Formaviva vs DistroKid
Distribution gets you everywhere. Formaviva pays you directly.
DistroKid delivers your release to the streaming services for a yearly fee. Formaviva is not a distributor and does not try to be one. It is the place you sell directly to the listeners and DJs who want to own the record.
Facts checked · Sources
DistroKid and Formaviva compared
| Question | DistroKid | Formaviva |
|---|---|---|
| Fees and payouts | ||
| Cost | A yearly subscription | No subscription; 10% of each sale |
| Who pays you | The streaming services | Your fans, directly |
| Ownership and control | ||
| What it is | A distributor | A store and streaming platform |
| Listening and downloads | ||
| Where fans listen | On the services it delivers to | On Formaviva, free |
| Downloads | Through stores it delivers to | MP3, WAV, FLAC, AIFF |
| Promo and selling | ||
| Promotion | Pre-save and link pages | Campaigns to DJs, press and radio |
| Vinyl and merch | Not part of the service | Vinyl, cassettes, shirts, bundles |
| Community and discovery | ||
| Audience | None of its own | Curated, invite-only electronic music |
Strengths of each
Where DistroKid is strong
- Fast delivery to Spotify, Apple Music and many more
- You keep the royalties those services pay
- Automatic splits between collaborators
What Formaviva adds
- Fans pay you directly, and you keep 90%
- No yearly fee
- Lossless downloads, vinyl and merch
- Promo campaigns and a listening audience of its own
You don’t have to choose. Most artists need both: a distributor for streaming reach, and a direct store for income. Use DistroKid to reach the streaming services and Formaviva to sell to the people who want to own it.
Questions
Is Formaviva a distributor?
No. Formaviva does not deliver your music to Spotify or Apple Music. It is a platform of its own where listeners stream for free and buy directly from you.
Can I use DistroKid and Formaviva together?
Yes. Nothing on Formaviva is exclusive, so the same release can be distributed elsewhere and sold here.
What does Formaviva cost?
No subscription and no upload fee. Formaviva keeps a standard 10% of each sale.
Ready to hear the difference?
Artist and label profiles are invite-only, which keeps the catalogue worth browsing. Listening is free for everyone.
Sources
Details about DistroKid come from its own published information and reporting as of November 2026, and can change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it. DistroKid is a trademark of its owner. Formaviva is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by DistroKid.