On this page6 sections
How a download gate works
The artist puts the file behind a page. The page lists one or more steps. Each step opens a platform, like SoundCloud or Spotify, where the fan does the action. Back on the page, the step is marked done, and when every step is done the download starts.
Most gates can’t see inside the platform. Without the fan logging in to that platform, no tool can tell whether the follow really happened. So gates count a step as done when the fan opened it and came back after a short wait. Most people do the step anyway, because they want the file and it only takes a tap.
Common steps
- Follow. On SoundCloud, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube. The most common ask, because a follower sees your next release.
- Repost or like. Mostly on SoundCloud. A repost puts the track in front of the fan’s own followers.
- Join a community. A Discord server or Telegram group, where you can reach fans without an algorithm in between.
- Email. The fan leaves an address. It’s the one step that gives you a direct line you own.
Like trackSoundCloud96% Like songSpotify95% Follow artistSpotify93% Follow artistSoundCloud90% Join serverDiscord91% Email70%
Quick taps finish most often. An email step asks for more, and fewer people finish it.
Why artists use them
A free download only spreads your name once. A follow keeps working: the fan sees your next track, your next release, your next free pack. For producers and DJs, a gate turns a free edit or drum kit into followers on the platform you care about.
It also tells you what fans want. If a free remix gets far more unlocks than a sample pack, you know what to make next.
Download gate vs pre-save vs paywall
| Feature | Download gate | Pre-save | Paywall |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the fan gets | A file right away | A song added to their library on release day | A file or content right away |
| What the fan gives | A follow, repost, like or email | Access to their streaming account | Money |
| When it happens | Any time | Before a release | Any time |
| What the artist gets | Followers, reach or emails | Day-one streams | Sales |
A pre-save is about a release that isn’t out yet. A paywall is a sale. A download gate sits between the two: the file is free, but the fan does something small for it.
Keep the gate short
Every extra step loses people. Here is the share of people who started a link and finished every step:
Rekonise links with at least 50 starts.
- One follow is enough for a single track or small pack.
- Two or three steps cost about the same, so if you ask for two, a third quick one (a like) is nearly free.
- Put the step you care about first. The first step is the hardest one, whatever it is. 78% of people who start it finish it, and 95% or more finish each step after.
- Watch out for TikTok and Instagram traffic. Links opened inside those apps finish steps 68% of the time, against 86% in a normal browser.
How to set one up on Rekonise
Add your file
Upload a .zip or .wav, or paste a Drive or Dropbox link. Uploading needs a free account.
Pick the steps
For example Follow artist on Spotify, or Repost track on SoundCloud. Free links take up to three steps.
Add an email step if you want a list
Fans leave their address before the download. You see the newest 25 sign-ups on Free.
Share it
Put the link in your SoundCloud description, your bio or your release post.
A full walkthrough for a sample pack is in give away a drum kit.
How we measured
We counted the steps started and finished on Rekonise links between 25 October and 14 November 2026, millions in total. A step counts as started when someone taps it and the platform opens, and as finished when they come back after the wait. We can’t see inside YouTube or Spotify, so we can’t tell whether they actually subscribed or followed. Per-link numbers only include links with at least 50 starts. No creator or visitor data is shown, only totals.
Questions
What is a download gate?
A page that gives away a free file after the fan does a quick action, like following the artist, reposting a track or leaving an email.
Is a download gate free?
For the fan, yes. They pay with a follow or an email, not money. On Rekonise it’s also free for the artist, with unlimited links.
Can a download gate check if someone really followed?
No. Without the fan signing in to the platform, no tool can see the follow. Gates check that the fan opened the platform and came back.
What is the difference between a download gate and a pre-save?
A download gate gives a file now in exchange for a follow or email. A pre-save adds an unreleased song to the fan’s library on release day.
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