Buzzsprout Podcasting vs MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar
Updated 13 Oct 2026. 21 features compared side by side.
Official Buzzsprout plugin with Player and Episode List blocks that stay in sync with your Buzzsprout-hosted show. For Buzzsprout customers.
Audio and podcast player with RSS import, playlists, Elementor and block support; Pro adds a sticky player, chapters, auto-sync and stats.
Choose Buzzsprout Podcasting if…
- You need podcast media hosting and video podcasts
- You also want private & premium feeds
- You want the more complete feature set (79/100 vs 55/100)
- You weigh user ratings (5.0 vs 4.8 on WordPress.org)
Choose MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar if…
- You need sticky player and podcast SEO & schema
- You prefer the more widely used option
Buzzsprout Podcasting includes 3 features that MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar lacks, including Video podcasts, Podcast media hosting and Private & premium feeds; MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar has 2 that Buzzsprout Podcasting lacks, including Sticky player and Podcast SEO & schema. Both include 11 of the 21 features we track. 3 features are not yet verified for one or both plugins.
At a glance
Feature comparison
Click a screenshot to see both plugins side by side.
Buzzsprout Podcasting MP3 Audio Player by SonaarPublishing7/73/7
Buzzsprout hosting (free plan included) generates the feed; the plugin itself does not.
Podcast page mentions generating your own RSS feed, but no plan or settings are documented.
Buzzsprout lists shows in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and 15+ more directories.
Plugin connects one show feed; Buzzsprout's Multi-Podcast plan hosts up to 5 or 10 shows.
Supports multiple podcast feeds and shows in the free version.
Schedule an episode in Buzzsprout; the always-latest player updates on its own.
Paid plans auto-create transcripts for the feed, apps and Buzzsprout site.
Episode notes and transcripts shown on the page or in a lightbox; not added to a feed.
Chapter markers added in Buzzsprout's editors appear in supporting apps.
Chapters and timestamp links that jump playback to a point.
1080p video to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Audio player; Pro lightbox popups can only embed videos.
Player3/44/4
Buzzsprout Player block embeds a chosen episode or always the newest.
Block, Elementor widget or shortcode player for episodes and playlists.
Blocks embed inline single or multi-episode players only.
Sticky footer player with continuous playback between pages.
Player colours, details and sharing set in Buzzsprout; list style follows your theme.
Layouts, colours, waveform and download buttons free; 70+ style options in Pro.
Episode List block: playlist of all or latest 5/10/20, or expandable list, tag filters.
Unlimited playlists and tracklists from imported episodes or an RSS feed.
Hosting & importing3/32/3
Audio hosted by Buzzsprout; free plan keeps episodes for 90 days only.
Audio is uploaded to your site or streamed from your host; no vendor hosting.
Easy Podcast Migration moves an existing show onto Buzzsprout.
Built-in importer turns RSS episodes into posts with their own URLs.
Blocks read your Buzzsprout feed (15-minute cache), so new episodes appear automatically.
Fetches new episodes from your host at an interval you set.
Growth & analytics4/54/5
Stats with app, location and episode comparisons in Buzzsprout, not in WordPress.
Listen counts, downloads and top-played charts in admin; GA events.
Directory links appear on the Buzzsprout-hosted website; no subscribe block in WordPress.
Free call-to-action buttons per album; dedicated podcast subscribe buttons listed as Pro.
Plugin adds no episode schema or SEO settings.
Imported episodes get their own URL for SEO; no episode schema documented.
Buzzsprout Subscriptions give paying supporters a personal premium RSS feed.
Business plan only hides download buttons by role; no private feeds.
Buzzsprout Ads, Subscriptions and monthly Listener Support donations.
Audio previews with pre/post-roll ads and WooCommerce selling.
Guests & booking0/20/2
No guest application or booking features.
No guest booking features.
No guest or host profiles.
No guest or host profiles.
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Pricing compared
Buzzsprout Podcasting Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Free | Free per month, Unlimited |
| Audio | $180 per year, Unlimited |
| Audio + Video | $300 per year, Unlimited |
| Multi-Podcast | $360 per year, Unlimited |
| Archive | $5 per month, Unlimited |
MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Free | Free per year, Unlimited |
| Starter | $49 per year, 1 site |
| Business | $99 per year, 1 site |
| Unlimited | $149 per year, Unlimited |
| Lifetime | $399 lifetime, Unlimited |
Downloads trend
Buzzsprout Podcasting
858 downloads last week
MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar
5,028 downloads last week
Verdict
Buzzsprout Podcasting scores higher on our feature checklist (79/100 against 55/100) and includes podcast media hosting, video podcasts and private & premium feeds that MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar does not. MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar still has the edge on sticky player and podcast SEO & schema. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Biggest differences
Buzzsprout Podcasting: included. MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar: not included. Audio hosted by Buzzsprout; free plan keeps episodes for 90 days only.
Buzzsprout Podcasting: paid version (Audio + Video). MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar: not included. 1080p video to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Buzzsprout Podcasting: not included. MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar: paid version (Starter). Sticky footer player with continuous playback between pages.
Buzzsprout Podcasting: not included. MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar: partial. Imported episodes get their own URL for SEO; no episode schema documented.
Buzzsprout Podcasting: paid version (Audio). MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar: not included. Buzzsprout Subscriptions give paying supporters a personal premium RSS feed.
Written from the feature, pricing and install data on this page, not from hands-on testing. How we compare.
Which would you choose?
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Buzzsprout Podcasting vs others
FAQ
Which is better, Buzzsprout Podcasting or MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar?
Buzzsprout Podcasting scores higher on our feature checklist (79/100 against 55/100) and includes podcast media hosting, video podcasts and private & premium feeds that MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar does not. MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar still has the edge on sticky player and podcast SEO & schema. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Which has more features?
Buzzsprout Podcasting includes 17 of the 21 features we track, against 13 for MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar. Feature count is only part of the picture; check which of the differences matter to you.
Is Buzzsprout Podcasting free?
Buzzsprout Podcasting has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $5/mo.
Is MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar free?
MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $49/yr.
Feature data last changed 13 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit to Buzzsprout Podcasting or MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar. Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you; it never affects our data or rankings.