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Podbean vs Podtrac

Podbean logo

Podbean

Software

All-in-one podcast hosting with built-in monetization

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Podtrac logo

Podtrac

Software

Industry-standard podcast measurement and analytics

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Podbean upload allowance is monthly rather than cumulative, at 1 GB on the entry plan, so a heavy recording month is capped even with unlimited total storage; Podtrac the Publisher Plans & Pricing page names four tiers, Getting Started, Grow Your Show, Grow Your Show Plus and Enterprise, but publishes no figure for any paid tier and offers no contact sales button, only a registration link
  • They diverge on capability: Podbean covers Unlimited hosting, Podtrac covers IAB-certified measurement.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podbean and Podtrac actually diverge.

Attributes where Podbean and Podtrac differ
AttributePodbeanPodtrac
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20062005

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Podbean

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Built-in monetization
  • Live streaming
  • Video podcasting
  • Podcast app
  • Premium content
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

Only in Podtrac

  • IAB-certified measurement
  • Download analytics
  • Industry rankings
  • Audience demographics
  • Trend analysis
  • Custom reporting
  • All podcast hosts
  • Advertising platforms

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Podbean

  • Hosting and distributing a podcast with an RSS feed and playernot Podtrac
  • Running multiple shows or a private internal podcastnot Podtrac

Podtrac

  • Podcast measurementnot Podbean
  • Industry rankingsnot Podbean
  • Advertiser reportingnot Podbean
  • Audience analysisnot Podbean

Where each one falls short

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

Podbean

  • Upload allowance is monthly rather than cumulative, at 1 GB on the entry plan, so a heavy recording month is capped even with unlimited total storage
  • The Network plan at $99 a month meters bandwidth at 3 TB while cheaper plans are unmetered, so the middle tier is the only one with a bandwidth ceiling
  • Advanced analytics are excluded from every plan below Business
  • Private podcasting and live chat support are Business only
  • Team members are capped at 50 on Network despite being described as unlimited

Podtrac

  • The Publisher Plans & Pricing page names four tiers, Getting Started, Grow Your Show, Grow Your Show Plus and Enterprise, but publishes no figure for any paid tier and offers no contact sales button, only a registration link

Pricing, plan by plan

Podbean

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 5 hours total storage
    • 100 GB bandwidth
    • Basic analytics
  • Unlimited Audio$9/month
    • Unlimited storage
    • Unlimited bandwidth
    • Advanced analytics
  • Unlimited Plus$29/month
    • All audio features
    • Video podcasting
    • Live streaming
  • Business$99/month
    • All features
    • Team management
    • Enterprise security

Podtrac

Free
  • PublisherFree
    • Podcast measurement
    • Download analytics
    • Industry rankings
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Advanced demographics
    • Custom reporting
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Podbean if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want built-in monetization.
Podbean review

Choose Podtrac if

  • You need iab-certified measurement.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want download analytics.
Podtrac review

Questions people ask

Is Podbean or Podtrac better?
Neither clearly leads. Podbean starts at Free and Podtrac at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podbean or Podtrac?
Podbean starts at Free and Podtrac at Free.
Does Podbean or Podtrac run on more platforms?
Podbean runs on Web, Ios, Android. Podtrac runs on Web.
Can I use Podbean for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Podbean best used for?
Podbean is most often used for hosting and distributing a podcast with an rss feed and player, running multiple shows or a private internal podcast. Of those, hosting and distributing a podcast with an rss feed and player and running multiple shows or a private internal podcast are not what Podtrac is typically brought in for.
What can Podbean do that Podtrac cannot?
Podbean covers Unlimited hosting, Built-in monetization, Live streaming, Video podcasting. Podtrac covers IAB-certified measurement, Download analytics, Industry rankings, Audience demographics. Both handle Web support.
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