Best Podcast Hosting Platforms: These Sites are Best For Monetizing and Marketing Your Podcast
Best Overall Podcast Hosting Platforms to Join: These are Best for Starting a Podcast Business
Podcasting is big right now.
And it is going to be huge. Do not miss out on this opportunity to create and monetize your very own live digital assets.
Best Overall Podcast Hosting Platforms to Join: These are Best for Starting a Podcast Business
Here are our choices of the Best Podcast Hosting Platforms
Content creation is changing every day.
People are more concerned about their time utilization and how they consume content. This is where the Podcasts help them.
People now love to listen to incredible ideas from the professionals of their industry. Listening saves time and gives more information in less time.
Because podcasting is so relatively new, many online entrepreneurs are finding it difficult to find the best podcast hosting platforms because there are so many providers popping up during the craze.
Lately, we are seeing new emerging companies offering similar services.
This creates a cut-throat competitive environment and sometimes end-users can get confused in selecting the best podcast hosting platform.
So, which are the best?
Which platforms are the best value for the money and which have the most bells and whistles to help you get your podcast off to a good start?
Well after reading this article we are pretty sure (we hope) 🙂 That you will be in a position to decide which platform is best for you.
But before we dig in let’s go over a few basics
What exactly is a hosted podcast website?
A Podcast is a media file that can be downloaded into any device to listen to in leisure time.
A podcast hosted website is a compact platform that provides many services under one roof.
Podcasts are heavy media files, so they need higher storage and space to work well. So the podcast hosting platforms are a bit different than the simple web hosting.
Most services will include a domain name, your own page or website, and web hosting, of course.
But you want to look for platforms that have more advanced features like embeddable players, email marketing integration, publishing that includes distribution and helps with promotion.
Even better yet, some platforms have transcription integration, advanced mastering, and effects as well as intro music and statistics.
Let’s get right into it!
We have spent hours of research in the analysis of different podcast hosting platforms and we feel safe to say that after reading this you will have a good idea of which platform is best for you.
Disclaimer: We may receive an affiliate commission on some of our recommendations. It does not change our honest reviews of these products.
1. Podbean
Best for Newbies
Podbean is a self-explanatory term that defines a smooth and dynamic way to podcast.
The platform currently holds approx. 240,000 podcasts and around 6 billion downloads.
This best podcast hosting platform offers four different plans for its buyers including a basic free plan.
On the growth of your podcast, the company offers you three different paid versions to grow into.
Podbean has a lot of very cool features
Podbean hosting provides services that include almost everything you need to design, operate, and promote a podcast.
Pros and Cons of Podbean
Pros
1. One of the largest and best podcast hosting platforms
2. Newbie Friendly
3. Excellent for building an audience
4. Built-in monetization options
5. Easy episode addition
6. Even a free plan allows you to create an engaging site
7. Apps for iPhone & Android users
8. You can get a custom domain (with paid plans)
Cons
1. Only 5 hours of storage in the free version
2. No backup feature in the free version
Take a moment and visit the PodBean website.
PodBean Pricing
$0
Always Free
Podcast
Starter
$9 /mo
Billed annually or $14 monthly
Audio Podcasting,
No Limits
$29 /mo
Billed annually or $39 monthly
Best for video podcasts
and podcast monetization
$99 /mo
Billed annually or $129 monthly
Best for podcast networks
and business podcasts
Our top pick for professional production
For those who are looking for an easy done for you solution with the ability to add brilliant top-level production, and comprehensive podcast editing, Resonate Recordings is absolutely the right choice for you.
Resonate is run by serious podcasting professionals
If you want a team of pros that have extensive experience in producing, television, radio and engineering that are committed to you as a client, there is no other choice but Resonate Recordings.
Pros and Cons of Resonate
Pros
1. This platform can do it all. From recording, to editing, monetizing, and marketing
2. It’s easy to use
3. They have amazing new features like quality remote recording where you can podcast with somebody from far away and they make it sound like you’re in the same room. Other cool features include dynamic ad insertion and private podcasting
4.Their sound production is some of the best in the business
5. Resonate has a lot of cool add-ons like show notes, transcriptions, audiograms, social cards, and many other advanced marketing assets
6. They offer long services, producer sources, marketing services, audio services, and video services
7. Their hosting distribution services offer ease of use with one’s integrations.
8. If you want unbelievable quality you can get top-notch editing, mixing, and mastering services
9. Dynamic ad insertion capabilities
Cons
1. Add on services can become quite pricey
2. Production fees are a little on the high side
Visit the Resonate website
Resonate Recordings Pricing
Resonate does have larger professional packages, as well as many, add-on services. Visit the Resonate website for more information on pricing.
Great for creating unlimited shows and podcasts for just $19 per month
The main boxes that this platform checks off is reasonable pricing, its simple-to-use yet robust backend, and the ability to create a customized website.
1-click directory submissions
Transitor.fm has made it extremely easy to submit your podcast content to the big players including Apple podcasts, Spotify and Google podcasts.
Pros and Cons of Transistor
Pros
1. One-click super easy directory distribution
2. The ability to host multiple podcasts within one account
3. The ability to invite multiple collaborators
4. Advanced analytics that look really nice in their user interface
5. You get a robust built-in website on the platform that will automatically update every time you add a new episode.
6. The entry-level pricing of just $19 per month.
7. Transistor offers a 14-day free trial
8. Offers private podcasting
9. Has embeddable players
Cons
1. Transistor does not offer a free package
2. Does not offer production services
3. You have to create edit and master your episodes yourself before you upload them
Visit Transistor.fm for more information.
Transistor Podcasting Pricing
Starter
Professional
Business
$19 /mo
Or $190 billed annually ($15.83 /mo)
Unlimited podcasts
Advanced analytics
Built-in podcast website
2 multiple logins
Remove branding – No
15,000 downloads / mo
Private podcasting – no
$49 /mo
Or $490 Billed annually ($40.83 /mo)
Unlimited podcasts
Advanced analytics
Built-in podcast website
5 multiple logins
Remove branding – No
75,000 downloads / mo
Private podcasting -Yes
$99 /mo
Or $990 Billed annually ($82.50 /mo)
Unlimited podcasts
Advanced analytics
Built-in podcast website
10 multiple logins
Remove branding – Yes
200,000 downloads / mo
Private podcasting – Yes
4. Buzzsprout
Always working on new features
Buzzsprout is an innovative company that moves along just as quickly as the ever-changing podcasting landscape. They are always coming up with new features that can help their podcasters have the latest state-of-the-art podcasting technology.
They also offer a lot of cool add-ons at no extra charge like a free customizable podcast website and podcast player.
Magic mastering at its best
If you want a real professional-sounding production, you’re going to love the Buzzsprout magic mastering. This technology will make your podcast sound crisper and cleaner. It will sweeten up your audio files and optimize them so that your podcasts are radio-ready.
Pros and Cons of Buzzsprout
Pros
1. They have a lot more directories than most of their competitors where you can easily add your podcast episodes and they keep adding more directories all the time
2. They offer visual soundbite which is really cool feature where you can promote your branded podcast and social media attract more listeners.
3. The ability to manage multiple podcasts with unlimited team members and collaborators
4. You can add a stunning podcast player to your website with just a snippet of code
5. You’ll get to know your listeners with their advanced podcast statistic platform
6. You don’t have to worry about bitrates file types because your episodes are automatically optimized by the Buzzsprout interface
7. They have a really cool dynamic content tool that lets you add and remove payroll and post-roll segments easily
8. You’re able to transcribe your episodes inside of Buzzsprout
9. Has embeddable players
Cons
1. Their free website version is limited when it comes to customization
2. Some of the add-ons like their magic mastering could be a little costly
3. Their free hosting package only hosts your episodes for 90 days
Visit the buzzsprout website.
Buzzsprout Pricing
$0
Upload 2 hours per month
Episodes Hosted
for 90 days
Limited to
2 hours each month
∗ Ads on Podcast Website
✓ Advanced Stats
✓ Unlimited Team Members
✓ Upgrade to Remove Ads
Magic Mastering not available
on free plans.
$12 /mo
Upload 3 hours per month
Episodes Hosted
indefinitely
Upload more content for
($4 per hour)
✓ Advanced Stats
✓ Unlimited Storage
✓ Unlimited Team Members
✓ Import Podcast for Free
Add Magic Mastering for $6/month.
$18 /mo
Upload 6 hours per month
Episodes Hosted
indefinitely
Upload more content for
($3 per hour)
✓ Advanced Stats
✓ Unlimited Storage
✓ Unlimited Team Members
✓ Import Podcast for Free
Add Magic Mastering for $9/month.
$24 /mo
Upload 12 hours per month
Episodes Hosted
indefinitely
Upload more content for
($2 per hour)
✓ Advanced Stats
✓ Unlimited Storage
✓ Unlimited Team Members
✓ Import Podcast for Free
Add Magic Mastering for $12/month.
5. PodServe
Simple elegant platform with unlimited hosting and storage for just $19 a month
This is definitely one of our top picks for newbie podcasters.
They offer full-service hosting with unlimited storage, unlimited shows, unlimited podcast episodes, and free product promotion.
Comes with a FREE product promotion right off the shelf
PodServe has a sister company named PodParadise which gets over 5000 unique visitors a day. When you sign up for PodServe they put you into the directory of PodParadise. You will have a chance to seen (and heard) and get some traction immediately.
They have made everything very simple. All you have to do is upload your podcast which literally takes a few minutes and they will do the rest. They will do the distribution for you, not only to their sister company but to all the big players like Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Pros and Cons of Podserve
Pros
1. They do promotion and distribution for you. You simply upload your podcasts and they do the rest.
2. They are extremely affordable for podcasters at any level.
3. You can have as many podcast shows, podcast excellence as you want. You get unlimited storage, and unlimited podcasts, or just $19 a month
4. You can create full-length episodes and host with them at no extra charge. If you made a five-hour episode, no problem.
5. It is one of the easiest-to-use platforms that we have ever seen. It takes literally seconds to upload your podcast.
6. You’ll get an in-depth analysis of how your shows are performing inside of their analytics dashboard
7. You can easily embed great-looking podcast players on your remote websites
8. They offer one-on-one customer support. The founder Tyler is always happy to help clients no matter how big or small the problem
9. They offer private podcast hosting
Cons
1. They do not offer recording or production services
2. The website that they give you is limited with the amount of content that you can build out with it
3. The company is a little too new to know how they will react to new trends and the ever-changing needs in this competitive landscape.
Check out the PodcastServe.fm website.
PodServe Pricing
PodServe Pricing
$19 Month
Simple No Nonsense Pricing
✓ Unlimited Storage
✓ Unlimited Podcasts
✓ Free Podcast Promotion
✓ Your Podcast On All Platforms
✓ Detailed Download Analytics
✓ 1 on 1 Customer Support
✓ Month to Month – Cancel Anytime
✓ 14 Days Free – No Credit Card Required
6. Captivate
Our choice for the most growth-oriented: The one company that takes your feedback and acts on it
Being cutting edge and proactive is something that raises Captivate well above some of its competition.
They are on board with a growth movement wanting to have the latest technology and being able to offer its users whatever they need to grow and monetize their podcast.
Let’s face it, nobody wants to be trapped on a hosting platform that is not evolving with the ever-changing times.
They have a lot of experience in the industry
They have put together their experience and ingenuity to create a platform that is robust, easy-to-use, and ever-growing with all the much-needed bells and whistles.
Their advanced analytics, stunning podcast players, and new cutting-edge technologies like CaptivateSync, (which allows you to publish your podcast anywhere), keeps them on the forefront in two steps ahead of all of the other podcast hosting providers.
Pros and Cons of Captivate
Pros
1. Their fantastic-looking players come with a built-in call-to-action feature, an edible website player, an embeddable social player, and an embeddable playlist player.
2. They listen to their users. If you have special requests, they are there to listen.
3. They have an awesome affiliate program where you can refer your friends and family and make a residual commission.
4. They have advanced analytics.
5. They offer private podcast hosting
6. There is no cap on the number of members you can add to your account
7. They have an easy WordPress integration
8. Their entry-level plan at $17 allows you unlimited podcasts and unlimited storage.
Cons
1. They could be considered a little bit on the pricier end on their larger packages
Visit the Captivate Podcast Hosting website.
Captivate Pricing
Podcaster
Professional
Business
$19 /mo
Or $17 (per month) if paid yearly
12,000 downloads / mo
Unlimited podcasts
Unlimited storage
Podcast in all major apps
Advanced analytics
Unlimited team members
Embeddable website player
Embeddable social player
WordPress intergration
Marketing tools
Remove branding
Use own domain
1 private podcast
150 private subscribers
$49 /mo
Or $44 (per month) if paid yearly
60,000 downloads / mo
Unlimited podcasts
Unlimited storage
Podcast in all major apps
Advanced analytics
Unlimited team members
Embeddable website player
Embeddable social player
WordPress intergration
Marketing tools
Remove branding
Use own domain
1 private podcast
500 private subscribers
$99 /mo
Or $90 (per month) if paid yearly
150,000 downloads / mo
Unlimited podcasts
Unlimited storage
Podcast in all major apps
Advanced analytics
Unlimited team members
Embeddable website player
Embeddable social player
WordPress intergration
Marketing tools
Remove branding
Use own domain
3 private podcast
1000 private subscribers per
Host Client podcasts
Network level analytics
Custom analytics grouping
Network website
Analytics API access