If you’ve been around the podcasting space for a bit, you’ve likely heard people discuss the merits of podcast hosting services like Libsyn, Blubrry, Podiant, Spreaker, RedCircle, PodBean, Buzzsprout, Castos, Simplecast, SoundCloud (tip: don’t use SoundCloud for hosting podcasts, and several others. This post aims to objectively lay out the pros and cons of the top solutions to help with your decision.

In any case, we hope to help simplify the process with this comprehensive overview of why you need a podcast host, how to pick a podcast host, and what makes some of the options stand out amongst the pack. We’ll also help explain just why a free podcast hosting option may not be what it seems.

Why do you need a podcast hosting service?

To put it simply, the main reason you need a podcast hosting service is so you don’t have to worry about how your podcast is getting stored and shared. Podcast hosting services are engineered specifically for the type of content you will be recording and sharing and have features built in to eliminate some of the technological aspects of creating a podcast.

In addition to the ability to share to multiple distributors with RSS feeds, podcast hosting services can also simplify the process of adding cover art and descriptions, embedding or sharing files on social media or other websites and can even automatically optimize your audio to be the right file formats and sizes for your listeners.

Many of the best podcast hosting services are also committed to the podcast community and work tirelessly to update and improve their offerings to satisfy current trends. As you’ll see as we go into more detail about some of the best services, many of the top options have very similar offerings available, and it is the more niche, new features being rolled out that may help you decide where to host.

Maybe you are a show that would benefit from automatic transcription, so a hosting service that integrates directly with a place to do that will be helpful. Maybe you are making a longer show that needs chapter markers. Whatever it may be, chances are another podcaster has the same needs and there is a podcast hosting service that is one step ahead of you and already has the feature integrated.

Of course, not everyone wants or needs to be spending $100.00 a year for hosting, and there are plenty of free podcast hosting services as well. However, like all free things in life, you may notice that the storage space, speed, and availability of features in these plans are somewhat limiting. And is that what you want in your podcast hosting service?

You may also learn that free options pay for themselves by putting ads in your episodes that you didn’t approve and aren’t seeing any profit from. Be cautious of free plans and realize that if you want your podcast to grow, stand out amongst the competition, and be as enjoyable as possible for your listeners, the small investment will pay off in the long run.

Why can’t I use my website to host my podcast?

If you are a new podcaster exploring options of where to host your episodes, the thought of simply hosting them on your own website or even in Dropbox or Google Drive may have crossed your mind. Podcasting host services exist for a reason, both technical and financial.

Related reading: how to start a podcast

Podcasts typically are shared and distributed with a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, a common system for online publishers to distribute content to Internet users. When you download a podcast from Stitcher, Google Play, or Apple Podcasts, the podcast hasn’t actually been updated individually to those platforms. Instead, the RSS feed was shared with each library and when a new episode is uploaded to the creator’s podcast hosting service, it is automatically pushed out to all of the audiences. Most websites or storage options that are not meant for podcasting are not suited for this and don’t have the bandwidth.

As you read on, you’ll learn that podcast hosting typically provides more than just a place to store files. If you think you don’t need the extra services, there are free options available that will still be easier to use, more effective for reaching new audiences, and less prone to issues than the systems you might use to store other files.

Our favorite podcast hosting services

Don’t want to read the entire analysis? Here’s our quick winner:

Buzzsprout —  a simple, intuitive, and feature-rich podcast host perfect for most podcasters.

Starter plan comparisons

As you can see from the rows of check marks in the table above, a lot of the best podcast hosting services offer similar features and are mostly differentiated by their price and some of the specialty options that they have available. We’ll now go more in depth into these several options, as well as a handful of newer companies or more specialized podcast hosts that are starting to make a splash.

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is one of the places you can host your podcast for free, offering competitively priced plans with various amounts of storage and bandwidth. The free plan removes episodes after 90 days, so while it might be nice for a breaking news show or as a trial run, we suspect you’ll grow out of that option early.

Buzzsprout’s main selling point is that it is clean, easy to use and understand, and more modern than some competitors. From the statistics offered to the easy-to-create websites, the platform feels very “21st century” in the fonts, colors, and aesthetics. Even though it has been around for a decade, the vibe feels very much like a start-up, which can be really appealing.

Buzzsprout also provides an audio transcription service, starting at $0.10 per minute, which is competitively priced compared to other similar services. They are one of the few platforms to have this option integrated directly into their dashboard.

Read our full Buzzsprout review.

Deal: Sign up for Buzzsprout and get a $20 Amazon card.

Alitu

Alitu, the podcast maker, is NOT just another place to host your podcast. While Alitu’s hosting options are robust and free for any user for up to 1k downloads, the platform does so much more to get new and time-strapped podcasters up and running.

Unique from other podcast hosting providers, Alitu, is an end-to-end podcast creation software where you can record, edit, produce, publish and HOST all from the same place. Not only will you get free hosting with any paid subscription, but you won’t have to shell out extra money for all the other tools necessary to create a podcast. Alitu also provides a highly accurate and fast transcription tool at no extra cost to subscribers. Talk about value. Right?

The best bit? It will save you time so you can focus on other important aspects of podcasting, such as promotion or booking your next guest. Alitu also provides audio transcription at no extra cost, and with new features launching every couple of months, it’s even harder to put a price on that value. 

Alitu is a highly preferred podcast editing software by startups, individuals, and SMEs. The pricing starts from USD $27 per month for a yearly subscription.

RedCircle

RedCircle is the podcast hosting platform that puts the creator first.

The company has been around since 2018 and has been growing quickly. They’re focused on helping their creators grow and monetize their Podcasts.

That RedCircle, unlike many other podcast hosts, is so focused on growing its business right alongside the bevy of creators on its platform is both novel and refreshing. Quite frankly, it’s a philosophy we really dig.

RedCircle makes money when its creators make money. Period. Even their free tier offering has sophisticated ways to monetize a podcast. RedCircle is unique in that it allows anyone to create a podcast for free — no matter how small or large your audience is today — and allows you to monetize from day one using pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads.

As your audience grows, so does your income potential.

In addition to the free tier, paid hosting plans start at $9/month or $30/month (all plans include unlimited bandwidth and distribution). There are additional monetization options available through:

• RedCircle’s Ad Platform (RAP)
• Cross Promotions With Like-minded Podcasters
• Subscriptions and Pay Walls
• Donations

Libsyn

Libsyn launched in 2004 before you probably even knew podcasts existed. They are one of the original and most popular podcast hosts and help podcasters of all levels quickly create and share work.

As of late, Libsyn has given its offering a facelift that has made it much more attractive, adding to what was already a robust podcast hosting offering.

The in-depth tutorial, aptly named “How to Start a Podcast,” walks anyone looking to grow a show from how to hone a concept through the technicals of creation and promotion. Soon they will also be covering that oh-so-sweet concept of monetization. All within one helpful guide, which beats searching through random YouTube tutorials. Although they have spent a lot of time on their YouTube channel, that’s also a helpful resource.

On the software side, Libsyn now features an all-in-one recording studio that requires a simple USB mic to create a high-quality podcast. Integrated Canva templates make creating your episode cover art a breeze. An embeddable podcast player makes sharing and promoting your episodes easier than ever.

Plans begin at only $5/month, and the offerings have caught up to the competition. They are an established veteran worth considering if money is your top deciding factor.

PodBean

PodBean has a great basic plan for $9/month, as well as a smaller plan for just $3/month that is a step up from some free options. Their analytics are very visual, which can make them easy to understand and can also be really helpful for sharing with potential partners or advertisers. They have other features that may be appealing to podcasters looking to monetize, like a Patron service that is similar to Patreon in that it allows for a paywall on certain content.

PodBean truly has one of the widest arrays of features available, although some features only come at the higher priced plans. Still, the basic plan is a great, reliable option that podcasters big and small will love and find more than sufficient.

Read our full PodBean review, Libsyn vs. PodBean

Deal: First month free with code “discoverpods”.

Blubrry

In our recent full review of Blubrry, we spoke highly of their Powerpress option that allows for seamless publishing with WordPress websites and their support line where you can actually talk to a person, rather than wait for an email response. They also provide a free WordPress website for new customers if you don’t already have one.

Price wise, it falls right about at the middle of the pack and while it may not be flashy, Blubrry remains an excellent choice for podcasters. They offer a wide array of pricing options, so it is important to decide what your podcast future looks like before locking into a yearly plan. While the $12/month basic plan will be sufficient for some, larger networks of shows also have options up to $80 per month.

Blubrry is a veteran in the hosting space and really all about the simplicity of its interface and the speed of “post – upload – publish” with Powerpress.
One key differentiator, is they are one of the few players currently IAB certified, helping standardize the podcast analytics.

Read our full Blubrry review, Blubrry vs. PodBean

Deal: First month free with code “discoverpods”.

Castos

Castos may not be as recognizable of a name as some of the other options, but their WordPress integration is rivaled only by Blubrry in terms of ease of use, and they also do offer unlimited bandwidth and storage at only $15/month.

Castos has an automated import process that users switching from a competitor to their platform to easily move content over, and they also have an integrated Youtube publishing option that can convert your audio into video files that can be shared with the click of a button.

Don’t eliminate Castos simply because it costs a couple dollars more than some similar platforms. It is one of the few options out there that really does differentiate itself with the features available, and we think they’re worth an extra $30 a year.

Deal: First month free with code “discoverpods”.

Captivate.fm

Captivate is a relatively newcomer to the podcast hosting space from the UK. They are certainly making waves in the space and claim that if you move to their service, you’re going to stick there. In fact, one of their testimonials states that they tried seven different podcast hosts before landing on Captivate.fm.

Bold.

While they don’t offer a free plan, they do offer a 7 day free trial so you can get used to their platform. Before signing up, you can take a look at their extensive library of content designed to help independent podcasters grow their audience.

Since so many podcasts fail before reaching the fifth episode, having a host that is focused on your success makes a lot of business sense.

Here are some of the key things that make Captivate.fm worth a look:

1. Growth-oriented: Captivate.fm is designed to help podcasters grow their audience and build their brand. It offers a range of marketing and analytics tools to help podcasters track their growth and make data-driven decisions.
2. User-friendly: Captivate.fm has a simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy for podcasters to upload, publish, and manage their episodes. It also offers a range of customizable player options, so podcasters can match their player to their branding.
3. Podcast website: With Captivate.fm, podcasters can create a custom podcast website that integrates seamlessly with their hosting platform. This allows podcasters to have a dedicated website for their show that is fully customizable and easy to manage.
4. Support: Captivate.fm offers excellent customer support, with a team of podcasting experts on hand to answer any questions and help users troubleshoot any issues.
5. Pricing: Captivate.fm offers transparent pricing with no hidden fees. It also offers unlimited storage and bandwidth, so podcasters can upload as many episodes as they like without worrying about extra costs. If you pay annually, the starter plan sits right in the middle of the pack at $17 a month.
   
   To that end, Captivate does want some commitment from their content creators, but they return the favor with quite a bit of training and resources.

Overall, Captivate.fm is a podcast host that prioritizes the needs of podcasters and offers a range of features to help you, as an indie podcaster, succeed. Overall, Captivate.fm is a host we’re going to be doing a deeper dive on with a full review in the near future, but for now, it’s certainly worth a look as a paid podcast host.

Podiant

Podiant is one of the few podcasts that offers truly unlimited storage and bandwidth, and they won’t price you out or increase your rates as your listenership and following grows. Podiant has great statistics and analytics and offers users a free podcast website (but who doesn’t these days).

One way they do stand out is their Production Assistant system, which can help with scripting, reviewing and adding notes to edits and more all from your Podiant dashboard. For larger podcasts with precise scripts or lots of guests coming in and out, or for shows with hosts in different cities, this can be especially helpful with organization. We’ll also give props to Podiant for offering websites that are also pretty nice to look at and have more of an aesthetic focus than some competitors.

In addition to the basic $12.99/month plan, Podiant offers professional plans that allow you to host more than one podcast with a single account and provide you with one on one technical support.

Deal: Get 25% off your first 3 months with code “discoverpods”.

Spreaker

Spreaker’s plans are for total audio storage, rather than monthly limits, which can be beneficial or restricting. The $6 per month On-Air Talent plan allows for 100-hours of storage, which would be great for a show planning to only release a single season but would only last a little over a year for a weekly show with longer episodes. The Broadcaster plan, priced at $18 per month, increases to 500-hours of storage and the Anchorman plan allows for 1,500 hours of storage. It is easy to switch from one plan to another, so if you max out your storage you can just level up. 

A key differentiator for Spreaker is the ability to manage multiple podcasts through a single account. They’re also one of the few podcast hosts to have  their statistics IAB certified — a growing standard in the industry.

Spreaker offers live podcasting on all their plans (with time caps varied by plan), which is a new feature offered by some hosting services that will certainly be appealing to hosts looking to take live calls or interact more closely with their audiences. While they do not currently offer customized websites, you do get advanced distribution capabilities including embeddable players with all plans so it is easy to share episodes on other web platforms. Spreaker also has a monetization program through dynamic ad insertion. It works as a revenue-sharing program in which the podcaster gets 60% of the ad revenue, and Spreaker keeps 40% of it.

Other Podcast Hosts To Consider

Transistor.fm

Transistor sets to differentiate themselves from competitors by offering the ability to create unlimited podcasts within a single plan. You can add additional users per podcast as well, making it a great option for teams and small networks with multiple shows. The platform, analytics, customizable websites and other features are all very cleanly designed and easy to navigate. 

Transistor has download limits on their unlimited plans, with the lowest being 15,000 downloads on their $19 per month Starter Plan, but promises never to shut off an account if a download cap is reached, which is a nice touch. Instead, they’ll contact you and allow you to easily upgrade your plan. Those upgrades include the $49 per month Professional plan (75,000 monthly downloads) and $99 per month Business plan (200,000 monthly downloads). 

Simplecast

Simplecast is taking a big and bold approach, with a modern design aesthetic that looks more like a high end gym or streetwear brand than a podcast hosting service. But, don’t be distracted by the bold fonts — with a $15 per month unlimited plan and two-week trial with no credit card required, they clearly mean business. Simplecast also offers tools aimed at growing podcasts in their $35 per month Essential plan and $85 per month Growth plan, including more advanced analytics, collaboration tools and an increase in the number of included monthly downloads. 

Simplecast also offers Professional and Enterprise plans for larger volume shows, which is rare for some of the newer podcast hosting platforms out there. You have to contact Simplecast’s sales team for pricing, but working with a growing host could be a great option for a growing podcast network looking to get competitive pricing and lots of access to customer support. 

bCast

bCast is a podcast host built for marketers, by self-confessed marketers, Tom Hunt and Neil Morgan. Their unique pitch is they build every feature around making your podcast more profitable. A few notable features:

• Automated transcription for SEO growth
• Audio inserts to easily add calls to action or sponsor ads to the start or end of any episode for any period of time in a few clicks
• Custom domains to allow you to host your podcast website on your own domain or subdomain
• Auto opt-in which is a smooth strategy for converting listeners (downloads) into leads (email addresses)

bCast plans start at $15 per month, which gives access to most features and 10,000 downloads per month, plans scale up to unlimited podcasts, downloads, premium support and the ability to remove branding for $75 per month.

Fireside

A platform that is quickly gaining popularity is Fireside, which was founded in 2016 and is working to grow their network by offering a competitively priced unlimited plan and a seamless, 1-click hosting platform transfer process. Their standard plan is $19 per month for unlimited storage, with a cap at 75,000 downloads per month. The plan is definitely worth considering, especially if you are looking for a plan that also includes a robust, customizable website builder. In addition to the Standard plan, there is a $9 per month starter plan and a $49 per month Professional plan, where downloads are unlimited and you can work with up to 10 collaborators. 

Which podcast host is right for you?

We hope that this list helped narrow things down a bit, but chances are you are still facing a dilemma and are having a tough time choosing between a couple options. Take these final tips to heart when deciding where to host your show.

First, think about the growth you want your show to have and what platform will allow for that. If you are confident that you may need a plan larger than a basic plan in six months, look for a host that will allow you to upgrade. If you think this podcast is mostly just a hobby, consider a lower priced plan and save a bit on hosting that could instead be invested in slightly nicer podcast recording equipment.

Second, consider the websites. If you already have a personal website that is run through WordPress, Blubrry and Castos automatically stand out as front runners. If you don’t have a website, look at samples of each platforms websites and decide what you like best aesthetically.

Finally, remember that you can switch. Podcast hosts know that the space they operate in is very competitive, and they make it easy to seamlessly move your files from one host to another (usually for free). While this is an important decision to make, you are buying a hosting service, not a house, and ultimately the best way to choose between the top options is to go with your gut, see which hosts some of your favorite shows use, and go with the option that feels right to you.

Podcast Hosting FAQs

What is podcast hosting?

Regardless of where you find your podcasts, from Apple to Spotify to Stitcher, the audio files have to be stored — or hosted — somewhere. You may have heard of some of the most popular podcast hosting services, like Podbean, Blubrry and Buzzsprout, and a quick Google search will reveal dozens more options catering to podcasts both big and small. 

The primary benefit of a podcast hosting platform is that it provides the ability to share files automatically with multiple distributors using an RSS feed. This means that when you upload your new episodes to your podcast host, they can be easily pushed out to any platform you’ve set your feed up with, rather than having to upload to multiple platforms individually. Cover art, descriptions and data like downloads and listenership also all can be managed with your podcast host. 

In addition to pricing, storage space allotment and ease of use, you’ll find that podcast hosts differentiate themselves with a variety of helpful features like easy-to-build podcast websites, social media integration, post scheduling and in-depth statistics. 

Can I host my podcast on my website?

If you have a personal, business or even a website exclusively built for your podcast established, you may be considering simply using that site to host the files. While you may find a way to do this and potentially save a few dollars, the storage space and bandwidth required to host a growing podcast will quickly add up and you’ll realize it is not an effective or reliable way to host your files.  

Some popular website creation sites, like Squarespace and WordPress, have RSS publishing capabilities available that work well and are relatively easy for smaller podcasters. Again, storage and bandwidth will be an issue as your site grows but if you are dedicated to putting your audio files directly on your website consider an easy to use platform like Squarespace. 

Podcast hosting services are not the same as other file storage, so you cannot use a platform like Dropbox or Google Drive for your podcast (although these tools are very useful for collaborating while you are recording your episodes). 

Can I use SoundCloud to host my podcast?

The short answer to the question of whether you can use SoundCloud to host a podcast is yes, but you may not want to. SoundCloud is a streaming service, rather than a service built for hosting podcasts, and you will run into various obstacles if you decide to host with SoundCloud. 

While SoundCloud is free, you will be limited to three hours of uploaded audio per month. For musicians, this is typically more than enough, but podcasters will quickly run out. The free option also does not provide any statistics or the ability to schedule postings, which are both useful capabilities for podcasters. Paid plans are $7/month for SoundCloud Pro, or $15/month for SoundCloud Pro Unlimited, in which case it makes more sense to use a comparably priced dedicated podcast host. 

You don’t need to take my word on it, either. Steve Wilson, head of marketing for Apple Podcasts, discourages podcaster from using SoundCloud as their podcast host.

That being said, it doesn’t hurt to upload episodes to SoundCloud as a supplemental place for listeners to find your content. SoundCloud has a great social component and is actively growing their podcast capabilities, so it is a good platform to get familiar with. 

Related reading: SoundCloud alternatives for hosting podcasts

Which podcast host is right for me?

You can choose your podcast host strictly based on cost, but you’ll be better off if you look at the bigger picture and see what the benefit add of some of the top plans are. For example, Buzzsprout offers discounted audio transcription for podcasts using their service, and Castos has integrated Youtube publishing. Think about what you will really need when you are podcasting and what your goals are and then factor in the extra perks with how much you value them.

If you are setting up a podcast that you expect will have large listenership off the bat, we recommend an established host like Buzzsprout or Podbean because of the unlimited monthly storage and comprehensive podcast analytics. If you are not worried about maxing out your bandwidth or storage, take some time to look through all the options out there to see what interface feels right.   

How much does podcast hosting cost?

In most cases, expect to be paying around $10.00 to $15.00 / month for podcast hosting. If you are working with video, or looking to host a large commercial podcast, that rate will be higher depending on your specific needs. 

Most hosting sites will allow you to either increase your plan capacity if you are running out of space or provide an option for a one-time purchase of extra storage. Check your plan details before signing up if you are not sure exactly how much space you’ll need. 

You’ll also notice that some plans have hourly storage limits while others have limits based on file sizes. Episode file sizes can vary a lot based on the recording and exported file specifics, but a very rough ballpark is that a 60-minute spoken podcast will be around 50MB. 

Can I use a free podcast host?

If you are just starting out with a new podcast, looking to see if you have any audience at all, and are not even sure you’ll want to make more than a few episodes then by all means use a free podcast hosting plan offered by a reliable service. Buzzsprout, Libsnn and Soundcloud are just a few options you could use to try out podcasting for free.

Make sure you are using a platform that will allow you to move to a different plan though when you are ready to start growing your podcast! 

Related reading: best free podcast hosting

Where should I publish my podcast?

In our guide to podcast hosting services, we explain the pros and cons of some of the best podcast hosting platforms for any budget. Blubrry, Castos Simplecast and many other services have offers for a free first month, which can be helpful if you want to see exactly what a podcast host is capable of before committing. It tends to be pretty easy to transition from one host to another with integrated file transfer services and most plans are monthly, so remember that while this decision is important, you are not locked in for life. 

The post The 10 Best Podcast Hosting Services (for new & experienced podcasters) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

As podcast creators we tend to give a lot of time and attention to our show content and the gear we use to record it. And rightly so.

The listener experience is paramount to your show’s growth and ultimate success. Any part of the process that impacts that listener experience needs pouring over with a fine tooth comb.

Most listeners consume their podcasts by way of RSS feed. Their podcatcher of choice picks up that feed. Where you choose to host your podcast finds its way down the list of priorities as a result.

As long as it’s technically working, why rock the boat? That mentality finds a lot of podcasts still using SoundCloud. Even when that may no longer be the best fit for their show.

I’d encourage all creators to do a hosting audit and see if there’s a better choice. We should do this far more often. The market has grown up and there are SoundCloud alternatives worth a look.

Steve Wilson, formerly head of marketing at Apple Podcasts, pleaded for podcasters to stay away from using SoundCloud as their podcast host. Why? It’s just not designed for it.

Why Podcasters use SoundCloud as a Podcast Host?

SoundCloud, as a podcast host does have a lot going for it on the surface. There are reasons it was as big as it was at its peak and why SiriusXM was so interested in dropping that much coin on their transaction.

Related reading: 12 of the best podcast hosting services

Social networking to promote your pod

This comes from their musician roots. Swapping “tapes” and getting new music out into the scene is a big deal. SoundCloud has always had that just under the surface of their offering.

Dedicated apps

It’s “iTunes like” in that it has dedicated apps and a dedicated ecosystem. From the perspective of attracting a new audience, you can capture “SoundCloud” only listeners who may not be using another podcatcher. If you came to SoundCloud for the face melting underground dark metal band, you might stay for an obscure indie music podcast. That might not happen if you’re using another podcatcher.

It’s free.

That’s a big one. You can graduate to a paid service with more bells and whistles later. But when you’re launching a new pod idea, why pay when you don’t have to, right? Again, born of it’s garage band roots, free distribution is a big deal when you look at the world of record contract advances. Podcasting doesn’t have those same financial foundations, but new podcasters benefited alongside their musician cousins.

Analytics

They make an honest effort at metrics and analytics.

SoundCloud Alternatives for Podcast Hosting

As the podcast market matured, so did the podcast hosting providers. The demand created by an explosion in new podcasts attracted new players to the pitch.

What might we be looking to build and improve on if we are willing to jump ship?

SoundCloud isn’t a dedicated podcast host.

SoundCloud was built around music and music distribution. For independent musicians, they are a de facto better financial choice than big record labels. But that doesn’t necessarily translate to podcasters. Something to think about and consider.

SoundCloud’s uploads are based on time, not size.

Spoken word podcasts don’t require the fidelity that music does, which means you should have the option to cap your sound quality to get more length for the same size file. SoundCloud doesn’t allow this.

SoundCloud has had some issues with their business model.

They’ve had a recent influx of money and interest from outside parties like the aforementioned SiriusXM, but you have to ask yourself if you want to ride that roller coaster. A business that’s in trouble has to make changes that can have a significant impact on your show.

Compare SoundCloud Alternatives for Podcast Hosting Features

The Best Free SoundCloud Alternatives for Podcasts

The best things in life are free right? I’m sure I’ve heard that somewhere. But really, as someone who has bootstrapped several businesses, taking action with a free service trumps a fancy paid service. At least when you’re first starting out.

Related reading: best free podcast hosting services

With how far free hosting has come, it doesn’t make financial sense to spend money before you’ve tested your podcast in the market and built an audience that you can monetize.

SoundCloud is a good free hosting provider, but can we do better in 2021 and beyond? Let’s look at some of the best free SoundCloud alternatives for podcast hosting.

Spreaker

Founded in 2010 as an all-in-one podcast solution, Spreaker has been well-received as one of the most well rounded solutions in the market. And they do it on the cheap. Spreaker is a great spot to host your podcast, sure, but it’s the included ancillary services that make it stand apart.

Spreaker features an onboard recording and editing suite that has no rival at this price point. Meaning you can produce your podcast from soup to nuts, or idea to distribution, all within Spreaker itself. No need for additional digital audio workstation (DAW) software.

The free plan offers basic analytics, 15 minutes of live broadcasting, and full RSS distribution. Spreaker knows who their audience is and actively fosters creators towards a show that would make more sense on their paid platforms. 

Starting Price: Free

Pros and Cons:

• Included recording and editing suite.
• Unlimited bandwidth, even at the free pricing tier.
• 15 minutes of live broadcasting.
• Full RSS distribution.
• 5 hours of audio storage.
• Analytics could be more robust at free and basic pricing.

Useful Links:

Enjoy your first month free with code “discoverpod.”

Podbean

Podbean was founded in 2006, just two years after the term “podcast” was coined, making it one of the oldest providers on this list. Simplicity is the name of the game with Podbean, and it is designed for podcast creators with very limited technical knowledge. 

This can be a double-edged sword. Viewed in a positive light, it liberates creators to focus on their content and worry less about getting caught in the gear trap.

Even at the free pricing level Podbean offers full RSS distribution, 5 hours of storage, and a dedicated Podbean app for iOS and Android. They do offer paid plans as well if your podcast’s trajectory is ascendant and you don’t feel like making a move.

Starting Price: Free

Pros and Cons:

• Blog style point and click interface.
• Dedicated iOS and Android app ecosystem to encourage podcast discovery.
• One of the oldest and largest podcast hosts in the market.
• Full RSS distribution including iTunes.

• 100 gb bandwidth cap.
• Lackluster analytics.

Useful Links:

Podbean Link

Buzzsprout

After a decade in business Buzzsprout’s free plan still has a lot to like if you aren’t publishing a daily or weekly episode. The free plan does have some limitations that seem designed to steer you toward one of their paid options where you’ll find a plethora of extras.

That said, the free plan does hosting well. It distributes widely to all the major podcast directories and supports plenty of bandwidth. Even for shows with a higher file quality. If you sincerely think your podcast will be monetizing quickly, a layover at Buzzsprout’s free plan might be the right move for you.

Read our full Buzzsprout review.

Starting Price: Free

Pros and Cons:

• Better analytics at the free tier than competitors.
• 250gb monthly bandwidth.
• Supports higher frequency and bit rate audio files.
• Easy to import your show from other hosts.

• Limited to 2 hours of storage a month.
• Shows are hosted for 90 days only. This can be an issue for your archive.

Useful Links:

$20 Amazon gift card when you sign up

Anchor

If you’ve been podcasting a while, you’ve come across Anchor. It’s the Soundcloud alternatives for podcast hosting that is popular with hobbyist creators. And for good reason, they’re owned by Spotify and the corresponding deep pockets. 

Anchor is free and has unlimited hosting. That alone would be enough to attract attention, but Anchor takes budding podcasters a step further.

Unlike some other hosts, Anchor doesn’t restrict your bit rate at all. If you have a music heavy show you want to broadcast at 256k, go for it. Married to the high quality audio capability are some next level analytics for a free host that are very useful when building an audience.

The free tier also includes some structured monetization that isn’t always found in the gratis offerings.

Starting Price: Free

Pros and Cons:

• Superior free analytics.
• Full RSS podcast distribution.
• Unrestricted audio quality.
• Novel mobile recording suite on both Android and iOS for location flexibility.

• Anchor isn’t shy about placing your show under the Anchor umbrella. This can cause branding confusion with new listeners.
• Monetization offerings, while there, require a large number of downloads.
• Online editor is rudimentary. Clips need to be pre-edited before being built on Anchor.

Red Circle

Red Circle is free. Their business model is unlike any other on this list. Red Circle doesn’t make money unless you make money. They work on a commission or arbitrage model and thus their financial incentives are more in line with the creator’s. 

This works great for shows that are new and starting out. The last thing they need is new overhead when they’re focused on creating new content.

Commissions at Red Circle range from 4.5% on direct donations (a feature SoundCloud also launched last spring) to 50% on “programmatic” ads. The latter being basically commercials the podcast host themselves has nothing to do with.

Price: Free

Pros and Cons:

• Monetization focused. Red Circle needs you to make money. They’re going to help you in any way they can.
• Small, dedicated team that runs Red Circle. They are more responsive. You might even find a founder or two on your Reddit thread.
• Ticks all the requisite podcast start up boxes.
• Promotion and financial alignment with creators.

• Relatively new company without a long track record (yet).
• Lacks some of the bells and whistles of more established hosting providers.

The Best Paid SoundCloud Alternatives for Podcast Hosting

When you’ve been at it a while and you’re starting to build a significant audience, your podcast hosting review will likely suggest a paid option. After all, you get what you pay for, right?

While free options are a solid baseline, paid options offer refined features like granular analytics, more monetization opportunities, and advanced marketing.

Several of the free options I covered above have paid tiers, but if you’re ready to make a paid move, look to these hosts. These SoundCloud alternatives for podcast hosting are dedicated to a paying audience. You may not need a stopover at one of the providers splitting their attention between free and paid.

Transistor

What jumps out at you about Transistor.fm is that they want to be the podcast host for those with a lot of ideas. One of the first calls to action on the site is that you can host as many different podcast streams under one account as you’d like. Instead of trying to cram everything into a single show, break that audience up and get paid.

Their HTML5 based web player integrates well with most content management systems (CMS) meaning it’s easy to share across the web. You’ll want to be embedding all of your shows on all of your platforms. 

The only thing holding you back with Transistor.FM is that you have a download cap. 15,000 downloads per month on their introductory plan. Caps are a bummer, but that’s kind of a first world problem isn’t it?

Starting Price: $19 / month

Pros and Cons:

• Can have multiple streams under one account.
• All major aggregator distribution. iTunes, Google, Spotify, Pocketcasts, Overcast, etc.
• Intuitive drag and drop workflow to publish.
• Well built HTML5 player that is easy to share.
• Excellent show analytics included.
• Download cap across all pricing platforms.

Blubrry

If you’re looking for professional options that won’t bankrupt the show and grow with you over time, Blubrry might be the host for you. The lower echelon of their pricing scale forces podcasters to cut back on some niceties, sure. The 100mb upload per month limit is going to force you to scale back the audio quality for example.

Burbrry’s “long tail” podcasting gives podcasters an opportunity to squeeze every drop of value from their archive. You can cut in evergreen audio segments globally into the archive. Without impacting your bandwidth quotas or ranking.

That means newer, more relevant ads, higher paying archive ads, and other updates that translate to more revenue.

The platform is literally stuffed with little addons like that. We did a much deeper dive on Blubrry before, and the platform just keeps getting better in the low end paid space. It won’t be for every show, but it requires a look.

Starting Price: $12 / month

Pros and Cons:

• Longtail archive focus.
• Free migration from another host.
• Professional show analytics.
• Utilizes CDN service to serve content faster.
• Excellent WordPress integration with PowerPress plugin.
• Unlimited bandwidth.
• Limited storage space.

Useful Links:

First month free

Captivate

As a relative newcomer to the podcast host game, Captivate was born out of one podcaster’s desire for simplicity and like minded goals. Frustration with the competition can be a powerful motivator.

Captivate’s pricing model is based on downloads per month. Their $19 per month plan will serve you up to 12,000 downloads. Plenty to monetize your show with a basic advertising model. So, it’s not like it breaks the bank.

Further, Captivate’s philosophy centers around building a podcaster community. They regularly push shows to be featured on their platform and do put some marketing umph behind their client’s work. 

When you’re ready to look at paid hosting, this may feel like a homey place to land.

Starting Price: $19 / month

Pros and Cons:

• Professional level data and IAB certified analytics.
• Phenomenal WordPress integration for additional marketing avenues.
• Community focused with an eye towards creator show growth.
• Responsive, always on, live customer service.
• Automated donation, opt-in, subscriber, and calls to action.
• Unadulterated audio quality. Can upload lossless if desired.
• Episode download caps at every pricing level.

Libsyn

Lybsyn is one of the oldest podcast hosts in the space, having been around since 2004. It’s a company that gives off a vibe that they somehow invented the space. Other companies feel hip, experimental, and collaborative. Libsyn feels established and competent. 

More than 75,000 podcasts are using Libsyn and those numbers convey a well deserved heft. 

The old guard company delivers unlimited listens, a robust app ecosystem, and wide distribution. At their lower pricing tiers, they offer a steeper learning curve, and cost plus basic analytics. 

Libsyn is a professional’s podcast host, so if you can get in at their higher pricing tiers, you’ll feel better about it. There are better free options available if you’re looking at their $5 per month tier.

Starting Price: $5 / month

Pros and Cons:

• Polished mobile apps in the mid range and high price tiers.
• Unlimited listens and downloads.
• Visually appealing mini-site if you don’t have your own standalone site.
• Famous podcasters on this host. Can handle the traffic.

• Even basic analytics cost $2 / month more.
• A custom URL using your own domain name is an additional $2 per month.
• Not as intuitive as some other SoundCloud alternatives for podcast hosting.

Conclusion

SoundCloud is a familiar proving ground for many a podcast when they’re just starting out. As a free hosting solution it offers enough to serve as a proof of concept.

There are enough questions about the future of the SoundCloud business model that should give creators pause.  It makes sense for podcast creators to take a proactive look at these SoundCloud alternatives for podcast hosting.

If for no other reason than to have your bases covered.

As the podcast industry has grown up, more mature, dedicated, hosting options have emerged. Both in the free and paid arenas. 

SoundCloud was a giant, and maybe it will be again. But their trajectory is a reminder that, as creatives, we ought not leave all of our eggs in a single basket.

The post 5 SoundCloud Alternatives for Podcast Hosting appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Podcast Hosting Plan Options and Pricing

Most searches for a new hosting plan will start with pricing and storage options. Libysn and Buzzsprout have very similar plan options, structured based on the amount of audio you can upload per month. Buzzsprout has the advantage of offering a free podcast hosting plan, which caps you at two hours of audio per month. Their next plans are $12 per month, $18 per month, and $24 per month, offering 3, 6, or 12 hours of uploads per month respectively. In all options, audio is stored indefinitely and you have the option to upload more content at an hourly rate. 

Libsyn’s plans are by MB rather than hours of audio, starting at $5 per month for 50 MB of audio, then $15 per month for 250 MB, $20 per month for 400 MB, and $40 per month for 800 MB. If you are a new podcaster, you are certainly asking how much storage capacity you would actually need and how big a single podcast file might be. While sizes will vary, a general rule of thumb is that the average hour-long audio podcast is about 25 MB. Because audio file sizes vary, it is hard to give one platform an edge over the other. 

Spreaker, however, structures its plans based on total audio storage rather than a monthly limit. The $6 per month On-Air Talent plan allows for 100-hours of storage, the Broadcaster plan, priced at $18 per month, increases to 500-hours of storage, and the Anchorman plan allows for 1,500 hours of storage. These pricing options are appealing if you are transferring over an existing library of audio files or if you are planning to release episodes less frequently or only for a single season. In fact, if that is your situation it means you will be less likely to overspend if you are using Spreaker compared to other options. For podcasters with bigger ambitions or enterprise clients, there is also the unlimited Publisher plan at $120 per month. Spreaker also offers a free plan which allows for five total hours of uploads, which would be a great place to start if you are not sure you are ready to commit to a paid hosting plan. 

All three platforms allow you to add extra storage as you go, and offer larger options for enterprise clients. The most important consideration to make is how much storage space you need both monthly and as a whole. If you know you will not need more than 100 or 500 total hours of storage, Spreaker is a great option that will likely end up being less expensive. However, if you are not sure, Libsyn and Buzzsprout are both great providers with competitive pricing.

Spreaker Review and Features

Spreaker has a nice balance of simplicity and power, combining some of the best features offered by Buzzsprout and Libsyn, and leads the pack in several areas as well. You will immediately notice Spreaker’s clean, simple to navigate design and the ease of use when it comes to publishing is on par with Buzzsprout. Where Spreaker excels above the pack is in innovation and modern features, as the company continues to rapidly update its offerings to meet modern needs. One example is the ability to host live podcasts, which can be streamed directly through a Spreaker platform and then distributed to other podcasting apps. They also offer a podcast recording app, Speaker Studio, which would be a nice benefit for a new podcaster who is less experienced with editing. 

Spreaker has also found a niche appealing to professional podcasters with straightforward monetization tools, as well as features like the ability to host multiple podcasts on the same account. Monetization is another area where Spreaker is pushing the boundaries and providing modern features. For example, they have integrated programmatic advertising, easy dynamic ad insertion, and other tools that make monetizing easy for podcasters of all sizes. Spreaker also offers podcasters a way to grow their audience with their AdHub. Podcasters can upload an audio ad — for example, promoting their show — and then specify both a budget and target audience and then it will be dynamically inserted as an additional promotional method.

When looking at a list of features offered by Spreaker, you may notice that a few common offerings are missing, but in many cases that will not be a disadvantage. For example, Spreaker does not offer podcast websites (Buzzsprout, Libsyn and some other hosts do), but not all users will need that feature and frankly, making a website with Squarespace, Wix or WordPress is usually a better option. Ultimately, in our opinion, nothing essential is missing. If you evaluate what your key needs are, and decide which features offered will actually be useful for you, we are fairly certain that all of your top needs, and more, are going to be met with Spreaker. 

Spreaker has great support, and provides lots of resources for their network of podcasters, including tools and articles on how to start a podcast, how to monetize, and how to understand your analytics. They also like to prominently feature podcasts that use their services, which could give your show a nice boost. 

Buzzsprout Review and Features

Buzzsprout prides itself on being intuitive, straightforward, and long-term contract-free (meaning only monthly plans are available). Their platform makes it incredibly easy to transfer over files from another hosting provider.

One of Buzzsprout’s recent releases is Magic Mastering, which was first announced in May 2020. The company describes it as an Instagram filter for your audio, again putting an effort into making their platform one of the easiest to use for podcasters of all skill levels. While some people may prefer to do their own touch-ups, it is a nice option have especially for podcasters that do not work with an editor or want to spend time mastering. The extra option can be added to all of Buzzsprout’s paid plans. 

Other features that are unique to Buzzsprout or less common include the option to automatically get uploads transcribed, and a Dynamic Content tool that can help with adding pre-roll or post-roll segments. The Dynamic Content tool is especially helpful as it allows you to automatically add a pre-roll message such as an ad, announcement, or show update to all of your past episodes with a single click. 

Buzzsprout also offers many of the key features that have now become standard in the podcast hosting space. This includes detailed podcast statistics, easy-to-create podcast websites, custom embed players, and monetization options integrated into the platform. 

Related reading: Buzzsprout podcast host review

One benefit of using a platform like Buzzsprout (or Spreaker and to an extent Libsyn) is that their network is large, support is quick and helpful and options for enterprise or professional podcasters are extensive. Although other plans may be slightly less expensive, Buzzsprout does a good job of getting you your money’s worth without taking any shortcuts or short-changing users with their features. Although many of Buzzsprout’s key features are aimed at new podcasters or early-stage podcasts with simplified actions and automated add-ons, they are a great bet for professionals as well. 

Libsyn Review and Features

If Buzzsprout and Spreaker excel at making things modern and automated, Libsyn excels at offering powerful, robust features. While they certainly are a top option for enterprise-level producers, their long list of features and capabilities will also be helpful for podcasting newbies as well. 

Libsyn offers some of the most complete and comprehensive statistics available, with the ability to review stats from specific date ranges, stats related to social media engagement, location-specific stats, and more. They have also integrated the option to easily download statistics for quick marketing reports or other analysis. 

The platform and their publishing formats are extremely customizable, with the ability to seamlessly schedule episodes to be released at a later time, set episode expiration dates, or limit who a released episode is available to. While some of these features will not be useful for all podcasters, having the ability to several of these things just in case is a nice perk. 

In addition to the competitively priced Enterprise plans, Libsyn also excels in the professional market because of its monetization features. The platform provides users at certain tier levels with dynamic ad insertion, as well as ad management tools and stats. There is also the MyLibsyn service, which is similar to Patreon or another paywall platform, allowing you to set up premium content that listeners can subscribe to through the Libysn app.

Are There Any Standout Disadvantages?

All three platforms have been in the podcast hosting market for over a decade, and as a result they all have the basic features on lock, with helpful support and an array of features for podcasts of all sizes. If you are just looking for a reliable way to get your podcast on as many platforms as possible, you cannot go wrong with any of the three. 

With that, you will certainly notice that Spreaker and Buzzsprout have a much more modern interface than Libsyn and although Libsyn has a lot of features, it tends to be less intuitive. Do not think that just because Spreaker and Buzzsprout feature simplified design and emphasize their ease equates to key features or a lack of functionality. In fact, it is just the opposite. In almost all regards, Spreaker and Buzzsprout’s simplicity is an advantage. 

Although Spreaker has some areas where it is different or takes a different approach than it’s competition, transitioning to the platform is very easy and we truly feel that a lot of the choices they are making are better for many, if not all, users. Take for example their pricing structure. While at first it will stand out as different, it is actually much more intuitive than a monthly cap and gives you more freedom, more transparency and more bang for your buck. 

So, Which Podcast Host Should You Choose?

In the battle between Buzzsprout, Libsyn, and Spreaker the first thing to consider is pricing. Buzzsprout and Libsyn have similar enough plans that it really just comes down to which way of thinking about the cost you prefer. On Spreaker, you will have to take into consideration if you will max out the lower-priced 100 or 500-hour audio storage plan. While some podcast hosts may see 500+ episodes in their future, in most cases 500 hours of storage will be more than enough. If you only see yourself releasing a short episode or two a month, the Spreaker On-Air Talent plan at $6 per month is probably the most cost effective of all three platforms. 

Next, evaluate which features you will actually use. Assume that the statistics and RSS and distribution options available on all three will be substantial, and consider what would then become the most important features for you. Perhaps you are eager to monetize and like the idea of live podcasting. In that case, Spreaker may be the right tool for you. 

Ultimately, there are very few cons with all three of these options and the choice really becomes about which platform is best for you. All three strive to appeal to users of all skill levels and storage needs and have the features and range of plans to prove it. Most importantly, they all also offer flexible plans and have simplified the process of moving content over to their platforms if you change your mind after committing to a different service. Instead of thinking of choosing a podcast host as a stressful choice you have to make, instead let it be an exciting chance to choose between several great options all eager to welcome you into their podcasting communities. 

The post Podcast Host Comparison: Buzzsprout vs. Libsyn vs. Spreaker appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

What differentiates the leaders in the podcast hosting game tends to be the range in plans (both in regards to pricing and storage space), as well as the add-on features that you get with a plan. For the most part, quality, reliability and functionality will be about the same especially with established hosting services like Buzzsprout, Podbean and Libsyn. In this comparison, we will break down pricing and plan options, as well as add-on features that come with each plan, and explain what type of podcasters will benefit most from the offerings of each platform. 

Buzzsprout vs. Podbean vs. Libsyn

Podcast Host Pricing 

Regardless of which hosting platform you select, you will likely have the option to choose between several plans, typically starting with a free plan that offers limited storage space, and going up to an unlimited (or nearly unlimited) plan aimed at professional podcasters or even podcast networks. 

The widest range comes from Podbean, with pricing starting at a free plan that allows for 5 hours of total storage, as well as limitations on some other services and functions. Their two most popular options are Unlimited Audio ($9per month) and Unlimited Plus ($29 per month), both of which offer unlimited storage space and unmetered bandwidth, but differ in regards to what customizations and features are available within the platform’s site builder. A final plan, Business, is $99 permonth and aimed at networks or business with multiple podcasts. 

Buzzsprout offers very similar pricing options, again starting with a free plan. If you want a free podcast host, Buzzsprout is a better option because it allows for 2 hours of audio each month, rather than Podbean’s five hours total. In theory, you could host a show using Buzzsprout’s free plan if episodes were relatively infrequent and short. Their three paid plans, priced at $12per month, $18per month and $24per month allow for 3 hours, 6 hours or 12 hours of uploads each month respectively, with the option to add more as needed. All of Buzzsprouts pay plans include full access to statistics, embedded players and a podcast website. The advantage of this pricing structure is that if you know exactly how much audio  you plan to release, it can be much more affordable than a plan like Podbean’s Unlimited Plus. That being said, the cap at 12 hours in their most expensive plan means it probably is not the right platform for a daily show or podcast network. 

Finally, Libsyn starts with a $5 plan, which includes 50 MB of storage. Their larger plans are $15per month, $20per month and $40per month to upload 250 MB, 400 MB or 800 MB of audio respectively. Libsyn explains that one minute of audio is about 0.5 to 1.0 MB, and encourages someone releasing four 60 minute episodes a month to get their $15per month plan. File sizes of course depend on how the audio was recorded, exported, and if it contains music or just spoken words. They also offer two larger plans, maxing out at $150per month for 3000 MB of storage, and LibsynPRO which offers unlimited storage. The pricing here may be a bit confusing to a new podcaster, but if you are an existing show and know much much storage you would need monthly, the pricing is affordable and inviting. 

Ultimately, if pricing is your top consideration, consider Buzzsprout if you want a free plan, any of the three platforms if you are a semi-regular show that needs a “normal” amount of storage, and Podbean or Libsyn if you’re looking for an unlimited or nearly unlimited plan. 

Podcast Statistics and Metrics

One of the most important features to have access to for a podcast of any size is statistics, and all three hosts offer comprehensive podcasts stats that will help you grow your audience and potentially find advertisers. Only Podbean’s Basic (free) plan and Libyn’s $5per month 50 MB plan limit what statistics you will have access to. 

While the exact statistics and information you will get access to will be relatively similar, the way information is presented varies a bit with each option. Buzzsprout stands out because their interface is very clear, easy to read and organized logically. Podbean also has very clear statistics, as well as a bit more detail than their competitors. Their User Engagement intel, which comes as an optional add-on, is a great advantage and can help growing podcasts understand why episodes are or are not working. Libsyn statistics are also incredibly detailed, including data like a basic social media stats, download statistics and more. 

Podcast Website Creation

An increasingly common feature of podcast hosting platforms is the ability to easily create a podcast website and automatically publish episodes to it. Libsyn, Podbean and Buzzsprout all have integrated this feature at all price points. 

Libsyn calls their websites “Mini Sites,” which should give you an idea of the functionality and features. While the websites won’t compete with a page created with Squarespace or WordPress, they work just fine for a new podcast and can be customized to match your podcasts branding. 

Podbean gives all their users the ability to create a site, with increased functionality such as more themes to choose from, customized design and custom domains for paid plans. This is one of the key differences between the Unlimited Audio and Unlimited Pro plans that Podbean offers, and their Pro and Business plans give you the ability to create robust, fully customized sites. 

Finally, Buzzsprout again stands out because of the clean design, and the ability to use a custom domain. Buzzsprout’s sites are a bit less customizable than with Podbean, but their default pages are modern and easy to navigate. If you prefer to use your own website, Buzzsprout also has a very easy to use embedded player generator with a wide range of features like customizable colors and full listening control. 

Pro / Business / Monetization Tools

Libsyn and Podbean both offer business or enterprise level plans, but you will find great tools aimed at professional podcasters in plans from all three of these hosts. 

While Buzzsprout does not bill one of their plans as meant for pros, they do give their creators access to an affiliate marketing program which can be used to monetize a podcast. You can manage unlimited podcasts under the same account, each on their own plan, and give unlimited team members access to the account. This could be helpful if you work with an editor or business manager and want to give them full or limited access to the podcasts backend. Buzzsprout allows for lots of customization in their platform which makes it easy to represent your brand clearly while using their platform, too. 

Podbean allows podcasts of all sizes to join their ad marketplace to potentially gain revenue from ads, and has an integrated Patron Program that allows for additional monetization. In their Business plan, you can also set up multiple podcast channels and have multiple management admins. Podbean also offers customized enterprise solutions that are robust and go beyond the Business plan, including 24/7 premium support, advanced statistics and sophisticated podcast management. 

LibsynPRO is a full suite of tools for professional podcasters, including multi-user account management,and management tools for running advertising campaigns. LibsynPRO plans can be customized based on your shows needs, and their team encourages you to contact them directly for demos and pricing. 

Other Podcast Host Features

A few additional features stand out, which may just be your deciding factor when choosing between Podbean, Libsyn and Buzzsprout. 

One of Buzzsprout’s coolest features is integrated audio transcription, starting at $0.10 per minute. If you are looking to increase your SEO, convert audio episodes to blog posts, or reach new audiences, this can be a useful feature. Sharing episodes is also easy with Buzzsprout’s Visual Soundbite feature, which are eye-catching videos that can be automatically created and feature your podcast’s logo and selections from an episode. The videos can then be shared on social media and are a unique, visually appealing way to share a segment of an episode with fans. 

One of Libsyn’s unique features are their custom iOS and Android apps, which give fans more access to a favorite show, and allow for more features than some other podcast listening apps. Users can create lists of their favorite episodes, integrate their social media for sharing, and utilize listening features like a sleep timer and speed settings. Apps can be added as a feature to Libsyn’s plans above 400 MB. 

Podbean offers their own app, which has over a million active users and can be used to record podcasts and engage with audiences. Podbean also has a live streaming feature, where hosts can go on air and take calls or instant messages from listeners. Live streams can be free or ticketed, and hosted from the Podbean website or using the app. 

Which Podcast Host Do I Choose? 

If there is one thing to know about podcast hosting, it is that it is very hard to go wrong. Of course pricing and features will vary a bit, but Buzzsprout, Libsyn and Podbean are all great services with easy access to customer support and reliable services. 

If you are not tech-savvy, and do not want to worry about optimizing audio to stay within storage limits, Buzzsprout is likely your best bet. They offer automatic episode optimization and their free plan is one of the best free plans you will find. Buzzsprout’s publishing interface is also very easy to use, as is their website builder and other publishing features. 

If you are looking for an unlimited plan at a low price, Podbean is an excellent option. If you have a single podcast, it is hard to beat their $9 per month Unlimited Audio Plan. Their Unlimited Plus and Business plans have some additional features that will definitely be helpful when monetization comes into the picture. 

Finally, for existing podcasts that know how much space they need, or for professional podcasters or businesses, Libsyn’s advanced and business features are top notch. Their more basic plans are also certainly worth considering too if you know how much storage you will need monthly. 

With all three platforms, you will be in good hands and most importantly, flexible sign up options allow you to commit to just a month at a time. Do not be afraid to give a platform a trial run if you are starting a new podcast, as Libsyn, Podbean and Buzzsprout also all make it very easy to move from one platform to another. Happy podcasting!

The post Podcast Hosts Compared: Buzzsprout vs. Libsyn vs. Podbean appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

I previously wrote about my theory about The Great Consolidation. To quickly summarize the idea, larger companies will buy up podcasts creating original content (Creators), companies supplying the distribution of podcasts (Distributors) — both hosting and streaming, and companies controlling the advertising on the podcasts (Advertisers). E.W. Scripps fits this example to a tee and Spotify isn’t far behind.

Scripps has the Creator (Earwolf), the Distributor (Stitcher), and the Advertiser (Midroll).

Here are my picks for potential companies to be acquired next. However, I should note here this is complete speculation and I have no insider knowledge.

Wondery

Wondery follows in many of the same footsteps as Gimlet. They’re the podcast network behind mega true crime podcast hits like Dr. Death and Dirty John. The latter of which was part of the first wave of podcast adaptations with Bravo premiering the Dirty John show in 2018 starring Eric Bana and Connie Britton. Wondery CEO, Hernan Lopez even alluded to the fact they’re specifically creating podcasts for adaptations to larger mediums.

They’re a machine for creating compelling original content, some with the potential to be big gainers. They’re my pick to be the next acquisition.

Cadence13

Cadence13 might be a new name for many not directly involved in the podcast industry. However, they’re the marketing and sales arm behind podcast behemoths like Pod Save America, Revisionist History, Up and Vanished, Atlanta Monster, and What Really Happened?

Though they have a star-powered stable of podcasts, their team is still relatively small — 65 employees according to LinkedIn. They could make for a bargain buy for the right company.

Audioboom

Audioboom is a unique company on this list. In my Consolidation image, they already play a bit in all three buckets yet don’t quite excel in any. The London-based company has a hosting element, an ad platform, and also creates original podcasts like Mission to Zyxx and Deliberations.

I don’t know what their finances look like at the moment, but in 2018 they hit some rocky waters after their acquisition of Triton Digital was called off, they were late to pay podcasters, and there were constant rumors they were circling the drain. In the end, they raised $6 million and righted the ship.

Megaphone or Simplecast

In the same strategy idea as Anchor, Simplecast is a sleek podcast host looking to gain a stronger foothold with an easy-to-use platform and a powerful tool. If they’re able to gain a substantial market share (or equivalent buzz), they have the potential to be a key piece in the podcast lifecycle for a larger buyer.

Megaphone is a podcast host built to scale for large networks. They’ve already proved their value with networks like Stuff Media, Gimlet Media, Slate, WSJ, Vox, and more.

Night Vale Presents

I don’t have any data on this, but it seems like a disproportionate amount of audio drama fiction podcasts are getting adaptation deals. If this indeed is a major revenue stream for podcasts, it makes sense to target the networks creating these types of podcasts. Night Vale Presents with their titular podcast, Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead, have massive built-in followings.

Plus, it never hurts to bring on super creative people and let them create more cool stuff.

Podbean, Blubrry, Libsyn, Spreaker, Buzzsprout

I’m lumping these five together since they’re stalwarts in the podcast hosting space. Together, they host a vast majority of the top podcasts out there. While Anchor is popular and has a large market share for new podcasts, these hosts pick quality over quantity. Libsyn, for example, only has 7% of the overall market, but over 25% of the top 400 podcasts according to Chartable.

Whether the consolidation strategy is geared to entice new podcasters — like Spotify’s — or to gain a bigger foothold with existing podcasts, aiming for the proprietary host technology is a smart way to own an underrepresented area of podcasting.

Related reading: The best podcast hosting services

Maximum Fun

See everything I wrote for Night Vale Presents and add wacky and fun. I’m not sure exactly how they do it, but many of their podcasts obtain huge cult followings. The Adventure Zone has people dressing in cosplay to their live events and Bubble is a legitimately great and funny audio drama.

A Max Fun acquisition would follow the same line of thinking as Earwolf — comedy podcast networks with supremely talented people.

Headgum

Headgum would definitely be an interesting acquisition. On the surface, they’re a great podcast network producing popular shows like All Fantasy Everything, Doughboys, and Buckets with Amir Blumenfeld. However, the majority of their shows are personality-driven instead of story-driven. This makes it hard to separate the person(s) and the podcast. For example, ESPN “owns” The BS Report but when Bill Simmons left the podcast is essentially worthless.  

Radiotopia

I should be clear upfront here, I would be SHOCKED if Radiotopia were acquired. But, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include them in a list like this because of the sheer quality of the podcasts they create. For a company looking to buy a Creator, they probably couldn’t do much better than Radiotopia. With podcasts like 99% Invisible, Criminal, This is Love, Song Exploder, The Allusionist, and many other blue-chip podcasts under their helm, the network doesn’t really have a misstep.

Radiotopia is currently run by the nonprofit, Public Radio Exchange (PRX).

Crooked Media

Again, I don’t think an acquisition is in the cards here, but like Radiotopia their roster only has mega hits. They face a similar problem that I outlined with Headgum since the allure of their podcasts is their political commentators who bring a unique blend of expertise and entertainment.

Overcast and Pocket Casts

Two of the more popular “niche” streaming apps, both Overcast and Pocket Casts provide extra features and ease-of-use over their counterparts from Apple, Google, and even Spotify. I don’t think it makes sense for Spotify — or any of the big three, really — to buy either since they could simple reconfigure their UI to replicate some of the more popular features. That said, an enterprising company looking to make waves could scoop up one of these.

Pocket Casts was acquired in 2018 by NPR but it remains to be seen exactly what they’re doing with the app and even at the time left some people questioning their strategy.

The post 17 Podcast Companies Who Could be Acquired Next appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Related reading: Podbean vs. Blubrry Podcast Host Review

But when you’re in a field where the possibilities are so wide, and the barrier to entry is so low, finding the right place to put your creation becomes the most important thing. This is why many podcasters wonder about the right place to host their podcast. What hosting platform will give them the features that they need to be successful in such a big pool of creators? There are many hosting services, all with different features, pros, and cons, and all the podcast host reviews out there can be confusing and overwhelming when you’re getting started.

At its core, the technology needed to store and distribute podcasts is pretty simple. Podcasts are stored as audio files, and then distributed by RSS feed. RSS feeds are a kind of standardized list of updates that can be read from any device, and they contain links to the actual audio files of the podcast. Aggregators (like your phone’s Podcast app) check RSS feeds for updates, and then transform the content from the RSS page into readable (or listenable) content for you.

So, a good podcast hosting platform needs to do two things: it needs to store the audio files of your podcast, and it needs to give you the tools to create an RSS feed. But besides those two options, it can be hard to see what you’re getting when you decide on a platform! That’s why this article is going to compare two of the most popular places to host your podcasts: Podbean and Libsyn.

Podbean Podcast Host

Podbean is quickly becoming a popular hosting choice with podcasters. It gives you the ability, not just to host your podcast, but also to create your own podcast website that people can browse like a normal blog.

Podbean’s plans start at just $3 per month. For this price, you can get basic statistics about your podcast listeners, be played on the native iPhone and Android podcast apps, and get 100 MB of storage space on the cloud for your audio every month. All plans also include an RSS feed, plus the ability to have your podcast on iTunes. More advanced plans, for $9, $29, or $99 per month give you more options, including unlimited storage space, your own domain name, and more options for networking with other podcasts. The $9/month “Unlimited Audio” plan gives you unlimited storage space and bandwidth for audio, which makes it probably the best deal for a beginner podcaster. When it comes to the higher prices, you’ll need to be really sure that you want the additional features.

The company puts a focus on keeping things simple and hassle-free for the customer. It’s an all-in-one platform that doesn’t require much technical know-how to handle. If you need help, you can contact technical support through an online form, but be warned: the more you’re paying, the sooner you’ll get help for your issue. Some Podbean host reviews have criticized the customer support and claimed that they were not taken care of by staff until they threatened to cancel their subscriptions.

The greatest strengths of Podbean are its smooth, easy-to-handle user interface, its low price compared to the amount of storage you get (aka infinite storage after $9/month), and its support for various distribution styles, including RSS, your own website, and iTunes. For a beginner who wants to get their podcast out into the world, this is a great choice! However, if you’re not interested in all those different distribution styles, and you want a more technical, nitty-gritty approach where you can be confident that you’ll get detailed, immediate customer support no matter how much you pay, Podbean might not meet your needs.

Libsyn Podcast Host

Libsyn (short for “Liberated Syndication”) is one of the oldest and largest podcast hosts. It’s been operating since 2004, and in 2011, more than eighteen million people were using it. Libsyn has its own smartphone app, and gives you more stripped-down tools for creating a webpage for your show, plus the ability to cross-post to your social media using a single-click tool called OnPublish. The RSS feed it generates is compatible with Apple and iTunes, just like the Podbean one.

Its plans are a big step up in price compared to Podbeans, beginning at $5/month for 50 mb of storage space. There are options at $15, $20, $40, and $75 per month, but even the most expensive plan doesn’t give you the unlimited storage that Podbean boasts. Sure, 1500 mb per month (the amount available to $75/month subscribers is probably as much as anyone needs, but if storage is your main concern, paying $75/month for 1500 mb is just not comparable to getting unlimited audio space for just $9/month.

Libsyn gives its subscribers more options for customizing their plan than Podbean – you can choose to add statistics to your $5 plan for an additional $2/month, get the custom mobile app for $10/month, and even buy extra storage space.

Since it’s been in the game for so long, Libsyn has struck a balance between simple and customizable that’s hard to manage. They give you all the tools that you need to produce and distribute a podcast, but their interface is a little more stripped-down than Podbean’s, and it doesn’t have quite as many fancy options when it comes to building a website for your podcast. But if podcasting is your game, building a website might not even interest you! Libsyn’s long history also means that there is a ton of support out there for podcasters who use it, and it’s easy to get advice and troubleshooting tips from podcasters who have been using the service for years. Libsyn has a “Helpdesk” that provides video tutorials and answers to FAQs, where you can ask for technical support through an online form. There are additional email addresses where you can ask for help on technical support, mobile app support, and billing support. If you have a premium subscription, there’s also a special email address just for you to ask your questions – like with Podbean, spending extra money gets you special treatment, but the services for even low-paying subscribers are much more comprehensive on Libsyn.

Overall, Libsyn is a great service to use if you don’t need that unlimited storage space, but want a strong community with a long history. At its core, Libsyn has a simple interface where it’s easy to upload audio and generate your RSS links. Additional features, like social media posting and the website, are present, but they’re not the core selling points the way they sometimes seem to be on Podbean.

So, in the great Libsyn vs. Podbean debate, which platform is right for you? If you’re looking for a simple, stable platform with a long history and a big community, Libsyn might be the right choice for you. Its customer support and huge user base can be helpful for a beginning podcaster, and you won’t be overwhelmed with bells and whistles you don’t know how to use yet. If, on the other hand, you’re an ambitious type with big dreams for content and for distribution, Podbean’s unlimited hosting and more advanced distribution tools might be more up your alley. For a low price, you have a lot more freedom to create as much content as you want, plus more advanced tools for getting it out to various audiences.

Once you’ve picked the podcast host that’s right for you, you’re ready to go! Whether on Libsyn or Podbean, you’re opening up a new world of creativity and connections.

The post Libsyn vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.