Podcasting · head to head
Auphonic vs Headliner
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Auphonic the free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month; Headliner free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark
- They diverge on capability: Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Headliner covers Audio to video conversion.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Auphonic and Headliner actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Headliner
- Audio to video conversion
- Animated waveforms
- Automatic captions
- Brand customization
- Social media optimization
- Batch processing
- Podcast platforms
- Social media
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 Headliner
- Batch processing an archive of recordingsnot Headliner
- Generating transcripts and chapters from an episodenot Headliner
- Producing consistent output across multiple formats from one uploadnot Headliner
Headliner
- Turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social medianot Auphonic
- Auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clipsnot Auphonic
- Producing branded promotional clips from full length episodesnot 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
Headliner
- Free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark
- Basic plan at $9.99 per month caps unwatermarked audiograms at 10 per month
- Free and Basic plans cap video length at 10 minutes at 1080p; 2 hour videos require the Pro plan
- Custom watermarks and unlimited unwatermarked exports require the $25.99 per month Pro plan
- Video upload storage is capped at 10GB on every plan including Pro
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
Headliner
Free- Forever FreeFree
- Ad-supported experience
- Unlimited free video clips
- Unlimited captioned videos
- Basic$9.99/month
- Ad-free experience
- 10 unwatermarked audiograms/month
- Unlimited captions (10 min/project)
- Pro$25.99/month
- All Basic features
- Unlimited unwatermarked videos
- Unlimited transcription
Which should you pick?
Choose Auphonic if
- You need automatic loudness optimization.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want noise reduction.
Choose Headliner if
- You need audio to video conversion.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want animated waveforms.
Questions people ask
- Is Auphonic or Headliner better?
- Neither clearly leads. Auphonic starts at Free and Headliner at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Auphonic or Headliner?
- Auphonic starts at Free and Headliner at Free.
- Does Auphonic or Headliner run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Auphonic for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Headliner is typically brought in for.
- What can Auphonic do that Headliner cannot?
- Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Noise reduction, Audio restoration, Intelligent processing. Headliner covers Audio to video conversion, Animated waveforms, Automatic captions, Brand customization. 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.
SourceHeadliner: How much does Headliner cost?
Headliner offers Forever Free (ad-supported), Basic at $9.99/month (reduced from $14.99), and Pro at $25.99/month (reduced from $29.99).
SourceAuphonic: 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.
SourceHeadliner: What is included in Headliner Pro?
Headliner Pro at $25.99/month includes unlimited unwatermarked videos, unlimited transcription, unlimited captions, custom watermarks, 1080p up to 2 hours, 4-hour audio files, and priority support.
SourceAuphonic: 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.
SourceHeadliner: Does Headliner offer annual discounts?
Yes, annual billing offers up to 50% savings. Basic plan costs $7.99/month billed yearly, and Pro costs $19.99/month billed yearly.
SourceRelated pages
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