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Podcasting · head to head

Podbean vs Transistor.fm

Podbean logo

Podbean

Podcasting

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Transistor.fm logo

Transistor.fm

Podcasting

The podcast host built for professional broadcasters

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; Transistor.fm add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display
  • They diverge on capability: Podbean covers Unlimited hosting, Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podbean and Transistor.fm actually diverge.

Attributes where Podbean and Transistor.fm differ
AttributePodbeanTransistor.fm
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Mobile
Founded20062016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).

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
  • Amazon Music
  • Social media

Only in Transistor.fm

  • Unlimited episodes
  • Automatic transcription
  • Advanced analytics
  • Custom player
  • Email newsletters
  • White-label options
  • Google Podcasts
  • YouTube

Both cover

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • SSL encryption
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android 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 Transistor.fm
  • Running multiple shows or a private internal podcastnot Transistor.fm

Transistor.fm

  • Podcast hosting and distributionnot Podbean
  • Video podcast publishingnot Podbean
  • AI transcriptionnot Podbean
  • Dynamic ad insertionnot Podbean
  • Private podcast networksnot 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

Transistor.fm

  • Add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display
  • Enterprise pricing lacks specificity and requires direct contact
  • Private subscriber limits appear restrictive for scaling large networks
  • No transparent usage overage costs shown

Pricing, plan by plan

Podbean

Free
  • Unlimited Audio$17/month
    • 1 podcast
    • 1GB uploads/month
    • Unlimited storage
  • Unlimited Plus$39/month
    • 2 podcasts
    • 10GB uploads/month
    • 3TB monthly bandwidth
  • Network$99/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • 40GB uploads/month
    • Up to 50 team members
  • Business$129/month
    • Unlimited private podcasts
    • 2 public podcasts
    • 40GB uploads/month

Transistor.fm

Free
  • Starter$19/month
    • 20K monthly downloads
    • 50 private subscribers
    • Unlimited podcasts
  • Professional$49/month
    • 100K monthly downloads
    • 500 private subscribers
    • Dynamic ads
  • Business$99/month
    • 250K monthly downloads
    • 3K private subscribers
    • Branded removal
  • Enterprise$199/month
    • Custom limits exceeding 250K downloads or 3K private subscribers

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 Transistor.fm if

  • You need unlimited episodes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want automatic transcription.
Transistor.fm review

Questions people ask

Is Podbean or Transistor.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Podbean starts at Free and Transistor.fm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podbean or Transistor.fm?
Podbean starts at Free and Transistor.fm at Free.
Does Podbean or Transistor.fm run on more platforms?
Podbean runs on Web, Ios, Android. Transistor.fm runs on Web, Mobile.
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 Transistor.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Podbean do that Transistor.fm cannot?
Podbean covers Unlimited hosting, Built-in monetization, Live streaming, Video podcasting. Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes, Automatic transcription, Advanced analytics, Custom player. Both handle Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SSL encryption, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Podbean: How much does Podbean cost?

Podbean offers plans starting at $17/month for Unlimited Audio, $39/month for Unlimited Plus, $99/month for Network, and $129/month for Business. Annual billing is available at approximately 20-29% discounts.

Source
Transistor.fm: Does Transistor.fm offer a free trial?

Yes, Transistor offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

Source
Podbean: Does Podbean have a free version?

Yes, Podbean offers a free account. However, the website notes that paid plans cannot be downgraded back to the free plan once you upgrade.

Source
Transistor.fm: What's the least expensive plan?

The Starter plan costs $19 per month USD and includes 20K monthly downloads, 50 private subscribers, unlimited podcasts, and unlimited collaborators.

Source
Podbean: What are the monthly upload limits on Podbean plans?

Unlimited Audio allows 1GB uploads/month, Unlimited Plus allows 10GB uploads/month, and both Network and Business plans allow 40GB uploads/month.

Source
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