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Libsyn vs Transistor

Libsyn logo

Libsyn

Software

The original podcast hosting platform since 2004

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Transistor logo

Transistor

Software

Professional podcast hosting for businesses and creators

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month; Transistor starter plan at $19 per month caps monthly downloads at 20,000
  • They diverge on capability: Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Transistor covers Unlimited podcasts.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Libsyn and Transistor actually diverge.

Attributes where Libsyn and Transistor differ
AttributeLibsynTransistor
Starting price$5/month$19/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20042018

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
  • Monetization platform
  • Distribution network
  • Custom website
  • Ad insertion
  • Amazon Music
  • iHeart
  • Advertising networks

Only in Transistor

  • Unlimited podcasts
  • Private podcasting
  • Team collaboration
  • Custom branding
  • API access
  • Google Podcasts
  • Slack
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Advanced analytics
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • 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 Transistor
  • Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Transistor
  • Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot Transistor

Transistor

  • Hosting and distributing multiple podcasts from one accountnot Libsyn
  • Running private, subscriber-only podcast feedsnot Libsyn
  • Publishing podcast websites and inserting dynamic audio adsnot 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

Transistor

  • Starter plan at $19 per month caps monthly downloads at 20,000
  • Private podcast subscribers are capped at 50 on Starter and 500 on Professional
  • Dynamic ad insertion and auto-posting to YouTube require the $49 per month Professional plan or higher
  • Removing Transistor branding requires the $99 per month Business plan
  • Enterprise plans above 250,000 monthly downloads start at $199 per month and require contacting the vendor

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

Transistor

$19/month
  • Starter$19/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • 10,000 downloads/month
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$49/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • 50,000 downloads/month
    • Advanced analytics
  • Business$99/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • 150,000 downloads/month
    • Full analytics
  • Enterprise$199/month
    • Unlimited everything
    • 300,000+ downloads
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Libsyn if

  • You need reliable hosting.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want monetization platform.
Libsyn review

Choose Transistor if

  • You need unlimited podcasts.
  • You also want private podcasting.
Transistor review

Questions people ask

Is Libsyn or Transistor better?
Neither clearly leads. Libsyn starts at $5/month and Transistor at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Libsyn or Transistor?
Libsyn starts at $5/month and Transistor at $19/month.
Does Libsyn or Transistor run on more platforms?
Libsyn runs on Web, Ios, Android. Transistor 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 Transistor is typically brought in for.
What can Libsyn do that Transistor cannot?
Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Monetization platform, Distribution network, Custom website. Transistor covers Unlimited podcasts, Private podcasting, Team collaboration, Custom branding. Both handle Advanced analytics, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Web support.
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