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Podcasting · head to head

Transistor.fm vs Zencastr

Transistor.fm logo

Transistor.fm

Podcasting

The podcast host built for professional broadcasters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zencastr logo

Zencastr

Podcasting

Free podcast recording in your browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Transistor.fm add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display; Zencastr the pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes, Zencastr covers Browser-based recording.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Transistor.fm and Zencastr differ
AttributeTransistor.fmZencastr
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb
Founded20162015

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 Transistor.fm

  • Unlimited episodes
  • Automatic transcription
  • Advanced analytics
  • Custom player
  • Email newsletters
  • White-label options
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

Only in Zencastr

  • Browser-based recording
  • Separate tracks
  • Automatic postproduction
  • Video recording
  • Lossless audio
  • Cloud storage
  • Dropbox
  • Google Drive

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Transistor.fm

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

Zencastr

  • Recording remote podcast interviews with separate local tracks per guestnot Transistor.fm
  • Recording video podcasts in the browser without guest software installsnot Transistor.fm
  • Publishing recorded episodes and clips from one workspacenot Transistor.fm

Where each one falls short

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

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

Zencastr

  • The pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • The free tier caps a session at 6 participants
  • The free tier caps video streaming quality at 1080p
  • The free tier is limited to 5 podcast shows and 4 seats

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Zencastr

Free
  • HobbyistFree
    • 8 hours/month audio
    • MP3 quality
    • Up to 2 guests
  • Professional$20/month
    • Unlimited recording
    • WAV lossless quality
    • Video recording

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Zencastr if

  • You need browser-based recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want separate tracks.
Zencastr review

Questions people ask

Is Transistor.fm or Zencastr better?
Neither clearly leads. Transistor.fm starts at Free and Zencastr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Transistor.fm or Zencastr?
Transistor.fm starts at Free and Zencastr at Free.
Does Transistor.fm or Zencastr run on more platforms?
Transistor.fm runs on Web, Mobile. Zencastr runs on Web.
Can I use Transistor.fm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Transistor.fm best used for?
Transistor.fm is most often used for podcast hosting and distribution, video podcast publishing, ai transcription, dynamic ad insertion. Of those, podcast hosting and distribution and video podcast publishing are not what Zencastr is typically brought in for.
What can Transistor.fm do that Zencastr cannot?
Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes, Automatic transcription, Advanced analytics, Custom player. Zencastr covers Browser-based recording, Separate tracks, Automatic postproduction, Video recording. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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

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

Source
Zencastr: Is Zencastr free to use?

Zencastr offers a free plan called Vibecastr with the option to upgrade to Enterprise with custom pricing.

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
Zencastr: What support level comes with Zencastr's free plan?

The free Vibecastr plan includes Producer-level support, while Enterprise plans offer custom support arrangements.

Source
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