different tools serve different needs. here's an honest look at what's available and who each option is built for.
there's no single 'best' music catalog software. the right choice depends on your role, catalog size, and primary use case. this guide helps you find the right fit.
best for: sync agents, music supervisors, labels with active licensing teams
pricing: from $10/month (Pro plans higher)
strengths
considerations
best for: music publishers, labels, rights management companies
pricing: custom pricing (enterprise)
strengths
considerations
best for: production music companies, library owners, composer collectives
pricing: from $50/month
strengths
considerations
best for: independent artists, producers, small collectives managing their own catalogs
pricing: free tier + creator plans from £9.99/month
strengths
considerations
not ready for dedicated software? these general tools can work with some setup.
build your own database structure
+ flexible, familiar, good collaboration
- no music-specific features, requires setup, won't scale well
best for: small catalogs under 50 songs, technically comfortable users
track everything manually
+ free, simple, everyone knows how to use them
- error-prone, no automation, splits nightmare
best for: very early stage, testing the waters
if you're an independent artist or small team looking for music-native tools without enterprise pricing, pica might be the right fit.
get started