Head-to-head comparison
Fanlist vs Subtext
Two of the community tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Fanlist
Pros
- Free to use, monetization built in
- Audio messages, tips, perks, subs in one URL
- Now includes the PodInbox product
Watch-outs
- 7% platform fee stacks with Stripe's 2.9%
- Each individual feature is thinner than specialists
- Subscription delivery thinner than Patreon
Subtext
Pros
- 98% SMS open rate vs ~20% for email
- Two-way conversational, not broadcast-only
- Used at major publisher and creator scale
Watch-outs
- Custom pricing — historically starts around $300/mo
- Overkill for sub-10,000 subscriber audiences
- SMS carrier costs add up as you scale
Which one should you pick?
Pick Fanlist if
You’re building around all-in-one fan page. One page that handles voicemail, tips, paid perks, email capture, and recurring subscriptions. Free to start, with Fanlist taking 7% on transactions on top of Stripe's standard 2.
Pick Subtext if
You’re building around premium sms subscriber tier. Premium SMS platform built for media brands and creators. Used by NBCUniversal, Sony Music, Warner Music, Hearst, Forbes, and The Washington Post.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Fanlist alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Fanlist do better than Subtext?
Fanlist's standout is "Free to use, monetization built in". Subtext doesn't make that promise — it leans into "98% SMS open rate vs ~20% for email" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Fanlist; if the second does, pick Subtext.
What are the trade-offs?
Fanlist: 7% platform fee stacks with stripe's 2.9%. Subtext: custom pricing — historically starts around $300/mo. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Do they support the same platforms?
Subtext works on iOS, Android where Fanlist doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use Fanlist and Subtext together?
Both are community tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Fanlist for one show or episode type and Subtext for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.