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Podcasting · head to head

Fireside vs Spotify for Podcasters

Fireside logo

Fireside

Podcasting

Podcast hosting with community features

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spotify for Podcasters logo

Spotify for Podcasters

Podcasting

Free tools to grow your podcast on Spotify

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Spotify for Podcasters has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month; Spotify for Podcasters spotify for Podcasters has been renamed Spotify for Creators; the vendor's own meta description confirms it remains a free audio and video podcasting platform, with no paid tier named anywhere on the /pricing path itself.
  • They diverge on capability: Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Spotify for Podcasters covers Detailed analytics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fireside and Spotify for Podcasters actually diverge.

Attributes where Fireside and Spotify for Podcasters differ
AttributeFiresideSpotify for Podcasters
Starting price$20/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20182006

Identical on both: 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 Fireside

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Community features
  • Distribution
  • Analytics
  • Listener engagement
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Email services

Only in Spotify for Podcasters

  • Detailed analytics
  • Audience demographics
  • Episode performance
  • Interactive features
  • Video podcasts
  • Music integration
  • Spotify
  • Anchor

Both cover

  • Social media
  • Privacy controls
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Fireside

  • Hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast websitenot Spotify for Podcasters
  • Running several shows as a podcast network from one accountnot Spotify for Podcasters
  • Tracking episode download metrics and link clicksnot Spotify for Podcasters

Spotify for Podcasters

  • Podcast analyticsnot Fireside
  • Audience growthnot Fireside
  • Content optimizationnot Fireside
  • Listener engagementnot Fireside

Where each one falls short

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

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

Spotify for Podcasters

  • Spotify for Podcasters has been renamed Spotify for Creators; the vendor's own meta description confirms it remains a free audio and video podcasting platform, with no paid tier named anywhere on the /pricing path itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

Fireside

$20/month
  • Creator$20/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Community features
    • Distribution
  • Network$50/month
    • Multiple shows
    • Team management
    • Advanced analytics

Spotify for Podcasters

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Podcast analytics
    • Audience insights
    • Episode management

Which should you pick?

Choose Fireside if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You also want community features.
Fireside review

Choose Spotify for Podcasters if

  • You need detailed analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want audience demographics.
Spotify for Podcasters review

Questions people ask

Is Fireside or Spotify for Podcasters better?
Neither clearly leads. Fireside starts at $20/month and Spotify for Podcasters at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fireside or Spotify for Podcasters?
Spotify for Podcasters has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $20/month for Fireside and Free for Spotify for Podcasters.
Does Fireside or Spotify for Podcasters run on more platforms?
Fireside runs on Web. Spotify for Podcasters runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Spotify for Podcasters for free?
Yes. Spotify for Podcasters has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fireside starts at $20/month.
What is Fireside best used for?
Fireside is most often used for hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast website, running several shows as a podcast network from one account, tracking episode download metrics and link clicks. Of those, hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast website and running several shows as a podcast network from one account are not what Spotify for Podcasters is typically brought in for.
What can Fireside do that Spotify for Podcasters cannot?
Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Community features, Distribution, Analytics. Spotify for Podcasters covers Detailed analytics, Audience demographics, Episode performance, Interactive features. Both handle Social media, Privacy controls, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Spotify for Podcasters: Does Spotify for Podcasters charge to use the platform?

The website does not disclose any costs for using Spotify for Podcasters. The platform is free to distribute podcasts, with monetization tools available separately.

Source
Spotify for Podcasters: What monetization options does Spotify for Podcasters offer?

Creators can choose from a range of monetization tools designed to help them earn, but the website does not specify which tools are free, paid, or subject to revenue sharing.

Source
Spotify for Podcasters: Is there a free tier on Spotify for Podcasters?

Spotify for Podcasters appears to be free to use. No subscription tiers, trial periods, or cost barriers are mentioned on the platform page.

Source
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