Mastering Podcasting: A Look at the Premier Hosting Services

10 Best Podcast Hosting Platforms

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Covering interesting topics in your podcasts or using professional audio recording and editing tools to process them, won’t mean much if you cannot reach your audience. Uploading a large numbers of audio files to your own website is not always an option, since the storage space, you have at your disposal may be too small to store all of your podcasts.

That is where podcast hosting platforms like Buzzsprout or Podbean come in, to help podcasters store their content safely and deliver their latest podcast to different apps and directories through the RSS feed.

With so many options out there, finding a podcast hosting platform can be a daunting task for podcasters who are just starting out. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best podcast hosting platforms and provide you with answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about podcast hosting services.

• Part 1: Top Ten Podcast Hosting Platforms
• Part 2: Most Frequently Asked Questions about Podcast Hosting Platforms

Comparison of the Best Podcast Hosting Platforms

Are you too busy to go through all of the podcast hosting platforms we featured in this article? Do not worry, here’s a quick comparison of the best podcast hosting platforms.

Part 1: Top Ten Podcast Hosting Platforms

Building an audience for your podcast can take months, sometimes even years, and for that reason having access to a reliable hosting platform that lets you distribute new episodes of your podcast effortlessly is vital for their success. Factors that range from subscription fees to RSS support can influence your choice of a podcast hosting platform, so let’s take a look at what some of the best hosting platforms for podcasters have to offer.

1. Buzzsprout

Price: Free, pricing options start at $12 per month

The fact that over 100,000 podcasters used Buzzsprout’s services to launch their podcasts, shows how highly esteemed the platform is within the podcasting community. The episode automation feature enables you to just upload an audio file and it takes care of the ID3 tags and bitrates for you. Buzzsprout grants you access to a huge audience by allowing your subscribers to listen to your podcast from Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts, Alexa or Overcast. The platform also provides you with advanced statistics for each episode of your podcast you upload. So, you can easily find out which apps they are using to listen to your podcasts or to learn the location at which your podcast was played.

Pros

• Unlimited storage space
• 90-day trial period
• Grants users access to most popular podcast directories
• Offers monetization options through affiliate marketing

Cons

• Bandwidth is limited to 250 GB
• The free version of Buzzsprout places ads to your podcasts on public sites

2. Blubrry

Price: Pricing options start at $12 per month

Uploading a new podcast and publishing it through Blubrry is a simple three-step process that can be completed in just a few minutes. This hosting platform grants you complete control over the iTunes’ RSS feed and it is optimized for the use on Android devices. In case you are considering moving from another platform like Libsyn or SoundCloud, you can easily migrate all of your content to Blubrry. Even though this podcast hosting platform features analytics tools you must purchase the Podcast Statistics package if you want to have a clear overview of the statistics your podcasts are generating.

Pros

• The effortless podcast publishing process
• Offers WordPress plugins
• Free and easy media migration
• Unlimited bandwidth

Cons

• Storage space depends on the subscription plan
• Access to analytics tools is not free

3. Castos

Price: Pricing options start at $19 per month

If you are searching for a platform that places no limits on your storage space or the bandwidth then you shouldn’t look much further than Castos. The platform lets you create as many new shows as you want and allows you to upload an unlimited number of episodes to each show you create. Podcasts you upload to Castos are automatically shared to all of the most popular podcast directories, including Sticher, iTunes, Spotify or Google Play. You can also transcribe all of your podcasts with a click of a button, but you must pay a small fee for each minute of the podcast you transcribe.

Pros

• Fully customizable podcast player
• Offers support for both audio and video podcasts
• Advanced analytics tools
• Grants podcasters access to all of the most popular podcast directories

Cons

• Short free trial period
• Video republishing to YouTube is only available within the Growth subscription model

4. Podbean

Price: Free, pricing options start at $9 per month

Podcasters who would like to have their own full-featured podcast website and gain access to a website builder can hardly go wrong if they opt for Podbean. Moreover, you’ll be able to use your own domain and your branding if you create an account on this hosting platform. Podbean offers a broad selection of podcast templates and lets you choose the layout. Furthermore, Podbean provides excellent monetization opportunities, either through advertising, crowdfunding or premium content. The free version of the podcast hosting platform offers only limited broadband and storage space, while video support is only available if you purchase Unlimited Plus or Business pricing plans.

Pros

• Compatible with iPhone and Android apps and embeddable media players
• Provides RSS and iTunes support
• Offers a broad selection of podcast themes
• Allows podcasters to create their own podcast sites

Cons

• You must upgrade from the free version in order to have unlimited storage and bandwidth
• Running multiple podcast channels is only possible if you have the Business pricing plan

5. Podiant

Price: Pricing plans start at $12,99

Podiant grants you access to all the tools you are going to need to upload and publish a new episode of your podcast. In fact, 22,200 podcast episodes are published through Poidant each day that are delivered to hundreds of thousands of listeners around the globe. The platform lets you choose from a broad range of themes, but it also features a templating engine that allows you to change the code on your podcasting site. Moreover, you can use Poidant to create a blog, embed content from Twitter, Instagram or YouTube in order to extend the reach of your podcasts and broaden their audience.

Pros

• Allows users to host all their shows on one website
• No bandwidth and storage space limitations
• Compatible with all major podcasting directories and apps
• Supports integrations through Zapier

Cons

• The quality of the analytics data depends on the subscription plan
• The free trial period lasts only two weeks

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6. Transistor

Price: Pricing plans start at $19,00 per month

Professional podcasters and creatives from every corner of the world are already using Transistor to publish their podcasts. This podcast hosting platform makes all episodes of your podcasts available on Spotify, Overcast, and other popular podcast directories. Moreover, you can create unlimited podcasts and upload as many episodes as you want to the website you created with Transistor. The platform produces analytics reports for each of your podcasts, regardless of the pricing plan you own, but the number of collaborators on a single Transistor account depends on the subscription model. The number of monthly podcast downloads is limited and it varies from one pricing plan to another.

Pros

• Allows users to create private podcast feeds
• Supports integrations with email marketing platforms like Drip or MailChimp
• Embeddable podcast player
• The functionally organized RSS feed

Cons

• You must purchase the Business subscription model to remove the Transistor’s branding
• If you would like to create more than three private podcasts, you must contact the customer support

7. Simplecast

Price: Pricing options start at $15

The distribution, analytics, and sharing tools this podcast hosting platform provides are powerful enough to cater even for the most demanding podcasting needs. Simplecast lets you choose from a variety of themes that are optimized for mobile devices and search engines. It also enables you to customize the colors of each theme with its website builder. All podcasts you upload to Simplecast can be shared on all of the podcast directories that attract millions of listeners. What’s more, the platform makes monitoring the statistics your podcasts generate easy, so that you can discover new ways to reach new audiences.

Pros

• Websites built with Simplecast are secure
• Great selection of web-players
• Provides detailed statistics for all podcasts
• Doesn’t restrict the bandwidth or storage space

Cons

• The size of the team using Simplecast can’t exceed eight members
• Building more than three pages with Simplecast isn’t an option

8. Spreaker

Price: Free, pricing options start at $7 per month

Spreaker is an affordable podcast hosting platform for all podcasters who are just starting out or looking for a new platform they can use to host their shows. In addition, you can also stream your podcasts live, although their maximum duration depends on the subscription plan you have. The storage space you are going to have at your disposal also varies from one pricing plan to another, but even the free version of Spreaker lets you store up to five hours of audio on the cloud. However, there are no limits to the number of listeners which enables you to grow your audience continually.

Pros

• An inexpensive option for both novice and seasoned podcasters
• A fully customizable RSS feed
• Supports content migrations through RSS feed
• Provides excellent monetization options

Cons

• The storage space is limited
• You must purchase the Broadcaster subscription model in order to gain access to the platform’s analytics tools.

9. Libsyn

Price: Pricing options start at $5

This platform integrates with more than twenty podcast apps, social media platforms, and WordPress websites via the OnPublish feature. Libsyin features powerful scheduling tools, which enables you to choose the exact date and time when the next episode of your podcast is going to be published. The RSS is compliant with Apple Podcasts, which makes it easier to add a title, choose a category or write podcast summaries for each new episode you would like to optimize for playback on Apple devices. Libsyn offers Double Opt-in Advertising and MyLibSyn Premium Paywall monetization options so that you can choose the method of earning money through this podcast hosting platform that is the most convenient for you.

Pros

• Supports audio, video, text and PDF hosting
• Excellent podcast distribution capabilities
• Cheaper than most of its competitors
• Creating a publishing schedule for your podcasts is easy

Cons

• Very limited storage space, regardless of the pricing plan you purchase
• Underwhelming statistics tracking options

10. Podomatic

Price: Free, pricing options start at $8,32

The options you will have at your disposal if you opt to publish your podcasts with Podomatic, largely depends on the subscription model you have. Even though anyone can use this podcast platform for free, the bandwidth and storage space that are available on the free version of Podomatic can limit your options. Besides, publishing podcasts, you can also use the platform to listen to podcasts, from browsers or iPhone and Android devices. Podomatic lets you monetize your podcasts by connecting your Patreon account to your podcast website or by adding Podomatic Podcast to Advertise Cast.

Pros:

• Podomatic app is available for both iOS and Android devices
• Podcast published through Podomatic can be played directly from Twitter and Facebook feeds
• Equipped with a powerful drag-and-drop website builder
• Offers a variety of themes designed exclusively for podcasts

Cons

• Unlimited storage space and bandwidth are only available in the Enterprise subscription model
• Offers only basic podcast statistics

Part 2: The Most Frequently Asked Questions about Podcast Hosting Platforms

In order to add episodes of your podcasts to podcast directories, you must meet only three requirements. Your audio file must be saved in the MP3 format, you must have access to the podcast hosting platform, and you must be able to add a podcast to an RSS feed. The hosting platform you selected will utilize its RSS feed to distribute your podcasts to the apps and services your audience is using to listen to them and deliver a new episode of your show to your listeners as soon as you publish it. The reach of your podcasts, your monetization capabilities or whether or not you will be able to create custom domains depends on the podcast hosting platform you choose.

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What is podcast hosting and what are its main benefits?

All podcast hosting platforms let their users store their podcasts online and create an RSS feed for them that is used to add podcast to different podcast directories. Besides sending each new episode of your podcast to your subscribers, podcast hosting platforms also enable you to track their performance and learn which apps were used to access them as well as a plethora of other relevant metrics. Some podcast hosting platforms feature website builders that allow you to create custom domain landing pages, blogs or add widgets.

Why do I need podcast hosting services?

Podcast hosting services simplify the process of storing and publishing podcasts and ensure that each new episode you publish reaches your subscribers. In addition, most platforms offer a quick and easy way to add tags, cover art or podcast descriptions, so that you can provide all the information your listeners need to find your podcasts effortlessly.

How to select the right podcast hosting platform?

The reason why you are creating a podcast can often help you figure out which podcast hosting platform is the best option for you. If you would like to periodically share short interviews or simply have fun with your friends, then choosing a free version of a podcast hosting platform is your best option.

However, if you take podcasting seriously, finding out how much storage space a platform offers or the maximum bandwidth can help you decide if the platform you are considering is the right choice for you. Moreover, podcasters who also create video podcasts should check if the platform they would like to use to distribute their podcasts supports hosting and publishing video files. Ultimately, the amount of money you are willing to spend on subscription will determine which podcast hosting platform to pick since there is no reason to spend vast amounts of money on features you have no intention of using.

Is podcast hosting free?

Even though most podcast hosting platforms either have free versions or free trial, podcast hosting over an extended period of time is never free. Each platform offers different pricing options and lets you choose the one that is best suited for your needs. If you decide to publish your podcasts with a free version of the podcast hosting platform, you should keep in mind that the scope of your options is going to be limited.

What is the average cost of podcast hosting services?

The cost of a monthly subscription for a podcast hosting service can be anywhere between $7 and $99. The majority of basic and pro pricing plans can be purchased for less than $20, but if you would like to utilize all the features a podcast hosting platform has to offer, then your monthly subscription can cost much more than a hundred dollars. Lower priced options often lack advanced file-sharing tools or don’t provide integrations features, which is the reason why you should only consider them if you just need a quick way to publish a podcast.

Conclusion

Each step of the process of creating a podcast is equally important, and the quality of the microphone you’re using to record an episode of your podcast is of no less significance than the hosting platform you’re using to publish a podcast. Each podcast hosting platform we included in this article ensures that your podcasts are delivered to all of your subscribers, but which one you are going to choose depends on a plethora of factors that range from a platform’s storage capacity to the number of podcast directories to which your podcasts are added. Which podcast hosting platform are you using to publish your podcasts? Leave a comment and let us know.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

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