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Podcasting · head to head

RedCircle vs Substack

RedCircle logo

RedCircle

Podcasting

Free podcast hosting with sponsorship opportunities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substack logo

Substack

News

The newsletter platform for writers and publishers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Substack substack does not publish pricing on its public pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: RedCircle covers Unlimited hosting, Substack covers Newsletter publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RedCircle and Substack actually diverge.

Attributes where RedCircle and Substack differ
AttributeRedCircleSubstack
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Mobile
CategoryPodcastingNews
Founded20152017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 RedCircle

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Sponsorship marketplace
  • Analytics
  • Podcast website
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Social media

Only in Substack

  • Newsletter publishing
  • Subscriber management
  • Paid subscriptions
  • Email analytics
  • Post scheduling
  • Archive creation
  • Free/paid tier split
  • Comments & discussion

Both cover

  • Web 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 Substack
  • Monetising a podcast through host-read and programmatic ad marketplacesnot Substack
  • Selling paid subscriptions and exclusive episodesnot Substack

Substack

  • Newsletter distributionnot RedCircle
  • Reader monetizationnot RedCircle
  • Community buildingnot RedCircle
  • Subscriber managementnot 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

Substack

  • Substack does not publish pricing on its public pricing page

Pricing, plan by plan

RedCircle

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Automatic distribution
    • Sponsorship opportunities

Substack

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited newsletters
    • Basic design
    • Archive access
  • Pro$12/month
    • Custom domain
    • Advanced analytics
    • Member chat

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.
RedCircle review

Choose Substack if

  • You need newsletter publishing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want subscriber management.
Substack review

Questions people ask

Is RedCircle or Substack better?
Neither clearly leads. RedCircle starts at Free and Substack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RedCircle or Substack?
RedCircle starts at Free and Substack at Free.
Does RedCircle or Substack run on more platforms?
RedCircle runs on Web, Ios, Android. Substack runs on Web, Mobile.
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 Substack is typically brought in for.
What can RedCircle do that Substack cannot?
RedCircle covers Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Sponsorship marketplace, Analytics. Substack covers Newsletter publishing, Subscriber management, Paid subscriptions, Email analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Substack: How much does Substack cost?

Substack does not publish rates on its pricing page. The site emphasizes earning potential for writers with the tagline Make money doing the work you believe in.

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