The Best Podcast Hosting Platforms (Free & Paid)

Are you dreaming of launching the next big hit podcast and sharing its audio content with the world? That’s great! However, podcasting is not as simple as recording some audio and uploading it to iTunes first; you have to host your audio files on a hosted podcast.

With over 100 million podcast listeners in the United States, all podcasters have to start by choosing the podcast hosting provider of their choice.

And choosing the best option can be a long and frustrating task. There are plenty of options with similar features, so how do you choose the best one?

I want to make your choice easy by providing you with information about the best podcast hosting on the market and thus help you find the one that fits your new podcast venture perfectly. There are free options, business options and everything else; it all depends on what you want to create.

These reviews take into account price, reliability, technical support, monthly load volume, compliance, storage, monetization, ease of use, marketing features, application integrations and more.

And if you’re looking to start a blog first, you can check out this guide to choosing the best web hosting.

Let’s get started.

Note: this article contains affiliate links for which we receive a small commission at no cost to you. However, these are simply the tools we fully recommend when it comes to podcast hosting. 

What is a Podcast Hosting?

Podcast hosting provides file hosting and RSS feed for your podcast. Hosting companies upload their audio files, inform the hosting platform of the details of their program and generate their feed. When a user subscribes to your podcast, the podcast host sends the audio files and media directly to the platforms.

A podcast is a series of audio files that are grouped into a single file. Naturally, they require a lot of space and bandwidth to be stored. However, personal website servers do not have the amount of storage needed for such large files. Podcast hosting sites offer you the space to store your files so that your audience can easily download them.

In the end, it’s a simple setup. It consists of a web server to allow file downloads, .mp3 files and an RSS feed that describes your audio file. The best providers do much more than that.

They provide advanced analytics reports on their listeners, marketing tools to increase your audience, social media sharing options, 24/7 support and more.

In addition, podcast hosting sites can include features such as streaming compliance, file storage and unlimited bandwidth. They can also help you with a free website and domain name.

When you think of podcasts, I’m sure you’ve heard of places like iTunes or TuneIn, but these are podcast directories. Your podcast needs a host first.

It is crucial to understand the importance of good podcast hosting when starting a new podcast.

What is the best Podcast Hosting?

The best podcast hosting companies are Buzzsprout, Podbean, Transistor, Simplecast, Captivate, Spreaker, Fusebox, Libsyn, Blubrry and Castos. It is exciting to start a new podcast. You can create the podcast episodes you are interested in producing, buy brilliant new equipment, record audio and share your own podcast with the world.

But don’t forget you have to start by choosing a platform. Different podcasters will require various hosting services, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

This guide will provide you with the best options to save you time, so concentrate on recording great podcasts.

Here are the best hosting podcast options in 2020.

🔷 BuzzSprout.

🔷 PodBean.

🔷 Transistor.

🔷 Simplecast.

🔷 Cautivar.

🔷 Spreaker.

🔷 Caja de fusibles.

🔷 Sitios web de podcasts.

🔷 Audioboom.

1. BUZZSPROUT

THE BEST PODCAST HOSTING FOR BEGINNERS ($ 12 / MONTH + $20 IN AN AMAZON GIFT CARD)

Buzzsprout is my number one choice for many reasons. They are a host that has been in business since 2009 and has no start-up costs or billing. They also offer free podcast hosting as a great option for those just starting out. Their free plan only allows you to upload two hours of content and host your files for 90 days.

If you upgrade to one of their three paid plans ranging from $12-24 per month, they host your files indefinitely, you get unlimited storage and 250 GB of bandwidth per month. This bandwidth covers approximately 20,000 to 40,000 episode plays per month.

Buzzsprout allows you to embed a podcast player directly into your website, and you can show only one episode or a complete playlist of episodes:

They offer an easy-to-use analysis panel with an algorithm that estimates how many listeners receive each episode in the first 90 days. You can also see from which countries your listeners are tuning in, helping you to better understand your audience. These analytical features are very useful.

With Buzzsprout, you can also upgrade to 128k stereo optimization for better sound.

They make it very easy to load and schedule your podcast. Simply upload your audio, change the title and description of the episode, and send your podcast to all major directories:

Another benefit is that you can easily add episode chapter markers. This feature helps listeners better understand the quick details about your episodes at a glance. They are not mandatory (and do not appear in every podcast application), but they are a good feature:

Ultimately, with its monthly prices and easy to use control panel, Buzzsprout is my #1 choice.

I recommend your $24/month plan as you can upload 12 hours of content each month and save money on the additional hours you upload.

Also, when you sign up for Buzzsprout, you get a free $20 Amazon Gift Card.

2. PODBEAN

PODCAST HOSTING USED BY OVER 225,000 PODCASTERS WORLDWIDE ($29 / MONTH + 1 MONTH FREE)

PodBean is our number 2 recommendation, with unlimited hosting services, distribution and promotion on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Amazon Alexa and all major applications, and 24/7 support. PodBean has been in the podcast hosting space since the beginning, starting in 2006.

You can start for free. At this level, you can upload up to 5 hours of content per month, but only 100 GB of bandwidth is allowed per month. Their open plan gives you some basic statistics, but you need to upgrade to their $9/month plan for more detailed analysis.

They have a large number of podcasters, hosted episodes and over 6.2 billion downloads on their platform:

We recommend that if you are serious about becoming a podcaster you get the PodBean Unlimited Plus Plan for $29/month. This plan is much better than the free option: first, you get unlimited audio hosting and video storage.

Second, you can dynamically add your own sponsored advertising campaigns in your new episodes to monetize faster. This plan also allows a Patron program to accept recurring revenue from listener support.

Another great feature for PodBean users is a free YouTube version of your podcast automatically uploaded to your channel once you sync your YouTube channel during publication.

Finally, you also get a mobile application, analytical reports and automatic posting to Facebook and Twitter. Overall, PodBean is our #2 choice, and its Unlimited Plus Plan is the best way to start your podcasting journey.

Get one month free on paid plans with our link below

3. TRANSISTOR

BEST PROFESSIONAL PODCAST HOSTING WITH ANALYTICS ($19-99 / MONTH)

Transistor.fm is a high quality professional service that hosts some popular podcasts including Drift, Honeybadger and Cards Against Humanity.

They are known to provide their podcasters with absolutely everything they need to increase their podcast audience. Tools include hosting unlimited programs, managing multiple users per account, generating branded websites with your own domain name, distributing your podcast, and viewing advanced analytics.

Your initial plan is $19/month and offers unlimited podcasts and episodes, up to 2 users and 10,000 downloads per month. Then, your professional plan is $49/month with up to five team members and 50,000 downloads per month. Finally, their business plan is $99/month with up to 10 team members and 150,000 downloads per month.

Transistor really allows you to scale your podcast as your audience grows, and you will have no problem building your audience.

If you are already using another hosting platform like Libsyn or Anchor, you can easily import your existing feed into Transistor.

If you are a serious podcaster who wants to grow your audience without limits, I recommend you to go with the Transistor Professional Plan. You can start today with your 14 day free trial. You also get 2 months free when you pay annually.

4. SIMPLECAST

INDUSTRY LEADERS AND USED BY TOP BRANDS ($15/MONTH)

Simplecast has been around for over six years and powers some of the biggest brands in podcasting, including Kickstarter, Nike, Facebook and HBO.

Simplecast cover image

One thing Simplecast is known for is its industry leading features starting at just $15/month. They live up to their name and status on their website: “From your first listener to your first million, Simplecast provides the powerful tools needed to manage, distribute, share and grow your podcast.

They provide their podcasters with powerful tools at any stage of podcasting with one-click publishing, different web players, a fully functional website and advanced analytical tools.

One outstanding feature is their Recast tool ™, which allows you to schedule and share clips from your podcast on social networks. Here’s an example of that feature from The Pilot Podcast on Instagram:

Another excellent feature is the ability to collaborate with multiple podcast managers in one account. You also get unlimited storage, unlimited uploads and distribution to all major platforms.

They offer a 14-day trial and simple pricing starting at $15/month. In addition, you can get a 50% discount on your first two months.

5. CAPTIVATE

BEST PODCAST HOSTING TO GROW YOUR AUDIENCE ($19/MONTH)

Captivate is a new podcast hosting that is hyper-focused on growing podcast audiences. They were created by Rebel Base Media, which also runs PodcastWebsites. This new addition is their best product yet, as they took everything they learned from years of podcast experience and put it into a new podcast hosting product.

All plans come with an unlimited number of podcasts, unlimited team members, a new podcast player, advanced analytics and marketing tools.

Some outstanding growth features are its automatic podcast website and built-in calls to action. Each plan comes with a customizable, mobile-friendly website with built-in donation support. Secondly, you can build your email list and generate new leads with calls to action from the podcast player.

So, if someone is listening to your podcast player and you want them to join your email list to download them from the sales funnel, the setup is very simple.

You can also easily import your program from another podcast host like Blubrry with a simple import tool. Its podcast marketing tool allows you to automatically generate links to places like Overcast and Pocket Casts, which helps new subscribers find your program easily.

Captivate offers three plans ranging from $19/month to $99/month depending on the number of downloads per month: Podcaster, Audio Influencer and Podcast Brand.

Your $19/month Podcaster plan offers up to 10,000 downloads

The $49/month Audio Influencer plan offers up to 50,000 downloads

At $99/month, your Podcast branded plan allows you up to 120,000 downloads

With a ton of great podcasting features in each plan and simple pricing based on the amount of monthly downloads, Captivate will make waves as a new player in space.

If you’re looking for a growth-oriented podcast host with lots of features built into each plan, try Captivate.

6. SPREAKER

BEST STORAGE AND MONETIZATION ($ 16.50 / MONTH + ONE MONTH FREE)

Spreaker is a site focused on mobile devices with its Spreaker Studio tool available for desktop and mobile devices.

Their free basic plan is quite limited, with only 5 hours of storage and a 15 minute single session allocation. You will need to upgrade to one of the three plans ($5.50 – $41.25) for more unlimited storage and streaming. Your paid plans have great features such as the ability to insert widgets into your site, schedule episodes, and even order your mobile app.

Their On-Air Talent, Broadcaster and Anchorman plans have excellent features. All plans offer podcasters to share private episodes, show intro inserts for ads and share ad revenue for monetization.

In addition, Spreaker’s paid plans have excellent storage capacity. Their most popular plan is the Broadcaster Plan at $16.50 / month, and with that, you get 500 hours of audio and 3 hours per live podcast. Joe Rogan-length-state reached.

As an additional benefit, sign up with this link below: you get one month free on any of his paid plans.

7. FUSEBOX

THE BEST PODCASTING SOFTWARE TOOLBOX ($8/MONTH)

Fusebox is a great invention created by the famous podcaster Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income. After years of podcasting, he was looking for the best possible podcast player for his website that his visitors would love.

Who better to create the perfect podcasting product than a prolific podcaster?

Fusebox has many excellent features, including email capture (one of the only podcast players to offer this) and other top-notch features:

They also have a live text SEO friendly transcript plug-in that automatically adds podcast transcripts to your website.

And if you’re interested in how the player works, it’s easy.

Install the Fusebox WordPress plug-in and add your RSS feed. Then, enter the subscription URLs to take your program to the top directories. Finally, customize the colours of your podcast player and then add the player to your publications and pages.

In general, if you want to host your files, send them to podcast networks, and display them on your WordPress website, try the Fuse Box.

8. CASTOS

BEST PODCAST HOSTING SOLUTION FOR WORDPRESS ($19/MONTH)

Castos is a full-featured podcasting plug-in for WordPress.

If you already have a WordPress site, here’s how it works

Go to the Castos website and start your 14-day trial

Install your WordPress plug-in

Then, when you’re ready to host your episodes, you add them to the new Podcast section within WordPress:

Load your audio file, write your description and the podcast will be launched on your site with a customizable media player:

That is all. When you are ready to add your podcast to the directories, take your URL and add it to any editor you want.

Your plans range from $19 to $49 per month. With the higher level plans, you can republish to YouTube and get full podcast video hosting.

Another great feature is the automatic transcript: when you upload your audio file, it returns a transcript to your Castos board within minutes. You can copy and paste this transcript into WordPress, or download the PDF version and add it to your site.

If you already have a WordPress site, Castos is an excellent option.

Start with a 14-day free trial and save with 2 free months on annual plans.

9. PODCAST WEBSITES

BEST PODCAST HOSTING PLATFORM FOR WEBSITE DEVELOPERS ($67/MONTH)

This podcast host features a simple podcasting workflow that allows podcasters to access fully responsive website hosting and security, daily backups, integrated statistics and 24/7 support.

As a member of Podcast Websites, you also receive digital marketing support to help you promote your podcasts, ads and podcasting tips from real, experienced podcasters. Your academy has video tutorials, media and a community forum useful to discuss strategies with other podcasters as well.

In addition, you can use Builder, a drag-and-drop website builder with exclusive podcaster themes. These themes are suitable for mobile devices and you can also add landing pages when you need to market your podcast.

Podcast Websites is a high quality hosted podcast option and you can use my HOSTME discount code to get $10 off per month for life.

10. AUDIOBOOM

BEST FOR DYNAMIC ADS AND MONETIZATION ($9.99/MONTH)

Audioboom is a popular site that offers simple hosting, distribution and an integrated player. They are mainly known for their help with podcast monetization. Once you reach 10k plays per episode, they provide tools to create dynamic ads and sponsorships for your program.

To get you started, their $9.99 plan offers you:

• Unlimited episode loads per month
• Up to 10k per month with your standard plan and 25,000 plays per month with your plus plan
• Advanced analysis providing breakdowns by geographical area, application and device.
• Embeddable players for a website or social networking integration

What is the best free Podcast Hosting?

There are low-cost and even free options you can choose if your budget is tight. Many of the free plans have limited functionality, but if you’re just starting out, free hosting services are a great way to try out their features.

You may not be able to host hours of content on their podcast server, but a free trial or free plan can help you understand how podcast hosts work.

Here is our selection of the best free podcast hosting.

1. BUZZSPROUT

Buzzsprout’s free podcast hosting plan offers the most features compared to any other host on this list.

With its free plan, you get two hours of free upload time, episodes hosted for up to 90 days and a full podcasting panel. If you’re just starting to do podcasts, Buzzsprout’s free plan is the perfect way to get your feet wet in podcasts and learn the ropes.

When they say they’re the “easiest way to start doing podcasts”, they’re not lying. With Buzzsprout, you can easily upload your file, add it to every major directory and start tracking your listeners with its advanced analytics.

Price: Free – $24/month

2. LIBSYN

Libsyn is one of the most popular hosts focused on helping everyone from beginners to podcast professionals looking to quickly monetize their work. They are also one of the original podcast hosts, which were launched in 2004.

With over 35,000 podcasts hosted, over 62 million audience members and 4.6 billion podcast downloads by 2016, they are a leading player in the space. Like other podcast hosts, they offer their users between 50 and 1500 MB of monthly storage, provide analytical reports, RSS link generation, premium content and their application.

Yes, they are not 100% free as their plans start at $5, but for that value, I had to add them to the list.

Price: $5 – $75 per month

3. SOUNDCLOUD

SoundCloud is the world’s largest music and audio hosting site and introduced its hosting platform in 2015. They have 175 million unique visitors per month and an incredible 12 hours of content uploaded every minute to their website.

Using their hosting services, you get access to all their integrated players, Twitter cards and timed comments. With a free account, you can upload 3 hours of content per month and get basic reports.

The more advanced SoundCloud Pro unlimited account gives you unlimited upload time, scheduled launches, insertion controls and the ability to set five podcasts to your profile.

Price: Free at $16 per month ($12 when paid annually)

4. PODOMATIC

Podomatic allows creators to record, upload and promote their new audio content, all on one board. One of its strengths is the ability to develop its podcast and crowdsourcing advertising with the help of Patreon and Advertisecast.

In addition, Podomatic has options for sharing on social networks, and your podcast can be played directly on Facebook and Twitter. They have partnered with Weebly to help you create a website and have a free podcast application for iOS and Android.

In addition to their free plan, they have four professional plans ranging from $9.99 to $24.99 per month.

Price: Free at $60 + per month

5. BLUBRY

BEST WORDPRESS HOSTING PODCAST ($12-80/MONTH)

Blubrry is an excellent podcast hosting service that offers not only hosting, but also managed hosting of WordPress with PowerPress, the #1 WordPress add-on for podcasters. With over 75,000 active installations, this add-on is constantly maintained, is free to use, and offers SEO and MP3 tagging options.

Blubrry’s website says, “Blubrry believes that we should provide you with excellent tools and not interfere,” highlighting their first-creator approach. They offer a podcasting manual, which gives you a lot of detailed information on how to use their services, as well as tips and tricks on how to succeed with your new podcast.

Their lowest cost option is $12/month and offers 100 MB of storage. If you want unlimited hosting services, you can upgrade to their professional plan.

In addition to their custom-priced professional plan, they have four paid plans ranging from $12 to $80, offering between 100MB and 1,000MB/month of storage space.

Blubrry is quickly becoming one of the best options due to their first-come, first-served approach. They are also IAB compliant according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau.

How do I choose the best Podcast Hosting?

How to choose the best podcast hosting

Twelve million people heard a podcast for the first time in the last year. To access this growing market and make the best choice, you need to consider some different questions.

• What is the right amount of storage?
• How much audio and content storage will you upload per month?
• Do you need a new WordPress site or to align each episode with a blog post?
• Can you work with video podcasts or any video format?
• What kind of analysis would you like to see?
• Is it easy to dynamically add ads and sponsorships throughout your podcast episodes?
• Finally, how much do you want to spend on hosting services?

These are just some of the questions you’ll need to answer when choosing from the best. Consider these questions before finalizing the timing and length of your podcast episode.

For example, if you run a weekly one-hour podcast, you’ll need less storage than if you run a half-hour program five days a week. However, don’t let pricing limit your programme options.

Here are some tips for choosing the best podcast website:

1. KNOW HOW MANY HOURS OF MONTHLY AUDIO HOSTING YOU NEED PER MONTH.

Many podcast hosts only give you two hours of upload time per month, while others provide unlimited uploads.

2. LOOK AT SERVER RELIABILITY, BANDWIDTH OPTIONS AND CURRENT TIME GUARANTEES.

Examine upgrade options and whether scalability is essential. With premium plans, you can get access to unlimited storage, upload times and monthly downloads.

3. CHECK OUT THE REGISTRATION PRICES VS. THE RENEWAL PRICE, AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS.

You can also save money by paying annually versus monthly, so do your homework.

Dive into a free trial to test the ease of use of the product.

4. MAKE SURE THE HOST HAS MANY ESSENTIAL FEATURES.

Look for things like no-fault overages, media validation, FTP upload and ID3 tagging.

With all this in mind, our recommendation for new podcasters is to start with BuzzSprout and claim a free $20 gift card.

What are Podcast directories?

Podcast directories are services like iTunes, Spotify and Google Play. They receive your podcast and RSS files and send them to their front-end systems. These directories allow your audience to easily find your program with a podcast application, with their computer, iPhone or Android device.

This is how it works. You upload your audio and when the directory detects something new in your feed, it downloads the file and displays the latest episode to its users.

On which platforms should I publish my Podcast?

So, after choosing a podcast host, how do you release your podcast? It’s simple. Once you upload the files to your podcast host, you’re ready to decide where you want your audience to find you.

These directories ensure that you are in front of most listeners and your feeds are automatically updated after each episode. Here is a quick list of some of the major podcast platforms.

1. HOW TO UPLOAD A PODCAST TO ITUNES

iTunes is one (if not the) most popular podcast application. In March 2018, Apple Podcasts surpassed 50 billion podcast downloads and over 550,000 shows. Impressive numbers!

Here we show you how to upload your podcast:

1. First, make sure you have an active Apple ID to submit and your podcast.

2. Sign in to iTunes Connect.

3. Click on the top left area of the podcast panel and enter your RSS feed in the text box.

4. All your podcast information will be uploaded from your podcast host and show you a preview of the feed. Make sure all your text and artwork is ready.

5. Click on submit and wait for approval.

2. HOW TO UPLOAD A PODCAST TO GOOGLE PLAY

Google Play is another of the most popular applications, with more than a billion active users per month. They also have a new service called Google Podcasts, which is a way of discovering free and trendy podcasts.

Here’s how to send your podcast to Google Play:

1. First, make sure you have an active Google account and go to Podcasts in Google Play Music.

2. Click the Publish button, sign in to your Google account and accept its terms of service.

3. Then, enter the URL of your RSS feed.

4. Click send and check your inbox for a verification email, which shows that you are the owner of the podcast.

5. Click publish and wait for approval.

3. HOW TO SEND YOUR PODCAST TO TUNEIN.

TuneIn is a growing site with over 75 million listeners and over 120,000 live radio broadcasts. They also have many live sports, music, news and global internet radio stations.

Here’s how to submit your podcast to TuneIn

Complete the TuneIn contact form and add all your podcast information.

2. Accept their terms and conditions.

3. Click on submit and wait for approval.

4. HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR PODCAST TO STITCHER

Stitcher is an on-demand radio service that focuses on informative news broadcasts and podcasts.

Here we show you how to send your podcast to Stitcher:

1. Request on the content provider page and enter your information.

2. Once you are logged in and approved, add your new program.

3. Add the RSS feed of your podcast and click send.

4. Wait for approval.

5. HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PODCAST FOR SPOTIFY

Spotify is fast becoming one of the largest podcast sites, with an impressive 191 million active listeners and 87 million paid subscribers. Their premium plan is $9.99/month and allows users to download music, listen without ads, play any track with unlimited skipping and present higher quality podcast audio.

In the past, you couldn’t have your podcast on Spotify, within its own website. Instead, you were forced to use their host and push your podcast into Spotify that way. However, that has changed.

They’ve just launched their Spotify for Podcasters beta program where you can learn how to upload your podcast to Spotify and get started right away. All you have to do is log in to your Spotify account (via Spotify or Facebook), send your RSS feed and Spotify does the rest.

If you want to follow the old-fashioned route, this article will help you get your podcast on Spotify as your hosting provider.

What is the best Podcast equipment?

If you are ready to start recording your episodes, you should buy some podcast equipment. In its purest form, all you need to start a podcast is a computer and a microphone. But that’s like saying that all you need to start an e-commerce business is a website: there are tons of different options.

However, we’ve narrowed it down to the essential podcast equipment to start with the items we own.

Here are our best options for the best podcast team.

1. BLUE YETI: THE BEST PODCAST TEAM

Do not use your computer’s built-in microphone. Start with a USB microphone instead: they are affordable and super easy to use. Simply connect your microphone to your laptop, change the audio input settings and record.

The only consideration for microphones is whether you choose a dynamic or condenser microphone. Generally, a condenser microphone is best for one-person shows, and dynamic microphones are useful for recording a group.

A fantastic and highly qualified condenser microphone podcast is the Blue Yeti

A highly dynamic microphone is the Audio-Technica ATR2100

2. MACBOOK AIR: THE BEST LAPTOP FOR PODCASTING

You don’t need the best and most modern laptop to start a podcast. Most computers will work fine. Make sure your machine has been built at least in the last three years. You should also be able to operate your audio software.

We use a Macbook Air, currently discounted at Amazon.

3. LOGITECH C920HD: THE BEST WEBCAM FOR STREAMING

If you’re getting into the podcast, you need a good webcam. Your webcam can be used to record video podcasts and upload them to YouTube. More importantly, your webcam will be used to look professional in meetings.

We must say that one thing podcasters are great at is looking good on video. Every podcaster we’ve met through Skype or Zoom has a microphone with an arm, clear and crisp video, and a well-designed background in their room or office.

For audio podcasts, a video may not be vital for your own episodes, but more so for meetings, you’ll have it with interviewees, influencers and potential sponsors.

And you don’t have to pay hundreds or thousands for an expensive camcorder or a DLSR camera. You need a good webcam to broadcast in at least 1080p.

1080p and even 4k webcams are very powerful (and affordable) these days.

The webcam I use and recommend is the Logitech C920HD.

4. AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50X: THE BEST HEADPHONES FOR PODCASTING

Since audio quality is one of the most critical aspects of your program, a good pair of headphones can hear p-pops, distortion, feedback and other problems. You’ll want a pair of closed headphones so that the microphone doesn’t pick up any of the sound coming through the headphones.

One pair we like for less than $150 is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x professional headset.

5. MACKIE PROFX8V2: THE BEST MIXER FOR PODCASTING

A USB mixer helps manage inputs, outputs, levels and effects. Reverb, flanging, delays, echoes and other effects are not only fun, but give your programme a professional sound.

Our favourite mixer for podcasting is the Mackie PROFX8V2.

What is the best software to record my Podcast episodes?

After choosing a podcast host and knowing where you want to publish your program, it’s time to start recording your audio with the podcast software. It’s quite easy. With a quality microphone and some podcast recording software, you can record, edit and launch your media quickly like a professional.

Here are some of the best software options to start recording your high quality audio.

1.Anchor

Anchor promotes itself as the easiest way to start a podcast. Always.

And we agree. Anchor’s free podcast recording software allows you to record high quality audio. It then records an unlimited number of episodes and distributes them to all major websites with a single click.

Anchor makes it easy to drag and drop different audio clips to rearrange segments in your episodes. They also give you a free landing page with a customised URL for your programme.

With its free unlimited hosting, recording capabilities from anywhere and one-click distribution, Anchor is the best podcast software on the market.

Try Anchor recording software today.

2. Zencastr

Zencastr allows new and professional podcasters the ability to record themselves and their remote guests in studio quality directly from a web browser. To record your podcast guest in another location, send them a link and then receive a separate audio track.

This live recording via a VoIP connection connects users via local microphones. As the podcast host, press record and each person’s audio records from the web browser, without any compression or artificial sound decreasing the audio quality.

Zencastr is also ideal for collaboration, as you can share your audio files via Google Drive and Dropbox.

With its free plan, you get up to two guests, 8 hours of audio recording per month and you only pay for use in post-production. If you upgrade to their professional plan to $20/month, you get unlimited guests and recordings, a live editing soundboard and 10 hours of automatic post-production each month.

Try the Zencastr podcast software.

3. AVID PRO TOOLS

Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) from Avid Technologies. It is a high-end audio product with enormous amounts of power. 

You don’t need this power to record your podcast. However, if you want the absolute best tool or want studio-quality podcast software, Pro Tools is your #1 choice.

It costs $299 for a 1-year subscription, and you get $850 in additional gifts, including professional sound effects, tutorials, and royalty-free music. You can also buy it at Amazon.

Try Pro Tools audio software today.

What are the benefits of podcast hosting?

These are some of the most significant benefits of using podcast hosting sites:

1. NO COMPROMISE ON QUALITY.

Generally, personal servers have limited space to spare.

If you decide to store a podcast on your server, you will have to compromise on quality, speed and storage space. This leads to a deterioration in the quality of the podcast, as you need to store a large amount of files in a limited space.

Podcast hosting platforms, on the other hand, have built-in servers that can host large podcast files while maintaining the highest quality. This means that you no longer have to worry about quality.

2. PODCAST HOSTING SITES CAN HANDLE DATA TRANSFER.

Podcasts are delivered via RSS feeds (rich summary site). When you store your podcast files in your personal account, users must download the files directly from there, which requires the expenditure of data for each download.

Now imagine this:

You have millions of followers and they are all downloading files from your account.

It consumes massive bandwidth as your account is using most of the data allocated to your website host. Coming from a single account, it could be too much data transfer for your host.

That’s why leaving it on dedicated website servers to take care of this is an excellent option.

3. YOU CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY

Deciding to host your podcasts on your website could become an expensive affair. That said, there are many website servers that offer unlimited bandwidth, and you can get low costs when your audience is limited. However, if you’ve chosen a host that doesn’t provide unlimited bandwidth and your audience continues to grow, you may be surprised when it comes to your final bill.

Approximately, a one hour audio podcast, three times a week, usually requires about 200 MB of storage space. If you’re looking to publish a video podcast once a week at an estimated 500 MB per episode, you’ll need 2 GB of space each month. And storage needs will continue to grow with your audience. The cost of storage can be astronomical in the end. In fact, most of the money you earn could go towards paying for the extra data you use.

However, most podcast hosting sites come with fixed price plans where you know how much you’ll spend based on your storage requirements.

The best part is that most plans are reasonably priced and you don’t have to worry about your expenses suddenly rising.

4. FASTER SPEED

Arguably, an essential aspect of the need for podcast web hosting is to ensure and provide speed.

How long do you tend to wait for a Dailymotion video to run? 1 minute? 2 minutes? 30 seconds at the most.

The point is that low speed will not be able to keep users captivated for long. Sooner or later, they will pass to their competitors, and there is no shortage of competitors.

When you host podcasts on your own website, speed becomes an issue. There is only so much speed that an average web hosting provider can provide. When more and more listeners start downloading the podcast, web servers have no choice but to use data limitation and eventually block users.

As a result, users who want to download the podcast will not be able to do so. Some may even be queued up indefinitely. They will not stay with you long if this problem becomes the norm.

Fortunately, with a fully dedicated web server for podcasts, you rarely encounter these drawbacks. Podcast hosting sites provide unlimited access to your podcasts, as there is no conflict regarding bandwidth.

5. ROBUST ANALYSIS

Needless to say, the right analysis tool can help you generate actionable ideas and make better decisions.

Before you plan your podcast schedule, you should determine how your podcasts work.

This is where podcast hosting sites come in.

Most of these platforms come with a built-in data analysis tool that can help you track the number of downloads your podcasts have, based on numerous parameters, including date, month, day of the week, time of day, seasons and more. You also get insightful data on which listeners are downloading more and which are less.

6. ADDITIONAL SECURITY

Cyber-attacks are a serious problem today.

According to Cybint, 64% of companies worldwide have experienced web-based attacks, and 62% of companies experienced phishing and social engineering attacks.

And surprisingly, only 10% of all cyber crimes in the United States are reported. The worst part is that you may not even know you’ve been hacked.

You can never be too careful. And while you’re running a podcast, you simply cannot allow your image to be affected. Hosting on your own server requires that you have a state-of-the-art cyber security system, full of security measures such as SSL certifications, firewalls and more.

On top of that, you should regularly update and test its functionality and make daily backups.

Podcast hosting sites, on the other hand, come with all the security measures you might want. It saves all your backups, takes care of the security and offers you high customization.

7 useful steps to start a podcast

Since the revolutionary launch of the iPod in 2001, podcasts have been growing in popularity. And there seems to be no sign of stopping.

According to a Nielsen report, 50% of American households are podcast fans. That’s more than 60 million households in the United States alone.

With the popularity of podcasts at an all-time high, there has been no better time to start your first podcast.

If you want to start your first podcast, there are a number of steps to follow, including

• Choosing a name for your podcast
• Select a cover image
• Introductory music
• Get the necessary equipment
• Creating an environment and process
• Record your first podcast and launch
• Promote and market your podcast

1. CHOOSE A NAME FOR YOUR PODCAST.

There are three important naming conventions you can follow to name your podcast:

Creative – e.g. “Podfast”

Descriptive – e.g. “Start your blog as a startup”

Staff – Ex: “The Hilary Show”, #AskAHilary

The naming convention you choose to follow will depend on your own preferences. For example, if you want to highlight your central theme, a descriptive name would give you a fair idea.

Adding a tag line to the name is also something that accentuates the value of your brand. For example, “Podfast”, simply the fastest.

If this doesn’t work, you can try other ways of naming your podcast.

2. ADD A COVER PHOTO

A proper cover photo helps to create an image of your brand in the mind of the consumer. It has to be communicative, catchy and should maintain the podcast’s niche.

The good news is that many of the cover art specifications are catered for by hosted podcast platforms. You can also customize them to align with their expectations.

3. ADD YOUR MUSIC INTRO

Start your podcast with a song to captivate your listeners’ interest. The music of the opening track is also an element of your podcast’s broader branding, and listeners will immediately identify your channel based on that music.

Typically, it should last between 5 and 10 seconds.

All you need to do is create something unique that aligns with your niche so that your listeners begin to associate it solely with your brand.

4. GET THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED

For a perfect podcasting experience, you need the best equipment.

The best part is that you don’t have to spend a massive budget to produce top quality podcasts.

The simple basics are:

• Good microphone
• Recording software
• A good podcasting host

Some of the best microphones on the market are Blue Encore and Audio Technica.

You can also check what some popular podcasters use. For example, here is a list of the equipment Gary Vaynerchuk uses for his podcast.

Cover Image Kit

It’s easier to produce attractive podcasts if you’re working with the right team.

5. CREATE YOUR ENVIRONMENT

You must create the perfect environment to attract listeners. This is where you must be creative and market your podcast to reach your target audience.

To begin with, you need an appealing welcome message to start the monologue on a positive note. You will basically talk about who you are and what you intend to do in your podcast.

Having done that, you now need to prepare yourself with the content you need for each episode:

• The theme
• Outline of the episode.
• Key points

Podcasting involves numerous methods. Whether it’s jokes, pre-planned segments or an interview, it’s essential to design a suitable structure for your podcast.

Podcasting methods

If you plan ahead before you start, you’ll perform better, which will naturally rub off on the delivery of your podcast and on others in the room.

6. REGISTRATION AND RELEASE.

How you want to record your podcasts is entirely up to you. Some podcasters record more than 5-10 podcasts at a time, while some believe in producing one podcast at a time.

I suggest you use this format for editing your podcast:

Teaser + Introduction + Podcast + Advertising + CTA + Podcast + Subscription reminder + Outro

Now, in order to reach the right audience, you must upload your podcasts to popular platforms such as iTunes, Soundcloud, Google Podcasts and more.

Even better, if you already have a YouTube channel or blog page, you can share your podcast on those channels, too. That way, you can also invite your regular viewers and readers to watch your new podcast.

7. PROMOTION AND MARKETING

It is difficult to record a large number of transmissions immediately after starting. Using social networking sites such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and running advertising campaigns could be a great way to promote your podcasts in the marketplace.

You can connect with industry leaders and join radio stations to get the word out at a reasonably low cost.

You can also invite a celebrity or an industry stalwart with a significant following to your show. That’s a great way to reach new listeners.

In addition, with good content and valuable guests, and as you increase your market penetration, you can start monetising your podcast.

Frequently asked questions about Podcast Hosting.

Podcast hosting, in conclusion

There you go: our list of the best podcast hosts to try out this year.

When you make your choice, first take a closer look at the platform’s features. You should be able to upload as much monthly content as you need, be compatible, view analytics and have enough storage space.

Second, decide if you want unlimited free hosting or if you’re willing to pay more for more features.

Third, do you need a new website? Look for options that combine web hosting and email marketing software with WordPress or Weebly so you can add notes and blog posts. Make sure your hosting company works with the best podcast networks.

Finally, examine which hosts can promote you with marketing, crowdsourcing, advertising, monetisation, expert guidance and support.

These companies take the guesswork out of storing your podcast, distributing your audio content in the right places and supporting you on your podcasting journey.

Our recommendation for new podcasters is to start with Buzzsprout and get a free $20 gift card.

So choose the best option tailored just for you and happy podcasting!

What Podcast Hosting Platform would you recommend?

In short, It’s Spreaker.com

Spreaker is a dynamic platform revolutionising audio creation and streaming. It empowers users to produce, share, and monetise podcasts and live broadcasts with ease. Offering advanced tools, a supportive community, and global reach, Spreaker amplifies voices and connects creators with diverse audiences worldwide.

“🚀Try Spreaker.com For Free, It’s my favorite Podcast Hosting Platform to use and recommend.” -Scott Max

It’s your audio universe. Discover, create, and share podcasts effortlessly. Experience high-quality streaming, powerful tools, and a vibrant community. Unleash your voice, amplify your message, and connect globally.

For more details, read our Spreaker.com Review.

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