Beacons vs Spreaker
Beacons and Spreaker are both creator monetization tools. Beacons is aimed at creators, while Spreaker is aimed at creators and small businesses. Beacons costs less, from $10/mo versus $20/mo for Spreaker. Both have a free plan.
Link-in-bio with store, email and media kit
iHeartMedia podcast hosting with built-in ad and listener monetisation
| Pricing | Freemium · $10 | Freemium · $20 |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Creators | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2019 | US |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Beacons if
Creators monetizing audiences.
- All-in-one for creators
- Free start
- Brand deal tools
Look elsewhere if: Businesses.
Choose Spreaker if
Independent podcasters and small networks that want free hosting with built-in ad and listener monetisation from the start.
- Monetisation is available even on the free plan
- Backed by iHeartMedia's audio advertising demand
- Fixed monthly prices with no hidden fees
Look elsewhere if: Beginners wanting the simplest workflow or shows seeking premium sponsorship sales (Buzzsprout, Acast, Transistor).
Beacons vs Spreaker pricing
Beacons
- Free$09% fee on sales
- Creator Pro$10/mo$8.33/mo billed annually; 9% fee on sales
- Store Pro$30/mo$25/mo billed annually; 0% transaction fee
- Business Pro$90/mo$75/mo billed annually; no Beacons branding
Spreaker
- Free Speech$01 podcast, unlimited episodes, ads, 6 months of stats
- Broadcaster$20/moUnlimited podcasts, subscriptions, 0% Supporters Club fee
- Anchorman$50/moFull stats, custom player colours, unlimited collaborators
- Publisher$250/moAd Campaign Manager, sell your own ads, 24 months of stats
Beacons · Key features
- Link in bio
- Digital store
- Email marketing
- Media kit
- Brand deal invoicing
- AI tools
Cons
- Fees on free
- Design limits
- Feature sprawl
Spreaker · Key features
- Unlimited episodes and automatic distribution to major podcast apps
- Programmatic ad monetisation through iHeartMedia's ad network
- Supporters Club for monthly listener payments
- Private podcasts and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions on paid plans
- Ad Campaign Manager to sell and traffic your own ads on Publisher
- Customizable RSS feeds and embeddable web player
Cons
- Free plan keeps statistics for only six months
- Interface and editor feel dated next to newer hosts
- No annual billing discount listed
Beacons vs Spreaker: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Beacons or Spreaker?
Beacons starts at $10/mo and Spreaker at $20/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Beacons and Spreaker have a free plan?
Yes, both Beacons and Spreaker have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Beacons or Spreaker?
Spreaker lists small businesses as a core audience, while Beacons is aimed more at creators.