Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 1 change this month
CD Baby 3.9Gold 60 pts
A veteran independent distributor with no annual fees - pay once per release and CD Baby keeps a 9% commission on royalties.
Good for Musicians and producers
- Pay to apply$9.99 per single
- Open worldwideAny country can join
- Instant sign-upStart right away
- Pays via PayPal+1 more way to get paid
- Work from homeOnline, from anywhere
- Since
- 1998 28 yrs
Based in- Portland, United States
- Web rank
- #11,068 worldwide
Can you join CD Baby?
Answer two questions and we check them against CD Baby's sign-up rules.
Pick your country and age then press Check. Your answer shows here and in “Can I join?” below.
CD Baby is a music distributor where anyone can register to start earning, and the work can be done remotely. Fees are $9.99/single one-time + 9% of revenue, earnings are typically paid out payment generated at the start of each week once balance meets your chosen pay point, 2 to 3 business days us, 5 to 7 international and you can withdraw via Bank transfer and PayPal. Founded in 1998, CD Baby is based in Portland, United States. It is available worldwide.
Last updated
Getting paid
What the platform takes, when you get your money and how
Not verified yet: Payment protection · Minimum payout Know the answer? Tell us
From the published fees above, before payment-processing, currency or withdrawal charges. Work out your own amount →
What people actually earn on CD Baby
Sourced figures from the platform, filings and independent studies
Figures published by CD Baby or by independent studies and surveys, as dated. Individual earnings vary widely.
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
1 update · latest Nov 1, 2026
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
- Payout speed added: Payment generated at the start of each week once balance meets your chosen pay point, 2 to 3 business days US, 5 to 7 international source ↗
Every change we make to this listing, with the official page we checked. Recent updates across all platforms →
How complete is this profile?
We have 10 of the 17 things we track for every platform. Fees, payouts, join rules, countries and real earnings count most.
- Plain-English overview
- Minimum payout
- Payment protection
- Review ratings
- Support channels
- Mobile apps
- Social accounts
- What kind of platform it is
- Year founded
- Headquarters
- Fees
- How fast you get paid
- Withdrawal methods
- Join requirements
- Countries it accepts
- Real earnings figures
- Wikipedia or reference page
Every fact is checked against the platform's own pages. How we check →
Our rating
Worked out from the facts on this page, the same way for every platform
Strong on access and fees. Weaker on getting paid.
- Fees4.5
- Getting paid2.3
- Access4.8
- Track record4.0
- Proof of earnings4.0
Not a review of service quality: a score from verified fees, payouts, access, track record and earnings data. How the rating works
Achievements
60 of 100 points from 7 of 14 achievements, Gold tier. Earned from verified facts, never paid for
Verified earningsA sourced figure for what people earn or are paid there+10
Why it matters You can judge the pay from a real number instead of the platform's own promises.
How we check We need a figure for what earners are paid, earn typically, or how many people earn, with a link to the filing, pay page or study it came from.
CD Baby $1B+ paid since 1998 (2026)
Every platform with this badge →Open worldwideAccepts people from almost every country+10
Why it matters Most earning platforms only take people from a handful of countries. This one lets almost anyone join.
How we check The platform's own terms or sign-up pages say it accepts people worldwide, with no more than eight countries left out.
CD Baby Worldwide
Every platform with this badge →Clear feesPublishes its cut as a percentage+5
Why it matters You can work out what you keep before you start.
How we check The platform publishes its cut as a percentage on its pricing or help pages, which we record as a range when it is tiered.
CD Baby 9%
Every platform with this badge →Low cutTakes 10% or less of what you earn+10
Why it matters More of every payment reaches you. Many marketplaces take 20% or more.
How we check The highest percentage the platform names in its published fees is 10% or less.
CD Baby 9%
Every platform with this badge →10 years runningFounded at least 10 years ago+5
Why it matters Platforms that have lasted a decade are less likely to vanish with your balance.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 10 years ago.
CD Baby Founded 1998
Every platform with this badge →20 years runningFounded at least 20 years ago+5
Why it matters Two decades of paying people is a strong track record.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 20 years ago.
CD Baby Founded 1998
Every platform with this badge →Fully documentedFees, payouts, countries and company details all verified+15
Why it matters Everything you need to decide is verified here, not left as guesswork.
How we check Fees, payouts, minimum payout, who can join and the company details are all recorded from official pages.
Every platform with this badge →Free to joinNo fee to sign up5
Why it matters Paying to join is a red flag on many work sites. This one costs nothing to start.
How we check The platform's sign-up and pricing pages show no fee to register as an earner.
CD Baby $9.99 per single
Every platform with this badge →Low payout barLets you cash out $10 or less5
Why it matters Small earnings are not left stuck in your account waiting for a high threshold.
How we check The platform's published minimum withdrawal is $10 or less, or it has no minimum.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for CD Baby.
Every platform with this badge →Fast payoutsPays out instantly, daily or on demand5
Why it matters Money arrives when you need it, not weeks later.
How we check The platform says payouts are instant, same-day, daily or on demand.
CD Baby Payment generated at the start of each week once balance meets your chosen pay point, 2 to…
Every platform with this badge →Payment protectionHolds or guarantees payment before you work10
Why it matters Something stops you working for nothing, such as client money held before the work starts.
How we check The platform publishes how it protects earners' payments: escrow, guaranteed pay or a dispute process.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for CD Baby.
Every platform with this badge →Loved appA mobile app rated 4.5 or higher5
Why it matters A well-rated app usually means smooth day-to-day work and fewer payout problems.
How we check The platform's app is rated 4.5 or higher on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for CD Baby.
Every platform with this badge →Top 10K websiteAmong the world's 10,000 most visited sites (Tranco)5
Why it matters Big platforms have more clients and buyers, and a lot to lose from treating earners badly.
How we check The site ranks in the world's 10,000 most visited on the Tranco list, a research-grade ranking.
CD Baby #11,068 worldwide
Every platform with this badge →Public companyListed on a stock exchange, with audited filings5
Why it matters Listed companies publish audited accounts, so their finances and risks are public.
How we check The company has a stock ticker on a public exchange, with filings we can read.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for CD Baby.
Every platform with this badge →
How achievements and tiers work · Open any badge for the details
Can I join CD Baby?
Age, countries, equipment and how sign-up works
Yes, if you live almost anywhere.
You need reliable internet. You can start straight after signing up. First payout: months.
Enter your country and age in the quick check and we will tell you here whether CD Baby accepts you. Your answers stay on your device.
Check with my country- Reliable internet
- Sign up$9.99 per single
- Start straight awayNo waiting for approval
- Do your first workJobs, tasks or sales
- First payoutMonths
Good to know: One-time $9.99 per single or $14.99 per album, payout within 15 business days of hitting your $25 default threshold, W-9 or W-8 required.
CD Baby's official requirements ↗Every platform you can join →
How CD Baby compares
Against similar platforms in our directory
- Founded in 1998, CD Baby has been running for about 28 years — longer than 10 of the 11 music distribution platforms we track with a known launch year.
Compared with the music distribution platforms in our directory. See them all →
Is CD Baby legit?
What we could verify about the company
CD Baby is a real, operating platform. What we could verify:
- Operating since 1998 (28 years)
- Headquartered in Portland, United States
- Has a Wikipedia article
- Its domain cdbaby.com was registered in 1998 (registry record)
- Among the world's top 100,000 websites by traffic (Tranco rank #11,068)
Listing last updated October 2026 · how we verify platforms · Missing or out of date? Tell us
CD Baby in public records
Company filings, web traffic and app store data
- Website rank
- #11,068 worldwideAmong the top 100,000 sites (cdbaby.com)
- Domain registered
- Mar 1998cdbaby.com, 28 years ago
- Founders
- Derek Sivers
Sources: Tranco · RDAP registry · Wikidata. Retrieved October 29, 2026.
CD Baby timeline
Founding, funding, milestones and news
-
Founded
CD Baby founded
Headquarters today: Portland, United States
-
Milestone
$80M paid in 2017
CD Baby reported paying out $80 million to independent artists in 2017, according to Billboard as cited by Wikipedia.
Source ↗ -
Milestone
$1B+ paid since 1998
CD Baby says it has paid over $1 billion to independent artists since 1998.
Source ↗ -
On FreelanceSites
Added to the FreelanceSites.net directory
Checked against its official pages before listing.
From the platform's own reports and press coverage we checked, plus company records on Wikidata. Know a milestone we're missing? Tell us
Guides
Step-by-step help for this platform
No step-by-step guide for CD Baby yet. Browse all guides or find the right way to earn for you.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about CD Baby
How much does CD Baby charge?
CD Baby fees: $9.99/single one-time + 9% of revenue. On a $100 payment that leaves you about $91, before withdrawal or conversion costs.
How do you get paid on CD Baby?
CD Baby pays out via Bank transfer and PayPal. Timing: Payment generated at the start of each week once balance meets your chosen pay point, 2 to 3 business days US, 5 to 7 international.
Which countries is CD Baby available in?
Worldwide.
How much do people earn on CD Baby?
CD Baby says it has paid over $1 billion to independent artists since 1998. CD Baby reported paying out $80 million to independent artists in 2017, according to Billboard as cited by Wikipedia. Individual earnings vary widely.
Is CD Baby legit?
Yes, CD Baby is a real, operating platform: operating since 1998 (28 years), headquartered in Portland, United States and has a Wikipedia article. As with any platform, check its current terms before relying on it for income.
What are the best CD Baby alternatives?
Similar platforms include DistroKid, TuneCore, Ditto Music and UnitedMasters. Compare their fees and payouts in the alternatives section below.
Compare CD Baby with…
CD Baby alternatives
More music distribution like DistroKid
DistroKidThe most popular indie music distributor - unlimited releases for about 20 dollars a year, and artists keep 100% of royalties.
Fees Keep 100% royalties, subscription from $22.99/yrdistrokid.com
TuneCoreA long-running distributor where artists pay per release or subscription and keep 100% of their streaming royalties.
Fees Keep 100% royalties on plans from $24.99/yrtunecore.com
Ditto MusicA UK distributor with unlimited releases on subscription and artists keeping 100% of royalties.
Fees Keep 100% royalties, subscription from ~$19/yrdittomusic.com
UnitedMastersA distribution and brand-deal platform for independent artists - free tier takes 10% of royalties, and the network pitches artists for sync and brand partnerships.
Fees Free: 90/10 split, paid tiers keep 100%unitedmasters.com
AmuseA Swedish distributor with free and pro tiers where artists keep 100% of royalties on paid plans.
Fees Keep 100% royalties, plans from $23.99/yramuse.io
ONErpmA global distributor and label services company taking a 15% commission, strong in Latin America and with YouTube monetization tools.
Fees Free distribution, 85/15 revenue splitonerpm.com