Distributor comparison
ONCE vs LANDR
for AI music
LANDR bundles mastering with distribution and caps AI at 12 tracks/month. ONCE is $2 per AI release, no cap, no subscription, and your royalties stay at 100% forever.
Disclosure: We're ONCE. We built one of the two distributors in this comparison. Every number on this page comes from LANDR's own pricing and support pages as of June 2026. If anything's stale, email us and we'll fix it.
| ONCE | LANDR | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $2 per AI song / $1 per human song, paid once | $23.99–$44.99/year subscription |
| Tracks live if you stop paying | Forever | Stay live, but royalties drop to 85% |
| Royalty split | 100% to artist | 100% while subscribed; 85% after cancel |
| AI music policy | Explicit support, auto-disclosure to DSPs | Allowed, 12 AI tracks/month cap |
| AI provenance scanning | Built in (Vobile partnership) | Detection used to flag spam |
| Mastering & production tools | Not bundled (use your own) | Bundled in Studio plans ($99+/year) |
| MCP / AI agent support | Public MCP server at /mcp | None |
Where ONCE wins
- No subscription. Pay $2 once per AI release vs $23.99+/year on LANDR.
- No 12-track/month AI cap. Release as much AI music as you want.
- 100% royalties forever - LANDR drops you to 85% if you cancel your subscription.
- ONCE is the ethical AI distributor: the extra dollar on every AI release routes to the Artist Compensation Fund.
- Automatic AI provenance scanning and DSP disclosure - LANDR uses detection to limit AI uploads, not to protect you.
- ONCE's MCP server lets AI agents distribute tracks programmatically.
When LANDR is still the right call
- You want AI mastering, sample packs, and plugins bundled with distribution in one subscription.
- You release fewer than 12 AI tracks per month and plan to subscribe forever.
- You need LANDR's YouTube/TikTok monetization tools on the Pro tier ($44.99/year).
Verdict
LANDR is a production studio that also distributes. If you need their mastering tools, the bundle can work. For AI music distribution specifically, ONCE wins: no subscription, no AI cap, no royalty penalty after cancel, and built-in AI compliance. LANDR's 12-track/month AI limit alone makes it a poor fit for any serious AI music catalog.
Skip the subscription — invite Suno friends instead
Earn +5 free credits when each friend submits their first release. Three friends = 15 free releases.
Common questions
Does LANDR have an AI music limit?
Yes. LANDR caps AI-generated submissions at 12 tracks per calendar month per subscriber. Exceeding that limit can result in delays, removal of excess submissions, or upload restrictions. ONCE has no volume cap on AI releases - release as many AI tracks as you want at $2 each.
What happens to my LANDR royalties if I cancel?
LANDR keeps your tracks live after cancellation, but your royalty share drops from 100% to 85%. That 15% penalty lasts for the life of those releases. ONCE charges $2 once for an AI release and you keep 100% of royalties forever - no post-cancel penalty.
Is LANDR worth it for the mastering tools?
If you need AI mastering, sample packs, and plugins bundled with distribution, LANDR's Studio plans ($99+/year) can make sense. ONCE is a pure distributor - we don't bundle production tools. If you already master your tracks elsewhere (Suno exports, your own DAW, etc.), paying for LANDR's studio bundle just to distribute is overkill.
Does LANDR support Suno and Udio tracks?
LANDR accepts AI-assisted music within their 12-track/month cap, but they explicitly discourage bulk AI uploads and use detection technology to flag streaming spam. They also don't distribute AI-generated cover songs. ONCE is built for AI music from Suno, Udio, OMG, and every other generator - no monthly cap, no spam accusations for legitimate releases.