Head-to-head comparison
Chartmetric Podcasts vs Podtrac
Two of the analytics tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Chart and audience tracking for podcasts alongside Chartmetric's music data.
Best for:
Industry-standard audience measurement and monthly rankings since 2005.
Best for: Established publishers
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Chartmetric Podcasts
Pros
- Single dashboard for music and podcast trends
- Strong for shows tied to music artists
- Free trial and entry plan available
Watch-outs
- Podcast features secondary to music product
- Pricing aimed at music industry buyers
- Less podcast-specific depth than rivals
Podtrac
Pros
- Sponsor-recognized industry rankings since 2005
- Free measurement plus demographic surveys
- IAB-compliant rankings included automatically
Watch-outs
- Dashboard UX feels visibly outdated
- Light on listener behavior and attribution
- Sponsor-facing tool, not a growth platform
Which one should you pick?
Pick Chartmetric Podcasts if
You’re building around . Chartmetric is primarily a music intelligence platform, and the podcast features sit as a secondary layer rather than the main product. It's useful if you're already paying for the music side and want to track artist-led shows in the same dashboard.
Pick Podtrac if
You’re building around established publishers. Podtrac is the boring, reliable, IAB-certified number that media kits cite when shows brag about rankings. It's been around since 2005 for a reason — sponsors trust it — but the dashboard feels stuck in the same decade and won't tell you anything actionable about why your audience does what it does.
Also worth comparing
Frequently asked
What does Chartmetric Podcasts do better than Podtrac?
Chartmetric Podcasts's standout is "Single dashboard for music and podcast trends". Podtrac doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Sponsor-recognized industry rankings since 2005" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Chartmetric Podcasts; if the second does, pick Podtrac.
What are the trade-offs?
Chartmetric Podcasts: podcast features secondary to music product. Podtrac: dashboard ux feels visibly outdated. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Chartmetric Podcasts and Podtrac together?
Both are analytics tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Chartmetric Podcasts for one show or episode type and Podtrac for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.