Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head
Spreaker vs Buzzsprout
Spreaker
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Podcast hosting with social network features
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Buzzsprout
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Simple and powerful podcast hosting made easy
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Spreaker free plan allows only one podcast and retains statistics for 6 months; Buzzsprout upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost
- They diverge on capability: Spreaker covers Podcast hosting, Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Spreaker and Buzzsprout actually diverge.
| Attribute | Spreaker | Buzzsprout |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2011 | 2009 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Spreaker
- Podcast hosting
- Live streaming
- Social network
- Distribution
- Analytics
- Audio editing
- All podcast platforms
- Payment processors
Only in Buzzsprout
- Audio optimization
- Automatic distribution
- Episode transcription
- Custom podcast website
- Analytics dashboard
- Magic Mastering
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Both cover
- Social media
- Privacy controls
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Spreaker
- Hosting and distributing podcasts to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeartRadionot Buzzsprout
- Monetising a show through programmatic ads, listener subscriptions or a supporters clubnot Buzzsprout
- Running a multi-show podcast network with collaboratorsnot Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout
- Podcast hostingnot Spreaker
- Audio and video podcast distributionnot Spreaker
- Transcription and show notes generationnot Spreaker
- Podcast analytics and monetisationnot Spreaker
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Spreaker
- Free plan allows only one podcast and retains statistics for 6 months
- Spreaker takes a 20 percent fee on Supporters Club listener payments on the free plan, dropping to 0 percent only on the $20 per month Broadcaster plan
- Subscription monetisation and Apple Podcasts subscriptions require the $20 per month Broadcaster plan
- Player colour customisation and collaborators require the $50 per month Anchorman plan
- Selling and managing your own ad campaigns requires the $250 per month Publisher plan
- Statistics retention is capped at 12 months below the Publisher plan, which extends it to 24 months
Buzzsprout
- Upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost
- Overage charges apply at plan rate for additional uploads
Pricing, plan by plan
Spreaker
Free- FreeFree
- 2 hours storage
- Basic hosting
- Social network access
- Plus$5/month
- 50 hours storage
- Full distribution
- Live streaming
Buzzsprout
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Buzzsprout review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Spreaker if
- You need podcast hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want live streaming.
Choose Buzzsprout if
- You need audio optimization.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want automatic distribution.
Questions people ask
- Is Spreaker or Buzzsprout better?
- Neither clearly leads. Spreaker starts at Free and Buzzsprout at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Spreaker or Buzzsprout?
- Spreaker starts at Free and Buzzsprout at Free.
- Does Spreaker or Buzzsprout run on more platforms?
- Spreaker runs on Web, Ios, Android. Buzzsprout runs on Web, Mobile.
- Can I use Spreaker for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Spreaker best used for?
- Spreaker is most often used for hosting and distributing podcasts to spotify, apple podcasts and iheartradio, monetising a show through programmatic ads, listener subscriptions or a supporters club, running a multi-show podcast network with collaborators. Of those, hosting and distributing podcasts to spotify, apple podcasts and iheartradio and monetising a show through programmatic ads, listener subscriptions or a supporters club are not what Buzzsprout is typically brought in for.
- What can Spreaker do that Buzzsprout cannot?
- Spreaker covers Podcast hosting, Live streaming, Social network, Distribution. Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Automatic distribution, Episode transcription, Custom podcast website. Both handle Social media, Privacy controls, Web support, Ios support.