bank account.
Your release is ready, but the checkout won’t accept your card. Card declines can happen for several reasons, such as a bank blocking international payments or an expired card.
DistroKid payment methods are limited to cards and two digital wallets, and there's no PayPal option. This guide covers every way to pay for your DistroKid plan, what each plan costs, and what to do if you don't have a credit card or a US bank account. It also explains how DistroKid pays you once your streams start earning. That's the other half of the question every artist asks.
What Is DistroKid and Who Is It For?
DistroKid is a music distribution service. You pay one yearly fee, upload as many songs as you want, and DistroKid delivers them to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and many other platforms. You keep 100% of your streaming royalties.
Most other distributors charge per song or per album. A flat yearly fee works out cheaper if you release music often.
How DistroKid Gets Your Music on Streaming Platforms
You pick a plan and set up your artist profile. Then upload your audio files (WAV or FLAC work best), cover art (at least 3000x3000 pixels), and release details. DistroKid sends the release to the stores.
When people stream your songs, the platforms pay royalties into your DistroKid Bank. Working with other people? You can set automatic splits once, and everyone gets their share.
What Payment Methods Does DistroKid Accept?
DistroKid accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express cards, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay. Debit cards and prepaid Visa or Mastercard cards work as well, as long as the card covers your plan. DistroKid doesn't accept PayPal, cryptocurrency or bank transfers for subscriptions.
The full list of DistroKid payment methods:
- Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express
- Debit cards on the Visa or Mastercard network
- Prepaid Visa and Mastercard cards
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
You'll find the official list in DistroKid's billing help center.
Can I Pay for DistroKid With PayPal?
No. DistroKid doesn't accept PayPal for subscriptions, and its own help center confirms that every DistroKid payment goes through a card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. If you usually pay online with PayPal, you'll need a card that DistroKid accepts.
That catches a lot of artists, because DistroKid uses PayPal to pay out earnings. Paying in and getting paid are two separate systems. DistroKid's PayPal help page has the details.
How to Pay for DistroKid Without a Credit Card
You don't need a credit card. A debit card works the same way at checkout, and Apple Pay or Google Pay work if they're linked to a card.
Prepaid cards are another option. Banks, fintech apps, stores, and reward platforms offer them, including Rewarble with its Rewarble Prepaid Reward Card. Many prepaid cards aren’t linked to a bank account.
Debit card | Prepaid card | |
Linked to a bank account | Yes | No |
Renews automatically | Yes | Yes, if the card still covers the plan |
Credit check | No | No |
Spending control | Whatever is in your account | Only the card's value |
A prepaid card suits artists who want a separate card just for music costs, so renewals and add-ons never touch their main account.
Paying for DistroKid From Outside the US
Some cards issued outside the US get declined at DistroKid’s checkout. DistroKid charges in US dollars, and some banks block international or foreign-currency payments by default. Before you switch cards, ask your bank to allow online payments abroad.
If that doesn’t help, use a card built for online and international payments, such as a debit card from a multi-currency account or a prepaid Visa or Mastercard. The Rewarble Prepaid Reward Card is one prepaid option. You can also add a card to Apple Pay or Google Pay and pay that way.
Pay for DistroKid With a Prepaid Reward Card
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How Much Does DistroKid Cost?
DistroKid costs $24.99 a year for the Musician plan, $44.99 for Musician Plus, and $89.99 for Ultimate. Every plan includes unlimited uploads and 100% of your royalties. So does DistroKid cost money? Yes, there's no free plan, and DistroKid renews at the same date each year.
Plan | Price per year | Artist names | Extras |
Musician | $24.99 | 1 | Unlimited uploads |
Musician Plus | $44.99 | 2 | Custom label name, release dates, pre-orders, lyrics |
Ultimate | from $89.99 | 5 or more | Everything in Musician Plus, more artist names |
Add-ons come on top of the DistroKid subscription cost. The main one is Leave a Legacy, which keeps a release online even if you stop paying. The DistroKid Leave a Legacy cost is a one-time $29 per single or $49 per album. Check current prices on DistroKid's pricing page before you pay, because prices can change.
How to Pay for DistroKid With a Rewarble Prepaid Reward Card
- Get a Rewarble voucher at a Rewarble partner site. The code arrives by email.
- Redeem your voucher on Rewarble and choose a Prepaid Reward Card.
- Pick a card value that covers your plan, plus any add-ons you want.
- Log in to DistroKid, open Account Settings, click Payment Methods, and enter the card details.
No credit check is needed, and your personal details stay private. You can reload the card with a new voucher before your renewal date.
How Does DistroKid Pay You?
DistroKid pays you through Tipalti, its payout provider. You can withdraw your earnings by PayPal, ACH, wire transfer, eCheck or paper check, depending on your country. DistroKid processes withdrawals twice a week, and a payout can take up to 14 days to arrive.
When does DistroKid pay? Streaming platforms report earnings a few months after the streams happen, so new releases take a while to show up in your DistroKid Bank. How often does DistroKid pay out after that? Whenever you request a withdrawal.
The minimum withdrawal is $6, and Tipalti charges a small fee per payout. DistroKid doesn't pay out to Cash App, Venmo, or Payoneer. See DistroKid's withdrawal methods for the fee per method.
Picking the Right DistroKid Payment Method
The best DistroKid payment method keeps your plan renewing without surprises. A credit or debit card works for most artists. If your card gets declined, ask your bank about international payments first. If you don’t have a credit card, a prepaid Visa or Mastercard is another option that keeps music costs separate from your everyday spending.
Remember that paying for DistroKid and getting paid by DistroKid are separate, so set up your payout method too. Ready to pay for your plan? Get a Rewarble Prepaid Reward Card and redeem it in minutes. The same card pays for Spotify Premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Payment Work on DistroKid?
DistroKid charges your card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay once a year for your plan. Add-ons such as Leave a Legacy are charged separately. Your music stays on streaming platforms as long as the plan renews, so keep a valid card on file before your renewal date.
Why Did DistroKid Charge Me $100?
An unexpected charge is usually your yearly plan renewal plus album extras you opted into, such as Store Maximizer or the Social Media Pack. These renew per release, so several releases add up. Your DistroKid account shows exactly which plan and extras were charged.
Do You Have to Pay for DistroKid?
DistroKid has no free plan, so you need an active paid plan to release music. The cheapest option is the Musician plan at $24.99 a year. If the plan lapses, DistroKid removes your music from stores unless a release has the Leave a Legacy add-on.
How Long Does DistroKid Take to Pay?
Expect a delay of a few months between your streams and your earnings, because platforms report on their own schedules. After you request a withdrawal, DistroKid processes payouts twice a week, and the money can take up to 14 days to reach your chosen payout method.
Can I Pay for DistroKid With My DistroKid Bank Earnings?
DistroKid doesn't let you pay for your plan or extras with the earnings in your DistroKid Bank. Charges always go to a Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express card, or to Apple Pay or Google Pay. Withdraw your earnings first if you want to use them.
