It’s hardly surprising that more people are looking to produce podcast material since more people are tuning in to listen to their favorite shows. In this case, the foundation of any podcast is a platform for hosting podcasts.
However It’s not easy to launch a successful podcast, and podcast hosting platforms are important in this. Fortunately, you can easily upload, store, and share your audio files on a variety of podcast hosting websites.
In this list we have listed such top 12 podcast hosting platforms that will help you to launch and maintain your podcast channel easily. So let’s look at these platforms and select the best one for you.
Look For These Things In Your Podcast Hosting Platform
- Look for a platform with responsive customer support that can help you troubleshoot technical issues promptly. Additionally, consider the platform’s uptime record to ensure that your episodes will be available to listeners consistently.
- A user-friendly interface can save you time and frustration. Choose a platform with an intuitive dashboard for uploading, scheduling, and managing your episodes. Check if they offer tools for easy episode editing and show notes management.
- Look for platforms that offer detailed analytics and listener statistics. This will help you understand your audience’s demographics, geographic location, listening habits, and which episodes are performing well. This data is crucial for making informed content decisions.
- Ensure that the hosting platform supports easy distribution to popular podcast directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and others. This will help you reach a wider audience.
12 Best Podcast Hosting Platforms
1. Buzzsprout
You’re sure to like Buzzsprout after seeing how automatic the platform is. Simply upload your podcast here, and Buzzsprout will take care of the rest. Every podcast episode you upload will be distributed by Buzzsprout to all of the well-known directories, naturally in accordance with the publication schedule you specify.
It enables users to add chapter markers to their episodes, which is one of its main advantages. This gives listeners the freedom to switch back and forth between various pieces as they like.
Pricing:
| 2hr upload | 3hr upload | 6hr upload | 12hr upload |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $12/month | $18/month | $24/month |
2. Captivate
Captivate provides an intuitive dashboard that can be used for everything from starting a podcast to evaluating the effectiveness of each episode. There is no cap on the number of podcasts you can produce or store online. Regarding features, you can include calls to action right inside your podcast.
Advanced analytical capabilities are another hallmark of Captivate, although they never come at the expense of being difficult to comprehend. Podcasters will receive industry-recognized statistics that make analyzing a podcast’s performance incredibly quick and easy.
Pricing:
| Personal | Professional | Business |
|---|---|---|
| $17/month | $44/month | $90/month |
3. Castos
No matter whatever plan you select, Castos will still let you make and publish an infinite number of podcast episodes. Here, there is no storage ceiling. There are no limitations on how many programmes you can start, how many different genres you can try, or how lengthy your episodes can be.
With regard to monetization support, Castos also shines. Your profit margins rise because you can directly solicit donations from your listeners. Along with making it simple to distribute episodes across several apps, Castos excels at extracting data from these sources so you can more accurately assess the success of your podcast.
Pricing:
| Starter | Growth | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| $19/month | $49/month | $99/month |
4. Anchor
Podcasters can publish, market, and monetize their shows much more easily using Anchor’s built-in recording and editing facilities. The platform enables you to host an unlimited number of free podcast episodes and aids in expanding your audience by providing simple one-step distribution to apps like Spotify.
Additionally, you are serenaded by IAB 2.0 certified analytics, which you can rely on to gain important knowledge about the effectiveness of your podcast. This feature lets you include a tiny button on your Anchor profile that listeners can click to give you money.
Pricing: Free
5. RSS.com
The sophisticated and user-friendly interface of RSS.com makes creating and publishing podcast episodes seem simple. The website gives you access to a variety of customizing tools that you can use to build amazing episodes and chapter art as well as your own unique podcast covers.
Additionally, RSS.com’s seamless integration with virtually all current social networks makes it simpler to share podcast episodes with your networks. You can integrate the podcasts you make into your website or blog.
Pricing:
| Student and NGO | All in one podcasting | Podcasting network |
|---|---|---|
| $4.99/month | $11.99/month | $14.99/month |
6. Soundcloud
Undoubtedly, one of the top free podcast hosting websites is SoundCloud. Podcasts do equally well on SoundCloud as music does. It is really easy to just post your podcast episode to SoundCloud, which receives 175 million unique visitors each month.
You can upload three hours of content each month to SoundCloud without paying a cent. You also get some straightforward reporting advantages. Additional useful tools are also made available to you, such timed comments, Twitter cards, embedded players, etc.
Pricing: $8.25/month
7. Blubrry
A platform for hosting podcasts called Blubrry gives podcasters access to a number of inventive alternatives. The best choice for WordPress users is this. PowerPress, a well-liked podcast plugin that enables users to conveniently create and manage their podcasts right from their own WordPress website, is its distinguishing feature. If you don’t already have a WordPress website, any Blubrry plan includes one free of charge.
Pricing:
| Standard | Advanced | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| $12/month | $20/month | $100/month |
8. Libsyn
One of the oldest and most reputable platforms in the sector, Libsyn is a podcast hosting service that has been since 2004. It has developed a robust podcasting community over time, making it a great choice for those just getting started.
One of Libsyn’s unique characteristics is its limitless bandwidth, which guarantees that your podcast won’t be impacted even if it becomes well-known and receives a lot of traffic. A recent addition to Libsyn’s platform, Libsyn Studio, enables users to record and create podcasts using only a computer and software.
Pricing:
| 3hrs | 6hrs | 10hrs |
|---|---|---|
| $5/month | $15/month | $20/month |
9. Simplecast
Simplecast is a podcast hosting service created to assist both novice and experienced users in producing quality podcasts. This site is reputable and offers payment options for both independent users and bigger businesses. With its sophisticated analytics, you can monitor the success of your podcast and expand your listenership thanks to its integrations with well-liked podcast directories and apps.
Users may effortlessly schedule and post snippets from their podcast episodes on social media with the help of Simplecast’s RecastTM tool. This is a fantastic method to advertise your podcast and attract more listeners. You can also add subtitles and hashtags, as well as change the start and end times of your clips, using this tool.
Pricing:
| Basic | Essential |
|---|---|
| $15/month | $35/month |
10. Spreker
A variety of services are available on the podcast hosting service Spreaker to assist you in producing, distributing, and making money from your podcast. Live streaming enables podcasters to communicate with their listeners in real time. This may enhance interest and foster a closer relationship with listeners.
Additionally, Spreaker offers a huge selection of music and sound effects that can be used to raise the caliber of a podcast’s production. It offers a configurable and embeddable player that can be integrated with any website, including WordPress websites, like the other options on the list.
Pricing:
| Broadcaster | Anchorman | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| $20/month | $50/month | $250/month |
11. Acast
Acast offers both the tools to create, edit, and publish your podcast as well as the capability to monetize it, with a focus on revenue generation. You can use Podcastle, a browser-based podcast editor, for free with Acast. Additionally, Acast offers resources for social media promotion of your podcast, making it simple to convert your episodes into video material.
This podcast host really shines when it comes to Acast’s insights. You may track your monetization and advertising activities in addition to seeing statistics for your podcast across platforms. Consider choosing Acast as your podcast hosting provider to take the monetization of your show to the next level.
Pricing:
| Starter | Influencer | Ace |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $14.99/month | $29.99/month |
12. Streamyard
There are more uses for Streamyard than hosting podcasts. You may remotely record your podcasts, make video podcasts, and live stream using Streamyard. In contrast to other systems that only support audio podcasting, Streamyard wishes to give you the option of including video in your podcasts for the benefit of your listeners.
If you submit your audio podcast to other platforms, Streamyard also lets you alter your audio files for each guest. There are many platforms where you can stream your podcasts if you want to present live-streamed podcasting recordings, including Twitch, Twitter, and Facebook, to mention a few.
Pricing:
| Free | Basic | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $20/month | $39/month |
Conclusion
In conclusion , the list above will help you in selecting the finest podcast hosting platform to meet your individual needs, no matter what subject your podcast explores or who your target audience is. With any of the aforementioned services as your hosting partner, you can quickly distribute your episodes to apps like Google Podcast, Spotify, etc. and expand your audience in the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I monetize my podcast using hosting platforms?
Many podcast hosting platforms offer monetization options such as dynamic ad insertion and premium subscription models. Dynamic ad insertion allows you to insert ads into your episodes, and premium subscriptions allow you to offer exclusive content to paying subscribers. Research hosting platforms that provide these features and follow their guidelines to set up monetization.
2. How do podcast hosting platforms distribute episodes?
Podcast hosting platforms generate an RSS feed for your podcast. This feed contains information about your episodes, such as titles, descriptions, and audio file URLs. Podcast directories and apps (like Apple Podcasts) use this feed to automatically fetch and display your episodes to listeners.
3. Can I switch podcast hosting platforms later on?
Yes, you can switch podcast hosting platforms, but it’s important to do so carefully. If you decide to switch, you’ll need to update your podcast’s RSS feed in podcast directories to reflect the new hosting platform. This can be a complex process, so it’s recommended to plan and execute the switch with caution.
