11+ Best Podcast Hosting Platform of Aug 2023 (plus free)
If you’re passionate about creating audio content and reaching a wide audience, then choosing the right podcast hosting platform is a crucial step in your podcasting journey.In this guide, I’ve ranked and reviewed 11 of the best podcast hosting platform, along with our top 3 picks, so you can choose the one that’s right for you.
Have you ever dream of successful podcast hosting ?
With as many as 860,000 podcasts available worldwide, you need to have a solid action plan.
For your business to succeed, your hosting is crucial.
This guide discusses the best podcast hosting platform based on the following criteria:
- Cost.
- credibility.
- Technical support
- Monthly upload volume
- Podcast monetization
- How to use it.
- And more.
What is the Best Podcast Hosting platform?
Here are my top picks for the best podcast hosting platform :
- BuzzSprout.
- RSS.com.
- Libsyn.
- PodBean.
- Spreaker.
- RedCircle.
- Transistor.
- Simplecast.
- Captivate.
- Castos.
- Podcastics.
1.BuZZsprout:
If you are just looking for podcast hosting, this is the best podcast hosting platform for beginners. (Free – $24/month)
Buzzsprout is my number-one choice when creating a podcast.
Since 2009, they’ve been hosting podcasts and have earned the trust of over 100,000 podcasters.
plus, They are one of the few companies that offer a free plan with unlimited team member accounts.
These analytics features prove to be super helpful and surpass the capabilities of most other tools.
The audio quality is also excellent, allowing you to upgrade to 128k stereo optimization for improved sound.
Moreover, they provide podcast transcription services as an extra add-on.
They ensure a seamless experience for uploading and scheduling your podcast, making it super easy.
This feature enhances the listener’s understanding by providing quick details about your episodes at a glance.
Key features:
- List your podcast in top directories for more visibility.
- Track your progress with advanced podcast statistics.
- Ensure great sound and easy listening with automatic episode optimization.
- Keep your podcast fresh and exciting with dynamic content.
- Make your podcast more accessible through transcriptions.
- Sharing your show with the world is also made easy by the app.
Pricing :
Their free plan offers the opportunity to upload two hours of content hosted for 90 days, which is a great starting point.
If you’re serious about podcasting, you can confidently scale up and upgrade your plan to accommodate the number of hours of content you need to upload each month.
Here are the pricing plans:
- Free: Upload 2 hours each month, and episodes are hosted for 90 days.
- For just $12 per month, you can enjoy the amazing benefits of uploading 3 hours of content each month. Your content will be hosted indefinitely, and you’ll have the luxury of unlimited storage for all your needs.
- $18/month: Includes the features above, plus you can upload 6 hours each month.
- $24/month: Includes the features above, plus you can upload 12 hours each month.
2.RSS:
Best for features
When it comes to three main features, RSS.com is my go-to recommendation.
If you’re looking for a platform that offers unlimited storage, powerful analytics, and a podcasting website to complement your recordings, then look no further than RSS.com.
These features in your podcast platform guarantee that your business growth can be managed as you scale.
If you are serious about growing your podcast, RSS.com is the ideal choice.
This service offers unlimited storage and bandwidth, making it perfect for more prominent podcasts.
RSS.com provides a variety of tools, including episode scheduling and social media integration, making podcast management and audience engagement easy for you.
Podcasters using RSS.com love how easily the platform gets them started.. In fact, most users can be up and running in just five minutes.
In addition to a quick and easy setup, RSS.com offers various partnerships to boost podcasts’ audiences and find suitable sponsors.
With unlimited downloads and recording capabilities, users can easily scale their podcast’s growth, starting from just a few episodes and reaching hundreds or thousands of regular listeners.
Detailed data and analytics help you fine-tune your podcast for maximum impact.
This data is crucial for taking your podcasting to the next level, enabling you to adapt and focus on relevant content for your audience.
KEY FEATURES
- RSS.com provides automatic and guided distribution to the major podcast directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, ensuring your podcast reaches a wide audience.
- Monetization options are abundant, offering sponsorship opportunities through Podcorn and a donate button on your free public podcast website.
- Multiple avenues are available to monetize your podcast using RSS.com, including enabling a donation button.
- Embrace the power of a professional podcast website, elevating your content’s legitimacy.
- With episode transcription, fan engagement soars! Don’t settle for less—migrate effortlessly from your current provider to RSS.com and unlock immediate benefits that’ll revolutionize your podcasting experience!
- RSS.com allows you to create custom embedded players that are compatible with any platform, enabling you to showcase your podcast in a unique way.
- Podcasters are delighted with RSS.com’s exceptional service, as evidenced by their outstanding NPS (net promoter score) of 63 and an impressive average star rating of 4.9.
PRICE :
Get started with RSS.com effortlessly and cost-free! Signing up and hosting your inaugural episode won’t cost you a penny, giving you the perfect opportunity to test their services without any financial commitment or credit card requirements.
If you decide to switch to their paid service, here are the price plans:
- Student & NGO: $4.99/Month
- All In One Podcasting: $11.99/Month
- Podcast Networks: $14.99/Month
If you have a .edu email, you’ll receive automatic approval for the Educational plan.
Here’s some great news! With the RSS Podcast plan, you have the option to switch to annual billing and unlock an impressive 35% discount.
Embrace the savings and enjoy the premium features that come with the plan!
Additionally, if you are part of a non-profit organization, you can reach out to their sales team to discuss potential special discounts.
Furthermore, there’s a Podcast Networks plan tailored to those who require more advanced features.
3.Libsyn:
With Libsyn,It’s incredibly easy to create your show and share it with the world.
In fact, it’s one of the simplest ways to get your message out there and build an audience.
Libsyn’s platform is designed with podcasters in mind, providing all the necessary tools to get started.
The user interface is exceptionally intuitive, making it accessible to everyone,
Libsyn’s user interface is truly top-notch, setting the stage for an exceptional podcasting experience that’s both easy to navigate and understand – even for first-time users.
The platform’s diverse array of features caters to both newcomers and seasoned professionals, ensuring that everyone finds the perfect tools to enhance their podcasting journey.
A noteworthy addition to Libsyn’s offerings is the innovative Libsyn Studio, enabling you to create and record your podcast using only your computer, without the need for any extra equipment.
“This means that anyone, regardless of their resources, can jump right into podcasting – a remarkable advantage that sets Libsyn apart.
Moreover, Libsyn goes above and beyond by providing various ways to offer subscriptions, run ads, and monetize your podcast, allowing you to turn your passion into a rewarding venture.
In addition, if you have a burning desire to share your knowledge, passion, and insights on a topic while fostering a vibrant community around your show, then Libsyn emerges as the perfect platform to consider.
Embrace the possibilities, let your creativity soar, and watch your podcast flourish with the positive and empowering support of Libsyn.
Key features
Advanced stats offer detailed insights into your audience and their engagement with your show, empowering you with valuable information.
With the social promotion scheduler, effortlessly share your episodes on social media, reaching a wider and more diverse audience.
Unlimited bandwidth ensures you can upload as many episodes as you desire, free from concerns about exceeding any limitations.
The ad-free podcast website grants you a polished and professional appearance, without the inconvenience of dealing with ads.
Customize the look and feel of your podcast player to align perfectly with your brand using the custom podcast player feature.
Podcast monetization opens doors to running ads on your show, allowing you to generate revenue from your valuable content and hard work.
Price : You can select from the following plans, based on the number of hourly uploads per month
- 3 hours: $5
- 6 hours: $15
- 10 hours: $20
- 14 hours: $40
- 27 hours: $75
- 55 hours: $150
4.Podbean :
Podbean excels at making podcast setup and monetization an incredibly easy and seamless process.
It’s truly remarkable how this platform caters to both newcomers and seasoned professionals, ensuring that everyone can achieve the podcasting success they desire.
The fact that you can start sharing your message with the world using just your phone in a few clicks is truly impressive and convenient.
Another thing I appreciate is that they offer a podcasting website with every account, making it easy for your audience to find your content online.
With more than a decade of podcast hosting experience, PodBean is the go-to choice for 540,000 podcasters due to its user-friendly nature.
Key Features:
Five hours of storage available on the free plan, offering a good starting point for content creators.
The $9/month plan provides the advantage of unlimited storage, ensuring you have all the space you need to grow your podcast library without limitations.
Enjoy dynamic ad insertion, maximizing your revenue potential by seamlessly integrating ads into your episodes.
The Patreon program enables you to accept recurring revenue from your dedicated listeners, fostering a supportive community around your podcast.
Auto-posting to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter streamlines your promotional efforts, effortlessly reaching a broader audience and increasing your podcast’s visibility.
Price:
The Basic plan stands out as it is free and open-source, and it offers 5 hours of storage and 100 GB monthly data allowance.
The Unlimited Audio plan costs $9/month and includes unlimited storage and bandwidth, pro themes, advanced design, and an ad marketplace.
For $29/month, the Unlimited Plus plan includes everything from the Unlimited Audio plan and adds the Patreon program and dynamic ad insertion.
At $79/month, the Network plan offers the previously mentioned features, plus multiple domains, private podcasts, advanced statistics, and live chat support.
For serious podcasters looking to run a professional show, I recommend opting for the $29/month PodBean Unlimited Plus Plan, which offers unlimited audio hosting and video storage.
5.Spreaker:
Best content management system:
Spreaker is even better than most content management systems for podcast hosting.
Its user-friendly interface and numerous features make it a perfect choice for podcasters of all levels.
Spreaker is a one-stop shop for podcasters, catering to everyone from beginners to experienced publishers.
With solutions to ensure a smooth and profitable journey, the platform connects listeners, podcast creators, and advertisers in one place through web and mobile apps.
Additionally, it offers an effortless way for content creators to monetize their entire podcast catalog.
key features
This content management system offers an array of positive features for podcasters:
- It empowers podcasters of all levels to effortlessly distribute new episodes to major listening platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Alexa, Deezer, and more.
- Users can efficiently manage and schedule multiple podcasts within the same account.
- It provides the flexibility to strategically set monetization through dynamic ad insertion at both the episode and show level.
- This best podcast hosting platform includes convenient team management features, allowing users to easily add collaborators and work together seamlessly.
- The statistics provided by the platform are certified by the IAB, ensuring trustworthy and accurate data for tracking podcast performance.
Price
They offer several plans:
- Free Speech (Free): This plan provides users with 5 hours of audio storage and allows them to have up to 10 episodes in their account without any charge.
- On-Air Talent ($8/month): For a monthly fee of $8, subscribers of this plan gain access to 100 hours of storage capacity, enabling them to store a considerable amount of audio content.
- Broadcaster ($20/month): With the Broadcaster plan, users get an expanded storage capacity of 500 hours, suitable for those who require more space for their podcast episodes.
- Anchorman ($50/month): This plan is designed to accommodate users with extensive audio content needs, offering an impressive 1,500 hours of storage space.
- Anchorman ($120/month): The highest-tier plan provides users with the ultimate convenience of unlimited storage, allowing them to store as much audio content as they require without any restrictions.
The Broadcaster Plan at $20/month is their most popular plan, offering 500 hours of audio storage, advanced stats, and monetization features.
6.Red circle:RedCircle is a podcast hosting and monetization platform that benefits both podcasters and advertisers.
For podcasters, it offers opportunities to grow their audience and earn money through subscriptions, donations, and cross-promotions with other shows.
The platform allows full customization and control over content, enabling podcasters to release episodes on their terms and without any exclusivity or contract obligations.
For brands and agencies, RedCircle provides a way to launch or expand advertising campaigns in the podcasting space.
It allows them to reach a larger audience and optimize spending for smarter advertising strategies.
Key feature :
RedCircle offers more innovative tools compared to other platforms to help you succeed in growing your podcasts.
It provides an all-in-one solution, allowing you to efficiently host, distribute, and monetize your content, giving you an edge over using multiple platforms.
Unlike other platforms, RedCircle allows you to accept both one-time and recurring donations, ensuring continuous support to keep your show going strong.
By helping you build subscription revenue, RedCircle sets you up for long-term success, which might not be as easily achievable on other platforms.
The unique Cross-Promotion Marketplace offered by RedCircle sets it apart from competitors, giving you the advantage of connecting with other shows and actively growing your audience in ways that may not be available on other podcasting platforms.
With RedCircle, you gain a competitive edge and open up exciting opportunities for your podcast’s success.
Pricing : The paid plans are as follows:
- The Growth Plan is priced at $9 per month.
- The Pro Plan costs $30 per month.
- For the Enterprise Plan, you need to contact them for more information.
Both the Growth and Pro Plans are paid annually, offering a saving of up to $60 per year.
If preferred, there are also monthly plans available.
Furthermore, a free 7-day trial is offered on the paid plans.
7.Transistor : When compared to other podcast hosting platforms, Transistor.fm stands out as a top-notch platform, hosting popular podcasts like Drift, Honeybadger, and Cards Against Humanity.
They offer podcasters built-in analytics and everything necessary to grow their audience.
- You can host unlimited shows, allowing for maximum content creation.
- The platform enables easy management of multiple users per account, promoting collaboration.
- You can generate branded websites using your domain name, enhancing your podcast’s professionalism and brand identity.
- Transistor efficiently distributes your podcast to major networks, broadening your reach.
- Advanced analytics and reporting are available, empowering you with valuable insights into your podcast’s performance.
Transistor’s standout feature lies in its robust analytics tools. Their dashboards provide comprehensive trends and statistics, such as average downloads per episode, the number of subscribers, and download trends over time.
Moreover, migrating from other hosting platforms like Libsyn or Anchor to Transistor is a breeze, thanks to their simple migration tools, making the transition seamless and hassle-free.
Price :
Starter Plan ($19/month): This plan provides unlimited podcasts and episodes, caters to up to 2 users, and allows 10,000 downloads per month.
- Professional Plan ($49/month): Building on the Starter Plan, the Professional Plan includes everything from the starter plan but now accommodates up to five team members and allows 50,000 downloads per month.
- Business Plan ($99/month): Advancing further, the Business Plan incorporates all features from the previous plans and enables up to 10 team members to collaborate. It allows a generous limit of 150,000 downloads per month.
The podcast can be scaled (along with pricing) by Transistor as your audience grows.
Ultimately, your plan choice will likely be dependent on the monthly downloads you need, so the Starter Plan can be opted for to get started, and an upgrade can be made when needed.
8.Simplecast :
Simplecast is renowned for its industry-leading features, with plans starting at just $15/month.
With over six years of experience, Simplecast empowers some of the biggest podcast brands like Kickstarter, Nike, Facebook, and HBO.
features
- It offers one-click publishing, making the process quick and effortless.
- Multiple web players and podcast players provide versatile options for sharing your content.
- You can enjoy a fully-functioning website, enhancing your podcast’s online presence.
- Advanced analytics tools provide valuable insights into your podcast’s performance.
- Collaborating with multiple team members in one account is seamless and efficient, promoting effective teamwork.
Price :
While the Basic Plan costs $15/month and comes with numerous benefits such as unlimited storage and uploads, two member accounts, a customizable show website, 20k downloads per month, an embeddable web player, and email support, it provides an affordable and feature-rich option for podcasters.
The Essential Plan, priced at $35/month, includes all the features of the basic plan and provides two extra user seats, additional web players, analytics for location (country and state/region) and technology (apps, browsers), 50k downloads per month, and chat support.
At $85/month, the Growth Plan encompasses all the features from the previous plans, as well as five additional user seats (9 total), ISP analytics, detailed metro area location analytics, and 120k downloads per month.
If you’re starting out, the Basic Plan will suffice.
However, if you require more users or downloads per month, upgrading to higher plans is recommended. Simplecast offers excellent analytics tools.
Get started with a 14-day free trial of Simplecast to experience an industry-leading podcast hosting service on a budget.
9.Captivate :
Captivate is a recently launched podcast host with a strong focus on growing podcast audiences.
It comes from Rebel Base Media, the same team behind Podcast Websites.
This new addition is their best product to date, as it incorporates all their knowledge and experience from years in the podcasting industry into one comprehensive podcast hosting service.
key features:
While all plans include features like unlimited podcasts, unlimited team members, a new podcast player, advanced analytics, and marketing tools, each plan offers unique additional benefits at different price points.
A few standout growth features are highlighted, such as the automatic podcast website and built-in calls to action.
A customizable, mobile-friendly website with built-in donation support is provided with every plan.
Additionally, your email list can be built, and new leads can be generated through podcast player calls to action.
For example, if someone is listening to your podcast player, they can be directly signed up to your email list via an opt-in form.
Constant upgrades to its analytics software are made by Captivate.
Collaboration with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is utilized to create more insightful intelligence to monitor the performance of your show.
Best for:
Easily import your show from another podcast host, such as Blubrry, using a straightforward import tool.
With their podcast marketing tool, you can automatically generate links to platforms like Overcast and Pocket Casts, making it simple for new subscribers to find your show.
The Personal Plan offers up to 30,000 downloads per month for $17/month.
The Professional Plan provides up to 150,000 downloads per month for $44/month.
The Business Plan includes up to 300,000 downloads per month for $90/month.
In every plan, you can find many great podcasting features, and the pricing scales as you grow, making Captivate a new player in the space.
If you’re seeking a growth-oriented podcast host with abundant marketing features, a 7-day free trial of Captivate is available.
10.Castos:
Castos stands out as the ultimate full-featured podcasting plugin for WordPress.
If you already have a WordPress site, here’s the most straightforward and seamless way it works:
- Experience the unparalleled 14-day trial by visiting the Castos website.
- Install their WordPress plugin, providing you with exceptional podcasting capabilities.
- When you’re prepared to host your episodes, effortlessly add them to the new Podcast section within your WordPress platform.
With Castos, it’s simple: just upload your audio file, type in your description, and your podcast will go live on your site with a customizable media player.
That’s all there is to it!
When you’re ready to add your podcast to directories, just grab your URL and add it to any publisher you’d like. It’s a straightforward process!
Automatic transcription – Your audio files are uploaded, and transcriptions are added to your dashboard within minutes.
Republishing to YouTube is offered as a service.
Podcast editing services are provided by Castos Productions.
A customizable podcast webpage is available.
Podcast analytics are included in the features offered.
Price : Castos offers three simple plans:
- Starter ($19/month) with unlimited storage, ideal for essential needs.
- Growth ($49/month) includes all Starter features, along with YouTube republishing and custom audiograms.
- Pro ($99/month) includes all Growth features, as well as advanced analytics and video file hosting.
Overall, if you need a podcast hosting service for WordPress, Castos is the best choice.
You can get started with a free 14-day trial and enjoy two months free on annual plans. Try Castos now!
11.Podcastics :
A new podcast hosting platform is offered with unlimited episodes, ranging from Free to $39/month.
Podcastics is a user-friendly new podcast hosting option with competitive features.
Similar to PodBean, their dashboard is highly intuitive.
When starting, you can easily set your podcast details and manage user permissions with just a few clicks.
If you already have a podcast, you have the convenient option to automatically import it from Apple Podcasts or any RSS feed, making the process effortless and time-saving.
Moreover, for podcasters with multiple podcasts, you can create teams within the dashboard, making it a great option for studios and agencies.
Key features
The platform offers podcast analytics, providing valuable insights into plays, days and hours, sources, and locations.
Users can enjoy live streaming capabilities for their podcasts.
The podcast and episode editing tools are available, allowing for easy customization and refinement.
You have the ability to schedule episodes in advance, ensuring timely releases.
The platform includes smart features such as QR codes, smart links, surveys, and heat maps, enhancing engagement and interaction with your audience.
Pricing:
Starter ; first month free then $4 per month
Pro: $8 month
max : $ 39 per month.
What is the Best Free Podcast Hosting Product?
Low-cost and free options are available if your budget is tight.
Free plans often have limited functionality, but they are great for testing out features, especially when starting.
While you might not host hours of content on your podcast server, a free trial or plan can help you get familiar with how podcast hosts work.
These are my top choices for the best free podcast hosting services.
buzzsprout:
Among all the hosts listed, Buzzsprout’s free podcast hosting plan stands out with the most comprehensive features.
Their free plan includes two hours of upload time, hosts episodes for up to 90 days, and provides a complete podcasting dashboard.
For newcomers to podcasting, the Buzzsprout free plan is ideal for familiarizing yourself with the process.
Claiming to be the “easiest way to start podcasting,” Buzzsprout lives up to its promise, allowing easy file uploads, inclusion in major directories, and tracking listeners with advanced analytics.
Pricing ranges from Free to $24/month.
Website : buzzsprout
Libsyn:
Libsyn is a popular podcast host catering to both beginners and experienced podcasters aiming to monetize their content quickly.
Established in 2004, Libsyn is one of the original podcast hosts and boasts an impressive track record with over 35,000 hosted podcasts, reaching a vast audience of 62 million+ members and achieving 4.6 billion podcast downloads in 2016.
Compared to other hosting services, their offerings include between 50 and 1500 MB of monthly storage, along with analytics reports, RSS link generation, premium content features, and their app.
Although not entirely free, their plans start at $5, and the value they provide makes them a worthy addition to the list.
Pricing: $5 – $75 per month.
What is Podcast Hosting?
Step by step, here’s how podcast hosting works:
- File Hosting and RSS Feed: Podcast hosting provides the necessary infrastructure for file hosting and managing the RSS feed for your podcast.
- Uploading Audio Files: Hosting companies handle the task of uploading your audio files to their servers.
- Providing Show Details: The hosting companies inform the hosting platform about the details of your podcast show.
- Generating the Feed: Based on the show details, the hosting platform generates the RSS feed for your podcast, which includes information about each episode, such as titles, descriptions, and media file URLs.
- Subscriber Interaction: When a user subscribes to your podcast, the podcast host takes charge and directly sends the audio files and media to various platforms, ensuring they are accessible to your subscribers.
- Understanding Podcasts: In essence, a podcast is a series of audio files that are bundled into a single file, creating episodes for your audience to enjoy.
- Storage and Bandwidth: Podcasts naturally require a significant amount of space and bandwidth to be stored and delivered to listeners.
- Limitations of Personal Website Servers: Personal website servers typically lack the necessary storage capacity to handle large audio files efficiently.
- Solution with Podcast Hosting Sites: Podcast hosting sites offer you the space required to store your podcast files, ensuring your audience can easily download and enjoy your episodes.
- Simplified Setup: The podcast hosting setup is relatively straightforward, involving a webserver to allow file downloads, the actual .mp3 files containing your episodes, and an RSS feed that describes your audio content.
- Advanced Services: The best podcast hosting providers go beyond the basic setup, offering additional features and functionalities to enhance the podcasting experience.
What Is The Best Podcast Hosting platform?
Buzzsprout is considered the best podcast site due to its ease of use, price point, and feature set.
What makes podcast hosting services even better is that there are so many options available on the market now.
How Much Do Podcast Hosts Make?
Literally zero dollars or millions can be made by podcast hosts. Podcasting is unique because it can be 100% unmonetized or wholly monetized.
It is one of the few mediums online where being a hobbyist or a professional is possible.
How Do I Host A Podcast?
To host a podcast, you need to select one of the podcast hosting companies mentioned in this post.
You have the option to start with a free platform like Buzzsprout to test your show.
Having a decent microphone and recording software is recommended, but if you want to test or share your thoughts, you can use your laptop and free software like Audacity and Buzzsprout for podcast hosting.
What Podcast Platforms Should I Publish My Podcast On?
After selecting a podcast host, releasing your podcast is straightforward.
You just need to upload your files to the podcast host, and then you can choose where you want your audience to discover your podcast.
Top podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and others ensure maximum visibility, automatically updating your feeds after each new episode.
1. How to Submit Your Podcast Apple Podcasts.
iTunes is one of the most popular podcast apps, with over 50 billion podcast downloads and 550,000 shows as of March 2018 – quite impressive!
Here’s how to upload your podcast:
- Ensure you have an active Apple ID to submit your podcast.
- Sign in to iTunes Connect.
- Enter your RSS feed into the text box by clicking on the top-left area of the podcast dashboard.
- Your podcast’s information will load from your podcast host, and a feed preview will show you how your text and artwork appear.Click “submit” and wait for the approval.
2. How to Submit Your Podcast to Google Play?
Google Play is one of the most popular apps, boasting over 1 billion monthly active users. Additionally, they offer a new service known as Google Podcasts, providing a great way to discover trending and free podcasts.
Here’s the positive guide to submit your podcast to Google Play:
- Make sure you have an active Google account and visit Podcasts in Google Play Music.
- Click the Publish button, log in to your Google account, and happily accept their terms of service.
- Next, kindly input the URL for your RSS feed.
- Joyfully click submit and eagerly check your inbox for a verification email, proving you own the podcast.
- Excitedly click publish and patiently wait for approval.