- Lena Sernoff
- Apr 21
- 17 min read
Updated: Jun 10
Get started by: Creating a website → | Getting a domain →
Podcasts have the power to capture millions of listeners' attention, quickly becoming the modern-day radio. But why have podcasts become so influential? One of the main reasons is the combination of creators who enjoy having their voice heard and listeners who want to get inspired with new ideas and solutions to their problems.
In order for these two sides of the coin to meet, the content needs to be accessible on a podcast hosting site. This, paired with a professional free website, is all you need to ensure the world hears what you have to say.
Because the internet is filled with many places to store and broadcast your work, it’s important to know from the start what you can expect to get out of the podcast hosting site you choose. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up a list of the 15 best podcast hosts on the market and reviewed each platform’s unique features, so you can select a host that truly shows off your storytelling skills.
Starting a podcast? Use this podcast name generator to name it.
What is podcast hosting and why you need it
Podcast hosting platforms store and broadcast your content. They also ensure your site does not face any slowdown or overload due to its large audio files and make your work easily accessible.
After uploading your content to one of these hosts, your podcast is immediately available for listeners on your site through their embedded web app. Podcast hosts also make it possible to quickly share your audio to third-party streaming services such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Furthermore, hosting platforms often come with advanced features such as podcast analytics, automatic transcription and tools for monetizing a podcast. These integrations can be very beneficial when starting a podcast.
Best podcast hosting sites
While the Wix Podcast Player isn’t a traditional hosting platform, it’s certainly one of the easiest and most stylish ways to showcase your podcast on your website, no matter where your host is. There are ready-made podcast website templates designed for you to easily launch. The best part is that the initial setup just requires your podcast’s RSS feed URL. From there, the Wix Podcast Player will do the rest for you.
Like magic, the player will begin populating the page with your logo, all of your episodes, and their accompanying photos and descriptions. Plus, it will produce a set of dynamic pages, meaning it instantly creates a page for each episode using a uniform format. Therefore, each episode will open on its own page, yet the design will remain consistent throughout – all with zero work on your end. After it’s set up, you can go ahead and customize the player’s style and design, so it merges well with the rest of your site.
Plans:
Wix Podcast Player is free and all features are available, without limits, at no cost.
Key features:
Feature and stream your podcasts, all in one place
Easily connect your site to hosts using RSS feeds
Instantly create show feeds and episode pages
Free web hosting for all your content
02. PodBean
PodBean’s user-friendly interface allows you to upload, publish, manage and promote your podcasts with just a few clicks of your mouse. But what really sets them apart from the crowd is its crowdfunding options for those more serious creators looking to make money from loyal listeners.
In terms of capabilities, the platform is simple and intuitive. One major advantage of casting your lot with PodBean is that your podcast is included in their network, adding another layer of discoverability for you.
Plans:
PodBean comes with four different plans to choose from. Its free option is a no-frills, straightforward five hours of audio uploaded a month, with 100GB of bandwidth. It also comes with basic stats, customizable players to embed, and your own podcast landing page site. The first paid tier, Unlimited Audio, introduces paid monetization, increased upload hours and bandwidth to unlimited, plus a few more services.
If you’re a beginner, you will most likely find what you’re looking for between the first two paid options. However, if you’ve got some exemplary podcasting skills under your belt and are looking for ways to grow your podcast or need free business tools, PodBeans’s latter two paid options will be more fitting.
Key features:
Monetization capabilities
Alexa integration
Free plans
03. Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout's name is usually found on top podcast hosts' lists and is credited for its ease of use. It’s a modern service designed to keep things simple. The platform brings exactly what a podcast needs to the table. It includes all the good stuff like stats, easy migration and embedded podcast players.
Their well-designed dashboard makes it easy to upload and publish your episodes. On the flip side, you can also schedule shows in advance. That way, your listeners are never neglected. If you’re the obsessive type about stats, then you’ll love the mobile dashboard which includes the option to manage promotions and keep a close eye on your numbers no matter where you are.
Plans:
Just like the platform itself, Buzzsprout offers simplified paid plans. There is a free podcast hosting plan that allows for two hours of upload a month, and three paid plans that offer increased storage ranging from three to 12 hours a month. The most expensive of those paid plans still only reaches $24 a month.
However, instead of having a hard cap of audio hours, Buzzsprout will simply charge you for additional hours. The exact amount you are charged per extra hour is dependent on the existing paid plan you have. It’s a nifty feature to have just in case one of your podcast episodes runs longer than expected.
Key features:
Free for 90 days
Mobile friendly dashboard
Easy migration from other hosting platforms
04. Libsyn
You’ll see Libsyn at the top of most best podcast hosting lists online, and for good reason: It’s pretty great. It’s been around since podcasting first broke onto the scene, it provides a fantastic set of features, and it is competitively priced.
While there are other hosts out there that offer a similar feature set or even better pricing, the combination of a longstanding (positive) track record and multiple plans to choose from, depending on your needs, make Libsyn a good first stop in your podcast hosting search.
Plans:
Libsyn offers a handful of different plans, each increasing in features as you go up. Plans range from $5 a month to $150 a month and the primary change between plans being storage options (with caps from 50MB to 3000MB).
Key features:
Custom mobile app
YouTube publishing
Advanced analytics
05. Spreaker
From its website, description of its features and the layout of its plans, literally everything about Spreaker feels professional. One thing that sets them apart from most of the other hosts on this list is that it gives you unlimited daily sessions, allowing you to start a live stream as many times as you want per day.
The length of time you can keep the live stream going is indicated by the plan you’re on. While this isn’t something everyone is going to use or even care for, it’s a pretty neat and unique feature to have (freely) available to you. Outside of its unique ‘live’ feature, Spreaker offers up the expected features any budding or expert podcaster could want, with a focus on marketing and other professional services.
Plans:
Spreaker has a free podcast hosting plan cleverly called “Free Speech” and goes up to a $50 per month “Anchorman Plan.” The value per plan increases significantly as you go up. The more expensive plans all increase daily session limit, storage, and improved analytics, marketing and monetization tools.
Key features:
Chat while streaming live
iHeartRadio distribution
Ad-free pages
06. Simplecast
As you might have guessed by its name, Simplecast is known for being an incredibly easy-to-use podcast hosting site. In spite of this simplicity-focused approach, this podcast hosting site offers a professional service packed with powerful tools for every stage of your podcast’s life. The platform’s long list of features includes unlimited storage, one-click publishing, analytics tools, and a customizable site.
A quick glance at Simplecast’s website makes it clear that the platform boasts a modern and bold brand identity, which translates into aesthetic players that can be embedded into your site. Another key differentiating element that has put Simplecast among the best podcast hosting sites is Recast. This unique tool allows podcasters and listeners to seamlessly share clips to social channels, which is an effective social media marketing strategy, allowing you to reach a wider audience.
Plans:
Simplecast offers three different podcast hosting plans for independent creators, as well as two high-end tailored plans for professional podcasters and enterprises. You can get unlimited storage and uploads plus features such as distribution and multiple shows management for $15 a month. If you need to add more than two members or use advanced features such as curated audience reports and website analytics tools, you’ll need to upgrade your plan.
Key features:
Unlimited storage and uploads
Integrated social media sharing tools
Custom domain name for your site
07. Transistor
Transistor launched just a couple years ago, but has quickly grown to become one of the most well-known podcast hosting sites in the market. With a wide array of powerful and easy-to-use features, this platform is meant for both large brands and creators who have just decided to record a podcast.
One of Transistor's defining characteristics is the fact that it offers unlimited storage for an unlimited number of podcasts for all users. Other notable features include embedded code, professional websites, distribution tools, and customizable domains. But what truly makes Transistor stand out from the crowd is its advanced analytics dashboard. Users can track stats such as average downloads per episode, what apps people use to listen, trends and historical performance.
Plans:
Transistor offers three different plans ranging from $19 to $99 per month. Subscriptions can be paid on a monthly or yearly basis. Those choosing a yearly plan will get two months of usage for free. All plans include unlimited podcasts, live customer support, in-depth analytics, and a customizable website. The main differences between plans are the monthly downloads available, additional users per podcast, and the number of private subscribers.
Key features:
Advanced analytics
Multi-platform distribution
Unlimited podcasts
08. Blubrry
Blubrry prides itself on making it extremely easy to start your own podcast. On top of their hosting and plugin powers, the platform offers a variety of rich statistics that users love. Their analytics makes it effortless to always be on top of your numbers and gaining insights into factors beyond the number of listeners. For example, you’ll be able to see where your listeners are located and what platforms they are using to access your podcast.
This podcasting hosting site is not only used for the traditional B2C (business to consumer) experience. Blubrry also offers private podcasting that allows you to use their secure audio and video for corporate communications, training, interviews, and even for guest speakers.
Plans:
Blubrry offers a series of tiered plans based on monthly storage requirements, starting at $12 per month for 100MB monthly storage and scaling up to $100 for unlimited storage. All of their plans come with professional statistics, unlimited bandwidth, a custom embedded player and free file migration.
Key features:
Powerful analytics to track your progress
Private podcasting
Easy to use plugins
09. Captivate
Captivate was developed by a team with a long, successful trajectory in the podcast industry, which becomes instantly apparent upon seeing the platform’s unique approach. This podcast hosting site is focused on growth, offering a long list of unique features aimed to empower creators and provide them with everything they need to build a successful online business.
Among Captivate’s growth-oriented features you’ll find a mobile-friendly website you can customize with your brand colors, mailing list integrations to power your email marketing campaigns, trackable attribution links, editable web player CTAs, a single subscribe promotion link, educational resources in their growth labs and a downloadable PDF report with your latest stats that can be used as part of a press kit or to show potential sponsors. Captivate also has features that simplify work flows for podcasters such as their guest booking tool, dynamic show notes builder, dynamic ad and content insertion tool, episode planning section and more. These groundbreaking tools are, of course, offered in addition to traditional podcast features such as cross-platform distribution, in-depth industry recognized IAB certified analytics, custom plugins, and more.
Plans:
Captivate has three pricing tiers ranging between $19 and $99 per month (which is discounted if you pay annually). Unlike other podcast hosting sites, monthly downloads are the only element linked to these tiers. The Personal podcaster plan supports up to 30,000 downloads, while Professional and Business set the cut at 150,000 and 300,000 downloads respectively. All features on Captivate's catalog are available in all plans.
Key features:
Unlimited podcasts and team members, plus network features
Marketing tools such as built-in calls-to-action, attribution links, sponsor kit etc.
Simplified workflow tools eg guest booking, dynamic show notes, research and planning tools
User-friendly analytical dashboard & industry trusted IAB certified analytics
Customizable web player & search engine friendly podcast website
Dynamic ad & content insertion tool (AMIE), with four bulk editing features to manage pre, mid and post rolls across your entire episode library
Highly-rated customer service team accessible 24/7
10. Castos
What’s remarkable about Castos is that no matter which plan you choose you will never run out of storage or bandwidth space, as they don't have any caps or limits on those capabilities. Their unlimited storage space makes Castors very appealing for users who want to record longer episodes, test new styles or launch a second channel, as they don't have to be conservative with their recording time.
When it comes to advanced features, Casto’s ability to republish your content to YouTube and create automatic podcast transcriptions makes it one of the best podcast hosting sites for cross-platform publication. These abilities are also known to help boost SEO and increase the visibility of your content, which is essential for reaching new audiences.
Plans:
Castos' plans are split into three main buckets: Starter, Growth and Pro. Even the names of the packages alone can help you find the category that suits you best. Remember that all of them come with an unlimited number of podcasts, episode uploads and downloads.
The main difference between the $19/month Starter plan all the way up to the $99/month option is the limit of how many private subscribers you can have. The lowest price plan allows you up to 100 subscribers, while the highest gives you up to 500 subscribers. If you are not sure how quickly you will grow, you can always start with their free 14-day trial and upgrade at any time.
Key features:
Unlimited number of podcasts, episodes and downloads regardless of the plan
Automated YouTube republishing and transcriptions
Data from multiple listening platforms into one dashboard
11. Audioboom
If you're looking to make money online with your podcast, Audioboom might just be the place for you. This platform prides itself on being the best podcast hosting site for content monetization, operating under the slogan "Host, distribute and monetize your audio." The platform divides its offering into two tiers: Podcasters and Podcaster Pros. The first plan is aimed at content creators with less than 10,000 listeners per podcast episode, providing them with unlimited episode hosting, cross-platform distribution tools, embeddable players, and advanced analytics.
Once your podcast surpasses the 10,000 listeners per episode barrier, you'll get access to Podcaster Pros and all the monetization tools that come with it. Audioboom provides established podcasters with sponsorship opportunities, a proprietary targeted ad network, branded content partnership opportunities, premium sales services, live stream collaborations, and more.
Plans:
Audioboom offers a series of tiered plans based on the number of plays per month your podcast gets. The basic Podcasters plan starts at $9.99 per month for up to 10K monthly plays, and can be upgraded to a Podcast Pros plan for unlimited plays per episode. Both of these plans include unlimited episode hosting, cross-platform distribution, analytics, and embeddable players. The platform's professional plan, aimed at podcasters with over 10K listeners per episode, offers numerous monetization tools for an undisclosed subscription cost.
Key features:
Monetization tools
Multi-platform distribution
Embeddable player and social media integration
12. SoundCloud
You've probably heard of SoundCloud before, but it wouldn't be at all surprising if you didn't know it's a popular podcasting host as well. In reality, it's not a surprising move for the company. While its primary focus is music, it has positioned itself to be a podcast hosting company without ever really intending to be.
SoundCloud's popularity for music gives it a "mindshare" advantage that many names on this list simply can't compete with. This platform already has access to millions of listeners, which lets you kick off with a community around you. Another reason users choose to go with SoundCloud is that they allow you to interact with fans and get immediate feedback. Furthermore, with their Pro Unlimited plan, you can schedule releases, pin your most popular episodes into the spotlight and get access to sophisticated stats.
Plans:
SoundCloud keeps things simple with only three types of plans: A free podcast hosting plan with a three-hour upload limit per month. On their $135 per year plan you can have unlimited uploading, scheduled releases and more.
Key features:
Free podcast hosting plans
Interact with fans
Scheduled releases
13. Anchor
Anchor is a free podcast hosting site for creating, distributing and monetizing your podcast, whose goal is to allow everyone's stories to be heard around the world. The platform is owned by the popular audio streaming app, Spotify, which already puts you in great hands if you go this route.
This free podcast hosting site has very convenient creation tools that let you capture audio straight from your phone, tablet, or computer, as well as easily edit the content with building blocks that are wonderful for visualizing your editing process. After creating your podcast, the distribution is also made simple. By clicking to a dedicated section on their site, you can easily manage your RSS feed and distribute your podcast among the app directory and beyond.
The best part of Anchor is that it empowers users to get paid to podcast, giving you the option to add a donation button so listeners can support your work. Additionally, you can earn money every time people listen to ads that you can even read and record with your own voice. Lastly, in April 2021, Anchor announced they are introducing paid subscriptions which is an easy way for you as a creator to offer paid exclusive content to your listeners.
Plans:
Using Anchor to host your podcast is completely free. Keep in mind that there is a limit of the file size you can upload, which is capped at 250MB. This size typically applies to files longer than 15 min.
Key features:
Built-in uploading, recording and editing tools
Easy distribute to all major listening apps
Monetization features such as sponsorships and listener donations
14. Megaphone
Megaphone is not just known for podcast hosting but also for working with advertisers. Their technology is a place where both worlds come beautifully together—allowing both sides of the spectrum to be successful, especially tailoring to enterprises and larger podcasters.
The platform’s offering covers the entire podcasting ecosystem, so you can not only publish on their site but also make money and measure your success. Their monetization options use industry-leading targeting so that ads and content can be highly relevant. You also get full control over where, when and in what order ads and promos appear in your show so you can maximize revenue.
Plans:
There is no price disclosure currently on their website, but you can request a quote on their contact page. It has been reported by other experts that there is a minimum threshold to be part of their network and that Megaphone is geared towards larger publishers.
Key features:
Dynamic ad insertion and audience targeting
Quick and helpful live chat customer support
Simple workflows
15. Podcast Websites
Podcast Websites was founded by a group of podcasters who wanted to make sure others had all the tools they needed to succeed. You can view this option as a one-stop-shop that handles everything from website creation to the podcast hosting itself.
Their services come with website hosting, 24/7 support and many learning tools to help you grow in the podcast industry. For example, if you choose their hosting platform, you will be granted access to a well-stocked video tutorials library, a support community, and monthly Academy education sessions.
Plans:
There are two podcast hosting plans available to you, one is $97 per month, paid monthly, and the second one is $77 per month, paid annually. The latter includes your first RSS feed for free and both allow for unlimited visits per month, free domain name, and their video tutorial library.
Key features:
Learning tools
24/7 support
Drag and drop page design
Features you should look for in podcast hosting sites
Choosing the right podcast hosting site is crucial for the success of your podcast. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here are some key features you should look for to ensure your podcast thrives:
Storage and bandwidth
Ample storage space: Your podcast episodes will consume storage space, so ensure the platform offers enough to accommodate your current and future needs. Look for plans with at least 10GB of storage, ideally with the option to upgrade as your podcast grows.
Sufficient bandwidth: Bandwidth determines how many people can listen to your episodes simultaneously. Choose a plan with enough bandwidth to handle your expected audience size. Unlimited bandwidth is ideal, but pay-as-you-go options can be budget-friendly for new podcasts.
Audio quality and features
High-quality audio: Listeners expect good audio quality. Choose a host that supports high bitrate encoding (at least 128 kbps) for clear and professional-sounding episodes.
ID3 tag editing: Edit ID3 tags like title, artist and episode number to ensure your podcast displays correctly on podcast directories and players.
Chapter markers: Allow listeners to easily navigate through long episodes by adding chapter markers.
Podcast distribution and analytics
Automatic submission to directories: Choose a host that automatically submits your podcast to major directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.
Detailed analytics: Track your podcast's performance with in-depth analytics, including downloads, listener demographics and playback locations. This data helps you understand your audience and refine your content strategy.
Embeddable podcast player: Easily share your podcast episodes on your website or blog with an embeddable player.
Additional features
Monetization options: Some platforms offer built-in monetization tools like podcast ads, subscriptions or listener donations. If monetization is your goal, ensure the platform you choose supports your chosen method.
Website builder: Some hosts offer website builder tools to create a simple landing page for your podcast. This can be helpful for promoting your episodes and connecting with listeners.
Mobile app: A mobile app for managing your podcast and interacting with listeners can be a valuable asset, especially for on-the-go creators.
Podcast hosting FAQ
How do I choose the best podcast hosting site?
There are several key factors that should be considered when choosing the best podcast hosting site. Even though price will likely play a strong part in the decision it should not be the only point of consideration.
Here are other critical components to consider: tracking analytics, compatibility with a landing page or website, embeddable media player, audio quality and monetization options. Furthermore, you should take into account the storage space, upload bandwidth and download limits. Depending on the scale of your podcast, you can prioritize these different factors to find the best host for your needs.
Can you host a podcast for free?
Of course, there are several free podcast hosting options available. However, free options often have more limitations on features such as analytics and storage space which you should consider.
Many free podcast hosting sites don’t have the same revenue stream from subscriptions so they often serve advertisements to listeners. Be aware that this could negatively impact the experience for your audience, and deter them from coming back in the future to consume more content.
Can you make money podcasting?
Yes. If your podcast becomes successful and grows to a decent number of listeners there are opportunities to make money, such as through a podcast ad network and podcast advertising. You can also make money by asking for donations or charging a membership. Depending on the podcast topics you cover, you can also get sponsorships from brands.
The key to making money from your work is having high quality engaging content and exquisite digital marketing skills. Promoting your podcast after you launch plays a big part in your success.
Does podcast hosting handle distribution?
Podcast hosting platforms do not always automatically handle distribution for you. However, some platforms such as Captivate and Buzzsprout allow you to submit your files through a built-in podcast distribution page and directories. This makes the process much easier and faster.
Where should I publish my podcast?
The most popular podcast directories to publish your show and get more listeners are Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Midroll (formerly Stitcher), TuneIn, SoundCloud, Podbay and Podtail. You can also publish your podcast on your own website, just like we did with our new podcast Now What? on Wix.com.
How do I promote my podcast?
Beyond publishing and sharing your podcast to the popular directories such as those mentioned above, there are other marketing and promotional efforts you can take to help promote your show, including prompting listeners to share your podcast to their social networks and write positive reviews.
Also community networking and word-of-mouth recommendations are highly effective in this space. Lastly, try guest hosting or appearing as a guest on someone else’s podcast that has a similar audience you’re looking to reach.
What is the best podcast equipment and software for my show?
You do not have to purchase equipment to get started with podcasting. But depending on the budget you're willing to dedicate to your efforts there are a variety of options to choose from that can help take your podcast to a more advanced level.
The most common equipment purchased is a high quality microphone, which you can often plug into your computer using a USB port. Other podcast equipment to consider is buying soundproofing material like foam panels for a recording space that is soundproof. Lastly, you can consider getting a sound mixer, professional recording software and noise-canceling headphones.
If you need a little more inspiration before getting started, tune into one of these motivational podcasts to boost your confidence.
Where can I host podcasts for free?
You can host podcasts for free on platforms like Spotify for Podcasters, Podbean, RedCircle and even Wix. Spotify and the others take care of getting your episodes on major directories, while Wix is perfect if you want a website to build your brand around your podcast. Free plans usually include the basics, but upgrading can unlock extras like detailed analytics or monetization tools.