The Best Hypeddit Alternative for Download Gates in 2026
Hypeddit made download gates mainstream. But on its free plan you cannot collect a single fan email. Here is an honest look at the alternative, and when each one makes more sense.
Quick answer: if you want to collect fan emails from free downloads without paying, Sick Taste is the Hypeddit alternative to use. Email collection is free on every gate, you can add up to three follow steps, and your downloads count towards a chart that new fans browse. Hypeddit is still the better pick if you need pre-saves or automated ad campaigns.
Full disclosure: this is our own platform, so we have tried to be straight about where Hypeddit is stronger. Hypeddit's plan details below come from its own help centre and were checked on 6 November 2026.
Why artists look for a Hypeddit alternative
Hypeddit's free Rookie plan gives you unlimited download gates, but two limits matter for growth:
- No fan emails on the free plan. Hypeddit lists fan email collection as a Basic plan feature, at $10/month. Emails are the one part of your audience you actually own, so this is the limit that hurts most.
- One download, one follower. On Rookie, each download converts into a single follow, rather than a follow across several platforms.
For an artist giving away edits and bootlegs every few weeks, that means paying monthly just to keep the fans each download brings in.
Hypeddit vs Sick Taste at a glance
| Feature | Hypeddit | Sick Taste |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes (Rookie) | Yes |
| Fan emails on the free plan | No. Starts on Basic ($10/month) | Yes, on every gate |
| Follow steps on the free plan | One follower per download | Up to three steps per gate |
| Paid plans | $10/month, $20/month, $100/month | Pro, £10/month |
| Pre-save campaigns | Yes (paid) | No |
| Automated ad campaigns | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Email verification | Not listed | Yes (Pro) |
| Auto-sync to your email service | Not listed in plan features | Yes (Pro): MailerLite, Kit, Brevo, beehiiv, EmailOctopus |
| Send tracks to curators and DJs | No | Yes, Submit to creators |
What you get free on Sick Taste
- Email collection on every gate. Every download can add a fan to your list, and you can export it whenever you like. Returning fans skip the email step for 30 days, so loyal fans are never asked twice.
- Up to three follow steps. SoundCloud, Spotify, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, X and Twitch. On SoundCloud a fan can follow, like, repost and comment in a single sign-in.
- Discovery built in. Every download counts towards the Sick Taste Top 100, alongside Trending and Fresh lists that DJs browse for new music.
- Submit to creators. Send your track to DJs, curators and channels who run submission boxes on Sick Taste.
What Pro adds for £10 a month
- Email verification turns away fake, mistyped and throwaway addresses before they reach your list.
- Auto-sync sends new fans straight to MailerLite, Kit, Brevo, beehiiv or EmailOctopus (see our guide to building your email list).
- Creator spotlight and Boost push the track you choose at the end of every download and in the Top 100, Fresh and Featured lists.
- Smartlinks on your download pages, for streaming, socials or merch.
Starting from zero? Spotlight campaigns place your download inside the Top 100, Trending and Fresh lists for as long as you choose, without a subscription.
When Hypeddit is the better choice
We would rather you pick the right tool than the wrong one. Hypeddit is the better fit if you need:
- Pre-save campaigns for upcoming releases on Spotify and other platforms.
- Automated ad campaigns on Spotify, YouTube and TikTok, which its Pro plan ($20/month) is built around.
- Mixcloud follow steps.
- Live coaching, which comes with its Elite plan.
Plenty of artists use both: Hypeddit for pre-saves on official releases, and Sick Taste for free downloads that grow the email list.
How to switch in four steps
- Export your fans. If your Hypeddit plan includes emails, download your list before you cancel anything.
- Recreate your best gates. Start with the downloads that still get traffic. Create a gate with your SoundCloud link and pick your follow steps.
- Swap the links. Update your SoundCloud track descriptions, link in bio and YouTube descriptions to the new gates.
- Connect your email service. With Pro, new fans sync automatically. Without it, export from your dashboard and import whenever you send.
The bottom line
Hypeddit is a solid, established tool, especially for pre-saves and ads. But if your goal is to turn free downloads into fans you own, paying monthly just to collect emails makes little sense. Sick Taste does it free on every gate, adds up to three follows, and puts your downloads where new fans are looking.
Try it on your next track
Create a download gate free, collect emails from the first download, and see the difference.
Create a free download gateFrequently asked questions
What is the best Hypeddit alternative?
Sick Taste is a strong Hypeddit alternative for DJs and producers who give away free downloads. It collects fan emails on its free plan, lets you add up to three follow steps to each gate, and puts your downloads in front of new fans through its Top 100 chart, Trending and Fresh lists.
Is Hypeddit free?
Hypeddit has a free Rookie plan with unlimited download gates, but it limits each download to one follower and does not include fan email collection. Email collection starts on the Basic plan, which Hypeddit lists at $10 a month. Pro is $20 a month and Elite is $100 a month.
Can I collect emails with a free download gate?
Yes, on Sick Taste. Email collection is part of every free download gate, and you can export your list at any time. Returning fans who have already given you their email skip that step for 30 days.
Can I move from Hypeddit to Sick Taste?
Yes. Export your fan emails from Hypeddit if your plan allows it, then recreate your most important gates on Sick Taste and update the links in your SoundCloud descriptions, bios and YouTube descriptions. Your existing followers on each platform stay with you, because they follow your profiles, not the gate.
When is Hypeddit the better choice?
If you need pre-save campaigns for upcoming releases, automated ad campaigns on Spotify, YouTube and TikTok, or Mixcloud follow steps, Hypeddit's paid plans cover those and Sick Taste does not. If your priority is collecting fan emails and followers from free downloads at the lowest cost, Sick Taste is the better fit.