Transistor does hosting well and stops there: unlimited shows and team members on every plan, private podcasts, clean analytics and an API, priced by monthly downloads. If you want recording, editing or a free plan, look elsewhere. If you want a host that stays out of your way, it's one of the best.
We assessed Transistor alongside the rest of our audio & podcasting reviews, including Auphonic, Buzzsprout and Zencastr, so the score below is relative to that field.
What it does well
- Multiple shows at no extra cost. Every plan includes unlimited podcasts and team members. That matters if you run a flagship show plus a bonus feed, or produce shows for clients, where competing hosts often charge per show.
- Private podcasts on every plan. Starter includes 50 private subscribers, Professional 500 and Business 3,000, which covers paid bonus feeds and internal company shows.
- Readable analytics. Transistor's analytics page lists downloads per episode, average downloads per episode, and top listening apps and devices, without ad-marketplace clutter. Transistor says it is IAB-compliant, but it does not appear on IAB Tech Lab's list of certified companies, so treat the numbers as clean rather than certified.
- A clean way out. Transistor's docs say a 301 redirect stays in place "permanently, free of charge" after you cancel. That's the portability promise every host should make.
- API on every plan, useful if you automate publishing or run your own website.
Where it falls short
- No free plan. There's a 14-day trial, then $19 a month.
- No production tools. No recording, editing or audio cleanup, and transcripts are a paid add-on.
- Monetization starts at $49. Dynamic ads, dynamic show notes and auto-posting to YouTube need the Professional plan.
- Video isn't finished. Video appears on the pricing page, but Transistor's feature page said "Coming Soon" when checked, so treat it as beta.
- History stays behind. Transistor's import guide says analytics do not migrate from your old host.
- Plain website. The built-in podcast site works, but it's basic next to a dedicated site builder.
Pricing in practice
| Plan | Monthly | Billed annually | Downloads per month | Private subscribers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19 | $190/yr | 20,000 | 50 |
| Professional | $49 | $490/yr | 100,000 | 500 |
| Business | $99 | $990/yr | 250,000 | 3,000 |
| Enterprise | from $199 | contact sales | over 250,000 | over 3,000 |
Annual billing is 12 months for the price of 10. AI transcription costs $5 a month for 5 hours or $20 a month for 20 hours ($50 or $200 a year). Business also removes Transistor branding.
Example: two weekly shows totaling 6,000 downloads a month both fit on Starter: $190 a year billed annually, about $15.83 a month. Assuming you add the 5-hour transcription pack billed annually, the total is $240 a year.
Who should pick it (and who shouldn't)
Pick Transistor if you run several shows, need private feeds, or want a dependable host with an API and a documented exit.
Skip it if you need IAB-certified stats for sponsors on an entry plan (Captivate), want a free start (Buzzsprout or Zencastr), or want recording and editing in the same tool (Riverside).
Alternatives worth comparing
- Captivate: same starting price, unlimited shows, and dynamic ads on every plan.
- Buzzsprout: a free plan and video distribution for a single show.
- Riverside: recording, editing and hosting in one subscription.
- Compare them all in best podcast hosting, and read how to switch podcast hosts without losing listeners before moving a feed.
What changed (Oct 8, 2026)
- Plan names, prices and limits now match Transistor's official pricing page as checked on Oct 8, 2026.
- We corrected statements in the review text that no longer matched the product or its documentation.
- We revised the pros and cons to match current features and pricing.
- We noted that Transistor has no free plan, only a free trial.
SOURCES (CHECKED OCT 19, 2026)
| Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Plans, prices and plan limits in the pricing table | https://transistor.fm/pricing/ | 2026-10-19 |
| Official product site | https://transistor.fm/ | 2026-10-19 |
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19/mo billed monthly, or $190/yr billed annually (USD) | Unlimited podcasts and team members, 20K downloads/mo, 50 private podcast subscribers, advanced analytics, API, podcast website. 14-day free trial |
| Professional | $49/mo billed monthly, or $490/yr billed annually | Everything in Starter, 100K downloads/mo, 500 private subscribers, dynamic ads, dynamic show notes, auto-post to YouTube |
| Business | $99/mo billed monthly, or $990/yr billed annually | Everything in Professional, 250K downloads/mo, 3,000 private subscribers, remove Transistor branding |
| Enterprise | From $199/mo | Over 250K downloads/mo or over 3,000 private subscribers. Contact sales |
| AI transcription add-on | $5/mo (5 hrs) or $20/mo (20 hrs); $50/yr or $200/yr annually | Optional transcripts on any plan |
Podcasters running multiple shows under one account.
you need built-in audio editing alongside your hosting — if that's a dealbreaker, see every audio & podcasting tool we've reviewed.
- Is Transistor worth it in 2026?
A straightforward, no-nonsense podcast host that gets analytics and multi-show management right without pretending to be an editing tool. We rate it 8.2/10, and it's the strongest pick for podcasters running multiple shows under one account.
- How much does Transistor cost?
Transistor has no free plan, but every plan starts with a 14-day free trial. Starter is $19/mo, Professional $49/mo and Business $99/mo billed monthly ($190, $490 and $990 a year billed annually), and Enterprise starts at $199/mo. Plans are tiered by monthly downloads, and AI transcription is an add-on from $5/mo. List prices change often, so confirm with the vendor before you buy.
- What are the downsides of Transistor?
No built-in audio editing or cleanup tools. Website builder is basic compared to dedicated site tools. No free plan, though every plan starts with a 14-day free trial. Fewer monetization integrations than Spotify-owned hosts.
- How did BestCreates review Transistor?
Editorially reviewed: An editorial evaluation of verified product information, official documentation, pricing and features, informed by Carlos Gil's professional experience. Available demos and screenshots may inform the review; documented product use is required for a hands-on label. The score is relative to the other tools we cover in this category.
A straightforward, no-nonsense podcast host that gets analytics and multi-show management right without pretending to be an editing tool.
Editorially reviewed. An editorial evaluation of verified product information, official documentation, pricing and features, informed by Carlos Gil's professional experience. Available demos and screenshots may inform the review; documented product use is required for a hands-on label. Read our review standards.
BestCreates is written and edited by Carlos Gil. Every tool is assessed against the same documented framework — the jobs creators hire it for, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — and each review states in the open how it was assessed.
LAST UPDATED OCT 9, 2026
SIGNED BY CARLOS GIL · FOUNDER & EDITOR, THE BEST NETWORK · OUR DISCLOSURE POLICY