Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head
Headliner vs Libsyn
Headliner
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Create social media content from audio
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Libsyn
Podcast & Audio Publishing
The original podcast hosting platform since 2004
- From
- $5/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Headliner has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Headliner free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark; Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
- They diverge on capability: Headliner covers Audio to video conversion, Libsyn covers Reliable hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Headliner and Libsyn actually diverge.
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 Headliner
- Audio to video conversion
- Animated waveforms
- Automatic captions
- Brand customization
- Social media optimization
- Batch processing
- Podcast platforms
- Social media
Only in Libsyn
- Reliable hosting
- Advanced analytics
- Monetization platform
- Distribution network
- Custom website
- Ad insertion
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Both cover
- Content protection
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Headliner
- Turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social medianot Libsyn
- Auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clipsnot Libsyn
- Producing branded promotional clips from full length episodesnot Libsyn
Libsyn
- Hosting podcast audio and distributing it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTubenot Headliner
- Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Headliner
- Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot Headliner
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Headliner
Free- FreeFree
- Create clips
- Watermarked videos
- Limited exports
- Creator$15/month
- Unlimited exports
- No watermarks
- Captions
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 Headliner if
- You need audio to video conversion.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want animated waveforms.
Choose Libsyn if
- You need reliable hosting.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want advanced analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is Headliner or Libsyn better?
- Neither clearly leads. Headliner 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, Headliner or Libsyn?
- Headliner has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Headliner and $5/month for Libsyn.
- Does Headliner or Libsyn run on more platforms?
- Headliner runs on Web. Libsyn runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Headliner for free?
- Yes. Headliner has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Libsyn starts at $5/month.
- What is Headliner best used for?
- Headliner is most often used for turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social media, auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clips, producing branded promotional clips from full length episodes. Of those, turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social media and auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clips are not what Libsyn is typically brought in for.
- What can Headliner do that Libsyn cannot?
- Headliner covers Audio to video conversion, Animated waveforms, Automatic captions, Brand customization. Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Both handle Content protection, Web support.