How Insound compares
The independent music space has changed a lot since Bandcamp was sold to Songtradr. Here's how Insound compares to the main alternatives, with the actual numbers - not headline marketing.
Platform comparison
| Insound | Bandcamp | Ampwall | Artcore | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 10% | 10-15% | 5% | 15-20% (default 20%) |
| Annual cost | Free | Free | $10/year minimum | Free |
| Payment processing fees | Absorbed by Insound | Passed to artist | Passed to artist (fan can cover) | Passed to artist |
| Payment infrastructure | Stripe Connect (direct charges) | Stripe / PayPal | PayPal | PayPal |
| Holds artist funds? | No - direct from fan to artist | Yes, batched payouts | Yes (via PayPal) | Yes (via PayPal) |
| Payout frequency | Daily | Weekly/longer batches | PayPal-dependent | PayPal-dependent |
| AI-generated music | Not permitted | Permitted | Mostly prohibited | Unspecified |
| Subscription required | No | No | Yes ($10/year min) | No |
| Currency | GBP / multi | USD primary | USD | Multi |
| Origin | UK | US (Songtradr-owned) | US | UK |
Insound vs Bandcamp
Platform fee
Annual cost
Payment processing fees
Payment infrastructure
Holds artist funds?
Payout frequency
AI-generated music
Subscription required
Currency
Origin
Insound vs Ampwall
Platform fee
Annual cost
Payment processing fees
Payment infrastructure
Holds artist funds?
Payout frequency
AI-generated music
Subscription required
Currency
Origin
Insound vs Artcore
Platform fee
Annual cost
Payment processing fees
Payment infrastructure
Holds artist funds?
Payout frequency
AI-generated music
Subscription required
Currency
Origin
Worked example: artist earnings on a £10 sale
Figures are illustrative based on each platform's published fees as of 2026. Payment processor fees vary by transaction value and method.
The honest take
Where Insound wins clearly
The combination of direct charges, absorbed processing fees, daily payouts, and no subscription isn't matched by any single competitor. On lower-value sales (under £5), Insound nets artists more than even Ampwall's 5% fee, because we absorb Stripe's fixed per-transaction cost.
Where competitors might suit you better
If you're a high-volume electronic music seller with physical inventory, AC55id's 0%-commission model could net you more (at $10-30/month). If you're already deep in PayPal and don't want to switch, Ampwall or Artcore may feel familiar. If you're a household-name artist, Metalabel's invite-only platform is built for you.
What we're not pretending
We're new. Our catalogue is small. We're not trying to be Bandcamp with better paint. We're trying to be the platform that's simple, fair, transparent, and built for UK and European artists who want their money to flow without intermediaries.
Free to join. 90% to artists. Daily payouts.
Sign up as an artist