Head-to-head comparison
Headliner vs Overcast
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.
Cheap, cheerful audiogram generator that helped invent the category and still works well.
Best for: Audiograms and clips
Indie iOS player obsessively engineered for voice clarity.
Best for: iOS power listeners
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
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
Overcast
Pros
- Smart Speed shaves 10-20% off episode runtime
- Voice Boost normalizes loudness across shows
- Indie, no tracking, no algorithm
Watch-outs
- iOS only — no Android, web, or Mac
- Free tier shows ads; Premium $9.99/yr
- No social or discovery features
Which one should you pick?
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.
Pick Overcast if
You’re building around ios power listeners. Overcast is what every podcast app would be if Marco Arment ran them all. Smart Speed and Voice Boost actually change how listening feels, the app respects your time and your data, and there's no algorithm anywhere.
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Frequently asked
What does Headliner do better than Overcast?
Headliner's standout is "Free tier that's actually useful". Overcast doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Smart Speed shaves 10-20% off episode runtime" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Headliner; if the second does, pick Overcast.
What are the trade-offs?
Headliner: auto-clipping trails ai-first competitors. Overcast: ios only — no android, web, or mac. 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 Web, Android where Overcast doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use Headliner and Overcast together?
Both are distribution tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Headliner for one show or episode type and Overcast for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.