Podcasting · head to head
Spreaker vs Transistor

Transistor
Podcasting
Professional podcast hosting for businesses and creators
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Spreaker free plan allows only one podcast and retains statistics for 6 months; Transistor starter plan at $19 per month caps monthly downloads at 20,000
- They diverge on capability: Spreaker covers Podcast hosting, Transistor covers Unlimited podcasts.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Spreaker and Transistor actually diverge.
| Attribute | Spreaker | Transistor |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web |
| Founded | 2011 | 2018 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Spreaker
- Podcast hosting
- Live streaming
- Social network
- Distribution
- Analytics
- Audio editing
- All podcast platforms
- Social media
Only in Transistor
- Unlimited podcasts
- Private podcasting
- Advanced analytics
- Team collaboration
- Custom branding
- API access
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Both cover
- Web 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 Transistor
- Monetising a show through programmatic ads, listener subscriptions or a supporters clubnot Transistor
- Running a multi-show podcast network with collaboratorsnot Transistor
Transistor
- Podcast hosting and distributionnot Spreaker
- Audio content publishingnot Spreaker
- Private subscriber managementnot 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
Transistor
- Starter plan at $19 per month caps monthly downloads at 20,000
- Private podcast subscribers are capped at 50 on Starter and 500 on Professional
- Dynamic ad insertion and auto-posting to YouTube require the $49 per month Professional plan or higher
- Removing Transistor branding requires the $99 per month Business plan
- Enterprise plans above 250,000 monthly downloads start at $199 per month and require contacting the vendor
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
Transistor
Free- Starter$19/month
- 20K monthly downloads
- 50 private subscribers
- Unlimited podcasts
- Professional$49/month
- 100K monthly downloads
- 500 private subscribers
- Dynamic ads
- Business$99/month
- 250K monthly downloads
- 3K private subscribers
- Branded removal
- Enterprise$199/month
- Custom limits exceeding 250K downloads or 3K private subscribers
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 Transistor if
- You need unlimited podcasts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want private podcasting.
Questions people ask
- Is Spreaker or Transistor better?
- Neither clearly leads. Spreaker starts at Free and Transistor at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Spreaker or Transistor?
- Spreaker starts at Free and Transistor at Free.
- Does Spreaker or Transistor run on more platforms?
- Spreaker runs on Web, Ios, Android. Transistor runs on Web.
- 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 Transistor is typically brought in for.
- What can Spreaker do that Transistor cannot?
- Spreaker covers Podcast hosting, Live streaming, Social network, Distribution. Transistor covers Unlimited podcasts, Private podcasting, Advanced analytics, Team collaboration. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Spreaker: Does Spreaker offer free podcast hosting?
Yes, Spreaker offers free podcast hosting. The homepage explicitly states 'Your Podcasts Free' and includes a call-to-action to 'Start Free Today' for Spreaker Create for Web.
SourceTransistor: Does Transistor offer a free trial?
Yes, Transistor offers a 14-day free trial.
SourceSpreaker: What premium features does Spreaker offer beyond the free tier?
Spreaker provides additional features beyond free hosting, including monetization features through the Prime Network. However, specific premium plan names, prices, and feature details are not disclosed on the main homepage and require visiting additional pages or contacting Spreaker.
SourceTransistor: Can I save money by paying annually?
Yes, Transistor offers 12 months for the price of 10 when you pay yearly, representing a 17% discount.
SourceRelated pages
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