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Podcasting · head to head

Auphonic vs Fireside

Auphonic logo

Auphonic

Podcasting

Automated audio mastering and loudness processing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fireside logo

Fireside

Podcasting

Podcast hosting with community features

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Auphonic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Auphonic the free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month; Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
  • They diverge on capability: Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Fireside covers Unlimited hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Auphonic and Fireside actually diverge.

Attributes where Auphonic and Fireside differ
AttributeAuphonicFireside
Starting priceFree$20/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20102018

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness optimization
  • Noise reduction
  • Audio restoration
  • Intelligent processing
  • API integration
  • Auto-upload
  • Podcast hosts
  • Dropbox

Only in Fireside

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Community features
  • Distribution
  • Analytics
  • Listener engagement
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Email services

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audionot Fireside
  • Batch processing an archive of recordingsnot Fireside
  • Generating transcripts and chapters from an episodenot Fireside
  • Producing consistent output across multiple formats from one uploadnot Fireside

Fireside

  • Hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast websitenot Auphonic
  • Running several shows as a podcast network from one accountnot Auphonic
  • Tracking episode download metrics and link clicksnot Auphonic

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Auphonic

  • The free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month
  • Billing is by audio duration with a 3 minute minimum per production, so many short clips cost more than the running time suggests
  • Multilingual speech recognition, automatic chapters and show notes all require a paid plan
  • Watch folders, batch productions and team accounts are paid features
  • Free output carries an Auphonic jingle

Fireside

  • Starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
  • Custom domain with SSL requires the $19 per month Standard plan; Starter sites sit on a Fireside subdomain
  • Additional podcasts beyond the one included on Standard cost $8 per month each
  • Bandwidth is capped at 1TB per month on Standard and 5TB per month on Professional
  • Advanced download metrics and click tracking require the $49 per month Professional plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Auphonic

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours/month processing
    • Basic mastering
    • Download files
  • Personal$10/month
    • 50 hours/month
    • Advanced mastering
    • API access

Fireside

$20/month
  • Creator$20/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Community features
    • Distribution
  • Network$50/month
    • Multiple shows
    • Team management
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Auphonic if

  • You need automatic loudness optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want noise reduction.
Auphonic review

Choose Fireside if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You also want community features.
Fireside review

Questions people ask

Is Auphonic or Fireside better?
Neither clearly leads. Auphonic starts at Free and Fireside at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Auphonic or Fireside?
Auphonic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Auphonic and $20/month for Fireside.
Does Auphonic or Fireside run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Auphonic for free?
Yes. Auphonic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fireside starts at $20/month.
What is Auphonic best used for?
Auphonic is most often used for automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audio, batch processing an archive of recordings, generating transcripts and chapters from an episode, producing consistent output across multiple formats from one upload. Of those, automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audio and batch processing an archive of recordings are not what Fireside is typically brought in for.
What can Auphonic do that Fireside cannot?
Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Noise reduction, Audio restoration, Intelligent processing. Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Community features, Distribution, Analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Auphonic: Is Auphonic free or does it require payment?

Auphonic offers a free plan with 2 hours of audio processing per month. Premium plans require monthly subscription credits for additional processing hours, or one-time credit purchases that never expire.

Source
Auphonic: What does Auphonic's free plan include and what are its limits?

The free plan includes 2 hours of audio processing per month, all basic audio algorithms (leveler, noise reduction, filtering), automatic shownotes, and filler/silence cutting. The Auphonic jingle is included in free productions.

Source
Auphonic: How does Auphonic charge for audio processing beyond the free tier?

Auphonic offers monthly subscription tiers (S through XXL) based on hours needed and one-time credit purchases (5-3000+ hours). Billing is based on audio file duration; minimum 3 minutes per production. Custom subscriptions available for over 1000 hours/month.

Source
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