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PlaylistLookup vs DistroKid Playlister
DistroKid Playlister and PlaylistLookup do the same core job: they find the email addresses and Instagram accounts that Spotify playlist curators publish, so you can pitch them yourself. The difference is how you get it. Playlister is part of DistroKid's Ultimate plan, $89.99 per year, which is first of all a distribution plan; it is not on DistroKid's cheaper plans and is not sold on its own. PlaylistLookup is a separate tool that works whichever distributor you use, has a free account, and adds filters for followers and recent activity, similar artist search, a playlist health check and sending from your own Gmail. Checked on November 9, 2026.
| Topic | PlaylistLookup | DistroKid Playlister |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Directory of Spotify curator contacts | DistroKid's "search engine for finding the email addresses and Instagram handles of people who run playlists" |
| Who can use it | Anyone, whichever distributor you use | DistroKid members on the Ultimate plan only |
| Contact types | Email, Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, a website or a submission link, where the curator published one. Email addresses go through a deliverability check when they are added to the directory. | Email addresses and Instagram handles, according to DistroKid |
| Search and filters | Keyword or genre search; on Premium and Pro, filters for followers and last playlist activity. Similar artist search on every plan. | Not described on DistroKid's public pages |
| Playlist check | Playlist health check that estimates whether a playlist has real listeners (Free 1 health check, Premium 15 health checks, Pro 50 health checks a month). An estimate, not proof. | Not mentioned on DistroKid's public pages |
| Sending | From your own Gmail, in Premium and Pro (how it works) | Not described on DistroKid's public pages |
| Size | 401,000+ playlists tracked, 115,000+ with a public contact channel (as of November 13, 2026) | No total published on DistroKid's public pages |
| Price | Premium $6.95 per month or $54.95 per year. Pro $11.95 per month or $95.95 per year. | Included in DistroKid Ultimate, $89.99 per year ($7.50 per month billed yearly), which also covers distribution. Musician ($24.99 per year) and Musician Plus ($44.99 per year) do not include it. |
| Free option | Free account with 2 searches per week and 1 health check a month | None. DistroKid's free tools Playlist Spotlight and Wheel of Playlist put songs on DistroKid's own playlists; they are not a contact search. |
DistroKid publishes little about how Playlister works: its public pages describe what it finds and which plan includes it, not its filters, limits or size. Other reviews mention limits, but we only list what DistroKid states itself. If you have Ultimate, the quickest check is to search your genre in both tools.
Who Playlister fits
Playlister fits artists who already pay for DistroKid Ultimate, for example because they release for several artists or want its other Ultimate features. For them the contact search costs nothing extra, and it is a reasonable place to start.
Who PlaylistLookup fits
PlaylistLookup fits artists on another distributor, on a cheaper DistroKid plan, or who want more than a contact list: filters for followers and recent activity, similar artist search, a playlist health check before you pitch, and sending from your own Gmail on Premium and Pro. It does not distribute music.
DistroKid's own playlist tools
DistroKid also has Playlist Spotlight, a weekly vote for its genre playlists, and Wheel of Playlist, a spin for a position on one DistroKid playlist. Both are free for members and put songs on DistroKid's own playlists. The guide to DistroKid and Spotify playlists covers them, and what DistroKid says about paid playlist services.
FAQ
What is DistroKid Playlister?
Playlister is DistroKid's search engine for the email addresses and Instagram handles of people who run Spotify playlists. It is included in DistroKid's Ultimate plan, $89.99 per year, and not in the Musician or Musician Plus plans. This was checked on November 9, 2026.
Is there an alternative to DistroKid Playlister?
Yes. PlaylistLookup is a curator contact directory that works with any distributor and has a free account with 2 searches per week. PlaylistSupply and artist.tools also have curator contacts. All are compared on the alternatives page.
Should I upgrade to DistroKid Ultimate for Playlister?
It depends on what else you need from Ultimate. Ultimate is $89.99 per year against $44.99 for Musician Plus, and the extra pays for more than Playlister. If the contact search is the only reason, compare it with a separate tool such as PlaylistLookup, which you can try with a free account.
Does DistroKid get me on Spotify playlists?
DistroKid says it never promises playlist placement. You pitch Spotify's editors yourself in Spotify for Artists, and you contact independent curators yourself, with Playlister or another tool.
Do you guarantee playlist placements?
No. No service can promise a curator will add your track. PlaylistLookup provides the contact details. The pitch and the relationship are yours.
Sources
DistroKid Playlister details come from its own public pages, opened on November 9, 2026:
- DistroKid: free tools to promote your music (Playlister, Playlist Spotlight, Wheel of Playlist)
- DistroKid plans and pricing ("Search engine for playlist contact info" on Ultimate)
- DistroKid Help Center: DistroKid Goodies ("Playlister - Contact info for Spotify playlist owners. (Ultimate plan only)")
Our own figures and how we count them: How our data works. Something out of date? Email support@playlistlookup.com and we will correct it.