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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Overcast vs Transistor

Overcast logo

Overcast

Media & Entertainment

The best podcast app for iPhone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Transistor logo

Transistor

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Professional podcast hosting for businesses and creators

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Overcast has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Overcast iOS and Mac only, with no Android version or plans for one; Transistor starter plan at $19 per month caps monthly downloads at 20,000
  • They diverge on capability: Overcast covers Podcast app, Transistor covers Unlimited podcasts.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Overcast and Transistor actually diverge.

Attributes where Overcast and Transistor differ
AttributeOvercastTransistor
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, macOS, watchOSWeb
CategoryMedia & EntertainmentPodcast & Audio Publishing
Founded20142018

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Overcast

  • Podcast app
  • Smart Speed
  • Voice Boost
  • Sync
  • Discovery
  • Apple services
  • Podcast services
  • Privacy-focused

Only in Transistor

  • Unlimited podcasts
  • Private podcasting
  • Advanced analytics
  • Team collaboration
  • Custom branding
  • API access
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Overcast

  • Podcast listeningnot Transistor
  • Apple integrationnot Transistor

Transistor

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

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Overcast

  • iOS and Mac only, with no Android version or plans for one
  • No web version for accessing podcasts across browsers
  • Dependent on Apple ecosystem, limiting accessibility for Windows and Android users

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

Overcast

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Podcast playback
    • Smart Speed
    • Voice Boost
  • Premium$9.95/year
    • No ads
    • Custom icons
    • Upload personal audio

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 Overcast if

  • You need podcast app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, macOS, watchOS.
  • You also want smart speed.
Overcast review

Choose Transistor if

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

Questions people ask

Is Overcast or Transistor better?
Neither clearly leads. Overcast starts at Free and Transistor at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Overcast or Transistor?
Overcast has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Overcast and $19/month for Transistor.
Does Overcast or Transistor run on more platforms?
Overcast runs on iOS, macOS, watchOS. Transistor runs on Web.
Can I use Overcast for free?
Yes. Overcast has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Transistor starts at $19/month.
What is Overcast best used for?
Overcast is most often used for podcast listening, apple integration. Of those, podcast listening and apple integration are not what Transistor is typically brought in for.
What can Overcast do that Transistor cannot?
Overcast covers Podcast app, Smart Speed, Voice Boost, Sync. Transistor covers Unlimited podcasts, Private podcasting, Advanced analytics, Team collaboration. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Overcast: Is Overcast free or paid?

Overcast is free with ad banners promoting podcasts. Premium subscription of $9.95 per year removes ads, enables custom icons, and allows uploading personal audio files.

Source
Overcast: What platforms does Overcast support?

Overcast is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Mac with Apple M1 or later. It is not available on Android, Windows, or web.

Source
Overcast: What are Overcast's signature features?

Overcast features Smart Speed, which dynamically shortens silences in podcasts while maintaining natural sound, and Voice Boost, which normalizes audio levels across episodes.

Source
Overcast: Who develops Overcast?

Overcast is developed and maintained by Marco Arment, a software developer who previously created Instapaper and served as CTO of Tumblr.

Source
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Related pages

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