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Software · head to head

Glow.fm vs Spreaker

Glow.fm logo

Glow.fm

Software

Premium podcast subscriptions made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spreaker logo

Spreaker

Software

Podcast hosting with social network features

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.; Spreaker free plan allows only one podcast and retains statistics for 6 months
  • They diverge on capability: Glow.fm covers Private RSS feeds, Spreaker covers Podcast hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Glow.fm and Spreaker actually diverge.

Attributes where Glow.fm and Spreaker differ
AttributeGlow.fmSpreaker
Pricing modeltransactionfreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20192011

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

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

Only in Spreaker

  • Podcast hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Social network
  • Distribution
  • Audio editing
  • All podcast platforms
  • Social media
  • Payment processors

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 Spreaker
  • Subscriber contentnot Spreaker
  • Membership tiersnot Spreaker
  • Direct monetizationnot Spreaker

Spreaker

  • Hosting and distributing podcasts to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeartRadionot Glow.fm
  • Monetising a show through programmatic ads, listener subscriptions or a supporters clubnot Glow.fm
  • Running a multi-show podcast network with collaboratorsnot 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.

Spreaker

  • Free plan allows only one podcast and retains statistics for 6 months
  • Spreaker takes a 20 percent fee on Supporters Club listener payments on the free plan, dropping to 0 percent only on the $20 per month Broadcaster plan
  • Subscription monetisation and Apple Podcasts subscriptions require the $20 per month Broadcaster plan
  • Player colour customisation and collaborators require the $50 per month Anchorman plan
  • Selling and managing your own ad campaigns requires the $250 per month Publisher plan
  • Statistics retention is capped at 12 months below the Publisher plan, which extends it to 24 months

Pricing, plan by plan

Glow.fm

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

Spreaker

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours storage
    • Basic hosting
    • Social network access
  • Plus$5/month
    • 50 hours storage
    • Full distribution
    • Live streaming

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 Spreaker if

  • You need podcast hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live streaming.
Spreaker review

Questions people ask

Is Glow.fm or Spreaker better?
Neither clearly leads. Glow.fm starts at Free and Spreaker at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Glow.fm or Spreaker?
Glow.fm starts at Free and Spreaker at Free.
Does Glow.fm or Spreaker run on more platforms?
Glow.fm runs on Web. Spreaker runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Spreaker is typically brought in for.
What can Glow.fm do that Spreaker cannot?
Glow.fm covers Private RSS feeds, Any app support, Tiered subscriptions, Subscriber management. Spreaker covers Podcast hosting, Live streaming, Social network, Distribution. Both handle Analytics, Web support.
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Related pages

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