Head-to-head comparison
Beacons vs Fountain
Two of the distribution tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Creator-first link-in-bio with embeds for podcast players.
Best for:
Podcasting 2.0 listening app with Value4Value Bitcoin streaming.
Best for: Crypto-native creators
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Beacons
Pros
- Native podcast embeds on the free plan
- Built-in email capture and storefront
- Strong mobile design defaults
Watch-outs
- Free tier shows Beacons branding
- Edits can queue up on free plan
- Less SEO benefit than a dedicated podcast site
Fountain
Pros
- Real Lightning sat streaming to creators
- Listeners earn Bitcoin for time listened
- No algorithm, just value4value signals
Watch-outs
- Audience tiny vs. Apple or Spotify
- Requires a crypto-comfortable listener base
- Earnings volatile and small for most shows
Which one should you pick?
Pick Beacons if
You’re building around . Beacons is a Linktree alternative with podcast embeds, email capture, and storefront on the free tier. Mobile design out of the box is genuinely good.
Pick Fountain if
You’re building around crypto-native creators. Fountain is the most ideologically interesting podcast app on the market — real Bitcoin micropayments via Lightning, listener-to-creator value flows, no algorithm anywhere. It's also tiny, niche, and you probably won't make meaningful money here unless your audience is already crypto-native.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Beacons alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Beacons do better than Fountain?
Beacons's standout is "Native podcast embeds on the free plan". Fountain doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Real Lightning sat streaming to creators" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Beacons; if the second does, pick Fountain.
What are the trade-offs?
Beacons: free tier shows beacons branding. Fountain: audience tiny vs. apple or spotify. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Do they support the same platforms?
Beacons works on Web where Fountain doesn't. Fountain works on iOS, Android where Beacons doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use Beacons and Fountain together?
Both are distribution tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Beacons for one show or episode type and Fountain for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.