Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head
RedCircle vs Apple Podcasts Connect
RedCircle
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Free podcast hosting with sponsorship opportunities
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Apple Podcasts Connect
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Manage and distribute your podcast on Apple Podcasts
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: RedCircle the free Core plan is limited to 1 podcast; unlimited podcasts require the Growth plan at $14.99 per month; Apple Podcasts Connect requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- They diverge on capability: RedCircle covers Unlimited hosting, Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which RedCircle and Apple Podcasts Connect actually diverge.
| Attribute | RedCircle | Apple Podcasts Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web, Ios, Macos |
| Founded | 2015 | 1976 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcast & Audio Publishing).
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 RedCircle
- Unlimited hosting
- Distribution
- Sponsorship marketplace
- Podcast website
- Monetization
- All podcast platforms
- Social media
- Advertising networks
Only in Apple Podcasts Connect
- Podcast submission
- Episode management
- Subscription monetization
- Show optimization
- Multi-show management
- RSS feeds
- Hosting platforms
- Apple ecosystem
Both cover
- Analytics
- Privacy controls
- Web support
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
RedCircle
- Hosting and distributing podcasts with unlimited storage and downloadsnot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Monetising a podcast through host-read and programmatic ad marketplacesnot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Selling paid subscriptions and exclusive episodesnot Apple Podcasts Connect
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Submitting a new podcast to Apple Podcastsnot RedCircle
- Claiming an existing show so it is registered to your accountnot RedCircle
- Reviewing Apple Podcasts listener trends and analyticsnot RedCircle
- Managing show artwork and metadatanot RedCircle
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
RedCircle
- The free Core plan is limited to 1 podcast; unlimited podcasts require the Growth plan at $14.99 per month
- The free Core plan caps AI transcripts at 5 per month
- The Core plan podcast webpage carries a Related Shows section that cannot be removed
- Support on the Core plan is standard with a 72 hour response; 48 hour Advanced support starts on Growth
- Team seats are not available on Core or Growth; Pro at $29.99 per month includes 5 seats and unlimited seats require Enterprise at $99.99 per month
- Video file upload to episodes and one-click YouTube distribution require the Pro plan
- Running your own ads and tracking URLs require the Pro plan
- A dedicated account manager is Enterprise only
- The trial is 7 days
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- Only reports listening that happens inside Apple Podcasts, so it is not a whole-audience view
- Does not host audio; the show still needs a hosting provider elsewhere
Pricing, plan by plan
RedCircle
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited hosting
- Automatic distribution
- Sponsorship opportunities
Apple Podcasts Connect
Free- FreeFree
- Podcast submission
- Analytics dashboard
- Episode management
- Subscriptions Program$19.99/year
- Premium subscriptions
- Paid content
- Subscriber management
Which should you pick?
Choose RedCircle if
- You need unlimited hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want distribution.
Choose Apple Podcasts Connect if
- You need podcast submission.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Macos.
- You also want episode management.
Questions people ask
- Is RedCircle or Apple Podcasts Connect better?
- Neither clearly leads. RedCircle starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, RedCircle or Apple Podcasts Connect?
- RedCircle starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free.
- Does RedCircle or Apple Podcasts Connect run on more platforms?
- RedCircle runs on Web, Ios, Android. Apple Podcasts Connect runs on Web, Ios, Macos.
- Can I use RedCircle for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is RedCircle best used for?
- RedCircle is most often used for hosting and distributing podcasts with unlimited storage and downloads, monetising a podcast through host-read and programmatic ad marketplaces, selling paid subscriptions and exclusive episodes. Of those, hosting and distributing podcasts with unlimited storage and downloads and monetising a podcast through host-read and programmatic ad marketplaces are not what Apple Podcasts Connect is typically brought in for.
- What can RedCircle do that Apple Podcasts Connect cannot?
- RedCircle covers Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Sponsorship marketplace, Podcast website. Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission, Episode management, Subscription monetization, Show optimization. Both handle Analytics, Privacy controls, Web support, Ios support.