The Truly Unlimited Alternative to Transistor.fm
Stop paying more as your podcast grows. VNYL offers unlimited downloads, unlimited storage, and unlimited episodes for $130/year. Start with 2 podcasts, upgrade anytime. Transistor charges $190-$1,990/year with download caps.
Why Podcasters Are Switching from Transistor to VNYL
No Growth Penalty
Transistor: $19 → $49 → $99 → $199/month as you grow.
VNYL: $130/year, forever.
Save $60-$1,860/year
No Math Required
Transistor: Track downloads across tiers (20K, 100K, 250K).
VNYL: Just create. No tracking, no limits.
Focus on content, not spreadsheets
Lock Your Price
Transistor: Prices can increase anytime (happened in 2023).
VNYL: $13/month or $130/year standard, or lock in founder pricing at $9/month or $90/year.
Predictable budgeting
Feature-by-Feature: VNYL vs Transistor
| Feature | VNYL | Transistor |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Downloads | ✅ All plans | ❌ Only $199+/mo |
| Unlimited Storage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unlimited Podcasts | 2 (upgrade available) | ✅ |
| Annual Pricing | $130/year | $190-$1,990/year |
| Analytics | Standard | Advanced |
| Team Collaboration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Podcast Website | ✅ | ✅ |
| Embeddable Player | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dynamic Ad Insertion | 🚧 Roadmap | ✅ $49+ plans |
| YouTube Auto-posting | 🚧 Roadmap | ✅ $49+ plans |
| AI Transcription | 🚧 Roadmap | ✅ Addon $30+/mo |
| Private Podcasting | 🚧 Roadmap | ✅ |
| RSS Feed | ✅ | ✅ |
| Distribution | ✅ All apps | ✅ All apps |
| Customer Support | Email + chat | Email + chat |
Where Transistor Currently Excels:
- More advanced analytics with detailed listener insights
- Dynamic ad insertion (available on $49+ plans)
- YouTube auto-posting (available on $49+ plans)
- AI transcription (addon $30+/mo)
- Longer track record (established since 2018)
But if unlimited downloads without price increases matter more to you than these features, VNYL is your platform.
See How Much You'll Save
| 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 Transistor Takes 15 Minutes
We've made migration painless. Here's exactly how it works:
1. Export Your RSS Feed (5 min)
Transistor lets you export your RSS feed anytime from your dashboard settings. No restrictions, no waiting periods.
2. Import to VNYL (under 5 min)
Paste your RSS URL into VNYL's import tool. We automatically pull all episodes, artwork, and metadata. Most imports complete in under 5 minutes.
3. Update Distribution (5 min)
Submit your new VNYL RSS feed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories. Most platforms update within 24 hours.
4. Redirect Old Feed (3 min)
Set up a 301 redirect from your old Transistor feed to your new VNYL feed. This preserves subscribers who haven't updated yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is VNYL cheaper than Transistor?
VNYL is unlimited from day one at $13/month or $130/year standard pricing (or $9/month or $90/year with founder pricing). Transistor starts at $190/year but caps downloads at 20,000. To get unlimited downloads, you pay $1,990/year. We built VNYL to remove growth penalties so podcasters can focus on creating, not worrying about download limits.
What happens if my podcast suddenly goes viral?
With VNYL, nothing changes. Your hosting costs stay $13/month or $130/year standard (or $9/month or $90/year with founder pricing) whether you get 1,000 or 1,000,000 downloads. With Transistor, viral episodes can force you to upgrade mid-month to keep your feed online, jumping from $19/mo to $99/mo or higher.
Can I import my existing podcast from Transistor?
Yes. Export your RSS feed from Transistor, import it to VNYL (takes 2 minutes), update your podcast directories with the new RSS URL, and set up a 301 redirect. The whole process takes about 15 minutes with zero downtime.
Will you raise prices later?
Founder pricing ($9/month or $90/year) is locked for 12 months for early adopters. After that, pricing may adjust to standard rates ($13/month or $130/year). If you lock in founder pricing now, your rate is guaranteed for your first year, even if we add features that would normally cost more.
Do I lose my analytics history?
VNYL starts fresh analytics from your import date. You can export your historical data from Transistor for your records. Your RSS feed and episodes transfer completely. Only the analytics dashboard starts fresh.
What if I need features Transistor has that VNYL doesn't?
If you rely on dynamic ads or YouTube auto-posting today, Transistor is a better fit. Those features are on our roadmap for Roadmap. But if unlimited downloads without price increases matter more than those features, VNYL saves you $60-$1,860/year.
Is there a contract?
No. VNYL is month-to-month or annual (your choice). Cancel anytime, export your data anytime. Your podcast lives in RSS, not our platform. You're never locked in.
What happens if VNYL shuts down?
Your podcast is safe. RSS is an open standard. You own your feed. Export your RSS and audio files anytime and move to any other host. We also provide 30 days notice before any service changes, giving you plenty of time to migrate if needed.
Understanding Podcast Hosting Pricing Models
Here's the thing about podcast hosting: not all platforms charge the same way. Some count downloads, others measure storage, and a few offer unlimited everything. Knowing which model fits your show can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Download-Based Pricing: Pay for Popularity
Platforms like Transistor, Captivate, and Simplecast charge based on how many times your episodes get downloaded each month. Transistor's tiers start at $19/month for 20,000 downloads, then jump to $49/month for 100,000 downloads, $99/month for 250,000 downloads, and $199/month for unlimited.
Best for: New podcasters who aren't sure how big their audience will get.
Watch out: A single viral episode can push you into a higher tier overnight. Most platforms won't charge overage fees. They'll just stop serving your episodes until you upgrade. Your show goes offline right when growth is happening.
Why Unlimited Pricing Makes Sense for Growing Shows
If you're publishing consistently and expect growth, unlimited pricing removes anxiety. You'll never worry about hitting limits or upgrading mid-month. VNYL's $130/year unlimited plan costs less than Transistor's cheapest tier ($190/year for just 20,000 downloads).
The math is simple. If you're getting more than 20,000 downloads per month, you're already saving money with VNYL. At 50,000 downloads, you save $360/year. At 100,000 downloads, you save $360/year. At 250,000 downloads, you save $860/year. At unlimited downloads, you save $1,860/year.
The True Cost of Growth on Tiered Platforms
Let's say you start a podcast today with 5,000 downloads per month. On Transistor, you'd pay $19/month ($228/year). Not bad. But if your show grows 10% monthly (typical for actively promoted podcasts), here's what happens:
- Month 1-6: 5,000-8,000 downloads. $19/mo ($114 total)
- Month 7-12: 10,000-18,000 downloads. $19/mo ($114 total)
- Month 13-18: 20,000-35,000 downloads. Upgrade to $49/mo ($294 total)
- Month 19-24: 40,000-65,000 downloads. Upgrade to $99/mo ($594 total)
Total 2-year cost: $1,116 on Transistor vs $260 on VNYL (2 years × $130). You save $856 by starting with unlimited.
What Happens If You Hit Your Limit?
Most download-based platforms don't charge overage fees. Instead, they do something worse. Your episodes stop loading.
Here's what that means for you:
- New listeners can't download episodes until next month's reset
- Your show effectively goes offline mid-growth
- Viral episodes or marketing campaigns hit a wall right when they're working
- You scramble to upgrade, often paying pro-rated fees for rush processing
With VNYL's unlimited model, a viral episode costs you $0 extra. Your hosting bill stays $130/year whether you get 1,000 downloads or 1,000,000.
When Does It Make Sense to Switch?
You should switch to VNYL if:
- You're currently paying $16+/month for podcast hosting
- You're getting close to your download tier limit (18K on a 20K plan)
- You're planning a marketing campaign or guest appearances that could spike downloads
- You want predictable budgeting without tier anxiety
- You don't need dynamic ads or YouTube auto-posting today
Stick with Transistor if:
- You rely on dynamic ad insertion for monetization (VNYL roadmap)
- You use YouTube auto-posting daily (VNYL roadmap)
- You need AI transcription today (VNYL roadmap)
- You require advanced analytics features VNYL doesn't have yet
The Migration Timeline
The best time to migrate is between episodes, not mid-publish. Here's the ideal timeline:
Week 1: Sign up for VNYL and import your RSS feed (takes under 5 minutes). Test your podcast page and player once import completes.
Week 2: Submit your new RSS feed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories.
Week 3: Set up 301 redirect from old feed. Monitor subscriber count. Should stay stable.
Week 4: Cancel Transistor once you confirm everything is working.
This gradual approach ensures zero downtime and gives you confidence that the migration worked correctly before canceling your old host.
Ready to Save $60-$1,860 Per Year?
Get unlimited podcast hosting at $13/month or $130/year, or lock in founder pricing at $9/month or $90/year.
Transistor is a registered trademark of Transistor, Inc. 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 2, 2025 from transistor.fm/#pricing