CD Baby review

CD Baby is the clearest choice for artists who dislike subscriptions. A single costs $9.99 and an album $14.99, both one-time, and CD Baby says there are no recurring fees, so your music is not taken down because a renewal failed. Releases go to more than 150 digital distribution partners, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Pandora, Tidal and TikTok, and a person inspects your audio and artwork files before delivery. CD Baby says it is a preferred Apple content provider, which lets it get music onto Apple Music within a few days of your final approval. The dashboard covers sales reports, promotion tools and artist profile setup, and the company also offers cover song licensing, physical distribution and CD and vinyl manufacturing. CD Baby says over 2 million independent creators use it. The economics flip for frequent releasers: four singles a year already cost more than most unlimited subscriptions here.

Who it is for

Artists who release a few songs a year and prefer a one-time fee to a subscription.

Price

One-time $9.99 per single and $14.99 per album, with no recurring fees.

just $9.99 for singles and $14.99 for albums
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Key features

• One-time pricing per single or album
• Distribution to 150+ digital partners
• Human inspection of audio and artwork before delivery
• Physical distribution and CD and vinyl manufacturing
• Cover song licensing and a Release Plan Generator

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No yearly fee, so releases are not removed for a missed payment
• Strength: Preferred Apple content provider
• Strength: Physical CDs and vinyl from the same company
• Weakness: Costs more than a subscription if you release often
• Weakness: Each new single is another $9.99
• Weakness: Fewer bundled promo tools than subscription rivals

Key facts

• Single: $9.99 one-time
• Album: $14.99 one-time
• Partners: 150+ digital distribution partners
• Recurring fees: None
• Artists using it: Over 2 million independent creators

Where it ranks

CD Baby is No. 8 in our Best Music Distribution Services verdict.