Podcasting · head to head
Buzzsprout vs Headliner
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Buzzsprout upload hours do not roll over monthly; overage fees apply at hourly rates; Headliner free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark
- They diverge on capability: Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Headliner covers Audio to video conversion.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Buzzsprout and Headliner actually diverge.
| Attribute | Buzzsprout | Headliner |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile | Web |
| Founded | 2009 | 2017 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).
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 Headliner
- Audio to video conversion
- Animated waveforms
- Automatic captions
- Brand customization
- Social media optimization
- Batch processing
- Podcast platforms
- Email services
Both cover
- Social media
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Buzzsprout
- Podcast hostingnot Headliner
- Audio and video podcast distributionnot Headliner
- Transcription and show notes generationnot Headliner
- Podcast analytics and monetisationnot Headliner
Headliner
- Turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social medianot Buzzsprout
- Auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clipsnot Buzzsprout
- Producing branded promotional clips from full length episodesnot 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 roll over monthly; overage fees apply at hourly rates
- Free tier limited to 2 hours monthly uploads
- Video features only on paid tiers, minimum $25/month
Headliner
- Free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark
- Basic plan at $9.99 per month caps unwatermarked audiograms at 10 per month
- Free and Basic plans cap video length at 10 minutes at 1080p; 2 hour videos require the Pro plan
- Custom watermarks and unlimited unwatermarked exports require the $25.99 per month Pro plan
- Video upload storage is capped at 10GB on every plan including Pro
Pricing, plan by plan
Buzzsprout
Free- FreeFree
- 2 hours monthly uploads
- 90-day episode hosting
- No video distribution
- Audio Podcast$15/month
- 72 hours annual uploads
- Unlimited episodes
- Single podcast
- Audio + Video$25/month
- 72 hours annual uploads
- Video publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
- 1080p video quality
- Multi-Podcast$30/month
- 180 hours annual uploads
- 5-10 podcasts
- Audio, video, or mixed media
Headliner
Free- Forever FreeFree
- Ad-supported experience
- Unlimited free video clips
- Unlimited captioned videos
- Basic$9.99/month
- Ad-free experience
- 10 unwatermarked audiograms/month
- Unlimited captions (10 min/project)
- Pro$25.99/month
- All Basic features
- Unlimited unwatermarked videos
- Unlimited transcription
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.
Choose Headliner if
- You need audio to video conversion.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want animated waveforms.
Questions people ask
- Is Buzzsprout or Headliner better?
- Neither clearly leads. Buzzsprout starts at Free and Headliner at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Buzzsprout or Headliner?
- Buzzsprout starts at Free and Headliner at Free.
- Does Buzzsprout or Headliner run on more platforms?
- Buzzsprout runs on Web, Mobile. Headliner runs on Web.
- 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 Headliner is typically brought in for.
- What can Buzzsprout do that Headliner cannot?
- Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Automatic distribution, Episode transcription, Custom podcast website. Headliner covers Audio to video conversion, Animated waveforms, Automatic captions, Brand customization. Both handle Social media, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Buzzsprout: Does Buzzsprout offer a free tier?
Yes, Buzzsprout's free plan includes 2 hours of monthly uploads with 90-day episode hosting. Video distribution and advanced features require a paid subscription starting at $15/month.
SourceHeadliner: How much does Headliner cost?
Headliner offers Forever Free (ad-supported), Basic at $9.99/month (reduced from $14.99), and Pro at $25.99/month (reduced from $29.99).
SourceBuzzsprout: What happens if I exceed my monthly upload limit?
Upload hours do not roll over each month. If you exceed your plan's upload allocation, overage fees apply at hourly rates.
SourceHeadliner: What is included in Headliner Pro?
Headliner Pro at $25.99/month includes unlimited unwatermarked videos, unlimited transcription, unlimited captions, custom watermarks, 1080p up to 2 hours, 4-hour audio files, and priority support.
SourceBuzzsprout: How many podcasts can I host on different plans?
The Free and Audio Podcast plans support a single podcast. The Multi-Podcast plan at $30/month supports 5-10 podcasts depending on configuration.
SourceHeadliner: Does Headliner offer annual discounts?
Yes, annual billing offers up to 50% savings. Basic plan costs $7.99/month billed yearly, and Pro costs $19.99/month billed yearly.
SourceBuzzsprout: Is video publishing included on all paid plans?
No. Video publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube (1080p) requires the Audio + Video plan at $25/month or higher.
SourceRelated pages
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