A podcast is a digital audio or video file that can be downloaded by users. Podcasts are used to share audio and video files through the internet. If you are thinking of starting a podcast, there are some things that you need to consider first. You also need to choose the right podcast host.
Podcast hosting sites are websites that allow you to upload your podcasts. If you are looking for a free podcast hosting site, there are some sites that you can use. But if you want to be able to upload your podcasts faster and in high quality, you should look for a paid podcast hosting site.
In this article, We have listed the 13 best podcast hosting sites that you can use to upload your podcasts. We have also included some of the free podcast hosting sites that you can use if you don’t want to spend any money in the process.
Table of Contents
What is the Best Podcast Hosting?
Here is our list of the 13 best podcast hosting sites:
1. Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout is a popular podcast hosting service. It is very easy to use and allows you to receive feedback on your podcasts through comments, ratings, reviews, and questions.
You can upload your podcast easily through Buzzsprout through its easy-to-use interface. It is also easy to subscribe to other people’s podcasts using Buzzsprout.
Pricing:
Their free plan allows you to upload two hours of content hosted for 90 days. If you’re serious about podcasting, you can scale up and upgrade your plan based on how many hours of content you need to upload per month.
- Free: upload 2 hours each month and episodes hosted for 90 days.
- $12/month: upload 3 hours each month, hosted indefinitely, with unlimited storage.
- $18/month: features above, plus upload 6 hours each month.
- $24/month: features above, plus upload 12 hours each month.
Ultimately, with their month-to-month pricing and easy-to-use dashboard, Buzzsprout is my #1 choice.
I recommend you get started for free and then upgrade to any plan you want based on how many hours of content you plan to upload each month.
As an added bonus for my readers, when you sign up for Buzzsprout and upgrade, you get a free $20 Amazon gift card.
2. Spreaker
Spreaker is a podcast hosting platform that allows you to manage and publish your podcasts in one place. It also has an inbuilt social media platform where you can connect with your listeners and receive feedback. It is easy to use and it has a wide range of mobile apps that allow you to listen, record, and edit your podcasts.
Pricing:
- Free Speech (Free): 5 hours of audio storage, up to 10 episodes.
- On-Air Talent ($8/month): 100 hours of storage.
- Broadcaster ($20/month): 500 hours of storage.
- Anchorman ($50/month): 1,500 hours of storage.
- Anchorman ($120/month): Unlimited storage.
Their most popular plan is the Broadcaster Plan at $20/month. With that plan, you get 500 hours of audio storage, advanced stats, and monetization features.
As a bonus, with our Spreaker affiliate link, you will get one month completely free and the price adjusts accordingly:
As a bonus, you will get one month of 90% off when you sign up for Spreaker.
3. RSS.com
RSS.com is a podcast hosting service that provides you with an RSS feed that will help you increase traffic to your website or blog. You can also submit your podcasts to different directories so that more people can subscribe to your podcasts easily. It is easy to use and its customer support is very friendly and responsive.
Pricing:
Signing up and hosting your first episode is free, allowing you to test out the service without any financial commitment or credit card required.
If you’d then like to switch to their paid service, the price plans are as follows:
- Educational: $4.99/Month
- RSS Podcaster $12.99/Month
If you have a .edu email, you’ll get automatic approval for the Educational plan. When it comes to the RSS Podcast plan, you can switch to annual billing and get a 35% discount.
Get an entirely free month (rather than just an episode) when you get started with RSS.com today when you sign up through my link below.
4. Transistor
Transistor is a web-based tool for podcasters. It allows you to record, edit and publish your podcasts online. You can also share it on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. You can use Transistor whether you are using a computer or mobile device like an Android phone or iPhone.
Pricing:
- Starter Plan ($19/month): Provides unlimited podcasts and episodes, up to 2 users, and 10,000 downloads per month.
- Professional Plan ($49/month): Everything in the starter plan, but now with up to five team members and 50,000 downloads per month.
- Business Plan ($99/month): All features in the previous plans, but with up to 10 team members and 150,000 downloads per month.
Transistor allows you to scale your podcast (and pricing) as your audience grows.
In the end, your plan choice will most likely depend on the number of downloads you need per month, so you can get started with their Starter Plan and upgrade when you need to.
If you take podcast analytics seriously, start your 14-day free trial of Transistor (and get two months free when paid annually).
5. Libsyn
With over a million downloads each month, Libsyn is one of the most trusted and used podcast hosting sites in the world.
The best thing about using this site to host your podcasts is that you can choose between four different plans and pay as low as $5 per month. Each plan has its own features, but all four plans allow users to upload their files quickly and easily.
You can also get access to detailed reports, which will help you measure the progress of your podcasts.
Pricing: $5 – $75 per month
6. Blubrry
Blubrry is one of the best podcast hosting sites that you can use. This site allows users to host their files in both audio and video formats.
You can choose from different plans, which range from $12 to $75 per month. If you plan to post regularly updated video podcasts, then you should choose the plan that costs $45 per month or more. You can also take advantage of different features that are offered by this site, including unlimited bandwidth and one-click publishing.
7. Podbean
Podbean is one of the best podcast hosting sites available today. This site allows users to create and upload podcasts without spending a single dollar.
The site offers different free plans that allow you to host as many as three podcasts with no time limit. You will not be able to use advanced features if you chose the free plan, but it’s still good for beginners who are just starting to create their podcasts.
The free plan, however, has some limitations that you should know about. For example, you will not be able to upload your files using FTP or WebDAV. You can also expect a branding watermark on all of your uploaded videos and a banner advertisement right below your media player.
Pricing:
- Basic (Free and Open-Source): 5 hours of storage and 100 GB monthly.
- Unlimited Audio ($9/month): Unlimited storage and bandwidth, pro themes, advanced design, and ad marketplace.
- Unlimited Plus ($29/month): Features above, plus Patreon program and dynamic ad insertion.
- Business ($99/month): Features above, plus multiple domains, private podcasts, advanced statistics, and live chat support.
I recommend podcasters serious about running their professional show get their $29/month PodBean Unlimited Plus Plan as you get unlimited audio hosting and video storage.
8. Simplecast
As the name implies, Simplecast is a podcast hosting site that allows users to create and publish podcasts easily. The best thing about using this platform for your needs is that it offers simple yet effective tools that can help you manage your podcasts from start to finish.
You will not have a hard time uploading episodes or publishing them on different platforms, including SoundCloud, iTunes, and YouTube. You can also use a simple embed code in order to promote your podcasts on your blog or website.
The platform is free for anyone who wants to create a single podcast with up to three episodes per month. It offers other plans that allow you to upload more files if needed.
Pricing:
- Basic Plan ($15/month): Unlimited storage and uploads, two member accounts, customizable show website, 20k downloads per month, an embeddable web player, and email support.
- Essential Plan ($35/month): All basic plan features, plus two extra user seats, additional web players, location (country and state/region), and technology (apps, browsers) analytics, 50k downloads per month, and the addition of chat support.
- Growth Plan ($85/month): All features of previous plans, plus 5 more extra user seats (9 total), ISP analytics, detailed metro area location analytics, and 120k downloads per month.
For an industry-leading podcast hosting service on a budget, get started with a 14-day free trial of Simplecast.
9. Castos
If you want to avoid the hassle of uploading and publishing your podcasts, then Castos is one of the best podcast hosting sites that you should use. Simply select your media files, and the site will do the rest for you.
The platform is easy to use and it can help you build a list of loyal listeners in just a matter of days. It offers different plans, including free basic plans and premium plans that start at $9 per month.
Pricing:
- Starter ($19/month): unlimited storage and perfect for the essentials.
- Growth ($49/month): Features above, plus YouTube republishing and custom audiograms.
- Pro ($99/month): Features above, plus advanced analytics and video file hosting.
Get started with a free 14-day trial and get 2 months of free annual plans.
10. SoundCloud
SoundCloud is known for its great user interface and podcast hosting features. In fact, it’s one of the best places to find a list of amazing podcasts from all over the world.
If you want to create a podcast, then you can either use this site’s free plan or upgrade to its $135 per month plan. You will also get access to advanced tools, including detailed analytics and monetization features.
Price: Free to $16 per month ($12 when paid annually)
11. Podigee
Podigee prides itself on having some of the best tools available today. It allows users to focus more on creating their podcasts instead of worrying about all the technical details.
Podigee offers several plans, including free basic plans and paid plans that start at $9 per month.
The platform is easy to use, but you will have limited features if you choose a free plan. If you’re serious about creating podcasts, then you should definitely upgrade to a paid plan.
12. Acast
Acast.com is one of the best podcast hosting sites because it offers features that are not available on other sites. This site allows users to create and upload podcasts within a few minutes. Users only need to answer a handful of questions and record their audio files in order to get started.
This site also comes with built-in marketing tools that you can use to promote your podcasts, including social media campaigns and RSS feed distribution. You can also connect it with Amazon S3 in order to access custom analytics and monetization tools.
13. Audioboom
If you are planning to create a podcast, then Audioboom is one of the best tools that you should try. This site comes with a user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for users to access various features. If you’re a beginner, then this site is good enough to get started.
It offers free basic plans and premium plans that start at $9 per month. The best thing about Audioboom is that it also comes with a self-hosting feature in case you want to run your own podcasting site.
Podcast Hosting FAQs.
What Is Podcast Hosting?
Podcast hosting is a service that provides the necessary infrastructure to publish and distribute audio files online.
Podcasting is a form of webcasting where users can subscribe to a feed in order to receive new episodes of a particular show or series.
Is starting a podcast worth it?
Podcasts are a great way to generate more exposure for your brand and attract new customers. Podcasts are also relatively easy to create and maintain, as long as you have the right equipment.
There is no question that starting a podcast can be a great way to grow your business, but it’s not for everyone. For example, if you’re not an expert or don’t have a lot of time to spend on content creation, then starting a podcast might not be worth the investment.
Where can I host a podcast?
Podcasts are audio or video files that are available for download on the internet. They usually consist of a series of episodes, with each episode having a specific theme or topic. The content can range from educational to entertaining, depending on the purpose of the podcast.
The most common way to host a podcast is through an RSS feed. This is an XML document that contains information about the podcast and its episodes in a standardized format. You can then use this feed to publish your podcast on any website or blog as you would with any other RSS feed.
Another option for hosting your podcast is through SoundCloud, which is an online audio distribution platform that allows users to upload, record, and share their sounds across many different devices.
Where can I host a podcast for free?
Many people who are looking to create their own podcasts are wondering where they can host their podcasts for free. It’s important to understand that there are many different tools and platforms that you can use to host a podcast. Some of the most popular ones include SoundCloud, Podbean, Anchor, and Buzzsprout.
SoundCloud is one of the more popular options for hosting podcasts because it doesn’t cost anything and it has a huge user base. It’s also very easy to use and you don’t need any technical skills in order to get started with hosting your own podcast on SoundCloud.
Do I need podcast hosting?
Podcast hosting is not a mandatory requirement for a podcast. However, it has its benefits. Podcast hosting services provide you with a place to store your podcast files, which means you won’t have to worry about storage limits on your own computer.
They also offer the option of an RSS feed that allows listeners to subscribe and automatically download new episodes of your show.
If you want to set up your own podcast hosting service, there are many options out there, but they can be costly and time-consuming. If you’re going this route and don’t know where to start, we recommend checking out Libsyn or Podbean for a good starting point.
Can you make money podcasting?
Podcasting is a great way to make money. It can be done as a side hustle or as an additional revenue stream for your business. It is also a great way to grow your audience and become an authority in your field.
People who are interested in starting their own podcast should first think about what they want to do with it. Do they want it to be more of an informational podcast? Or do they want it to be more of a conversational podcast? There are many different styles of podcasts out there, so the possibilities are endless!
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right podcast hosting site is crucial for any podcaster who wants to reach their target audience and build a successful show. The 13 hosting sites we’ve reviewed all offer unique features and benefits, so it’s important to assess your own needs and goals before making a decision.
If you’re just starting out, free or low-cost hosting options such as Buzzsprout may be a good place to begin. However, as your podcast grows and you want more control over your content and monetization options, you may want to consider a paid hosting plan with platforms like Libsyn or Transistor.
Other factors to consider when choosing a podcast hosting site include ease of use, distribution options, analytics and reporting, and customer support. Ultimately, the best hosting site for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
No matter which hosting site you choose, the most important thing is to consistently produce quality content that resonates with your listeners. With the right hosting platform and a solid content strategy, you can take your podcast to new heights and build a loyal audience.
Which podcast hosting sites do you use? Please let us know in the comment section below. Keep in touch with us on our social media channels!
Disclosure: There are some affiliate links above and I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post (of course at no additional cost to you). but these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I have not verified and/or personally used.
