Software · head to head
Libsyn vs Fireside
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month; Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
- They diverge on capability: Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Fireside covers Unlimited hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Libsyn and Fireside actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Libsyn
- Reliable hosting
- Advanced analytics
- Monetization platform
- Distribution network
- Custom website
- Ad insertion
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Only in Fireside
- Unlimited hosting
- Community features
- Distribution
- Analytics
- Listener engagement
- Monetization
- All podcast platforms
- Email services
Both cover
- Content protection
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Libsyn
- Hosting podcast audio and distributing it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTubenot Fireside
- Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Fireside
- Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot Fireside
Fireside
- Hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast websitenot Libsyn
- Running several shows as a podcast network from one accountnot Libsyn
- Tracking episode download metrics and link clicksnot Libsyn
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Fireside
$20/month- Creator$20/month
- Unlimited hosting
- Community features
- Distribution
- Network$50/month
- Multiple shows
- Team management
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Libsyn if
- You need reliable hosting.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want advanced analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is Libsyn or Fireside better?
- Neither clearly leads. Libsyn starts at $5/month and Fireside at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Libsyn or Fireside?
- Libsyn starts at $5/month and Fireside at $20/month.
- Does Libsyn or Fireside run on more platforms?
- Libsyn runs on Web, Ios, Android. Fireside runs on Web.
- What is Libsyn best used for?
- Libsyn is most often used for hosting podcast audio and distributing it to apple podcasts, spotify and youtube, measuring audience with iab certified download statistics, monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plans. Of those, hosting podcast audio and distributing it to apple podcasts, spotify and youtube and measuring audience with iab certified download statistics are not what Fireside is typically brought in for.
- What can Libsyn do that Fireside cannot?
- Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Community features, Distribution, Analytics. Both handle Content protection, Web support.
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