KushTunes
vs DistroKid.
Honest, no-spin comparison. Two distributors solving the same problem with different pricing models and different payment rails.
Overview
KushTunes is a pay-per-release music distributor built in East Africa with mobile money payouts. DistroKid is a US-based annual-subscription distributor with the largest user base in the category. Both deliver to 30+ stores in 24-48 hours and take 0% commission on royalties.
Last updated 2026-05-28
Side-by-side
The facts, ranked.
Evidence
Five things we can actually back up.
Last updated 2026-05-28
KushTunes delivers releases to Spotify in 24-48 hours.
Source: Internal release-pipeline telemetry, Q1 2026
KushTunes takes 0% commission on streaming royalties on every plan.
Source: Royalty-statement pipeline (DSP → artist, no intermediate cut)
KushTunes supports mobile money payouts via M-Pesa, Airtel Money, MTN MoMo.
Source: Pesapal + direct mobile-money integrations, live in production
KushTunes includes free ISRC and UPC codes on every release.
Source: Per-release pricing covers code generation; no upcharge
KushTunes is bootstrapped and headquartered in Kampala, Uganda.
Source: Founder Wizlox, public record on social profiles
Frequently asked
Should I switch?
Last updated 2026-05-28
Is DistroKid worth it in 2026?
DistroKid is a fit for artists who want unlimited releases on a yearly subscription and who can renew indefinitely. For artists who release infrequently, pay in non-USD currencies, or need mobile money payouts, pay-per-release distributors like KushTunes can be more cost-effective.
Why would I switch from DistroKid to KushTunes?
Artists switch from DistroKid to KushTunes for three reasons: pay-per-release pricing instead of annual renewal, zero commission on royalties, and mobile money payouts via M-Pesa, Airtel Money or MTN MoMo — payment rails most international distributors do not support.
Can I migrate my catalog from DistroKid to KushTunes?
Yes. Request takedowns from DistroKid for the releases you want to migrate, then re-upload to KushTunes with the same ISRC codes (which you own). Migration typically takes 7-21 days end-to-end. Streaming history and playlist placements may not carry over.
Which is faster to Spotify — KushTunes or DistroKid?
Both KushTunes and DistroKid deliver to Spotify in roughly 24-48 hours under normal conditions. DistroKid offers paid expedited delivery as an add-on; KushTunes ships at standard speed with no upcharge. Store-side ingestion is the bottleneck on both platforms.
Does DistroKid take royalties? Does KushTunes?
Neither KushTunes nor DistroKid takes commission on streaming royalties on standard plans. Both pay 100% of what stores pay through. DistroKid has add-on features like Leave a Legacy and Teams that have separate fees; KushTunes bundles splits into the Pro tier.
Does DistroKid support M-Pesa or mobile money?
DistroKid pays out via PayPal, Payoneer, direct deposit and bank transfer. It does not support M-Pesa, Airtel Money or MTN MoMo directly. KushTunes supports mobile money payouts across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda natively.
Does DistroKid charge for ISRC codes?
DistroKid provides free ISRC codes on all plans. KushTunes also includes free ISRC and free UPC codes on every release at every tier. Both let the artist keep the codes if they leave the platform.
What do DistroKid and KushTunes have in common?
Both deliver to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok, Amazon Music, Tidal and 20+ other stores. Both let artists keep 100% of streaming royalties and own their masters. Both generate free ISRC codes. The main differences are pricing model and mobile-money support.
See for yourself
Try KushTunes free.
Drop your first single on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube in 24-48 hours. No annual renewal. No commission on royalties.