Spreaker vs Transistor
A side-by-side look at Spreaker and Transistor for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.
At a glance
| Spreaker | Transistor | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Best for | Podcasters who want hosting with a path to iHeartMedia's advertising network | Businesses, agencies, and multi-show creators who need unlimited podcast hosting with clean analytics under one account |
| Founded | 2010 | - |
Key features
Spreaker
- Web-based recording and production via Spreaker Create
- Distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and major directories
- iHeartMedia Prime Network monetization partnerships
- Episode storage, bandwidth management, and scheduling
- Podcast library management across categories
- Embeddable player for external sites
Transistor
- Unlimited shows under one account
- Audio and video podcast hosting and distribution
- Private and internal podcast support
- AI transcription
- Detailed IAB-certified analytics
- Dynamic ad insertion
- Embeddable player and podcast website builder
- API access for custom integrations
Pros and cons
Spreaker
Pros
- Backed by iHeartMedia - real advertising network access for qualifying shows
- Free tier available for getting started
- Web-based recording tool requires no software download
Cons
- Pricing and plan structure are not transparently marketed or easy to find
- Analytics and UX lag behind modern competitors
- iHeart partnership only adds value once your show reaches meaningful scale
Transistor
Pros
- Unlimited shows on every paid plan - no per-show fees
- Clean, trustworthy analytics without inflated numbers
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
Cons
- No free permanent tier - trial only
- Download caps per plan tier; high-growth shows can bump up quickly
- Not the cheapest option for a single hobbyist show
The verdict
Choose Spreaker if
Podcasters who want hosting with a path to iHeartMedia's advertising network.
Spreaker's main differentiator is its parent company - iHeartMedia's reach into brand advertising is real and can be valuable for shows with meaningful audiences. The Spreaker Create web tool makes it accessible to beginners who do not want to install…
Choose Transistor if
Businesses, agencies, and multi-show creators who need unlimited podcast hosting with clean analytics under one account.
Transistor is the easiest hosting recommendation for anyone running more than one show - the unlimited-podcasts-per-account model is genuinely differentiated in a market where most hosts charge per show. The analytics are clean and honest (no inflated play counts), and…