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Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

Blubrry vs Fireside

Blubrry logo

Blubrry

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Podcast hosting with advanced analytics and tools

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Fireside logo

Fireside

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Podcast hosting with community features

From
$20/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blubrry entry plan at $7 per month allows only 1.5 hours of new audio published per month; Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
  • They diverge on capability: Blubrry covers Advanced analytics, Fireside covers Community features.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blubrry and Fireside actually diverge.

Attributes where Blubrry and Fireside differ
AttributeBlubrryFireside
Starting price$12/month$20/month
PlatformsWeb, WordpressWeb
Founded20052018

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcast & Audio Publishing).

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 Blubrry

  • Advanced analytics
  • WordPress plugin
  • Detailed stats
  • WordPress
  • Wordpress support

Only in Fireside

  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Listener engagement
  • Social media

Both cover

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Email services
  • Content protection
  • Privacy controls
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Blubrry

  • Hosting a podcast with a managed WordPress site includednot Fireside
  • Publishing to podcast directories with IAB compliant statisticsnot Fireside
  • Running programmatic and dynamically inserted podcast advertising at the Professional tiernot Fireside

Fireside

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

Where each one falls short

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

Blubrry

  • Entry plan at $7 per month allows only 1.5 hours of new audio published per month
  • Advanced podcast statistics require the $25 per month Advanced 6 plan; cheaper plans get standard statistics only
  • Monetization features are restricted to the Advanced plans
  • Dynamic ad insertion, programmatic advertising, unlimited shows and sub-accounts sit on a Professional tier with no published price
  • Publishing allowance is measured in hours of audio per month, so a long-form show hits the cap quickly

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

Blubrry

$12/month
  • Basic$12/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Distribution
    • Analytics
  • Advanced$20/month
    • All Basic features
    • Advanced analytics
    • Monetization tools

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 Blubrry if

  • You need advanced analytics.
  • You work on Web, Wordpress.
  • You also want wordpress plugin.

Choose Fireside if

  • You need community features.
  • You also want analytics.

Questions people ask

Is Blubrry or Fireside better?
Neither clearly leads. Blubrry starts at $12/month and Fireside at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blubrry or Fireside?
Blubrry starts at $12/month and Fireside at $20/month.
Does Blubrry or Fireside run on more platforms?
Blubrry runs on Web, Wordpress. Fireside runs on Web.
What is Blubrry best used for?
Blubrry is most often used for hosting a podcast with a managed wordpress site included, publishing to podcast directories with iab compliant statistics, running programmatic and dynamically inserted podcast advertising at the professional tier. Of those, hosting a podcast with a managed wordpress site included and publishing to podcast directories with iab compliant statistics are not what Fireside is typically brought in for.
What can Blubrry do that Fireside cannot?
Blubrry covers Advanced analytics, WordPress plugin, Detailed stats, WordPress. Fireside covers Community features, Analytics, Listener engagement, Social media. Both handle Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Monetization, All podcast platforms.

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