Insidr vs Bandcamp

Bandcamp sells your records. Insidr streams your vault.

Bandcamp is one of the best places to sell downloads, vinyl and merch, and it offers fan subscriptions too. Insidr is a mobile listening club for your released and unreleased music. Here’s how they compare.

Start earning — it’s free See the comparison

At a glance

Insidr vs Bandcamp side by side

FeatureInsidrBandcamp
Built for Monthly fan subscriptions to stream your music. Selling digital music, physical releases and merch, with optional fan subscriptions.
How you earn A subscription at a price you set, billed monthly or yearly. One-off sales, plus subscriptions billed monthly or annually.
What subscribers get Streaming access to your released and unreleased music, behind-the-scenes posts and chat, in the Insidr app. New releases as streams and DRM-free downloads, any back catalogue you include, subscriber-only releases and merch, and a subscriber community.
Listening A dedicated app for your music on iOS, Android and the web. Native iOS and Android apps that keep playing in the background, with lock-screen controls. Buyers stream purchases in the Bandcamp app and can save them for offline listening. Non-buyers can play a track in full three times by default.
Uploading music From the artist dashboard, or ask an AI assistant such as Claude to upload tracks and cover art through the Insidr MCP. New tracks stay private until you publish them. Upload releases and set prices in your Bandcamp account.
Fees A 20% platform fee, plus card processing of 2.9% + 20p. Subscriptions bought in the iOS app go through the App Store, which takes its commission before paying Insidr. 15% on digital sales and subscriptions, 10% once you pass $5,000 in 12 months, and 10% on physical goods. Processing is extra, typically 4–6%. Bandcamp Fridays waive the revenue share on set days.
Fan data See every subscriber, their interest and join date, and export your fan data. Fans can join your mailing list when they buy or follow, and you can export those emails.
Merch Not a shop. Insidr is built for subscriptions and listening. A core strength, from vinyl and cassettes to T-shirts.

Which is right for you?

An honest recommendation

Choose Bandcamp if…

  • You sell downloads, vinyl, CDs, cassettes or merch.
  • Your fans want to own files, not just stream.
  • Lower fees matter more to you than a dedicated app.
  • Your listeners already buy music on Bandcamp.

Choose Insidr if…

  • You want recurring monthly income from listening, not one-off purchases.
  • You’d rather give subscribers ongoing access to demos and works in progress than send them files.
  • You want a mobile app where fans listen, see behind the scenes and chat with you.
  • You want per-track listening insights, or a custom branded app later.

Where Insidr is different

A club, not a checkout.

01

Built around ongoing access

Bandcamp is at its best when fans buy a release. Insidr is built for the months in between: regular demos, updates and conversations that give fans a reason to stay subscribed.

02

Your vault, on their phone

Released and unreleased music, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and direct chat, all in one app on iOS, Android and the web.

03

See how fans listen

Streams, listeners and average completion for each track show you what your subscribers really come back for.

Use both

Sell on Bandcamp. Stay close on Insidr.

Bandcamp and Insidr solve different problems, so many artists don’t need to choose. Use Bandcamp for the moments fans buy, and Insidr for the relationship in between.

  1. Sell releases and merch on Bandcamp

    Downloads, vinyl and T-shirts are where Bandcamp shines, especially on Bandcamp Fridays.

  2. Keep the ongoing relationship on Insidr

    Demos, voice notes, early mixes and the story behind each release, streamed in a dedicated app.

  3. Invite your buyers

    Fans who buy on Bandcamp are often your most engaged listeners. Tell them what an Insidr subscription includes.

A real artist. A real result.

£11,786 paid to one independent artist.

Read the full case study

A custom Insidr subscription app generated £15,013 in about 14 months, with 235 paying subscribers and 1,556 fans in the app. Results are specific to that artist and period.

FAQ

Insidr vs Bandcamp, answered.

Still unsure? Meet the founders or get in touch.

Does Bandcamp have subscriptions?

Yes. Artists can set a monthly or annual subscription. Subscribers get your new releases as streams and downloads, any back catalogue you include, subscriber-only releases and access to a subscriber community. Bandcamp takes 15% (10% if you made $5,000 or more in the previous year), plus 2.9% + 30¢ processing.

Is Bandcamp cheaper than Insidr?

Yes, on fees. Bandcamp’s revenue share is 15% on digital, falling to 10% once you pass $5,000 in sales, compared with Insidr’s 20% platform fee. Insidr focuses on something different: a mobile listening club for your released and unreleased music, with chat, behind-the-scenes content and per-track listening insights.

Can I use Bandcamp and Insidr together?

Yes. Many artists sell releases and merch on Bandcamp, and use Insidr for an ongoing subscription built around unreleased music and a closer relationship with fans.

How quickly does Bandcamp pay artists?

Sales are currently paid to PayPal within 24 to 48 hours, and high-value items can take longer. Bandcamp is moving payouts to Stripe, and PayPal remains available until the end of 2026. Subscription income already pays out through Stripe.

Who owns Bandcamp?

Songtradr, which acquired Bandcamp from Epic Games in 2023.

Can non-buyers stream my music on Bandcamp?

Yes, within limits. By default, fans can play a track in full three times before being asked to buy. You can raise the limit or remove it. Insidr subscribers can stream everything you share for as long as they subscribe.