Free music distribution in India: is it really free? (2026)
By the SUF Digitals team · Updated
Free music distribution is paid for somewhere: in the share of royalties the distributor keeps, in stores or features left out, in a cut of YouTube and social money, or in what happens to your songs later. For an artist whose songs earn little, a free plan can be fine. Once your music earns, or if your listeners are on caller tunes, a paid plan usually leaves you with more. Here is how to do the maths.
What free plans usually take instead of a fee
- A bigger share of royalties. Free plans commonly keep 15% to 20% of what your music earns, for as long as it earns.
- Fewer stores. Some free plans cover only social platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, not Spotify or JioSaavn.
- No caller tunes. Few free plans deliver to Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL, which is often the biggest earner for regional and devotional music.
- A cut of YouTube and social money. Some distributors keep 20% of Content ID or social platform revenue even on paid plans.
- Slow delivery and slow support. Free tiers are served last.
- Conditions on your catalogue. Some plans take music down, or change your share, when you stop paying or switch plans.
Free and low-cost options listed in 2026
As each company listed it on its own website on 21 October 2026. Terms change, so check before you decide.
| Distributor | What is free or cheap | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| RouteNote | A free tier keeping 85% of royalties | Paid tier per release plus a yearly fee (RouteNote). |
| ForeVision Digital | A free plan for social platforms, keeping 80% | Caller tunes come on some of its paid plans (ForeVision). |
| Dream Records | A free plan keeping 80% | One-time paid option also listed (Dream Records). |
| TuneCore | No free plan any more | Its free New Artist plan ended on 18 June 2025, and releases on it were taken down (TuneCore). |
| SUF Digitals | No free plan; Debut is Rs 999 a year before GST | Keeps 80% on Debut up to 95% on Signature, with caller tunes, Content ID and smart links on every plan (pricing). |
The maths: when does paying beat free?
Take a free plan that keeps 20% of your royalties, so you keep 80%. Compare what you keep in a year on SUF's plans, after paying for the plan with 18% GST:
| Your music earns in a year | Free plan (you keep 80%) | SUF Pro (90%, Rs 3,539 with GST) | SUF Signature (95%, Rs 4,719 with GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rs 10,000 | Rs 8,000 | Rs 5,461 | Rs 4,781 |
| Rs 30,000 | Rs 24,000 | Rs 23,461 | Rs 23,781 |
| Rs 50,000 | Rs 40,000 | Rs 41,461 | Rs 42,781 |
| Rs 1,00,000 | Rs 80,000 | Rs 86,461 | Rs 90,281 |
What the table leaves out
On the share alone, a higher plan starts to pay for itself once your music earns somewhere around Rs 31,000 to Rs 36,000 a year. Below that, the share alone does not justify paying, and you should choose on features instead.
The features are where most Indian artists gain. If your listeners are in India, caller tunes on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL can earn more than Spotify for regional and devotional music, and every SUF plan includes them, even Debut at the same 80% share many free plans keep. Add YouTube Content ID, a smart link for every release, rupee payouts to your bank or UPI, and support from people who know the Indian stores.
Questions to ask any free distributor
- What share do I keep, and is it written in the agreement?
- Which stores are included: Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Music, YouTube Music, or only social apps?
- Do you deliver caller tunes, and to which telecoms?
- Do you keep a cut of YouTube Content ID or Instagram money?
- What is the minimum payout, and are there bank or withdrawal fees?
- What happens to my songs if I upgrade, downgrade or leave? Is there a takedown fee?
Common questions
Is there free music distribution in India?
Yes, several distributors list free plans, usually keeping a bigger share of royalties or covering fewer stores. SUF has no free plan; Debut costs Rs 999 a year before GST and includes caller tunes.
Can I upload songs to Spotify for free?
Only through a distributor's free plan, since Spotify takes music from distributors. Check the share they keep and what happens to your songs later.
Which is better: free distribution or a paid plan?
If your songs earn little and you need no caller tunes, free can be fine. Once royalties grow past about Rs 31,000 a year, or if caller tunes matter for your audience, a paid plan usually leaves you with more.
Do free distributors give caller tunes?
Rarely. Caller tunes on Indian telecoms are a separate delivery, and most free plans leave them out. Every SUF plan includes them.
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