Libsyn vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review

Last updated on February 17th, 2020

Today, in 2019, podcasting is one of the best ways for a creator to put ideas out into the world. Podcasts, like the radio shows of the past, can be as simple as a single person talking about his or her ideas or experiences, or as complicated as a full cast of actors performing drama in installments. To get started, however, you need a quality podcast host to store and delivery your podcast and RSS feed. This Podbean and Libsyn podcast hosting review will describe the main features of both platforms, break down their price plans, and tell you about the pros and cons to make sure that, between Libsyn and Podbean, you choose the podcast host that’s right for you!

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.