Session musician marketplaces solve a real problem — finding paid recording work without being in the right city at the right party — but the two dominant platforms, AirGigs and SoundBetter, take different enough cuts of every job that the fee structure is worth understanding before you price a project, not after a client's already paid.
Coming from a consulting background, I default to evaluating pricing structure and long-term cost before comparing features line by line.
What actually matters for a freelance session musician
- How the fee is actually structured — a flat percentage versus a split between buyer and seller fees changes what you should quote a client to land at your actual target rate
- Client budget tier — a platform skewing toward higher-budget, established clients versus a broader mix of experience levels and project sizes
- Vetting strictness, which affects both how hard it is to get accepted and how much competition you're up against once you are
- Whether the platform handles payment and messaging, or just makes the introduction and leaves the rest to you
Quick comparison
| AirGigs | SoundBetter | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee structure | Flat 10-15% fee on transactions | 3% transaction fee + 7% service fee for the seller |
| Client base | Broader range of experience levels and project sizes | Tends toward established professionals, higher-budget projects |
| Ownership | Independent | Owned by Spotify |
| Services beyond session work | Also lessons, podcasts, video | Focused specifically on finishing songs — mixing, mastering, production, session parts |
AirGigs — broader range, more accessible entry
AirGigs, running since 2012, covers a wider spread of experience levels and project types than SoundBetter, including lessons and video work alongside straightforward session playing — useful if diversifying beyond pure session work is part of your income strategy. Its flat 10-15% fee on transactions is straightforward to calculate, though on a like-for-like project it can work out to a similar or higher total cut than SoundBetter's split fee, depending on the specific rate.
Best for: session musicians building a track record who want a broader range of project types and a more accessible entry point than SoundBetter's stricter vetting.
SoundBetter — higher budgets, stricter vetting, owned by Spotify
SoundBetter's network of 20,000+ professional vocalists and musicians, combined with a stricter vetting process, tends to attract more established clients with bigger budgets — its acquisition by Spotify has only reinforced its position as the more premium-positioned of the two. Its fee is split between a 3% transaction fee and a 7% service fee charged to the seller, which totals a comparable cut to AirGigs' flat rate on many projects, but is worth calculating explicitly against your quoted rate rather than assumed to be lower just because it's split.
Best for: musicians with an established portfolio and credits who can clear SoundBetter's vetting and want access to its higher-budget client base.
Bottom line
For a session musician still building a track record, AirGigs' broader range of project types and accessible entry point make it the more forgiving starting platform. Once you have a strong portfolio and can clear SoundBetter's stricter vetting, its higher-budget client base and Spotify-backed reach are worth pursuing alongside or instead of AirGigs — many working musicians maintain both simultaneously. Whichever platform books the session, invoicing across currencies for international clients is a separate step — see our international payment platforms guide for that part of the business.
Fee structures, vetting criteria, and client base composition change over time. Confirm current details directly on each platform's site before committing to a project quote.
Frequently asked questions
Which platform has higher-paying clients?
SoundBetter tends to attract more established professionals and higher-budget projects, partly because of its stricter vetting process and now-Spotify ownership. AirGigs offers a wider range of experience levels and project sizes, which can mean more volume but generally lower average budgets.
Do I need to be a full-time musician to use these platforms?
No — both accept working musicians at a range of experience levels, though SoundBetter's more selective vetting process leans toward established professionals with a stronger existing portfolio and credits.
Can I use both AirGigs and SoundBetter at the same time?
Yes, and it's common — there's no exclusivity requirement on either platform, so many session musicians maintain active profiles on both to access different client budgets and project types.
What other options exist besides AirGigs and SoundBetter?
Fiverr and Upwork both host music services at generally lower price points with less specialized vetting. Bandry works differently — it charges a flat monthly fee for connections rather than taking a percentage of each job, which suits musicians who'd rather negotiate and get paid directly.