Software · head to head
Podcorn vs Fireside
The short version
- Only Podcorn has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Podcorn the vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 2021 stated Podcorn charges 0 percent sign-up/listing fee and a 10 percent service fee to both podcasters and brands on successful campaigns, with no charge to browse or sign up; Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
- They diverge on capability: Podcorn covers Sponsor marketplace, Fireside covers Unlimited hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Podcorn and Fireside actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Podcorn
- Sponsor marketplace
- Direct brand deals
- Rate setting
- Campaign management
- Payment processing
- Performance tracking
- Podcast hosts
- Payment processors
Only in Fireside
- Unlimited hosting
- Community features
- Distribution
- Analytics
- Listener engagement
- Monetization
- All podcast platforms
- Email services
Both cover
- Content protection
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Podcorn
- Podcast monetizationnot Fireside
- Sponsorship dealsnot Fireside
- Native advertisingnot Fireside
- Brand partnershipsnot Fireside
Fireside
- Hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast websitenot Podcorn
- Running several shows as a podcast network from one accountnot Podcorn
- Tracking episode download metrics and link clicksnot Podcorn
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Podcorn
- The vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 2021 stated Podcorn charges 0 percent sign-up/listing fee and a 10 percent service fee to both podcasters and brands on successful campaigns, with no charge to browse or sign up
Fireside
- Starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
- Custom domain with SSL requires the $19 per month Standard plan; Starter sites sit on a Fireside subdomain
- Additional podcasts beyond the one included on Standard cost $8 per month each
- Bandwidth is capped at 1TB per month on Standard and 5TB per month on Professional
- Advanced download metrics and click tracking require the $49 per month Professional plan
Pricing, plan by plan
Podcorn
Free- Free for PodcastersFree
- Create profile
- Browse opportunities
- Set your rates
Fireside
$20/month- Creator$20/month
- Unlimited hosting
- Community features
- Distribution
- Network$50/month
- Multiple shows
- Team management
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Podcorn if
- You need sponsor marketplace.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want direct brand deals.
Questions people ask
- Is Podcorn or Fireside better?
- Neither clearly leads. Podcorn starts at Free and Fireside at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Podcorn or Fireside?
- Podcorn has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Podcorn and $20/month for Fireside.
- Does Podcorn or Fireside run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Podcorn for free?
- Yes. Podcorn has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fireside starts at $20/month.
- What is Podcorn best used for?
- Podcorn is most often used for podcast monetization, sponsorship deals, native advertising, brand partnerships. Of those, podcast monetization and sponsorship deals are not what Fireside is typically brought in for.
- What can Podcorn do that Fireside cannot?
- Podcorn covers Sponsor marketplace, Direct brand deals, Rate setting, Campaign management. Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Community features, Distribution, Analytics. Both handle Content protection, Web support.