Deezer is a major streaming platform particularly popular in Europe and Latin America. The global average pay-per-stream on Deezer is $0.002834 (approximately $2,834 per million streams). This places Deezer slightly above Spotify's average of $0.002761 and well below Apple Music's $0.004619.
The figures in this guide come from real earnings data collected from distributors over a 12-month rolling window. We calculated average rates for over 90 countries.
What You Will Learn
- The global average and top-paying countries on Deezer
- How Deezer compares to Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms
- How Deezer's Artist-Centric Payment System (ACPS) works
- Deezer subscription tiers and their impact on your earnings
- Tips to maximize your Deezer revenue
The Global Average Rate
Deezer's global average pay-per-stream rate is $0.002834 per stream, or $2,834 per million streams. This is about 3% higher than Spotify's global average ($0.002761) but 39% lower than Apple Music's ($0.004619).
Practical earnings reference:
- 100,000 streams at global average: approximately $283
- 500,000 streams at global average: approximately $1,417
- 1,000,000 streams at global average: approximately $2,834
- 1,000,000 streams in the US at $0.004534: approximately $4,534
Top 10 Countries by Pay-Per-Stream
Deezer's highest-paying countries include some surprises. Montenegro and Japan lead the pack, while Scandinavian and Eastern European countries also feature prominently:
Top 10 Countries: Deezer Pay Per Million Streams
| Country | Per Stream | Per Million Streams |
|---|---|---|
| Montenegro | $0.035369 | $35,369 |
| Japan | $0.018770 | $18,770 |
| Finland | $0.009474 | $9,474 |
| Seychelles | $0.008023 | $8,023 |
| Norway | $0.007898 | $7,898 |
| Denmark | $0.007745 | $7,745 |
| Georgia | $0.007510 | $7,510 |
| Slovenia | $0.006435 | $6,435 |
| Luxembourg | $0.006330 | $6,330 |
| Bulgaria | $0.005892 | $5,892 |
Montenegro's rate of $35,369 per million streams is extraordinary, though it is based on a very small sample size (1 stream). Japan's $18,770 per million is more reliable with 8 streams in the sample. Finland, Norway, and Denmark consistently rank high across all platforms due to strong premium subscription penetration.
English-Speaking Countries
| Country | Per Stream | Per Million Streams |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | $0.005828 | $5,828 |
| Australia | $0.005801 | $5,801 |
| United States | $0.004534 | $4,534 |
| Canada | $0.003981 | $3,981 |
| United Kingdom | $0.003543 | $3,543 |
| New Zealand | $0.000299 | $299 |
Ireland and Australia pay significantly more than the US on Deezer. New Zealand's extremely low rate ($299 per million) is an outlier likely caused by a high proportion of free-tier ad-supported streams in that market.
Deezer's Strongest Markets
Deezer was founded in France and has its largest user base there. Here is how key markets perform:
| Country | Per Stream | Per Million Streams |
|---|---|---|
| France | $0.002589 | $2,589 |
| Germany | $0.002527 | $2,527 |
| Brazil | $0.002397 | $2,397 |
| Spain | $0.002246 | $2,246 |
| Mexico | $0.000771 | $771 |
France pays slightly below the global average despite being Deezer's home market. This is because France has a large user base with a mix of premium and free-tier listeners, which dilutes the per-stream rate. Germany and Brazil perform similarly.
Deezer vs Other Streaming Platforms
Deezer vs Other Platforms: Pay Per Million Streams
| Platform | Per Stream | Per Million Streams |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Red | $0.009050 | $9,050 |
| TIDAL | $0.008246 | $8,246 |
| Napster | $0.007920 | $7,920 |
| YouTube Music | $0.005234 | $5,234 |
| SoundCloud | $0.005221 | $5,221 |
| Apple Music | $0.004619 | $4,619 |
| YouTube (Ads) | $0.003085 | $3,085 |
| Deezer | $0.002834 | $2,834 |
| Spotify | $0.002761 | $2,761 |
| Pandora | $0.002364 | $2,364 |
| Amazon Music | $0.000856 | $856 |
Deezer pays slightly more than Spotify (about 3% more per stream) but significantly less than Apple Music (39% less). For artists deciding where to focus promotional effort, Deezer is a solid secondary platform but should not replace Spotify or Apple Music as primary targets.
For more platform comparisons, read our Spotify pay-per-stream guide and our Apple Music pay-per-stream guide.
Deezer's Artist-Centric Payment System (ACPS)
Deezer has been pioneering an Artist-Centric Payment System (ACPS) in some markets. Under the traditional pro-rata model used by Spotify, all subscription revenue is pooled and divided based on each artist's share of total platform streams. This means heavy listeners of one genre effectively subsidize artists in other genres.
Deezer's ACPS works differently. Each subscriber's monthly payment is allocated only to the artists that specific subscriber actually listened to, proportional to their play counts. If a subscriber listens to 100 songs in a month: 60 from Artist A and 40 from Artist B, then 60% of that subscriber's payment goes to Artist A and 40% goes to Artist B. No other artists receive any portion of that subscriber's fee.
This model has several important implications. Artists with small but dedicated fanbases can earn significantly more under ACPS than under the pro-rata model. If your fans are loyal subscribers who listen to your music frequently, you capture a larger share of their subscription fees. Conversely, artists who rely on passive playlist streams from casual listeners may see less benefit.
Deezer's Engagement-Based Bonuses
In addition to the ACPS model, Deezer has introduced engagement-based bonuses that reward artists who demonstrate genuine fan engagement. Artists who achieve at least 1,000 monthly streams from a minimum of 500 unique listeners receive an automatic earnings boost. This threshold is designed to ensure that the bonus goes to artists with real audiences rather than those using artificial streaming methods.
Deezer has also implemented measures to combat streaming fraud. Plays from users who listen to over 1,000 tracks per month are capped in their royalty contribution, which helps prevent manipulation through bot accounts or stream farms.
Deezer Subscription Tiers
Deezer offers several subscription plans that affect royalty generation:
- Deezer Premium ($10.99/month): The standard paid tier that generates solid per-stream rates in most markets.
- Deezer Family ($17.99/month): Shared among up to 6 members. Per-stream rates may vary as the subscription is distributed across multiple listeners.
- Deezer HiFi ($14.99/month): Offers lossless FLAC audio quality. HiFi subscribers tend to be more engaged music listeners, potentially generating higher per-stream value.
- Deezer Free (ad-supported): The free tier generates lower per-stream revenue since it relies solely on advertising income rather than subscription fees.
Streams from premium and HiFi subscribers contribute the most to your earnings. Deezer's strongest markets (France, Germany, and the UK) have high proportions of premium subscribers, which is why these markets often deliver better per-stream rates.
Tips to Maximize Your Deezer Earnings
- Focus on building dedicated fans: Deezer's ACPS model rewards loyal listeners. An artist with 500 dedicated fans who stream regularly can earn more per stream than an artist with millions of passive playlist plays.
- Target Deezer's strongest markets: France is Deezer's home market with the largest user base. Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Ireland also offer strong per-stream rates.
- Encourage active listening: Under ACPS, streams from searches and personal playlists count more than passive background listening. Encourage fans to add your tracks to their personal playlists.
- Maintain 500+ unique monthly listeners: Crossing the 500 unique listener threshold unlocks Deezer's engagement bonus, increasing your per-stream earnings.
- Release in lossless quality: HiFi subscribers who listen to your tracks in FLAC quality tend to be more engaged and contribute more to your royalty pool.
- Diversify beyond Spotify: Many artists overlook Deezer entirely. Even a modest Deezer audience can meaningfully boost your total streaming income.
Calculate Your Deezer Earnings
Use our Deezer Royalty Calculator to get accurate estimates based on your stream counts and listener locations.
For multi-platform calculations, try our Streaming Royalty Calculator which covers 70 different platforms. You can also compare individual platforms side-by-side using our Individual Platform Calculators.
FAQ
Does Deezer pay more than Spotify?
On average, Deezer pays about 3% more per stream than Spotify ($0.002834 vs $0.002761). The difference is small. However, in specific markets like Finland, Norway, and Denmark, Deezer pays significantly more than Spotify.
What is Deezer's Artist-Centric Payment System?
ACPS allocates each subscriber's monthly fee only to the artists they actually listen to, rather than pooling all revenue and distributing it proportionally. This benefits artists with dedicated fanbases who listen frequently.
Is Deezer available in my country?
Deezer is available in over 180 countries. It is particularly strong in France, Germany, Brazil, and Latin American markets. Check Deezer's website for current availability.
Should I focus on Deezer or Spotify?
Spotify should be your primary focus due to its much larger user base (600M+ vs Deezer's ~10M). But Deezer is worth pursuing as a secondary platform, especially if you have fans in France or Latin America where Deezer has strong market share.
Key Takeaways
- Deezer pays slightly more than Spotify - About 3% more per stream on average
- European markets perform well - Finland, Norway, and Denmark are among the top payers
- France is Deezer's stronghold - Largest user base but moderate per-stream rates
- Artist-centric model is promising - Could benefit artists with loyal fanbases
- Engagement bonuses reward real audiences - 500+ unique listeners unlocks bonus earnings
