Software · head to head
Chartable vs Libsyn
The short version
- Only Chartable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Chartable shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters; Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
- They diverge on capability: Chartable covers Download analytics, Libsyn covers Reliable hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chartable and Libsyn actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Chartable
- Download analytics
- Chart rankings
- SmartLinks tracking
- Attribution
- SmartPromos
- Cross-promotion analytics
- All podcast platforms
- Marketing tools
Only in Libsyn
- Reliable hosting
- Advanced analytics
- Monetization platform
- Distribution network
- Custom website
- Ad insertion
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Both cover
- Advertising networks
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Chartable
- Podcast analyticsnot Libsyn
- Marketing attributionnot Libsyn
- Chart trackingnot Libsyn
- Growth measurementnot Libsyn
Libsyn
- Hosting podcast audio and distributing it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTubenot Chartable
- Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Chartable
- Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot Chartable
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Chartable
- Shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
- The tracking prefixes no longer function, and shows still carrying one need it removed
- chartable.com now redirects to Spotify's Megaphone site
Libsyn
- Basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
- Advanced IAB verified stats require the $25 per month Advanced plan; Basic gets basic stats only
- Spotify video distribution requires the Advanced or Max plan
- Dynamic ad insertion sits on Professional and Enterprise plans that are quoted by sales with no published rate
- The top published tier, Max at $150 per month, still caps audio uploads at 55 hours per month
Pricing, plan by plan
Chartable
Free- FreeFree
- Chart tracking
- Basic analytics
- 1 podcast
- Indie$20/month
- Advanced analytics
- SmartLinks
- Attribution
- Team$100/month
- Multiple podcasts
- SmartPromos
- Team access
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Unlimited podcasts
- Custom integrations
- API access
Libsyn
$5/month- Classic 50$5/month
- 50 MB monthly storage
- Basic statistics
- Podcast page
- Classic 150$15/month
- 150 MB monthly storage
- Advanced statistics
- Custom website
- Advanced 400$20/month
- 400 MB monthly storage
- Premium analytics
- Multiple shows
- Advanced 800$40/month
- 800 MB monthly storage
- Full analytics suite
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Chartable if
- You need download analytics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want chart rankings.
Choose Libsyn if
- You need reliable hosting.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want advanced analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is Chartable or Libsyn better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chartable starts at Free and Libsyn at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chartable or Libsyn?
- Chartable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Chartable and $5/month for Libsyn.
- Does Chartable or Libsyn run on more platforms?
- Chartable runs on Web. Libsyn runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Chartable for free?
- Yes. Chartable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Libsyn starts at $5/month.
- What is Chartable best used for?
- Chartable is most often used for podcast analytics, marketing attribution, chart tracking, growth measurement. Of those, podcast analytics and marketing attribution are not what Libsyn is typically brought in for.
- What can Chartable do that Libsyn cannot?
- Chartable covers Download analytics, Chart rankings, SmartLinks tracking, Attribution. Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Both handle Advertising networks, Web support.