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Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

Glow.fm vs Apple Podcasts Connect

Glow.fm logo

Glow.fm

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Premium podcast subscriptions made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Apple Podcasts Connect logo

Apple Podcasts Connect

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Manage and distribute your podcast on Apple Podcasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Glow.fm the Internet Archive's capture of Glow's pricing page on 6 December 2021 listed Basic starting at $0/month plus $0.55 per listener per month or $2 per one-time purchase, and Professional starting at $300/month for unlimited listeners with podcast hosting capped at 150,000 downloads per month; card processing adds $0.30 plus 2.9% per transaction on both tiers.; Apple Podcasts Connect requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
  • They diverge on capability: Glow.fm covers Private RSS feeds, Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Glow.fm and Apple Podcasts Connect actually diverge.

Attributes where Glow.fm and Apple Podcasts Connect differ
AttributeGlow.fmApple Podcasts Connect
Pricing modeltransactionfree
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Macos
Founded20191976

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Glow.fm

  • Private RSS feeds
  • Any app support
  • Tiered subscriptions
  • Subscriber management
  • Payment processing
  • All podcast apps
  • Stripe
  • Email platforms

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
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Glow.fm

  • Premium podcastsnot Apple Podcasts Connect
  • Subscriber contentnot Apple Podcasts Connect
  • Membership tiersnot Apple Podcasts Connect
  • Direct monetizationnot Apple Podcasts Connect

Apple Podcasts Connect

  • Submitting a new podcast to Apple Podcastsnot Glow.fm
  • Claiming an existing show so it is registered to your accountnot Glow.fm
  • Reviewing Apple Podcasts listener trends and analyticsnot Glow.fm
  • Managing show artwork and metadatanot Glow.fm

Where each one falls short

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

Glow.fm

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Glow's pricing page on 6 December 2021 listed Basic starting at $0/month plus $0.55 per listener per month or $2 per one-time purchase, and Professional starting at $300/month for unlimited listeners with podcast hosting capped at 150,000 downloads per month; card processing adds $0.30 plus 2.9% per transaction on both tiers.

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

Glow.fm

Free
  • StandardFree
    • Private RSS feeds
    • Any podcast app support
    • Subscription management

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 Glow.fm if

  • You need private rss feeds.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want any app support.
Glow.fm review

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.
Apple Podcasts Connect review

Questions people ask

Is Glow.fm or Apple Podcasts Connect better?
Neither clearly leads. Glow.fm starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Glow.fm or Apple Podcasts Connect?
Glow.fm starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free.
Does Glow.fm or Apple Podcasts Connect run on more platforms?
Glow.fm runs on Web. Apple Podcasts Connect runs on Web, Ios, Macos.
Can I use Glow.fm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Glow.fm best used for?
Glow.fm is most often used for premium podcasts, subscriber content, membership tiers, direct monetization. Of those, premium podcasts and subscriber content are not what Apple Podcasts Connect is typically brought in for.
What can Glow.fm do that Apple Podcasts Connect cannot?
Glow.fm covers Private RSS feeds, Any app support, Tiered subscriptions, Subscriber management. Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission, Episode management, Subscription monetization, Show optimization. Both handle Analytics, Web support.
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