Comparison
Promoly vs DistroKid
DistroKid gets your music onto Spotify and Apple Music. Promoly gets your music into the hands of DJs, press, and curators. They do very different things.
Try Promoly free| Feature | Promoly | DistroKid |
|---|---|---|
| Send promos to press/DJs | ||
| Music distribution to stores | ||
| Contact list management | ||
| Play/download tracking | ||
| Feedback and ratings | ||
| Pre-save pages | Yes (HyperFollow) | |
| Smartlinks | Yes (HyperFollow) | |
| Tastemaker DJ Network | ||
| Promo cards / social assets | ||
| Starting price | £10/mo | $24.99/year |
7 days free, no credit card
What is DistroKid?
DistroKid is a music distribution service that uploads your tracks to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, TikTok, YouTube Music, and 150+ other stores. It also includes free promotional tools: HyperFollow pre-save pages, promo cards (shareable images), mini videos, and a Spotify Canvas generator. DistroKid's focus is distribution, not promotion. Plans start at $24.99/year for a single artist.
Key differences
Distribution vs promo delivery
DistroKid puts your music on streaming platforms. Promoly sends advance copies to press, DJs, and curators before (or after) release. They sit at different points in the release pipeline.
HyperFollow vs Promoly smart links
Both offer pre-save pages, but they work differently. HyperFollow is auto-generated for every DistroKid upload and focuses on Spotify pre-saves. Promoly's smart links are customisable and connect to your promo campaign analytics.
No contact management in DistroKid
DistroKid doesn't manage promo contacts, send targeted emails, or track who listened. It's a distribution pipeline, not a promotion tool.
Pricing models
DistroKid charges annually for distribution ($24.99/year for one artist). Promoly charges monthly for promo delivery (£10/month and up). They're separate costs for separate services.
Where Promoly wins
Actual promo delivery
Send advance copies directly to your press, DJ, and radio contacts with full engagement tracking. DistroKid has no outbound promo features.
Feedback before download
Require recipients to rate and comment on tracks before downloading. DistroKid doesn't collect any industry feedback.
DJ Tastemaker Network
1,300+ opted-in DJs across genres. DistroKid doesn't connect you with industry contacts at all.
Campaign analytics
Track opens, plays, downloads, and ratings per recipient, per campaign. DistroKid only shows streaming stats from the stores.
Where DistroKid wins
Music distribution
DistroKid's core job is getting your music onto 150+ streaming platforms and stores. Promoly doesn't distribute music to stores.
Very low cost
At $24.99/year, DistroKid is one of the cheapest ways to get music onto streaming platforms. You need it (or a similar distributor) regardless of your promo tool.
Free promo assets
Promo cards, mini videos, and Spotify Canvas generators are included free. These are useful for social media marketing even if they're not promo delivery tools.
The verdict
This isn't really a choice between one or the other. You need a distributor like DistroKid to get your music onto streaming platforms, and you need a promo tool like Promoly to send advance copies to the people who'll play and review it. Most labels use a distributor and a promo platform together. DistroKid's free HyperFollow pages are a nice bonus, but they don't replace a proper promo workflow with tracking and feedback.
No credit card required. 150 free sends.
Promoly vs DistroKid FAQ
Do I need both DistroKid and Promoly?
Usually, yes. DistroKid handles distribution (getting music onto Spotify, Apple Music, etc.). Promoly handles promotion (sending advance copies to press, DJs, and curators). They serve different purposes.
Can DistroKid send promos to DJs?
No. DistroKid distributes music to streaming platforms. It doesn't send promos to industry contacts, manage contact lists, or collect feedback.
Is HyperFollow as good as Promoly smart links?
HyperFollow is fine for basic pre-save pages. Promoly's smart links are more customisable and tie into your promo campaign analytics, giving you a fuller picture of engagement.
Can I use Promoly to distribute my music?
No. Promoly sends promos to your contacts and creates smart links. For distribution to streaming platforms, you need a distributor like DistroKid, CD Baby, or TuneCore.
Which should I sign up for first?
Start with distribution (DistroKid or similar) to get your music onto platforms. Then use Promoly to promote it to press, DJs, and curators before or on release day.