Own Your Data, Grow Independently
Spotify for Creators is incredible for getting started, but serious podcast growth requires real analytics. VNYL gives you full download data ownership, geographic insights, and IAB-certified stats for $130/year. Keep publishing to Spotify while owning your complete analytics.
Why Podcasters Upgrade from Spotify for Creators
Analytics Ownership
Spotify shows plays. VNYL gives you complete download data you own forever. Export CSV anytime.
Your data, your decisions
Advanced Stats
Geographic insights, device breakdowns, listener demographics. Make growth decisions with real data.
IAB-certified metrics
Platform Independence
Host once, distribute everywhere. Not just Spotify-first, but Apple, YouTube, your website, anywhere.
You control distribution
Feature-by-Feature: VNYL vs Spotify for Creators
| Feature | VNYL | Spotify for Creators |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $130/year | Free |
| Unlimited Downloads | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unlimited Storage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Download Data Ownership | ✅ Full CSV exports | ❌ Dashboard only |
| Analytics Depth | Advanced IAB-certified | Basic (plays/streams) |
| Geographic Insights | ✅ Full breakdown | ❌ |
| Device Stats | ✅ | ❌ |
| Listener Demographics | ✅ | ❌ |
| Platform Independence | ✅ Distribute everywhere | ⚠️ Spotify-first |
| Custom Branding | ✅ Full control | ⚠️ Limited |
| Monetization | ✅ Keep 100% | ⚠️ Spotify revenue share |
| Video Podcast Support | 🚧 Roadmap | ✅ |
| Mobile Recording App | 🚧 Roadmap | ✅ Excellent |
| Spotify Audience Reach | ✅ Via RSS submission | ✅ Built-in |
| RSS Feed | ✅ Full control | ✅ |
Where Spotify for Creators Currently Excels:
- 100% free forever - no hosting fees
- Built-in Spotify audience of 500M+ users
- Video podcast support included
- Spotify Partner Program for instant monetization
- Mobile app for easy recording and publishing
- Simple onboarding for absolute beginners
But if analytics ownership and platform independence matter more to you than these features, VNYL is your platform.
Compare Hosting Costs
| Platform | Pricing Model | Matched Tier | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buzzsprout | storage | Free (90 days) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Spreaker | unlimited | Free (ads) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| RedCircle | unlimited | 1 podcast (Core) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Anchor | unlimited | Free (Spotify) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| VNYL(Us) | unlimited | Unlimited | $13.00 | $156.00 |
| Podbean | storage | 10GB/month (Unlimited Audio) | $14.00 | $168.00 |
| Libsyn | storage | 324 MB/month (Plus) | $15.00 | $180.00 |
| Castos | unlimited | Unlimited (Starter) | $19.00 | $228.00 |
| Simplecast | downloads | 50K downloads | $35.00 | $420.00 |
| Captivate | downloads | 150K downloads | $44.00 | $528.00 |
| Transistor | downloads | 50K downloads | $99.00 | $1188.00 |
Cost Projections at Standard Download Levels
Switching from Spotify for Creators Takes 15 Minutes
Keep your Spotify audience while owning your complete analytics on VNYL:
1. Export Your RSS Feed (2 min)
In Spotify for Creators, go to Settings → Distribution → RSS and copy your RSS feed URL. Spotify provides RSS for free redistribution.
2. Import to VNYL (under 5 min)
Paste your RSS URL into VNYL's import tool. We automatically pull all episodes, artwork, metadata, and show notes. Most imports complete in under 5 minutes.
3. Update Distribution (5 min)
Submit your new VNYL RSS feed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify for Podcasters (yes, you can still publish there!), Google Podcasts, and other directories. Updates process within 24-48 hours.
4. Redirect Old Feed (3 min)
Set up a 301 redirect from your Spotify for Creators feed to your VNYL feed. This preserves subscribers on podcast apps that haven't updated yet. Spotify makes this easy in their dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why pay for podcast hosting when Spotify for Creators is free?
Spotify for Creators is perfect for getting started, but serious podcast growth requires real analytics. VNYL gives you full download data ownership, geographic insights, listener demographics, device stats, and IAB-certified metrics for $130/year. If you're making growth decisions or attracting sponsors, owning your data is worth the investment.
Do I own my analytics on Spotify for Creators?
No. Spotify provides basic stats (plays, streams, followers) through their dashboard, but you can't export full download data or access granular listener insights. With VNYL, you own all your analytics and can export CSV files anytime.
Can I still distribute to Spotify if I use VNYL?
Absolutely! VNYL is a hosting platform - you submit your RSS feed to Spotify just like you would from Spotify for Creators. You get the best of both worlds: own your analytics on VNYL while reaching Spotify's 500M+ users.
What if my podcast suddenly goes viral?
With Spotify for Creators, nothing changes - it's free regardless of downloads. With VNYL, nothing changes either - unlimited downloads at $13/month or $130/year standard pricing (or $9/month or $90/year founder pricing). The difference is you'll have complete analytics to understand what content resonated and how to replicate success.
Will I lose my Spotify audience if I switch?
No. When you migrate from Spotify for Creators to VNYL, you keep publishing to Spotify by submitting your new RSS feed through Spotify for Podcasters. Your show stays on Spotify, and subscribers see zero disruption. You just gain better analytics.
What features does Spotify have that VNYL doesn't?
Spotify for Creators excels at: (1) 100% free hosting, (2) built-in Spotify audience discovery, (3) video podcast support, and (4) Spotify Partner Program monetization. If these matter more than analytics ownership, stick with Spotify. But if data-driven growth is your priority, VNYL is the choice.
Can I use both Spotify for Creators and VNYL?
Not simultaneously for the same podcast - you need one primary host. However, you can start on Spotify for Creators, then migrate to VNYL when you're ready for advanced analytics. The migration takes about 15 minutes with zero subscriber loss.
How do I export my podcast from Spotify for Creators?
Go to Settings → Distribution → RSS in your Spotify for Creators dashboard. Copy your RSS feed URL and paste it into VNYL's import tool. We'll automatically pull all episodes, artwork, and metadata in under 5 minutes.
Understanding Podcast Data Ownership
"Free" is compelling. Spotify for Creators offers unlimited hosting at $0/year. So why would anyone pay for hosting? The answer: data ownership. When podcast hosting is free, your data becomes the product.
What You Actually Own on Free Platforms
Spotify for Creators shows you plays, streams, and followers. These numbers live in Spotify's dashboard. You can't export them to CSV. You can't analyze them in Excel. You can't port them to another analytics tool. If Spotify changes their dashboard, you adapt. If they remove a metric, it's gone.
This isn't malicious - it's the trade-off of free. Spotify's business model is discovery and monetization within Spotify. Their analytics reflect that goal: how well is your podcast performing on Spotify?
But what if you care about performance everywhere - Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, your website? Spotify's dashboard won't tell you. VNYL's analytics will.
Why Analytics Ownership Matters for Growth
Here's a real scenario: You publish an episode that gets 2x your normal downloads. What do you do next?
With Spotify's analytics: "We got more plays this week!" But why? Was it the topic? The guest? The time you published? You're guessing.
With VNYL's analytics: You see geographic spikes (Reddit post went viral in Germany), device breakdown (desktop listeners = work-focused content resonated), and listener retention data (80% finished the episode vs usual 60% = tighter editing worked). Now you can replicate success.
Platform Independence vs Platform Optimization
Spotify for Creators is optimized for Spotify. That's not a criticism - it's their strategy. But your strategy as an independent creator might be different.
The Spotify-First Approach
When you host on Spotify for Creators, your podcast is natively on Spotify. Submit to other platforms manually via RSS. This works, but the incentive structure favors Spotify: better discovery, Partner Program monetization, video support - all Spotify-exclusive.
If your audience is primarily on Spotify, this is perfect. But if your listeners use Apple Podcasts (54% market share), YouTube (growing fast), or niche apps like Overcast, you're optimizing for the wrong platform.
The Platform-Agnostic Approach
VNYL hosts your podcast once and distributes everywhere equally. No platform gets priority. Your RSS feed works identically for Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and 50+ other apps. Your analytics track downloads from all sources, not just one.
This approach protects you from platform risk. If Spotify changes policies, you're not dependent. If Apple Podcasts grows, you benefit equally. Your podcast is yours, not Spotify's.
The True Cost of "Free"
Spotify for Creators is genuinely free - no hidden fees, no upgrade pressure. But "free" has invisible costs:
- Limited analytics: You can't make data-driven growth decisions without complete download data.
- No data exports: If you switch hosts later, you lose all historical analytics.
- Platform dependence: Spotify's policies dictate your options.
- Spotify-first incentives: Features prioritize Spotify's ecosystem over yours.
For hobbyist podcasters, these costs are acceptable. Free hosting is incredible for experimentation. But for serious creators building businesses or personal brands, $130/year for complete data ownership and platform independence is a bargain.
Making the Decision: Free vs Paid Hosting
Stick with Spotify for Creators if:
- You're just starting and testing podcast ideas
- Your audience is primarily on Spotify
- You rely on Spotify Partner Program for monetization
- Video podcast support is critical today (VNYL: Roadmap)
- Free is non-negotiable - every dollar matters
Switch to VNYL if:
- You need complete download data to inform content decisions
- You're building a business or monetizing independently
- You want platform independence (not Spotify-dependent)
- You need geographic and demographic listener insights
- $130/year for analytics ownership is worth it
The Best of Both Worlds
Important: You don't lose Spotify by switching to VNYL. You submit your VNYL RSS feed to Spotify for Podcasters. Your show appears on Spotify identically. You keep that 500M+ user discovery potential while owning complete analytics on VNYL.
Think of it this way: Spotify for Creators optimizes for Spotify. VNYL optimizes for you while still letting you reach Spotify's audience.
Ready to Own Your Analytics?
Get unlimited podcast hosting with advanced analytics at $13/month or $130/year, or lock in founder pricing at $9/month or $90/year. Keep publishing to Spotify while owning your data.
Spotify for Creators is a trademark of Spotify AB. This page is for comparison purposes only. VNYL is an independent podcast hosting platform.
Comparison by VNYL . Unlimited podcast hosting, $130/year.
Pricing data verified November 3, 2025 from podcasters.spotify.com