21+ Best Podcast Hosting Platforms For Your Business
The podcast market will be worth around $5.03 billion by 2027.
If you’re a consultant, business owner, course creator, coach, or digital marketer, this is the time to jump into podcasts, if you haven’t done so already!
You can use podcasts to promote your products/expertise, and can even make a steady passive income on the side!
So, what’s the catch? Well, for starters, selecting the right podcast hosting platform is a challenge.
To ease this process, I am reviewing 21+ podcast hosting platforms, highlighting the unique features and specializations of each platform. By the time you finish reading this piece, you’ll know which is the right one for your needs.
But before we jump in, a quick intro to our research methodology.
How did I select the best podcast hosting platforms?
If you’re new to podcasts, note that you need a platform for creating and hosting your content. This is then distributed to platforms like Spotify that help you reach a wider audience.
Essentially, a podcast hosting platform is one where you can upload your podcast (or even create), edit, add your advertisements for passive income, monitor your analytics, distribute it, and more.
To select the best podcast hosting platforms, I used the following aspects.
- Storage and bandwidth
- Easy to create, upload, import, and edit.
- Availability of multiple monetization options
- Detailed analytics
- Integrations
- Promotion and marketing capabilities
- Additional features geared for specific use cases (I’ll explain them in each product’s review).
Based on the above criteria, I have ordered my reviews, starting from the ones that scored the most to the lower score ones.
Best podcast hosting platforms – A quick glance
Although we will review over 20 different podcasting platforms, here’s a quick overview of the top 7 platforms that are suitable for most people based on their unique use cases.
Product name | Starting price |
Buzzsprout – Best for ease of use | $12/month |
Podbean – Versatile | $14/month |
Spreaker – Best for audience engagement | $20/month |
Fusebox – Best podcast player | $9/month |
Captivate – Best for multiple podcasts | $19/month |
Transistor – Best for team collaboration | $19/month |
Simplecast – Best for analytics | $15/month |
Upfront bottom line
Though many podcast platforms are available, our top picks are:
- Buzzsprout: It’s one of the simplest podcast hosting platforms available today, making it a great choice for all users. At the same time, it comes with features like Magic Mastering, transcriptions, a free podcast website, and automatic file conversion to help you easily create, upload, and edit your podcasts. However, it doesn’t have a mobile app.
- Spreaker: The highlight of Spreaker is its Studio app, using which you can create and edit podcasts on the go. It also supports live podcasts and offers in-depth analytics, especially in the higher plans. Its monetization is also extensive and can help you start earning money, right from the time you create a show. The downside is that it doesn’t offer a free website.
- Podbean: This platform is a good choice if you want to host video podcasts and want more powerful editing options. You can schedule episodes, tap into its built-in music and sound library, and even live stream to your audience. It comes with a well-developed mobile app as well (that even allows you to merge or split recordings). However, there’s a steep learning curve involved.
And now time to review them!
Buzzsprout
If you are looking for an easy-to-use podcasting tool that’s loaded with many convenient features, Buzzsprout is the right platform for you.
Its strength lies in its simplicity and accessibility, as you can get to any feature within a maximum of three clicks. This is because the features are arranged logically, making it super easy even for beginners to use them.
Another aspect we love is the Magic Mastering feature.
Using this filter, you can edit and process audio files without the need for third-party tools. You just need to input the audio file, and Buzzsprout will edit the audio to match the industry standards (without any loss in the audio quality). If you are not an editor, this feature will be really helpful for you.
Pricing
The free plan hosts episodes for up to 90 days only. This means you will have to upgrade to keep your content forever.
Note that Buzzsprout’s highest plan supports only 12 hours per month, making it insufficient if you plan to host long episodes and deep dives.
Lastly, you can host only one podcast show in all the plans.
Pros
- Easy editing: The Magic Mastering feature optimizes audio uploads to meet industry standards, eliminating the need for third-party tools.
- Save time with dynamic ad insertion: It inserts dynamic ads automatically, saving you time and effort.
- Leverage AI features: Cohost AI supports the podcast creation process. It generates show notes, transcripts, and social media posts for your podcast episodes, saving time and effort.
- Transcribes every episode integrations: If you don’t want their AI addon, it integrates with Otter.ai and Temi to transcribe every episode.
- Robust affiliate marketplace: Has an affiliate marketplace for monetization. You can integrate custom brands as well.
- SEO-friendly: Comes with a free website that creates a blog post for every podcast episode you release.
Cons
- Lacks a mobile app: Lacks a mobile app for both podcasters and listeners.
- No live streaming: Doesn’t support live streaming of podcasts
- Doesn’t support video podcasting: You can’t create video podcasting.
- Only basic analytics: It offers statistics like the number of downloads, the demographics of your audience, and the most popular episodes. You don’t get retention reports as you get with say Podbean.
Bottomline: Buzzsprout checks all the boxes for a beginner podcast producer’s needs. It’s also suitable for advanced podcasters because of its easy-to-use dashboard, straightforward tools like magic mastering, integration with tools like Canva, Otter.ai, Temi, SEO capabilities, etc. If you are interested you can read my detailed review of BuzzSprout.
Podbean
Podbean is one of the best tools for advanced podcasters.
Similar to Spreaker, Podbean comes with a mobile app for both podcasters and listeners. Also, the app supports in-app purchases helping in increased sales. This is one of the biggest strengths of Podbean.
Personally, I like the flexibility that Podbean offers when it comes to managing multiple podcasts from the same account. You can create unlimited premium podcast channels. Podbean doesn’t impose any cost for storage or downloads. Only some percentage of your sales is taken as fees.
The other key feature I love is the free podcast audio recording app. With this app, you can create and publish podcasts with studio quality from anywhere in the world. You can even add some rich background music, edit your recordings, add intros and outros, and publish your episode with just a few clicks.
I don’t think creating or editing podcasts can get easier than this! Plus, it’s available for both iOS and Android.
Another aspect worth talking about is monetization. Using this tool, you can sell ad spots and merchandise, and even use the platform’s built-in donation feature.
This platform also offers a feature called “Premium Podcasts,” which allows you to create exclusive content and charge a subscription fee for your users to gain access to it.
Another notable feature of Podbean is its automation. All that you have to do is create your ad campaign. The rest of its workings like determining the episodes and spots for ads, scheduling campaigns, and measuring impressions are handled by Podbean. Undoubtedly, all these potentially save hours of time and effort for you.
Pricing
Podbean offers a free trial period of up to 5 hours when you sign up. After that, you will be charged a minimum upload plan of $9 per month, payable annually. If you opt for the monthly plan, you’ll have to pay $14 per month. I think that’s a small price to pay for so much value.
Pros
- Wide range of integrations: Provides various free plugins (like adding transcripts, adding SEO meta tags, integrating with Google Analytics, etc.) to increase the functionality of the tool.
- Comes with an affiliate ad marketplace: Has an affiliate ad marketplace for you to find and promote the sponsors.
- Unlimited hosting: There are no limits really!
- Free website: All plans come with a free website and you can customize its look and feel from the many templates. You can even integrate a custom domain.
- Supports live streaming: You can record your podcast and live stream, but note that there can be quality issues as Podbean is not compatible with lossless file formats.
- Offers detailed analytics: Offers easy-to-read analytics like downloads by time and day, listener demographics, top episodes, and more. With this information, you can tailor your podcasts to your audience.
- Built-in music library: Enhance your podcasts with a built-in music and sound effect library.
- A simple interface: It comes with a simple drag-and-drop interface using which you can easily navigate. This makes creation and editing an enjoyable experience.
Cons
- Video podcasting can be expensive: This feature is available in the higher plans only.
- No backups: There’s no option to create podcast backups.
Bottomline: Podbean is a powerful tool that provides various free plugins to extend the functionalities. Its Patron program, integration with PodAds, ad marketplace, and mobile apps make it worth the money.
Spreaker
Spreaker is one of the best podcast hosting platforms available today.
It is a one-stop place for end-to-end podcasting, as you can use Spreaker to record, edit, publish, analyze, and monetize your podcast.
When it comes to Spreaker, two things stand out for me: monetization and mobile app..
First off, monetization. Spreaker mainly has programmatic advertising. It finds fresh and relevant ads for you. To make your job easier, it has a dedicated ad campaign manager which you can use to set up, manage, and track all the ad campaigns in one place. Also, it has integration with Patreon for selling products and merchandise.
Spreaker offers a mobile app for both listeners and podcasters. For podcasters, it has a dedicated studio app to record, edit, and publish the episodes on the go. If you travel more and need mobile apps to manage your podcasts on the go, Spreaker would be the best deal.
Pricing
As you can see, monetization is built into every plan, even on the free one. Though you can have only one podcast, you can still make money from it. The higher plans give you more control and features.
So, what’s the catch? Spreaker takes a 40% commission on your ad revenue per impression. That’s quite a chunk!
But hey, even Google in their AdSense takes it, right? In this sense, it’s not a big deal for me, as you get to make money right away.
Pros
- Supports live podcast: You can broadcast live streaming from any location. More importantly, you can use the chat feature to engage with your audience in real time.
- Built-in recording: You can record directly with the studio app. It even comes with Skype integration for guest interviews.
- Wide variety of music clips and sound effects: You can choose from a wide variety of music and sound effects and add them to your podcasts to enhance the listening experience of users.
- Comes with a well-designed player: It has a customizable player that can be embedded in your websites. You can embed using an iframe tag or with a tiny JS loader.
- Insert dynamic ads: You can insert ads anywhere in the podcast – pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll. You can do it manually or SpPreaker will find your optimal location.
- Allows multiple shows: You can have multiple shows on one account, providing a ton of flexibility.
- Enables repurposing content into ebooks: You can repurpose your podcasts into ebooks and sell them separately.
Cons
- No free website: Unlike Buzzsprout, you don’t get a free website.
- No custom CTAs in player: You can’t have custom CTAs on your player. Fusebox is the only one that has this feature.
- Doesn’t support video podcasting: Doesn’t support video podcasting, so you may miss out on the personalized touch that comes with seeing you!
Bottomline: If you need programmatic ad monetization and access to a dedicated ad campaign manager, Spreaker would be the best choice. Its Studio app helps you record the episodes, edit them, and publish them on the go. If you are interested in exploring more on if Spreaker is the right tool for you, do refer my indepth review of Spreaker.
Fusebox
Fusebox is one of the few podcast hosting platforms that lets you display your podcast transcripts on your WordPress website. It was started by Pat Flynn, the host of the blog and podcast called Smart Passive Income which has millions of subscribers worldwide.
By looking at the app name, you can quickly understand that this platform was initially designed to be a podcast player that can be embedded on your website. After its success, it has also introduced podcast hosting capabilities.
Its uploading interface is also simple and you can upload and edit content easily. You can even migrate podcast episodes from other platforms easily.
Pricing
Its pricing is simple and straightforward. If you’re a pro podcaster, it’s a good value for your money.
Pros
- Generates episode transcripts: Automatically generate transcripts for all your episodes.
- Provides detailed analytics: Provides information on downloads, rankings by source and platform, top-performing episodes, and more.
- Comes with extensive documentation: Comes with an extensive library of articles to answer all questions.
- Offers a customizable player: The player is highly customizable and even comes with social sharing buttons for quick sharing across your social media platforms.
- Has well-designed skins: You can choose from its well-designed skins to make podcasts a visual treat as well for your listeners.
Cons
- Limited customer support: Live chat is available only from Monday to Friday. Email support is available only on higher plans.
Bottomline: Fusebox comes with a highly customizable player that only looks great but also allows you to add custom CTA buttons. Otherwise, the creation and edit options are limited.
Captivate
Captivate is a UK-based company that comes with a straightforward and intuitive interface that makes it easy to create and manage unlimited podcasts in a single account. There are no limits on uploads or storage and no restrictions on features either. You pay based on the downloads, which is a fresh approach to podcast hosting.
The best thing about Captivate is that it comes with Growth Labs which gives all the resources to learn podcast marketing. It also gives you access to its community. The Growth Labs is free to all Captivate users.
You also save time and money by using Captivate’s editing plug-ins instead of purchasing third-party editing software.
The distribution process of Captivate is user-friendly as the platform includes a copy-and-paste feature for links to the podcast distribution platforms.
It also comes with a built-in marketing suite that you can leverage to generate an automatic sponsor kit to share with your potential sponsors. Furthermore, the marketing links page is a centralized place to manage all your promotional and marketing links – a handy way to know and track your marketing efforts.
Pricing
The pricing plans vary depending on the number of podcast downloads.
Captivate’s paid plans start at 19 Euros per month. It is a bit more expensive than other platforms, but the benefits outweigh the costs.
Pros
- Supports private podcasts: Supports private podcasting to sell premium content. You can sell unlimited premium podcasts.
- Provides a WordPress plugin: It has a dedicated WordPress plugin to publish on your own website.
- Curated playlists with Collections: Another feature I use a lot is Collections. With this feature, you can create curated playlists for your listeners. You even have the option to include an embeddable media player as a part of your collection. A cool feature to add value to your listeners.
- Podcast distribution across many platforms: A comprehensive list of podcast distribution platforms that integrate easily with Captivate.
- No limits on members: You get unlimited podcasts. Also, you can add any number of members to your team.
- Provides centralized control: The dashboard is intuitive and provides all the information you need to monitor the performance of your podcast and the marketing campaigns associated with it.
- Easy to create a podcast network: With Captivate, it’s easy to create a podcast network, right from the dashboard for a wider reach. No additional cost for you.
- Free website: You get a free website with any plan.
Cons
- No free plan: Lacks a free plan, unlike Buzzsprout and Podbean.
- No ads marketplace: Lacks ad marketplace for monetization. To promote the ads you need to search on your own.
Bottomline: If you need to run more than one podcasting show, Captivate is the best bet. It gives you all the resources to master your podcasting career. So, it is the best solution for beginner podcasters who have no idea how to start podcasts.
Transistor
Transistor is one of the most trusted podcast hosting platforms. One of the outstanding features of this podcast hosting platform is the ability to host an unlimited number of shows with the same rate plan.
On this podcast hosting platform, you can manage multiple shows from a single account. Also, you can add multiple hosts and guests and even assign different roles and permissions for each person. Due to these aspects, Transistor is a good choice for teams that need regular collaboration.
Furthermore, it connects with various third-party tools, including social media platforms, email marketing services, and website builders.
Personally, I love its analytics and the clean dashboards that help me understand the performance of my podcasts.
Pricing
The pricing consists of three plans. To try out the tool, it provides a 14-day trial. The premium pricing starts at $19 per month. Transistor pricing is quite high compared to tools like Spreaker and Buzzsprout.
Pros
- Converts to MP3 files: Automatically converts audio files to MP3.
- Dynamic audio insertion: You can dynamically insert audio anywhere in your podcast to promote your sponsors.
- Supports private podcasts: Supports the creation of private podcasts for additional monetization.
Cons
- No video podcasting: It doesn’t support video podcasting.
- Imposes download limits: Though it offers unlimited storage, there’s a constraint on the number of downloads.
Bottomline: Transistor is a platform focused on brands and entrepreneurs who want to optimize their costs, which translates into good value for money. It also works well to conduct corporate training sessions.
Simplecast
Simplecast has a more complex and detailed sign-up process. While this ensures more specific content, it may not be suitable for beginners who need guidance on how to set up their podcasts.
You can also add customizable images to your podcasts to make them more appealing to your audience.
Simplecast offers a customizable website that lets you market and distribute your shows without having to use third-party software.
Pricing
Simplecast offers a 14-day free trial, after which you can upgrade to a paid program with unlimited uploads per month for just $15. This makes it more beneficial if you plan to produce a large amount of content or co-host your show.
Pros
- Allows multiple shows: Allows you to create multiple podcasts in a single account.
- 1-click publishing: Enables you to publish with just one click.
- Supports migration: Supports the migration from other platforms.
Cons
- No video podcasting: No support for video podcasting.
- Restrictive download limits: The download limits are restrictive.
Bottomline: Simplecase is a good choice if data and analytics matter for those looking for detailed data and analytics from their podcasts, much more than what’s offered in other similar platforms. It’s also simple to use and lives up to its name. But it is expensive for the features offered.
Libsyn
Libsyn is one of the few podcast-hosting platforms that support both audio and video podcasting. However, it doesn’t have recording or creating capabilities, so you can only upload recorded podcasts to it.
That said, it comes with a custom iOS and Android app and multiple monetization streams. Its Canva integration is another plus. Libsyn also offers many monetization streams like ads, subscriptions, and donations. It offers good customer support as well.
The plan limits are slightly different from the other platforms. At first glance, the low storage limits can be put off, but note that this is only for the new content that’s added every month. This way, there’s no limit on the number of podcast shows you host on Libsyn.
Blubrry
Blubrry is an all-in-one podcasting tool that comes with almost all the features built inside it. It has a PowerPress plugin, which allows you to easily integrate and launch your podcast if you have a WordPress website.
Along with this, it provides a free landing page to promote your podcasts and attract leads.
Similar to tools like Podbean, it supports private podcasts. You can even create premium memberships and restrict access to paid members.
Blubrry is easy to use and makes it convenient to distribute to podcasting directories. Its advanced and IAB-certified statistics are a great addition as well.
Blubrry offers a 14-day free trial with up to 400 MB of storage per month.
Although Blubrry is easy to use, it may not be suitable for your content if you want to host multiple shows, as storage is limited.
Acast
Acast is another good choice for creating, editing and distributing your podcasts. A highlight of this tool is its free access to Podcastle, a browser-based podcast editor that is highly intuitive to navigate and use.
You can use this tool to convert your podcasts into videos and share them seamlessly on social media. Also, you can add comments from Disqus or Facebook, and even include links to your other podcast platforms.
Note that there are no limits to hosting or downloads, making it a good value for money.
Overall, Acast is an all-round platform for podcasters of all skills and experience. That said, its features are basic and don’t offer the flexibility of Spreaker or Buzzsprout.
bCast
bCast is a podcast creation and distribution platform geared for high-growth podcasts and large businesses.
It comes with many features like audio inserts for including compelling audio CTAs in your podcast. Similarly, its auto opt-in feature also helps to bring more subscribers to your podcast, join your newsletter, etc.
Transcription and one-click submissions are other notable features.
bCast’s plan starts at $15 per month and it supports only one podcast. Also, it’s restricted to 10,000 downloads per month. The unlimited plan can set you back by $75 every month, making it one of the most expensive choices today.
RSS.com
RSS.com has a simple sign-up process. All you need to do is enter your email address and you are ready to go.
If you are an NGO and want to monetize your content to raise funds, RSS.com offers an NGO plan that is subsidized starting at $5 per month with several benefits like unlimited episodes and uploads.
It even comes with a free website and the ability to schedule podcasts.
Audioboom
Audioboom is listener-focused rather than download-focused. With as few as 10,000 downloads per month, you have access to advertising sponsorships and brand partnerships that can easily be monetized as your podcasts gain popularity.
Audioboom does not have a free trial period. However, if you cancel your subscription within the first month of your standard plan, you will receive a full refund.
With the standard $9.99 per month subscription, you can upload unlimited episodes and reach up to 10,000 listeners per month. The higher tier for $19.99 per month equates to 25,000 listeners per month.
Resonate
Resonate is a podcast recording platform that is also a hosting platform.
This is very important because it allows you to edit, produce, and upload your shows to the same platform at the same time.
However, the pricing for Resonate can be a bit high, as monthly plans start at $25. This will come in handy only if you plan to produce multiple shows in a month.
Castos
With Castos you can turn your shows into articles and posts. That’s possible because Castos provides automated transcription services, maximizing the value of your content.
Castos has a quick and easy sign-up process. All you need is your email address and password.
Castos offers an unlimited free trial period of 14 days. After that, you get unlimited upload and download for about $15 per month.
You also get easy integration with WordPress for your transcriptions, automated transcription, and distribution on Spotify and Amazon Music.
Podserve.fm
Podserve.fm prides itself on doing all the work for you, so you get the most bang for your buck. All you need is to record your podcast and upload it.
The transcription services offered on Podserve.fm are of high quality. If you want, you can also publish your podcasts as posts. Podserve.fm is worth considering.
Podserve.fm offers a 14-day trial period, after which you can sign up for the paid subscription for $19 per month.
Anchor.fm
If you want to start creating and uploading shows but have a zero budget for it, Anchor is the place for you.
Anchor is a widely known free podcast hosting platform that also has a mobile app, similar to Podbean or Spreaker. This means that you can create and upload your shows from both your mobile and desktop, all for free. Great, right?
You can use Anchor to distribute your shows on some of the most popular podcast distribution platforms like Google Podcast, Amazon Music, and Spotify.
However, you’ll be at a slight disadvantage if you want to monetize your shows. That’s because Anchor requires you to insert too many paid ads into your podcast episodes, which can be unpleasant for your listeners.
Anchor, therefore, may not be the right place for you if you want to take podcasting seriously.
Squadcast
SquadCast main selling point is the production of high-quality videos and audio. This is because SquadCast has built-in edit software to help you produce the best quality video and audio.
Squadcast is the ideal platform for YouTubers who are also looking for a podcasting solution.
Squadcast is also designed as an end-to-end incident management software that helps you promote Site Reliability Engineering (SRE).
For $10/month, you can get 2 hours of uploads to Squadcast. For $150/month, you get 25 hours of uploads. What’s more, if you want to try everything the platform has to offer, you can try it for free for 7 days.
Ustudio
Ustudio is a platform that’s specifically geared towards businesses and meeting their needs.
One of the unique features of Ustudio is that it allows you to host private podcasts. This can be a valuable tool for communicating with a specific group of people such as employees or a particular niche of customers/listeners.
However, the signup process with Ustudio can be a bit tedious, especially if you do not have a business or work in one.
PodOmatic
PodOmatic is undoubtedly one of the most affordable podcast hosting platforms.
You will get a customizable website that lets you personalize your podcast page and the option to monetize your podcast through paid advertising and funding from patrons.
If you just want to get started without worrying about costs or monthly fees, definitely check out PodOmatic.
With the basic package, you can set up accounts for free and still get up to 15 GB of bandwidth per month and 500 MB of storage for two months. That should be adequate as you consider staying on the platform or trying out other platforms.
The Pro plan starts at a low fee of $2.99, for which you get 100 GB of bandwidth per month and 2 GB of storage.
Fireside
If you are completely in the dark about how podcast hosting platforms work, Fireside is one of the places to start.
Fireside, interestingly enough, offers a video showcasing the best features on its home page. This helps you quickly figure out if it’s the right platform for you. If it’s not, then you save the time that you could have spent signing up.
Fireside offers a 14-day trial period when you sign up for their paid plans, which start at $9 for hosting a single show with 100 MB of storage.
You can request for your subscription money to be refunded if you decide to cancel before the 14-day trial period expires.
The higher tier costs $49 per month and allows you to host up to two podcast shows with 200 MB of storage. This can be limiting if you want to experiment with more shows than that.
Bottomline
How do you choose a good podcast hosting platform? The answer lies in your needs as a podcaster.
My top 3 recommendations are Buzzsprout, Spreaker, and Podbean
Choose Buzzsprout if you –
- Are a beginner and you need a simple tool to get started.
- Need podcast editing features right inside the tool
- Want various monetization strategies.
Choose Spreaker if you need –
- Mobile apps for creating podcasts
- A built-in programmatic ad monetization
- A dedicated ad manager
Choose Podbean if you want –
- Advanced analytics to better understand your audience.
- Monetize your podcast and offer premium content to your subscribers.
- Create live streams from your dashboard
These vary depending on your requirements, but I hope this information has given you enough insight to choose the ideal podcast hosting platform for you.