Side by side
Firstory vs Onion Podcasts
Both stand on podcast monetization platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb
Firstory combines podcast hosting and distribution with AI content tools, analytics and monetization options. Review the free-plan limits and Pro-only Spotify metrics when choosing a plan.
Visit Firstory Free plan AndroidWeb
Choose Onion Podcasts if you want podcast discovery and live radio in one player, or free creator hosting with subscription options. Android listeners get unlimited offline downloads, while creators can offer paid tiers, private RSS feeds, and gated extras. Look elsewhere if you need an iOS app.
Visit Onion PodcastsThe facts
| Firstory | Onion Podcasts | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Web | Android, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Firstory Lite: $7 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | firstory.me | onionpodcasts.com |
| On podcast monetization platforms | #5 of 31 | #9 of 31 |
Firstory: what it does well
- Publishes audio and video together in one upload
- Distributes to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, KKBOX and more
- AI Studio generates transcripts and promotional content
- FLink provides one link for listening platforms and social profiles
- Supports donations, subscriptions and cross-platform memberships
What to know first
- Free plan allows one show
- Free plan allows one AI extraction episode monthly
- Daily Spotify charts and listener and follower metrics require Pro or higher
Onion Podcasts: what it does well
- Public episodes are available to browse and play without an account.
- Android supports unlimited downloads with no expiry or account requirement.
- Creators can host and publish podcasts for free.
- Creators can configure up to three tiers with direct Stripe payments.
- Episodes can include up to 10 tier-gated extras.
What to know first
- There is no iOS app.
- The web player streams episodes; offline downloads are an Android feature.
- Unusually large podcast archives may eventually require a paid plan.
Alternatives to Firstory Alternatives to Onion Podcasts The whole list