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Buzzsprout vs Patreon

Buzzsprout logo

Buzzsprout

Software

Simple and powerful podcast hosting made easy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Patreon logo

Patreon

Software

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Buzzsprout upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Patreon covers Membership tiers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buzzsprout and Patreon actually diverge.

Attributes where Buzzsprout and Patreon differ
AttributeBuzzsproutPatreon
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20092013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Buzzsprout

  • Audio optimization
  • Automatic distribution
  • Episode transcription
  • Custom podcast website
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Magic Mastering
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

Only in Patreon

  • Membership tiers
  • Exclusive content
  • Private podcast feeds
  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Payment processing
  • Discord
  • Podcast apps

Both cover

  • Social media
  • Privacy controls
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Buzzsprout

  • Podcast hostingnot Patreon
  • Audio and video podcast distributionnot Patreon
  • Transcription and show notes generationnot Patreon
  • Podcast analytics and monetisationnot Patreon

Patreon

  • Running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcastnot Buzzsprout
  • Selling recurring access to exclusive content and communitynot Buzzsprout

Where each one falls short

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

Buzzsprout

  • Upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost
  • Overage charges apply at plan rate for additional uploads

Patreon

  • Takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees are charged on top of that 10% and are not quantified on the pricing page
  • The total deduction is therefore not calculable from the pricing page alone, and requires reading a separate support article

Pricing, plan by plan

Buzzsprout

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Buzzsprout review.

Patreon

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free membership page
    • Basic features
    • Community tools
  • ProFree
    • All free features
    • Analytics dashboard
    • Priority support
  • PremiumFree
    • All Pro features
    • Dedicated partner manager
    • Custom onboarding

Which should you pick?

Choose Buzzsprout if

  • You need audio optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want automatic distribution.
Buzzsprout review

Choose Patreon if

  • You need membership tiers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want exclusive content.
Patreon review

Questions people ask

Is Buzzsprout or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. Buzzsprout starts at Free and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buzzsprout or Patreon?
Buzzsprout starts at Free and Patreon at Free.
Does Buzzsprout or Patreon run on more platforms?
Buzzsprout runs on Web, Mobile. Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Buzzsprout for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Buzzsprout best used for?
Buzzsprout is most often used for podcast hosting, audio and video podcast distribution, transcription and show notes generation, podcast analytics and monetisation. Of those, podcast hosting and audio and video podcast distribution are not what Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can Buzzsprout do that Patreon cannot?
Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Automatic distribution, Episode transcription, Custom podcast website. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Both handle Social media, Privacy controls, Web support, Ios support.
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Related pages

More on Buzzsprout

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