Cheap Mastering for Many Tracks: The Cheapest Way to Master 20 a Month
Published · by Loopin
Twenty masters a month costs $100 at $5 a file and as little as $5 a month on a flat plan. Here is the maths and the order to use each option.
Price 20 masters three ways
At the time of writing (October 2026), Ditto charges $5 a download with a free preview, per its support article. Twenty masters is $100. eMastered’s help centre lists $39 monthly, which is $1.95 a master at 20, or $156 upfront for the year, which is about $13 a month and $0.65 a master.
Loopin Mastering Unlimited is $10 a month or $59 a year (check the pricing page for your region): $0.50 a master at 20 a month on the monthly plan, about $0.25 on the yearly. On paper that is the lowest of the paid options here. BandLab is also free; check its current limits in the app.
Use the free tier for what it does best
Mastering, previews and loudness-matched A/B on Loopin are free and unlimited. Downloads are capped on the free tier: 1 per rolling 24 hours with no account, 2 with a free account. So 20 masters is 10 days with an account.
The cheat code is to audition everything in preview and download only the keeper. Run each track through two or three feels, A/B each against the original, pick one, then spend the download. Free previews cost nothing; the download cap is the only meter. If you prefer, try the free online masterer on your three weakest mixes first, since those are the ones likely to need a second pass.
Stack your downloads across the month
The cap is a rolling 24 hours, not a calendar day. Download one or two masters at the same time each day and they roll off on schedule. If you finish a batch on Sunday, you cannot pull 20 files that evening on the free tier.
So the rule is: if your deadline is less than 10 days away, go paid for one month. If it is not, free costs nothing. Either way, master the track free first and decide on the download last.
Buy the plan for the busiest month only
Subscriptions are easiest to waste. If a client EP lands in one month and the next three are quiet, a $10 monthly plan for that one month beats an annual plan you do not use. Yearly only wins if you hit about 6 or more months of heavy use ($59 against $10 a month).
Check the cancel path before you pay, and diarise the renewal. A reminder a week before renewal is worth more than any discount code. eMastered’s 12-month plans are commitments, so the cheaper monthly rate only helps if you really need the year.
Spend the savings where it counts
Cheap mastering saves money only if the mix is right. Cut mud before you master, leave peaks around −6 dBFS, and fix problems in the mix instead of re-running the master five times. Our free vs paid mastering post explains where money genuinely improves a result.
For the tracks that matter most, such as a lead single or a paid client release, send them to a human engineer. Automatic mastering is a fast, cheap first pass, not creative direction. A realistic split for 20 tracks is 17 automatic masters you check carefully and 3 sent out; that mix is cheaper than sending all 20 and better than skipping the checks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to master 20 tracks a month?
On paper, a flat plan: Loopin Unlimited at $10 a month is $0.50 a master at 20, and eMastered's $156 yearly plan is about $0.65. Pay-per-file at $5 is $100.
Can I master 20 tracks for free?
You can master and preview unlimited tracks free, but free downloads are capped at 1 per rolling 24 hours with no account or 2 with an account, so 20 downloads takes about 10 days.
How much does Ditto charge for mastering?
$5 per download, with a free full-length preview and no subscription, according to Ditto's support article at the time of writing (October 2026).
Is a yearly plan worth it for 20 tracks a month?
Usually yes, if you do 20 every month: $59 a year on Loopin or $156 on eMastered. If volume is seasonal, a monthly plan is safer.
Is BandLab cheaper?
BandLab mastering is free to use, but check its current limits and plan options in the app before relying on it for 20 downloads.
When should I use a human engineer instead?
For lead singles, releases with a deadline, or anything needing 24-bit files or creative direction, use a human engineer.