Autohype vs DistroKid — distribution vs promotion by real people
DistroKid gets your music onto Spotify, Apple Music and TikTok Sound. Autohype is a marketplace where verified creators, curators, DJs and bloggers promote it. They do completely different jobs — most artists need both.
What is DistroKid?
DistroKid is a music distribution service that delivers your songs to 150+ streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, TikTok Sound, YouTube Music) for a flat annual fee (~$23–$37/year). They handle ISRC codes, splits, and publishing registration. They also offer optional add-ons like YouTube Content ID, store maximizer, and Spotify pre-save pages.
Side-by-side comparison
| 🎵 Autohype | DistroKid | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Marketplace of promotion services: TikTok creators, playlist curators, DJs, bloggers | Delivers your music to 150+ streaming platforms |
| Primary goal | Audience growth — real people promoting your released music | Distribution — making your music available everywhere |
| Cost | From $10 per order, pay only for what you book | $23–37/year flat (unlimited releases) |
| Promotion | Active — a human does defined promotional work for your track | Passive — makes music available but doesn't promote it |
| TikTok role | Creators post videos using your sound to their audiences | Makes your music available as a TikTok Sound |
| Required? | Optional — use when you want to push a release | Required for any artist selling/streaming music online |
Information verified June 2026. Competitor pricing and features may change, check their official site for current details.
Autohype may not be right for you if…
- You want guaranteed streams, followers or virality — no Autohype seller guarantees results, only real promotional work with a defined deliverable.
- You're looking for label deals, radio plugging or A&R introductions — Autohype sells promotion services, not industry access.
- You want a fully managed, hands-off campaign — on a marketplace, you choose the sellers and place the orders yourself.
- You haven't distributed your music yet — you need a distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.) so listeners can find your track before promoting it.
Which is right for you?
Artists whose music is already distributed and who now want real people — creators, curators, DJs, bloggers — putting it in front of listeners, order by order.
Explore the marketplace →Every artist who wants their music on streaming platforms. DistroKid is a prerequisite, not a competitor — distribution comes before promotion.
Find the right promotion service
Compare real sellers, clear deliverables, prices and delivery times before you order.
Browse services →Frequently asked questions
Do I need DistroKid before ordering promotion on Autohype?
You need your track live on Spotify/TikTok via any distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, Amuse…) so listeners who discover it can actually find and save it. Distribution first, promotion second.
Does DistroKid promote my music at all?
Not actively. DistroKid makes your music available (including as a TikTok Sound) and offers marketing add-ons like pre-save pages, but nobody creates content or pitches playlists for you.
What does a typical month cost using both?
DistroKid works out around $2–3/month billed annually. On Autohype you spend only when you order — a single creator post can be $10, a bigger push is whatever you choose to book.
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