TL;DR: BeatStars offers the largest marketplace (2M+ users) but charges a 12% marketplace fee. Airbit now has 0% commission and lower subscription costs. Self-hosting gives you 100% control and profit but requires more marketing effort. Most successful producers use a hybrid approach or self-host with tools like Feedtracks.
You’ve spent hours perfecting your beats. Your 808s hit hard, your melodies are fire, and you’re ready to turn your craft into cash. But here’s the problem: where do you actually sell them?
The beat-selling landscape in 2025 comes down to three main paths:
- BeatStars: The biggest marketplace with built-in traffic
- Airbit: Lower fees with recent 0% commission policy
- Self-hosting: Your own website with complete control
Each approach has serious trade-offs. BeatStars gives you exposure but takes a cut of every marketplace sale. Airbit just eliminated seller commissions but has a smaller audience. Self-hosting means 100% profit but zero guaranteed traffic.
Here’s the thing: the "best" platform depends entirely on where you are in your producer journey and what you value most—built-in exposure, profit margins, or complete independence.
What you’ll learn:
- Real pricing breakdown for all three options
- When each platform makes the most sense
- How to avoid the most expensive mistakes
- Why some producers are moving to hybrid models
Quick Comparison: BeatStars vs Airbit vs Self-Hosting
| Feature | BeatStars | Airbit | Self-Hosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | Free - $19.99 | Free - $29.99 | $15 - $40 |
| Marketplace Commission | 12% (marketplace sales) | 0% | 0% (you keep 100%) |
| Built-in Traffic | 2M+ users | 800K+ users | None (you drive traffic) |
| Free Plan Uploads | Limited | 20 beats | Unlimited |
| Pro Page | Yes ($19.99/mo) | Yes | Full website control |
| YouTube Monetization | Yes (Soundcloud + Audiomack) | Yes (Content ID) | Requires separate setup |
| Platform Dependency | High | High | None |
| Branding Control | Limited | Limited | Complete |
| Best For | New producers wanting exposure | Cost-conscious sellers | Established brands |
BeatStars: The Industry Giant
BeatStars is the 800-pound gorilla of beat selling platforms. With over 2 million registered users, it’s where most artists start their search for beats.
How BeatStars Works
BeatStars operates as both a marketplace and website builder. You can upload beats to the main marketplace (where buyers browse millions of tracks) or create a Pro Page—essentially your own branded beat store hosted on BeatStars.
Here’s what catches most producers off guard: The 12% marketplace fee.
If an artist finds your beat through BeatStars’ search or discovery features, a 12% service fee gets added to the purchase. Even if you have the $19.99/mo Professional plan. The only way to avoid this fee is if buyers purchase directly through your Pro Page (which you need the Pro plan to access).
BeatStars Pricing Breakdown
Free Plan:
- Limited beat uploads
- 30% commission on all sales (this is brutal)
- Basic features only
Starter Plan ($20/year):
- No longer allows uploading trackouts/stems
- Essentially useless for serious producers
Growth Plan ($80/year):
- More uploads
- Lower commission
- Still limited features
Professional Plan ($19.99/month or $179.88/year):
- Unlimited uploads
- Pro Page for commission-free sales
- Soundcloud + Audiomack monetization
- 0% commission on Pro Page sales
- 12% fee still applies to marketplace sales
BeatStars Strengths
Massive built-in marketplace: This is BeatStars’ killer feature. Upload a beat, optimize your title and tags, and you can get organic sales without any marketing. I’ve seen producers make their first sale within 48 hours of uploading.
Advanced analytics: BeatStars gives you detailed data on plays, downloads, and buyer behavior. You can track which beats are getting traction and double down on what works.
Soundcloud monetization: This is unique to BeatStars. You can monetize plays on Soundcloud and Audiomack, creating an additional income stream beyond beat sales.
Licensing automation: BeatStars handles all the legal licensing automatically. Buyers get instant contracts, and you get protected without hiring a lawyer.
BeatStars Weaknesses
That 12% marketplace fee is expensive: On a $30 beat, you lose $3.60. Over 100 sales, that’s $360 gone. The fee structure is confusing—many producers think the Pro plan eliminates all fees, but it doesn’t.
Platform dependency: BeatStars controls your customer relationships. You can’t export your customer list or reach buyers directly outside the platform. If BeatStars changes their terms, raises fees, or (worst case) shuts down, you lose everything.
High competition: With 2 million producers, standing out requires serious marketing effort. Your beats can easily get buried in the noise.
Limited customization: Even with a Pro Page, you’re stuck with BeatStars’ templates and branding. It doesn’t fully feel like your own brand.
Who Should Use BeatStars?
Choose BeatStars if you:
- Are just starting out and need exposure
- Don’t have an existing audience to drive traffic
- Value automation and licensing simplicity
- Want additional revenue from streaming monetization
- Are willing to pay the 12% fee for marketplace access
Skip BeatStars if you:
- Already have a strong social media following
- Want to maximize profit per sale
- Prefer complete control over branding
- Don’t want to compete with millions of other beats
Airbit: The Commission-Free Alternative
Airbit used to be known as MyFlashStore. In 2024-2025, they made a massive strategic shift: eliminating all seller commissions on marketplace sales.
This changed the game.
How Airbit Works
Like BeatStars, Airbit offers both a marketplace and personal beat-selling pages. But Airbit’s approach is fundamentally different: zero platform commission on all sales.
The only fees you pay are standard PayPal/Stripe transaction costs (around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). That’s it. Airbit doesn’t take a percentage.
Airbit Pricing Breakdown
Basic Plan (Free):
- Upload up to 20 beats (doubled from 10 in 2024)
- 0% commission on all sales
- Auto-post beat videos to socials
- Unlock free downloads through social engagement
Professional Plan ($9.99/month):
- Unlimited beat uploads
- Custom branding
- Advanced analytics
- All sales features unlocked
Platinum Plan ($19.99/month):
- Everything in Professional
- Priority support
- Enhanced marketing tools
Airbit Strengths
Zero commission = better profit margins: This is huge. On a $30 beat sale, you keep $28.13 after payment processing (vs. $25.80 on BeatStars marketplace). Over 100 sales, that’s an extra $238 in your pocket.
YouTube Content ID: Airbit automatically manages YouTube Content ID for you. If someone uses your beat in a video without a license, you get paid. BeatStars requires third-party tools for this.
Cheaper entry point: Even the paid plans are more affordable than BeatStars Pro. If you’re budget-conscious, Airbit wins.
Simpler fee structure: There’s no confusing "marketplace fee vs. Pro Page" situation. All sales are commission-free.
Airbit Weaknesses
Smaller marketplace: With 800K users vs. BeatStars’ 2M+, you get less organic discovery. This means you need to drive your own traffic through social media, YouTube, or ads.
Fewer integrations: BeatStars has Soundcloud and Audiomack monetization. Airbit doesn’t (yet).
Less brand recognition: When artists search for beats, they default to BeatStars. You’ll need to educate buyers that Airbit is a legitimate platform.
Still platform-dependent: Yes, there’s no commission, but you’re still building on someone else’s land. If Airbit changes their terms or pricing, you’re stuck.
Who Should Use Airbit?
Choose Airbit if you:
- Want to maximize profit per sale
- Already drive traffic from YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok
- Prefer simpler, more transparent pricing
- Care about YouTube Content ID protection
- Don’t want to pay BeatStars’ 12% marketplace fee
Skip Airbit if you:
- Need the largest possible marketplace exposure
- Rely on platform traffic for sales
- Want Soundcloud/Audiomack monetization
- Prefer a platform with more name recognition
Self-Hosting: Complete Independence
Here’s the uncomfortable truth about BeatStars and Airbit: you don’t own your customer relationships. You can’t email your buyers directly, you can’t create custom upsells, and if the platform changes their rules, you’re powerless.
Self-hosting solves all of this—but it comes with a major catch.
How Self-Hosting Works
Instead of listing beats on a third-party marketplace, you create your own website. You control everything: branding, pricing, customer data, marketing automation, and the entire buying experience.
Technical requirements:
- Domain name ($10-15/year)
- Web hosting ($5-10/month)
- Beat player/selling plugin ($10-20/month)
- Payment processor (Stripe/PayPal: ~2.9% + $0.30 per sale)
Total cost: $15-40/month
Popular self-hosting tools include:
- WordPress + Music Maker Theme ($49 one-time)
- Bandzoogle ($10-20/month all-in-one)
- Heate (modern beat-selling platform)
- Feedtracks (audio collaboration + beat selling + blockchain certification)
Self-Hosting Strengths
100% profit retention: No platform fees. No marketplace commissions. Just payment processing costs (~3%). On a $30 beat, you keep $28.80+ instead of $25.80 (BeatStars) or $28.13 (Airbit).
Over 1,000 sales, this difference adds up to thousands of dollars.
Complete customer ownership: You collect email addresses, build a buyer list, and can re-market to customers forever. Want to offer exclusive packs to previous buyers? You can. Want to announce new releases? Direct email access.
BeatStars and Airbit don’t give you this.
Full branding control: Your website, your colors, your vibe. No BeatStars logo. No Airbit footer. It’s 100% your brand, which makes you look more professional and established.
No platform dependency: If you build on BeatStars and they change their terms, you’re screwed. If you build on Airbit and they shut down, you lose everything. With self-hosting, you own the infrastructure.
Advanced marketing capabilities: Email sequences, upsells, discount codes, bundles, payment plans—you can implement all of this. Platforms severely limit these options.
Self-Hosting Weaknesses
Zero built-in traffic: This is the big one. BeatStars has 2 million users browsing for beats. Your website has zero until you drive traffic yourself.
You need to invest in:
- YouTube marketing (type beat videos)
- Instagram/TikTok content
- Paid ads (Google, Facebook, Instagram)
- SEO and content marketing
If you’re starting from scratch with no audience, self-hosting is extremely difficult. You’ll spend weeks or months building traffic before seeing sales.
Technical complexity: You need to set up hosting, install WordPress, configure a beat player, connect payment processors, and handle security. It’s not rocket science, but it’s more complex than clicking "upload" on BeatStars.
No marketplace discovery: On BeatStars, a buyer searching for "trap beat" might stumble on your track. With self-hosting, that never happens unless they already know your brand.
You handle customer support: Questions about licenses, download issues, payment problems—that’s all on you. Platforms handle this automatically.
Who Should Use Self-Hosting?
Choose self-hosting if you:
- Already have an established audience (10K+ followers)
- Drive consistent traffic from YouTube, social media, or ads
- Want maximum profit per sale
- Value customer ownership and email marketing
- Plan to build a long-term brand, not just sell beats
- Have technical skills or budget to hire help
Skip self-hosting if you:
- Are just starting with no audience
- Don’t want to handle technical setup
- Rely on marketplace discovery for sales
- Prefer someone else handle licensing and support
- Don’t have time to drive your own traffic
The Hybrid Approach: Why Most Pros Use Multiple Platforms
Here’s what successful producers actually do: they don’t pick one platform. They use multiple channels strategically.
Common Hybrid Models
Model 1: Marketplace for Discovery + Self-Hosted for Premium
- List your catalog on BeatStars/Airbit for exposure
- Drive premium buyers to your self-hosted site
- Keep marketplace prices slightly higher
- Offer exclusive beats only on your site
Model 2: Free Platform + Self-Hosted for Brand
- Use Airbit’s free plan (20 beats, 0% commission)
- Build your main business on your own website
- Cross-promote between platforms
Model 3: YouTube Traffic → Self-Hosted
- Post "type beats" on YouTube with millions of views
- Link to your self-hosted store in description
- Skip marketplaces entirely
The key insight: marketplaces are good for cold traffic, self-hosting is better for warm audiences.
If someone doesn’t know you exist, BeatStars’ marketplace helps them discover you. But once you have a following, self-hosting maximizes profit.
How Feedtracks Fits Into Self-Hosting
If you’re considering self-hosting, here’s where Feedtracks offers a unique advantage: it’s built for audio professionals who want to own their platform without the technical headaches.
What Makes Feedtracks Different
Designed for direct artist relationships: Instead of selling to strangers on a marketplace, Feedtracks helps you build deeper connections with artists. You can share full project folders, receive feedback, collaborate in real-time, and sell beats—all in one place.
Blockchain certification: Every track you upload gets blockchain-certified. This adds a layer of authenticity and ownership protection that BeatStars and Airbit don’t offer. For premium beats or exclusive licenses, this is a huge selling point.
No per-sale fees: Unlike BeatStars’ 12% marketplace tax, Feedtracks doesn’t take a cut of your sales. You pay a flat subscription ($0-9.99/month depending on storage needs), and you keep 100% of beat revenue minus payment processing.
Audio collaboration built-in: Most beat-selling platforms only handle transactions. Feedtracks combines selling with collaboration tools—shared drives, comments, version control. If you’re working with the same artists repeatedly, this integration is powerful.
When Feedtracks Makes Sense
Use Feedtracks if you:
- Work with a core group of recurring artist clients
- Want blockchain verification for premium/exclusive beats
- Need collaboration features beyond just selling
- Value ownership and direct relationships over marketplace exposure
- Want a professional platform without building a full website
How it compares:
| Feature | BeatStars | Airbit | Feedtracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission per sale | 12% (marketplace) | 0% | 0% |
| Monthly cost | $19.99 | $9.99-$19.99 | $0-$9.99 |
| Blockchain certification | No | No | Yes |
| Collaboration tools | No | No | Yes |
| Customer ownership | No | No | Yes |
| Built-in marketplace | Yes | Yes | No (direct sales model) |
Feedtracks isn’t trying to replace BeatStars’ marketplace exposure. Instead, it’s for producers who’ve outgrown the "post and pray" model and want to own their client relationships.
Decision Framework: Which Platform Should You Choose?
Let’s cut through the noise. Here’s how to decide based on your specific situation.
If You’re Just Starting (0-1,000 Instagram followers)
Recommendation: BeatStars Free or Airbit Basic
Why? You need exposure more than you need profit optimization. BeatStars’ marketplace gives you a chance to make sales while you build your audience. Airbit’s free plan is also solid with 0% commission.
Action plan:
- Upload 10-20 of your best beats to BeatStars or Airbit
- Optimize titles with "[Artist] Type Beat" formatting
- Promote beats on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
- Reinvest first profits into upgrading your plan or marketing
Avoid: Self-hosting. You don’t have traffic yet, so a personal website will sit empty while you pay hosting fees.
If You’re Growing (1,000-10,000 followers)
Recommendation: Airbit Professional ($9.99/mo) or BeatStars Professional ($19.99/mo)
Why? You’re starting to get consistent traffic, but you still benefit from marketplace exposure. At this stage, commission fees start to hurt, so Airbit’s 0% policy becomes more attractive.
Action plan:
- Upgrade to a paid plan on your chosen platform
- Build an email list from your social followers
- Test driving traffic to your Pro Page/beat store
- Start planning for eventual self-hosting
Consider: Running both platforms simultaneously. Some producers split their catalog—exclusive beats on one, leases on another.
If You’re Established (10,000+ followers)
Recommendation: Self-hosting with Feedtracks, WordPress, or Bandzoogle
Why? You have the traffic and brand recognition to drive sales without marketplace discovery. Keeping 100% of revenue (minus processing fees) significantly increases your income.
Action plan:
- Set up your self-hosted beat store
- Migrate your audience from social media to your website
- Build an email list for launch announcements
- Optionally keep a free Airbit account for backup exposure
Bonus: Use Feedtracks if you collaborate directly with artists. The blockchain certification and collaboration features add unique value that justifies premium pricing.
If You’re Established But Want Passive Income
Recommendation: Hybrid model (Airbit free plan + Self-hosted)
Why? Let Airbit’s marketplace generate passive sales while your main business runs on your own site.
Action plan:
- Upload catalog to Airbit free plan (20 beats max)
- Use these as "discovery" beats with higher pricing
- Drive serious buyers to your self-hosted site
- Offer exclusive beats only on your site
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Choosing Based on Features, Not Traffic
Why it’s wrong: The best platform means nothing if you can’t drive sales. Producers obsess over "BeatStars vs. Airbit features" but ignore the fundamental question: where will your buyers come from?
Better approach: Choose based on your current audience size and traffic sources. Features matter, but traffic matters more.
Mistake #2: Paying for Premium Plans Too Early
Why it’s wrong: New producers often upgrade to BeatStars Pro ($19.99/mo) immediately, hoping it will boost sales. It won’t. If you’re not getting sales on the free plan, the Pro plan won’t magically fix that.
Better approach: Prove demand on free plans first. When you’re making consistent sales and platform fees are cutting into profits, then upgrade.
Mistake #3: Self-Hosting With No Audience
Why it’s wrong: Launching your own website sounds professional, but if you have 200 Instagram followers, nobody will visit it. You’ll pay $30/month for a site with zero traffic.
Better approach: Build your audience first on free platforms. When you can consistently drive 1,000+ visitors/month to your Pro Page, then consider self-hosting.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Customer Ownership
Why it’s wrong: Platforms own your customer relationships. You can’t email buyers, you can’t remarket, and you can’t survive if the platform shuts down or changes terms.
Better approach: Even if you use BeatStars/Airbit, capture emails separately. Offer a free beat pack for email signups. Build your list from day one.
Mistake #5: Setting Prices Based on Platform, Not Value
Why it’s wrong: Some producers charge $20 for beats on BeatStars because "that’s what everyone charges." This is lazy and leaves money on the table.
Better approach: Price based on the value you provide, your brand positioning, and your audience. If your beats are genuinely better or you offer unique services (like Feedtracks’ blockchain certification), charge accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use BeatStars and Airbit at the same time?
Yes, absolutely. Many producers list the same beats on both platforms to maximize exposure. Just make sure you track your inventory and licenses properly—if you sell an exclusive license on one platform, remove it from the other immediately.
Some producers also use different pricing strategies per platform (higher prices on BeatStars marketplace to account for the 12% fee).
How much can I realistically earn as a beginner?
Be honest with yourself: most producers make $0-100/month in their first 6-12 months. The ones who succeed faster typically have existing audiences from YouTube or TikTok.
If you’re uploading beats and hoping for organic sales with no marketing, expect slow growth. If you’re actively promoting beats through content, you can hit $500-1,000/month within 6 months.
Do I need a business license to sell beats?
It depends on your location and how much you’re earning. In the U.S., you should register as a sole proprietor or LLC once you’re making consistent income. Consult a local accountant for specifics.
For tax purposes, keep track of all sales and expenses from day one.
What’s better for exclusive licenses—marketplace or self-hosted?
Self-hosted, hands down. Exclusive licenses are high-value, personalized sales. You want direct communication with the buyer, custom terms, and the ability to negotiate. Platforms automate this, which removes the personal touch that justifies premium pricing.
Feedtracks works especially well for exclusives because of blockchain certification and direct artist collaboration.
Should I offer unlimited leases or capped leases?
This is a strategy question, not a platform question. Unlimited leases are easier to manage (less tracking) but potentially limit your revenue if a song blows up. Capped leases (e.g., max 5,000 streams) let you charge more for higher caps.
Most producers start with unlimited leases to simplify operations, then switch to capped leases as they grow.
How do I drive traffic to my beat store?
This is the $1,000,000 question. The most effective strategies in 2025:
- YouTube type beats: Still the #1 traffic source. Post regularly with optimized titles.
- Instagram Reels/TikTok: Short beat snippets with hooks can go viral.
- Collaborations: Work with rappers who credit you, driving their fans to your store.
- Paid ads: Google and Facebook ads work if you have budget and test creatively.
- Email marketing: Build a list and send new release announcements.
The producers making serious money aren’t waiting for platform discovery—they’re actively driving traffic.
Summary & Next Steps
Key Takeaways:
- ✅ BeatStars = Best for beginners needing marketplace exposure (but watch that 12% fee)
- ✅ Airbit = Best for cost-conscious producers with 0% commission
- ✅ Self-hosting = Best for established producers with existing traffic
- ✅ Feedtracks = Best for producers wanting direct artist relationships + blockchain certification
- ✅ Most successful producers use hybrid strategies (marketplace + self-hosted)
Your Next Steps:
-
Assess your current situation
- How many followers do you have?
- Where does your traffic come from?
- How many beat sales are you making monthly?
-
Choose your starting platform
- 0-1K followers → BeatStars Free or Airbit Basic
- 1K-10K followers → Airbit Professional or BeatStars Pro
- 10K+ followers → Self-host with Feedtracks or WordPress
-
Set up your store this week
- Don’t overthink it. Pick one platform and launch.
- Upload 5-10 of your best beats to start
- Create compelling descriptions and cover art
-
Start driving traffic immediately
- Post at least 3 pieces of content per week (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok)
- Link to your beat store in every bio and description
- Engage with artists who might need beats
-
Track your metrics
- How many visitors are you getting?
- What’s your conversion rate (visitors → sales)?
- Which beats are selling, and which aren’t?
The Bottom Line:
There’s no universally "best" platform. BeatStars, Airbit, and self-hosting each serve different producers at different stages.
What matters most isn’t which platform you choose—it’s whether you’re consistently creating quality beats, building an audience, and driving traffic to wherever you’re selling.
Pick one, launch, and iterate. You can always switch or add platforms later.
Related Articles
- How to Build an Email List as a Beatmaker
- TikTok for Beatmakers: How to Go Viral and Sell More Beats
- How to Get Your First Beat Placement Without Industry Connections
About the Author: The Feedtracks team helps audio professionals own their creative business with cloud storage, collaboration tools, and blockchain-certified beat sales. Try Feedtracks free and see how direct artist relationships can transform your producer income.
Last Updated: December 2025