Is the BeatStars Starter Plan Worth It? A Strategic Breakdown

If you’re a music producer planning to sell beats through BeatStars, the right subscription plan—and the website platform you choose—can make a big difference not just in flexibility, but in how much of your revenue you actually keep.

Key Point: Avoiding Unnecessary Marketplace Fees

One of the most crucial (and often overlooked) reasons to have your own website is the BeatStars marketplace fee:

• Sales through the BeatStars Marketplace incur a 12% fee.

• Sales made via your embedded player on your own website (such as WordPress) or through your BeatStars Pro Page do not incur this 12% marketplace fee.

This means that driving customers to your own embedded store or Pro Page directly saves you a significant cut from every beat sale. Over time, that 12% can add up to hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars in extra profit.

Embedding Your BeatStars Player: WordPress vs. Ghost

• WordPress supports iframe embeds, meaning you can insert your BeatStars player on any page or post, and keep more of your earnings.

• Ghost does not support iframe embeds, so you lose this workaround and may end up paying unnecessary fees unless you upgrade to Professional and use a Pro Page.

When the Starter Plan Makes Sense

If you run a WordPress site, the Starter Plan gives you these benefits:

• Seamless integration of your BeatStars player.

• Full ownership of your brand experience.

• Direct traffic means avoiding the 12% marketplace fee.

• Lowest possible costs—maximize profit per sale.

When You Should Consider Professional

If you use a website that does not allow iframe embedding (or have no site at all):

• The inability to embed the player means you can’t dodge the 12% fee with the Starter Plan.

• The Professional Plan provides a hosted Pro Page, letting you deliver a premium sales experience and avoid the 12% fee, even without your own website.

Comparison Table: Fee Avoidance by Platform & Plan

Takeaways for Beat Sellers

• Want to avoid losing 12% on every sale? Sell via your own embedded player on WordPress, or use a BeatStars Pro Page with the Professional Plan.

• On Ghost or another iframe-restricted platform? The Starter Plan won’t let you escape marketplace fees—you’ll need to switch to WordPress or upgrade.

• No website and want to maximize profit? Go Pro and use your Pro Page.

Conclusion

For maximum earning: Using the BeatStars Starter Plan only pays off if you have a WordPress site (or similarly compatible platform) where you can embed your player. This way, you avoid the 12% marketplace fee and keep more of what you earn. If you use Ghost or don’t have a site, the Professional Plan with a Pro Page is your best fee-free option.

Choose your BeatStars plan—and your website platform—based on what saves you the most money and supports your growth as a producer.