Head-to-head comparison
Beacons vs Headliner
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:
Cheap, cheerful audiogram generator that helped invent the category and still works well.
Best for: Audiograms and clips
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
Headliner
Pros
- Free tier that's actually useful
- Audiogram engine is mature and reliable
- Used by major media outlets like BBC and CNN
Watch-outs
- Auto-clipping trails AI-first competitors
- Mobile app less polished than the web
- Templates can feel a step behind viral aesthetic
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 Headliner if
You’re building around audiograms and clips. Headliner more or less invented the podcast audiogram and a decade later it's still one of the most affordable and most-used. Free tier is genuinely usable, paid starts at $7.
Also worth comparing
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Frequently asked
What does Beacons do better than Headliner?
Beacons's standout is "Native podcast embeds on the free plan". Headliner doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Free tier that's actually useful" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Beacons; if the second does, pick Headliner.
What are the trade-offs?
Beacons: free tier shows beacons branding. Headliner: auto-clipping trails ai-first competitors. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Do they support the same platforms?
Headliner 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 Headliner 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 Headliner for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.