Autohype vs RouteNote — free distribution vs promotion you buy per order.
RouteNote is one of the longest-standing free music distributors. Autohype is a marketplace of verified creators, curators, DJs and bloggers. One gets your music onto the platforms; the other gets people to actually listen to it.
What is RouteNote?
RouteNote is a UK-based music distribution service offering free distribution to 60+ platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and YouTube. The free tier takes a 15% revenue share; the premium tier ($10–$15 per release) has 0% revenue share. RouteNote also offers YouTube Content ID registration and basic analytics.
Side-by-side comparison
| 🎵 Autohype | RouteNote | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Hiring verified promoters, one order at a time | Free music distribution to 60+ streaming platforms |
| Cost | From $10 per order, no subscription | Free (15% rev share) or $10–15 per release (0% rev share) |
| Revenue share | None — you keep 100% of streams | 15% on free tier; 0% on premium |
| TikTok Sound delivery | Creators you hire post to their own audience using your track | Delivers your track to TikTok's sound library |
| Spotify growth | Active — hired promoters send outside listeners to your release | Passive — makes your music available but doesn't grow your audience |
| Content ID | Not included | YouTube Content ID registration available |
| Analytics | Order center with each order's status, delivery and messages | Streaming royalty analytics across platforms |
| Speed to platforms | N/A (works post-distribution) | 3–7 days to most platforms, sometimes faster |
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 who are already distributed (via RouteNote or any other service) and want to grow their listener base by hiring real promoters, order by order.
Explore the marketplace →Artists who need a free or low-cost distribution solution with YouTube Content ID and don't yet have a promotion strategy in place.
Find the right promotion service
Compare real sellers, clear deliverables, prices and delivery times before you order.
Browse services →Frequently asked questions
Is RouteNote's free tier worth using?
RouteNote free is a reasonable starting point for artists who can't yet justify paid distribution. The 15% revenue share only matters at scale — at 10,000 streams/month you're losing about $6/month. Once you're generating meaningful streaming income, switch to the premium tier or DistroKid ($23/year, 0% share) for better economics.
Can I use Autohype with RouteNote distribution?
Yes — distribute your music via RouteNote to get it on Spotify and TikTok Sound, then hand those links to the seller you hire on Autohype. RouteNote and Autohype are completely compatible — they operate at different stages of the music promotion pipeline.
Does RouteNote have any promotional features?
RouteNote offers basic playlist pitching tools and YouTube Content ID — but nobody there is posting, pitching or playing your track. Their focus is distribution and royalty collection. For active promotion, RouteNote users typically pair it with a marketplace like Autohype.
More comparisons