Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head
Fireside vs Apple Podcasts Connect
Fireside
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Podcast hosting with community features
- From
- $20/month
- Rated
- -
Apple Podcasts Connect
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Manage and distribute your podcast on Apple Podcasts
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Apple Podcasts Connect has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month; Apple Podcasts Connect requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- They diverge on capability: Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Fireside and Apple Podcasts Connect actually diverge.
| Attribute | Fireside | Apple Podcasts Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Macos |
| Founded | 2018 | 1976 |
Identical on both: 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 Fireside
- Unlimited hosting
- Community features
- Distribution
- Listener engagement
- Monetization
- All podcast platforms
- Email services
- Social media
Only in Apple Podcasts Connect
- Podcast submission
- Episode management
- Subscription monetization
- Show optimization
- Multi-show management
- RSS feeds
- Hosting platforms
- Apple ecosystem
Both cover
- Analytics
- Privacy controls
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Fireside
- Hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast websitenot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Running several shows as a podcast network from one accountnot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Tracking episode download metrics and link clicksnot Apple Podcasts Connect
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Submitting a new podcast to Apple Podcastsnot Fireside
- Claiming an existing show so it is registered to your accountnot Fireside
- Reviewing Apple Podcasts listener trends and analyticsnot Fireside
- Managing show artwork and metadatanot Fireside
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- Only reports listening that happens inside Apple Podcasts, so it is not a whole-audience view
- Does not host audio; the show still needs a hosting provider elsewhere
Pricing, plan by plan
Fireside
$20/month- Creator$20/month
- Unlimited hosting
- Community features
- Distribution
- Network$50/month
- Multiple shows
- Team management
- Advanced analytics
Apple Podcasts Connect
Free- FreeFree
- Podcast submission
- Analytics dashboard
- Episode management
- Subscriptions Program$19.99/year
- Premium subscriptions
- Paid content
- Subscriber management
Which should you pick?
Choose Apple Podcasts Connect if
- You need podcast submission.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Macos.
- You also want episode management.
Questions people ask
- Is Fireside or Apple Podcasts Connect better?
- Neither clearly leads. Fireside starts at $20/month and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Fireside or Apple Podcasts Connect?
- Apple Podcasts Connect has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $20/month for Fireside and Free for Apple Podcasts Connect.
- Does Fireside or Apple Podcasts Connect run on more platforms?
- Fireside runs on Web. Apple Podcasts Connect runs on Web, Ios, Macos.
- Can I use Apple Podcasts Connect for free?
- Yes. Apple Podcasts Connect has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fireside starts at $20/month.
- What is Fireside best used for?
- Fireside is most often used for hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast website, running several shows as a podcast network from one account, tracking episode download metrics and link clicks. Of those, hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast website and running several shows as a podcast network from one account are not what Apple Podcasts Connect is typically brought in for.
- What can Fireside do that Apple Podcasts Connect cannot?
- Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Community features, Distribution, Listener engagement. Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission, Episode management, Subscription monetization, Show optimization. Both handle Analytics, Privacy controls, Web support.