Softwr

Podcasting · head to head

Buzzsprout vs Transistor.fm

Buzzsprout logo

Buzzsprout

Podcasting

Simple and powerful podcast hosting made easy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Transistor.fm logo

Transistor.fm

Podcasting

The podcast host built for professional broadcasters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Buzzsprout upload hours do not roll over monthly; overage fees apply at hourly rates; Transistor.fm add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display
  • They diverge on capability: Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buzzsprout and Transistor.fm actually diverge.

Attributes where Buzzsprout and Transistor.fm differ
AttributeBuzzsproutTransistor.fm
Founded20092016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Mobile), 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 Buzzsprout

  • Audio optimization
  • Automatic distribution
  • Episode transcription
  • Custom podcast website
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Magic Mastering
  • WordPress
  • Social media

Only in Transistor.fm

  • Unlimited episodes
  • Automatic transcription
  • Advanced analytics
  • Custom player
  • Email newsletters
  • White-label options
  • YouTube
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Google Podcasts
  • SSL encryption
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Buzzsprout

  • Podcast hostingnot Transistor.fm
  • Audio and video podcast distributionnot Transistor.fm
  • Transcription and show notes generationnot Transistor.fm
  • Podcast analytics and monetisationnot Transistor.fm

Transistor.fm

  • Podcast hosting and distributionnot Buzzsprout
  • Video podcast publishingnot Buzzsprout
  • AI transcriptionnot Buzzsprout
  • Dynamic ad insertionnot Buzzsprout
  • Private podcast networksnot Buzzsprout

Where each one falls short

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

Buzzsprout

  • Upload hours do not roll over monthly; overage fees apply at hourly rates
  • Free tier limited to 2 hours monthly uploads
  • Video features only on paid tiers, minimum $25/month

Transistor.fm

  • Add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display
  • Enterprise pricing lacks specificity and requires direct contact
  • Private subscriber limits appear restrictive for scaling large networks
  • No transparent usage overage costs shown

Pricing, plan by plan

Buzzsprout

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours monthly uploads
    • 90-day episode hosting
    • No video distribution
  • Audio Podcast$15/month
    • 72 hours annual uploads
    • Unlimited episodes
    • Single podcast
  • Audio + Video$25/month
    • 72 hours annual uploads
    • Video publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
    • 1080p video quality
  • Multi-Podcast$30/month
    • 180 hours annual uploads
    • 5-10 podcasts
    • Audio, video, or mixed media

Transistor.fm

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 Buzzsprout if

  • You need audio optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want automatic distribution.
Buzzsprout review

Choose Transistor.fm if

  • You need unlimited episodes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want automatic transcription.
Transistor.fm review

Questions people ask

Is Buzzsprout or Transistor.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Buzzsprout starts at Free and Transistor.fm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buzzsprout or Transistor.fm?
Buzzsprout starts at Free and Transistor.fm at Free.
Does Buzzsprout or Transistor.fm run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Mobile, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Buzzsprout for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Buzzsprout best used for?
Buzzsprout is most often used for podcast hosting, audio and video podcast distribution, transcription and show notes generation, podcast analytics and monetisation. Of those, podcast hosting and audio and video podcast distribution are not what Transistor.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Buzzsprout do that Transistor.fm cannot?
Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Automatic distribution, Episode transcription, Custom podcast website. Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes, Automatic transcription, Advanced analytics, Custom player. Both handle Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, SSL encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Buzzsprout: Does Buzzsprout offer a free tier?

Yes, Buzzsprout's free plan includes 2 hours of monthly uploads with 90-day episode hosting. Video distribution and advanced features require a paid subscription starting at $15/month.

Source
Transistor.fm: Does Transistor.fm offer a free trial?

Yes, Transistor offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

Source
Buzzsprout: What happens if I exceed my monthly upload limit?

Upload hours do not roll over each month. If you exceed your plan's upload allocation, overage fees apply at hourly rates.

Source
Transistor.fm: What's the least expensive plan?

The Starter plan costs $19 per month USD and includes 20K monthly downloads, 50 private subscribers, unlimited podcasts, and unlimited collaborators.

Source
Buzzsprout: How many podcasts can I host on different plans?

The Free and Audio Podcast plans support a single podcast. The Multi-Podcast plan at $30/month supports 5-10 podcasts depending on configuration.

Source
Buzzsprout: Is video publishing included on all paid plans?

No. Video publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube (1080p) requires the Audio + Video plan at $25/month or higher.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Buzzsprout

More on Transistor.fm

Keep looking

Other head to heads