The demand for stress relief and relaxation techniques is soaring. The self-care market is experiencing rapid growth, with meditation apps leading the charge. The top 10 meditation apps generated a staggering $159 million last year alone. If you create guided meditation recordings, now is the perfect time to explore avenues for selling your content online and capitalize on this expanding market.
Choosing the right platform to sell your audio content can be a daunting task. Numerous options exist, each with unique features and benefits. This guide analyzes various platforms for selling meditation recordings online, empowering you to make informed decisions and dedicate more time to creating.
1. Soundwise
What is it?
Soundwise is a direct-to-consumer audio publishing platform designed for modern creators. It enables independent creators to publish, sell, and deliver audio content directly to their audience through a user-friendly and efficient app.
How does it work?
Creators upload their meditation recordings directly to the Soundwise dashboard and customize their landing pages. Listeners can purchase and listen to content on their desktops or mobile devices. You maintain complete control, setting your own prices, offering discounts and promotional content, and engaging with your audience through comments and messages. Soundwise provides detailed analytics and individual user information (name and email), allowing you to understand your audience and build your email list.
How much does it cost?
Soundwise offers four membership tiers with monthly or annual billing options. Importantly, Pro and Platinum accounts are not subject to transaction fees or commissions on audio product sales. See Soundwise Pricing for detailed information.
Pros:
- Minimal revenue share: Creators retain most of their earnings.
- Control over pricing, promotions, subscriptions, and bundles.
- Functional mobile app for convenient listening on the go.
- Fast customer support.
- Comprehensive audience analytics, including listener names and email addresses.
- Interactive comment, messaging, and PDF upload features.
- Fast payments via Stripe.
Cons:
- No third-party distribution to streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music.
- Listeners need an account to stream content on the app.
2. Insight Timer
Alt Text: Insight Timer mobile app interface showcasing a variety of guided meditation sessions.
What is it?
Insight Timer is a leading free meditation app with a vast library of audio content from both established and emerging teachers. It boasts a large user base; American users spend 63% of their time on meditation apps using Insight Timer.
How does it work?
Anyone can create a free Publisher account and upload guided meditations. Revenue is based on overall user subscriptions on the Insight Timer platform, so creators cannot set individual prices.
How much does it cost?
Although Insight Timer is free for Publishers, earnings are generally low unless you are a well-known creator. Insight Timer takes 50% of all subscription income and allocates the remaining portion to teachers based on total play count (75%) and teacher engagement (25%). Revenue can also be earned through donations, but Insight Timer takes 20% of those earnings. Teachers are paid every 30 days if their revenue exceeds $10. Find more earning information here.
Pros:
- Functional mobile app.
- Large user base and brand recognition.
- Free to sign up.
- Interactive features for audience engagement.
Cons:
- Difficult to earn substantial income due to revenue structure and fees.
- No control over pricing, promotions, subscriptions, or bundles.
- 30-day payment processing time.
- Limited access to personalized audience information.
3. Spotify
Alt Text: Spotify’s podcast page, showcasing a diverse selection of podcast categories and trending shows.
What is it?
Spotify is the largest music streaming platform globally, with 286 million monthly users. Spotify has expanded into the podcast and meditation sectors.
How does it work?
To get paid on Spotify, you must upload your content as a music creator. Content uploaded as a podcast will not be monetized. This requires using a third-party distributor such as TuneCore or DistroKid to upload your guided meditation audio files and associated metadata. These distributors compile your files into an album and distribute it across platforms.
How much does it cost?
Spotify is free for creators, but third-party aggregators have variable costs and fees. Aggregators distribute your content to many streaming platforms, so research costs and options based on your specific needs.
Spotify’s per-stream pay rates are notoriously low, typically ranging from $0.003 to $0.005.
Pros:
- Functional mobile app.
- Large user base and brand recognition.
- Free to sign up.
Cons:
- Very low pay rate per stream.
- No control over pricing, promotions, subscriptions, or bundles.
- Lack of interactive features for audience engagement.
- Limited audience information.
4. Gumroad
What is it?
Similar to Soundwise, Gumroad is a direct-to-consumer selling platform providing a personalized landing page, detailed analytics, and tools for audience management and customer engagement. However, it lacks a dedicated mobile app, limiting transactions to desktop devices.
How does it work?
After creating an account, creators can build landing pages, upload audio files, and set prices and promotions. Customers do not need a Gumroad account to make purchases. Refer to Gumroad Getting Started for detailed instructions.
How much does it cost?
Gumroad’s free subscription offers limited features and charges a fee of 8.5% + $0.30 on each sale. A premium account costs $10 per month with a 3.5% + $0.30 fee on each sale.
Pros:
- Control over pricing, promotions, subscriptions, and bundles.
- Detailed audience analytics.
- Interactive features for audience engagement.
- Low monthly subscription cost for creators.
Cons:
- No mobile app. Most audio listening occurs on mobile devices, making a mobile-friendly option critical for attracting listeners.
- Transaction fees on every sale.
5. Apple Music, Amazon Music, Google Play Music, and Tidal
Alt Text: Apple Music application displaying various music genres and curated playlists on a Mac desktop.
What is it?
Numerous audio streaming options exist. Beyond Spotify, you can upload your guided meditations to Apple Music, Amazon Music, Google Play Music, and Tidal. These platforms share similar features, pros, and cons.
How does it work?
Similar to Spotify, you’ll need a third-party distributor to upload your guided meditation audio files and compile them into an “album.” The distributor will then distribute your album across various platforms.
How much does it cost?
These platforms are free for creators, but third-party aggregators charge variable costs and fees. You cannot set your own prices or subscriptions, as payment is per stream. Tidal is known for offering higher per-stream rates, approximately $0.0125 per listen, but the rates are still low.
Pros:
- Functional mobile applications.
- Large user bases and brand recognition.
- Free to sign up.
Cons:
- Very low pay rate per stream.
- No control over pricing, promotions, subscriptions, or bundles.
- Lack of interactive features for audience engagement.
- These platforms are primarily for music streaming and are less popular for meditations.
- Limited listener information.
6. Easy Digital Downloads
Alt Text: Easy Digital Downloads WordPress plugin interface displaying options for managing digital product sales and downloads.
What is it?
Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress plugin for selling files directly to consumers, including audio content. It provides features for discount codes, customer management, and data reporting. It functions as a shopping cart tool for use with a pre-existing WordPress Business account.
How does it work?
To use Easy Digital Downloads, you need a WordPress website with a Business-level premium account. You can then upload your meditations and set your rates. Users are not required to have an account to make purchases.
How much does it cost?
Pricing ranges from $99 to $499 per year. In addition, a WordPress Business account is required at $25 per month, billed annually. You retain 100% of the proceeds from audio downloads.
Pros:
- Control over pricing, promotions, subscriptions, and bundles.
- Audience analytics.
- No fees on sales.
- Various customizable extensions.
Cons:
- No mobile app. Mobile listening is crucial for most users.
- No interactive features.
- Requires a WordPress account.
- Functions as an extension and not a standalone platform.
- Only pay-per-download options; subscription sales are not supported.
7. Sellfy and Podia
What is it?
Sellfy and Podia are direct-to-consumer e-commerce platforms that allow creators to offer individual downloads and subscriptions.
How does it work?
Creators can build and customize their storefronts and link them to their domains or social media accounts. Customers can purchase your meditations directly through these storefronts.
How much does it cost?
Both platforms have 0% transaction fees and operate on monthly subscription costs. Sellfy’s prices range from $19/month to $89/month. Podia has two tiers: $39/month or $79/month.
Alt Text: Podia’s website showcasing their platform for selling online courses, webinars, and digital downloads.
Pros:
- Control over pricing, promotions, subscriptions, and bundles.
- Audience analytics.
- No fees on sales.
- Podia offers additional features such as Zoom integration and email marketing.
Cons:
- No mobile app. Mobile access is critical for most users.
- Not popular choices for guided meditation downloads. Podia is geared toward online courses and webinars.
Conclusion
When considering where to sell meditation recordings online, Soundwise offers guided meditation creators a blend of flexibility, low fees, and seamless mobile delivery. Read the Success Stories to understand why other creators selected Soundwise as their audio delivery platform.
