Software · head to head
Libsyn vs Patreon
The short version
- Only Patreon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
- They diverge on capability: Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Patreon covers Membership tiers.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Libsyn and Patreon actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Patreon
- Membership tiers
- Exclusive content
- Private podcast feeds
- Community features
- Analytics
- Payment processing
- Discord
- Podcast apps
Both cover
- Content protection
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android 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 Patreon
- Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Patreon
- Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot Patreon
Patreon
- Running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcastnot Libsyn
- Selling recurring access to exclusive content and communitynot 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
Patreon
- Takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
- Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees are charged on top of that 10% and are not quantified on the pricing page
- The total deduction is therefore not calculable from the pricing page alone, and requires reading a separate support article
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
Patreon
Free- FreeFree
- Free membership page
- Basic features
- Community tools
- ProFree
- All free features
- Analytics dashboard
- Priority support
- PremiumFree
- All Pro features
- Dedicated partner manager
- Custom onboarding
Which should you pick?
Choose Libsyn if
- You need reliable hosting.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want advanced analytics.
Choose Patreon if
- You need membership tiers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want exclusive content.
Questions people ask
- Is Libsyn or Patreon better?
- Neither clearly leads. Libsyn starts at $5/month and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Libsyn or Patreon?
- Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5/month for Libsyn and Free for Patreon.
- Does Libsyn or Patreon run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Patreon for free?
- Yes. Patreon has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Libsyn starts at $5/month.
- 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 Patreon is typically brought in for.
- What can Libsyn do that Patreon cannot?
- Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Both handle Content protection, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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