Use this free streaming royalty calculator to estimate how much Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other platforms pay for your streams. Enter your monthly streams and see an instant payout estimate for every major service.
| Platform | Per stream | Estimated payout |
|---|
Rates are industry averages and vary by country, subscription type and label deals.
How the streaming royalty calculator works
Enter the number of streams you get in a month and the calculator multiplies it by each platform’s average per-stream rate. Because every service pays a different amount, you’ll see a separate estimated payout for Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Tidal and Deezer. It’s the quickest way to answer the question every artist asks: how much does Spotify actually pay?
How much do streaming platforms pay per stream?
Per-stream rates are averages — your real rate depends on your country, whether listeners are on free or paid tiers, and your distribution deal. As a rough guide:
| Platform | Average per stream |
|---|---|
| Tidal | ~$0.0125 |
| Apple Music | ~$0.008 |
| Deezer | ~$0.0064 |
| Amazon Music | ~$0.004 |
| Spotify | ~$0.0035 |
| YouTube Music | ~$0.002 |
Why per-stream payouts vary so much
- Listener location — a stream from a country with higher subscription prices usually pays more.
- Free vs paid — streams from paying subscribers pay more than ad-supported free-tier streams.
- Your deal — labels, distributors and publishers may take a cut before you get paid.
- Platform model — each service splits its revenue pool differently between rights holders.
How to earn more from streaming
- Release consistently so your catalogue keeps working for you.
- Pitch to editorial and algorithmic playlists to grow your stream count.
- Encourage fans to save and add your tracks — engagement boosts algorithmic reach.
- Use a distributor that pays 100% of royalties rather than taking a percentage.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Spotify pay per stream?
Spotify pays roughly $0.003 to $0.005 per stream on average, though the exact figure varies by country, subscription type and your distribution deal.
Is this streaming royalty calculator accurate?
It gives a solid estimate based on industry-average per-stream rates. Actual payouts depend on your distributor, listener location and label agreements.
Which platform pays the most per stream?
Tidal and Apple Music tend to pay more per stream than Spotify or YouTube Music, but Spotify often has the largest audience, so total earnings depend on where your listeners are.
Are these payouts before or after fees?
The estimates are gross royalties. Your distributor, label or publisher may take a percentage before the money reaches you.