Simplecast vs Transistor: which costs less?
For a new show (1,000 downloads), Simplecast is cheaper (Simplecast Basic $15 vs Transistor Starter $19 a month). Across the 6 needs below, Simplecast is cheaper in 5 and Transistor in 1.
Last checked 2026-10-18 on the official pages.
Monthly cost for each need
Cheapest fitting plan of each, monthly billing, add-ons included.
| Need | Simplecast | Transistor | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| a new show (1,000 downloads) | Basic $15 | Starter $19 | Simplecast by $4 |
| 10,000 downloads a month | Basic $15 | Starter $19 | Simplecast by $4 |
| 50,000 downloads a month | Essential $35 | Professional $49 | Simplecast by $14 |
| 150,000 downloads a month | no plan fits | Business $99 | Transistor (only one fits) |
| 3 podcasts, 10,000 downloads | Basic $15 | Starter $19 | Simplecast by $4 |
| a daily show (12 upload hours a month) | Basic $15 | Starter $19 | Simplecast by $4 |
Your own numbers · Simplecast pricing · Transistor pricing
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Visit Transistor (official site) ↗
Simplecast plans
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed annually (per month) | Podcasts | Downloads / month | Upload hours / month | Video podcast | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $15/mo | $13.50/mo | unlimited / no cap stated | 20,000 | no cap stated | not stated | |
| Essential | $35/mo | $31.50/mo | unlimited / no cap stated | 50,000 | no cap stated | not stated |
Transistor plans
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed annually (per month) | Podcasts | Downloads / month | Upload hours / month | Video podcast | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19/mo | $15.83/mo | unlimited / no cap stated | 20,000 | no cap stated | not stated | |
| Professional | $49/mo | $40.83/mo | unlimited / no cap stated | 100,000 | no cap stated | not stated | |
| Business | $99/mo | $82.50/mo | unlimited / no cap stated | 250,000 | no cap stated | not stated |
Total = plan price + any paid extra podcasts. Download and upload caps are the plan limits each host states; 'no cap stated' means the pricing page sets none (most call it unlimited or unmetered); Fireside and Podbean Network cap bandwidth in GB/TB, which is shown but not converted to downloads. Upload hours are audio hours (video uses more storage). 'Video podcast' = the host lists video podcast hosting on that plan. monthly price = no annual price is published as a number, so the monthly price is used. Ties are broken by name. Affiliate status is never used.
Frequently asked questions
Is Simplecast cheaper than Transistor?
For a new show (1,000 downloads), Simplecast is cheaper (Simplecast Basic $15 vs Transistor Starter $19 a month). Across the 6 needs below, Simplecast is cheaper in 5 and Transistor in 1.
What do Simplecast and Transistor cost per month?
Simplecast: Basic $15; Essential $35. Transistor: Starter $19; Professional $49; Business $99 (monthly billing where published).
Do Simplecast or Transistor have a free trial?
Simplecast: 14-day free trial, no credit card. Transistor: 14-day free trial.