# BeatStars alternative in India: honest options for 2026

> A good BeatStars alternative in India prices plans in rupees, lets buyers pay by UPI and pays you into an Indian account. Airtune, BeatStore and Beat22 all do this. BeatStars itself charges in US dollars, pays beat sales only to PayPal, does not list UPI, and adds a 12% fee for Marketplace buyers. BeatStars is still the best-known global store.

Canonical: https://airtune.in/learn/compare/beatstars-alternative-india/
Updated: 2026-11-08
Publisher: Airtune (https://airtune.in/?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beatstars-alternative-india)

A BeatStars alternative in India makes sense when the way BeatStars handles money does not fit you. BeatStars is the best-known beat store in the world, and it does many things well. But it prices plans in US dollars, pays beat sales to PayPal, and does not list UPI for buyers.

**In short**

- **BeatStars** charges in dollars, pays beat sales to PayPal and does not list UPI.
- **Airtune, BeatStore and Beat22** take rupees and UPI; Airtune and BeatStore also sell in dollars.
- **BeatStars is still the best-known global store,** so you can keep both stores.

This guide explains what BeatStars costs and takes, then lists honest alternatives built for India. Every BeatStars figure comes from its own help centre, checked on 8 Nov 2026.

## Why do Indian producers look for a BeatStars alternative?

Indian producers look for a BeatStars alternative mainly because of payments, not because BeatStars is a bad store. Four facts from the BeatStars help centre explain it, all checked on 8 Nov 2026.

First, plans are priced in US dollars. Second, payouts for sold beats go only to PayPal; bank withdrawals, which apply to royalties, need a US dollar bank account and a tax ID. Third, UPI is not in its list of checkout methods, and India is not in its Apple Pay or Google Pay region lists, so many Indian artists must pay by card or PayPal.

Fourth, buyers on the BeatStars Marketplace pay a 12% service fee on top of the price, unless the seller covers it. One more change matters to some producers: BeatStars stopped taking new tracks into its Content ID & More service on 8 Dec 2025. If your buyers are mostly in India, a store that takes UPI and pays you in rupees removes these steps.

## How much does BeatStars cost?

BeatStars costs from $4.99 a month for its Starter plan, according to its help centre article last edited on 3 Sep 2026 and checked on 8 Nov 2026. There are three paid seller plans, each with a monthly and a yearly price in US dollars. The table below lists them.

BeatStars says you need a paid plan to upload, publish and sell tracks, and every paid plan allows unlimited beats. Since September 2024, new Starter members cannot upload stem files, sound kits or services. Sellers in the UK and EU may also pay VAT on top of the plan price.

BeatStars does not say on these pages whether it charges plans in rupees, so expect to pay in dollars. Your bank or card may add its own foreign currency charges, which differ by card. Check the final rupee amount on your card statement after the first payment.

| BeatStars plan | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $4.99 | $19.99 |
| Growth | $8.99 | $79.99 |
| Professional | $19.99 | $179.88 |

## What percentage does BeatStars take?

BeatStars takes 0% of beat sales on its platform, and producers keep 100% of beat sales revenue, according to its help centre (checked 8 Nov 2026). That is a real strength, and few stores match it on every paid plan. There are two costs to know about.

The first is the Marketplace service fee. When a buyer purchases beats, sound kits or services on the BeatStars Marketplace, 12% of the subtotal is added to the price. The buyer pays it, unless the seller chooses to cover it, in which case it comes out of the seller's share.

The fee does not apply to sales on a producer's own Pro Page or Blaze Player. The second cost is the payment fee: BeatStars says it does not process payments itself, so PayPal's own processing fee is taken from the gross amount. So the true answer is 0% commission, plus PayPal fees, plus a 12% buyer fee on Marketplace sales.

- **Worked example:** on a $30.00 lease sold on the BeatStars Marketplace, the 12% fee adds $3.60, so the buyer pays $33.60 (our maths on the stated fee).
- **If you cover the fee,** that $3.60 comes out of your share instead.

## What are the best apps like BeatStars for India?

The best apps like BeatStars for India are Airtune, BeatStore and Beat22, because all three take rupees and UPI at checkout. Airtune's commission on the Airtune pricing page is 20% on Studio Starter, 15% on Studio Lite, 10% on Studio, and 0% on Studio Pro.

Studio Pro costs ₹699 a month or ₹6,999 a year, GST included. Buyers abroad pay your separate dollar price. On Airtune, sales clear in 7 days (14 when paid in US dollars), then become available the next Friday, paid in rupees to UPI or bank. Payouts need KYC and PAN, the Airtune team checks each one, and there is no minimum payout.

BeatStore has a free plan at 20% commission, Creator at ₹399 a month with 5%, and Premium at ₹1,299 a month with 0%; gateway fees apply on every plan. Beat22's plans page lists 30% on its free Basic plan, 20% on Premium and 10% on Pro, though its terms say paid packs carry no separate commission.

| | Airtune | BeatStore | Beat22 | BeatStars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan currency | ₹, GST included | ₹, GST included | ₹ | USD |
| Buyer currencies | ₹ and $, set separately | INR and USD, switchable | ₹ (PayPal also accepted) | USD |
| Entry plan | Studio Starter ₹199 one time, 20% | Free, 20% | Free Basic, 30% | Starter $4.99 a month, 0% |
| Top plan | Studio Pro (0%): ₹699 a month or ₹6,999 a year | Premium (0%): ₹1,299 a month | Pro (10%): ₹599 a month or ₹4,999 a year | All paid plans at 0% |
| UPI at checkout | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Seller payouts | Rupees to UPI or bank | INR; sell page says UPI, seller agreement says bank transfer | Indian bank account; agreement says within 15 days | PayPal, for beat sales |
| Who can sell | Producers join by invite | Sellers based in India only | Mobile and Aadhaar checks; verified studios get a "Verified" status | Any paid plan; payouts depend on PayPal support in your country |

All prices are list prices as of 8 Nov 2026., and "Pro" includes Legacy.

**Worked example: one ₹999 Easy WAV sale on Airtune.** ₹999 is the example Easy WAV price on the Airtune licensing page. The figures are our maths on the pricing-page rates.

- **Studio Starter (20%):** commission ₹199.80, you keep ₹799.20.
- **Studio (10%):** commission ₹99.90, you keep ₹899.10.
- **Studio Pro (0%):** you keep all ₹999.00.

The payment provider's fee shows on its own line on every sale.

- **Every plan:** see [Airtune Studio plans](/learn/features/airtune-studio-plans/) for prices and limits.
- **All six stores:** read our full [best beat marketplace in India](/learn/compare/best-beat-marketplace-india/) comparison.
- **Sell services too.** Any Airtune Studio plan can sell services such as mixing, listed on [Airtune services](https://airtune.in/explore/services?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beatstars-alternative-india).

> **Watch out:** Airtune prices are tax-inclusive. Airtune pays the tax on its own commission, and any other tax on what you earn, such as GST or income tax, is yours.

## Is BeatStars still worth it?

BeatStars is still worth it for producers who want the best-known global marketplace and can receive PayPal payments without trouble. Its help centre refers to storing "tens of millions" of audio files, and it has the best-known name of any beat store.

It charges 0% commission on beat sales on every paid plan, and its entry plan costs just $4.99 a month. It creates a licence agreement automatically for every sale, with several licence types, including free and paid options. It also offers more rights tools than most stores: BeatStars Publishing, Beat ID tracking and a Creator Rights Agency.

Where it falls short for India is money: dollar pricing, PayPal-only beat payouts, no listed UPI, and the 12% Marketplace buyer fee. You can do both. Keep a BeatStars page for global reach and use an Indian store for buyers who want to pay in rupees, so you lose neither audience.

> **Tip:** test an Indian store alongside BeatStars for a few months before you move anything. Compare sales from each, not just fees.

## Next steps

1. **List where your buyers live.** If most are in India, compare costs on the [Airtune pricing page](https://airtune.in/pricing?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beatstars-alternative-india).
2. **Understand payouts:** read how to [get paid for selling beats in India](/learn/guides/get-paid-selling-beats-india/), including KYC and PAN.
3. **Plan your YouTube videos:** Airtune uploads your beats to your own channel on every plan; see [YouTube beat upload sync](/learn/features/youtube-beat-upload-sync/).

---

Sell beats and sync them to YouTube. Open your store, set your own prices in rupees and US dollars, and get paid to UPI or bank. https://airtune.in/pricing?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beatstars-alternative-india

## Sources

- [BeatStars help: How much does BeatStars cost](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/7797168579227-How-Much-Does-BeatStars-Cost) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Subscription FAQs](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/7797439320475-Subscription-FAQs) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: How do I get paid for my music sales](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/206363117-How-do-I-get-paid-for-my-music-sales) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Why is there a service fee on the Marketplace](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/17747783078171-Why-is-there-a-service-fee-on-the-Marketplace) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Payment methods at checkout](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/36952431668507-What-Payment-Methods-Can-I-Use-to-Checkout-on-BeatStars) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Ways to add a payment method](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/20390175468315-What-are-the-Different-Ways-to-Add-a-Payment-Method) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Add a bank or PayPal account to withdraw royalties](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/360050728513-How-Do-I-Add-My-Bank-or-PayPal-Account-to-Withdraw-My-Royalties) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Content licenses and contracts FAQs](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/54320717002395-Content-Licenses-Contracts-FAQs) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: How the Growth plan affects Starter members](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/27721998250907-How-Does-The-Growth-Plan-Affect-Current-Starter-Plan-Members) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Is PayPal available in my country](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026843553-Is-Paypal-Available-in-My-Country) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Publishing contract deal terms FAQs](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500000213922-Publishing-Contract-Deal-Terms-FAQs) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: What is Beat ID](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407232579739-What-is-Beat-ID) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Creator Rights Agency FAQs](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/24148330940827-Creator-Rights-Agency-FAQs) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStars help: Content ID & More wind-down FAQs](https://help.beatstars.com/hc/en-us/articles/44500647605787-Content-ID-More-Wind-Down-FAQs) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Airtune pricing page (Studio plans, commission, payments FAQ)](https://airtune.in/pricing?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beatstars-alternative-india) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Airtune Payout Policy](https://airtune.in/policy/payout-policy?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beatstars-alternative-india) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStore sell page (plans, commission, payouts)](https://beatstore.in/sell) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStore homepage (payment methods)](https://beatstore.in/) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStore FAQs (upload limits, gateway fees)](https://beatstore.in/faqs) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStore seller agreement](https://beatstore.in/seller-agreement) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [BeatStore terms and conditions](https://beatstore.in/terms-and-conditions) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Beat22 subscriptions page (Basic, Premium and Pro prices and commission), from the live plans page as read on 8 Nov 2026 by our browser check](https://beat22.com/subscriptions) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Beat22 terms and seller agreement](https://beat22.com/terms-conditions) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Beat22 help: How do I get paid for my beat sales](https://help.beat22.com/how-do-i-get-paid-for-my-beat-sales-on-beat22/) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Beat22 web app (payment methods incl. PayPal; app code main.fc6b9fc8dc1ce70f.js)](https://beat22.com/) (checked 2026-11-08)