16 Best Podcast Hosting Platforms for All Budgets (Free to Expensive)

So you’ve got your episodes ready. Now comes the unglamorous question: where do they actually live? Every podcast needs a hosting platform to generate an RSS feed so it can appear on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere else people listen.

Podcast hosting has moved well beyond one-size-fits-all. The “best” platform depends on what you’re trying to achieve, not on whatever shows up first in a Google search.

You might be a solo creator looking for a "one-click" audio cleanup tool, a WordPress veteran who refuses to leave your own dashboard, or a B2B marketer who needs to prove to a board of directors that a podcast actually generated leads.

We’ve pulled together a short list of platforms worth paying attention to, so you can pick based on how you work.

What Exactly is Podcast Hosting?

It's a service that stores and delivers your podcast files to various platforms. Just like YouTube or Vimeo hosts videos, a podcast needs a hosting platform to store and distribute its audio files to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the like. 

Is having a podcast host actually necessary? Yes! Without a host, your show wouldn't have a home. These platforms not only store your audio files, they also provide an RSS feed, which is basically an online catalog of your episodes that podcast directories use to send your content to your audience.

Also, hosting sites often offer additional benefits, like analytics to track your show’s performance and tools to aid in monetization. Choosing a reliable platform ensures your podcast's accessibility and reach.

What to Look for When Choosing a Host

Several factors come into play when deciding which platform to go with, and each one can influence the success your podcast ultimately enjoys. Here are some things to consider.

Ease of Use: A user-friendly platform saves time and frustration. Look for an intuitive interface that lets you focus on creating content, not troubleshooting.

Cost: Free options exist but may have limits. Paid plans offer more storage, customization, and distribution tools—balance budget and features.

Storage Limits: Consider episode length and frequency. Choose a plan with enough storage to match your production schedule and episode length.

Audience Analytics: Growth requires data. The best platforms provide insights on listeners, engagement, and downloads to refine your content.

Distribution & Promotion: Your platform should seamlessly distribute to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube while offering tools to market your show.

The Best Podcast Hosting Platforms

Here are our top choices across a range of use cases. Each platform is built around a slightly different way of working, so the right fit depends less on “best overall” and more on how you plan to run your show.

Some are better suited to hands-on creators who want everything in one place. Others make more sense for teams, agencies, or brands with process and reporting requirements. As you read through, you’ll find some that clearly match how you work day to day.

1. Transistor.fm

Transistor.fm is the "power user" choice that doesn't feel like a cockpit. While many hosts clutter their dashboards with unnecessary bells and whistles, Transistor prioritizes a clean, high-performance environment that gets out of your way.

This is exactly why it’s our go-to for brand-heavy projects; it provides the stability needed for corporate communication while remaining accessible enough for solo creators.

Beyond its slick interface, Transistor excels at handling distribution. Whether you're migrating an existing show or launching a private feed for internal staff training, the platform handles the technical heavy lifting with a level of reliability that prevents "one-episode-then-gone" fatigue.

Key features:

• Host multiple podcasts under one account

• Private podcasting options that allow you to create for a specific audience

• In-depth analytics with valuable insights on downloads, listener trends, and audience platforms

• Built-in customizable website for each hosted podcast, including domain integration and blog capability

• User-friendly embedded player for easy integration on your website, providing direct access for listeners

• A multi-episode player that helps new listeners explore your back catalogue when they discover your latest episode

• Publish your podcast to YouTube automatically

• Get unlimited storage and bandwidth on their paid plan

Pros:

• Known for its responsive and helpful customer service

• Unlimited team members (significant advantage for larger teams or collaborations)

• 14-Day free trial

Cons:

• No free plan, which can be a barrier for beginners or hobbyists with a limited budget

• Transistor.fm doesn't have in-built audio or video editing tools

Pricing:

• Paid plans start at $19/month or $190/year*

*12 months for the price of 10 when you pay yearly

2. RSS.com

RSS.com positions itself as the practical choice for creators who prioritize a low-friction entry into monetization. Unlike many hosts that gatekeep ad revenue behind massive download milestones, this platform offers a "low-floor" programmatic ad system, allowing shows with as few as 10 monthly downloads to start generating income.

The platform is particularly distinct for its "Local & Niche" philosophy. It provides an unlimited free tier for community-focused projects (such as students or non-profits) without the typical predatory expiration dates or storage caps found on other free hosts.

While the provided website is more of a basic landing page than a full-scale blog, it serves as a reliable, carbon-neutral distribution hub for podcasters who want to launch quickly and stay ownership-independent.

Key Features

• Enjoy unlimited storage, simple setup, distribution to top platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and AI-powered transcripts to boost visibility.

• AI-powered transcript features let you convert podcast episodes into text in 14 languages to boost SEO, improve accessibility for all listeners, and expand your audience worldwide.

• Access live, cross-platform data from major directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, track listener behavior and demographics, and compare episode performance with visual metrics to optimize your content and grow your show.

• Convert your audio-focused episodes into engaging videos that are uploaded directly to your channel for YouTube podcasts.

• Multi-user access and role-based permissions for easy management of your podcast.

• Monetization features, with dynamic ad insertion, subscriptions, and listener donations via platforms.

Pros:

• Free plan available, perfect for beginners

• Excellent customer support with tutorials and a dedicated knowledge base

• Advanced analytics to track audience engagement and trends

Cons:

• Limited customization options for the built-in website

• Dynamic ad insertion only available on paid plans

Pricing:

• Free plan available, with paid plans starting at $15.99/month. or $11.99/month if you pay yearly*

*Plus, existing podcasters can migrate their shows to RSS.com and get a full six months of service for free: https://rss.com/switch/

3. Casted

Casted Casted is ideal for sales teams who want to track audience building and bottom-line impacting tasks. Featuring one-click clips, auto transcription, and listener intel, Casted is your go-to tool for surpassing your marketing team's goals.

This is not a traditional podcast host so much as a content amplification engine designed specifically for enterprise marketing teams. It’s a versatile solution for brands that view audio and video as the raw fuel for an entire multi-channel strategy.

While other platforms are content with getting your show onto Apple Podcasts, Casted is built to ensure that the same show is chopped into social clips, transcribed for SEO, and integrated into your sales CRM to track which prospects are actually listening.

The platform prioritizes ROI over reach. It moves away from "vanity metrics" like total downloads and focuses on "Account-Based Marketing" (ABM) insights, telling you specifically which target companies are engaging with your episodes.

It’s suitable for B2B marketers who need to prove that a 30-minute interview directly impacted a $100k sales opportunity.

Key features:

• Hosting and extensive content leverage tools

• Full transcription services to transform your audio content into written format

• In-depth analytics and data insights to understand your audience better

• Quick clip creation for easy promotional material

• Enhanced collaboration tools, catered towards marketing teams

Pros:

• Great for marketing teams with an emphasis on content repurposing

• Offers transcription services (not all podcast platforms do)

• Excellent customer support with online chat available

Cons:

• Pricing is higher than other platforms (although you also get a lot more)

• Pricing can also be confusing (they even admit as much on their homepage)

• Lacks some traditional podcasting features, like built-in recording or editing tools

Pricing:

• Price plans start at $1,000 per month 

4. Podbean

Podbean is a more mature, Swiss Army Knife-style hosting platform that suits teams who want publishing, distribution, and audience-facing tools to live in the same place.

It’s commonly used by creators who prefer a single dashboard for managing both the operational side of a show and the way it’s presented publicly, rather than stitching together multiple tools.

It distinguishes itself by offering a mobile-first experience; its dedicated "Podcast Studio" app allows you to record, add background music, and publish on the go, which is a significant departure from the desktop-heavy workflows of its competitors.

Additionally, if security is important to you they have SSO and features to create, host, and manage a private internal show.

The trade-off is that its ecosystem can feel more opinionated than leaner hosts, which works well if you’re aligned with how the platform wants you to run a podcast, but can feel constraining if you’re trying to build more bespoke workflows around your content stack.

Key features:

• Native support for video episodes (available on higher tiers)

• Unlimited storage and bandwidth for worry-free publishing

• Monetization options include dynamic ad insertion and subscriber-only content

• Detailed analytics to gain insights into your listener base for informed content decisions

• Private Podcast features and capabilities for companies

• Built-in live audio streaming with real-time listener interaction and virtual gifting

• Comprehensive mobile app for recording, basic editing, and publishing from a phone

• Automated noise reduction, filler-word removal, and silence trimming

Pros:

• Excellent track record and customer service

• Regular feature updates

• Truly "all-in-one". No need for separate recording or live-streaming software.

• Unlimited storage and bandwidth on all paid plans (no "per download" fees).

• Strong community discovery via the Podbean listener app.

Cons:

• The free plan has limited features, like only 5 hours of storage, for instance (to be expected)

• Advanced features are reserved for more costly plans

• Lower-tier plans allow only one podcast channel per account

• Email marketing integration is limited to Mailchimp

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited features

• Paid plans start at $12/month or $9/month if purchased annually

5. Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is built for simplicity and speed, and it shows in how quickly a team can go from raw audio to a published episode.

The workflow is heavily guided, which makes it a practical option when podcasting is only one part of someone’s role and the people uploading episodes are not specialists. It reduces the number of decisions you need to make during publishing, which can lower the risk of process drift across contributors.

Where Buzzsprout differs from more “infrastructure-first” hosts is in how much it bakes promotion and distribution mechanics into the publishing flow itself.

That makes it a reasonable fit for shows that want a tight, repeatable release process without building their own systems around hosting, but less suited to setups where hosting is treated as a quiet backend layer in a broader content stack.

Key features:

• AI-powered "audio filter" that automatically balances levels and optimizes files for industry standards.

• Easily add or remove pre-roll and post-roll segments across every episode in your library

• Engaging podcast website templates for customization

• Supports top podcast directories

• Built-in tool to create short, shareable video clips of your audio for social media promotion

• Automated generation of episode titles, descriptions, chapter markers, and transcripts

• Dedicated WordPress plugin to embed your shows on your website

Pros:

• Free tier (perfect for beginners or hobbyists)

• The most intuitive, beginner-friendly interface on the market

• Regular feature updates based on user feedback and industry trends

• Powerful automation tools (Mastering/AI) save hours of manual editing

• Flexible "pay-as-you-go" pricing based on upload hours rather than download counts

Cons:

• Buzzsprout's basic plan only stores your content for 90 days

• No built-in recording or editing tools within the platform

• Does not support video podcasts

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited features

• Paid plans start at $12/month

6. Riverside

Riverside sits slightly outside the traditional “podcast hosting” category and is better thought of as a production environment that feeds into your hosting stack. It’s typically used upstream of platforms like Transistor or Podbean, rather than replacing them.

While it has recently expanded into providing full RSS hosting, its primary identity remains a high-end capture tool. It’s a fantastic solution for the video-forward podcaster who needs 4K resolution and separate tracks for every guest, making "Zoom-style" audio glitches a non-issue.

In practice, it’s better suited as a part of the production pipeline rather than the publishing layer. Veteran podcasters often still record on Riverside and then export to a "dedicated" host like Transistor for more robust analytics and ad management.

It’s ideal for shows with distributed hosts or frequent guest interviews, where controlling recording conditions across locations matters.

That can tighten up post-production workflows and reduce the number of variables before an episode ever reaches your hosting platform, but it also means you’re committing to a more defined production toolchain rather than a lightweight, ad hoc setup.

Key features:

• Host and distribute your podcast directly from Riverside to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

• Capture up to 4K video and 48kHz WAV audio locally to prevent internet-based quality drops

• Built-in recording and editing tools for both audio and video podcasts

• Automatic RSS feed generation for easy distribution

• Import existing shows or upload new ones with a few clicks

• Integrated publishing workflow from recording to release

• Edit audio and video by simply deleting text from the AI-generated transcript

Pros:

• True all-in-one platform for recording, editing, and hosting

• High-quality audio and video recording in 4K and lossless audio

• Simple publishing workflow and cross-platform distribution

• Great for video podcasters who want to publish to YouTube directly

• Massive time-saver for creators who repurpose content across TikTok and Reels

• Professional-level analytics built in

Cons:

• Some users find the mandatory re-encoding of uploaded files can introduce minor audio artifacts

• Its RSS and analytics features are basic compared to veteran hosts like Captivate or Libsyn

• Fewer monetization tools compared to more established hosts

• Limited to paid plans (no free tier for hosting yet)

• Requires a strong computer and specific browsers (Chrome/Edge) for stability

Pricing:

• Available on Pro, Live, Webinar, and Business plans. Pricing starts at $15/month (billed annually), with hosting included in eligible tiers.

7. Captivate

Captivate is designed for the "growth-stage" podcaster who has moved past the hobbyist phase and needs a more aggressive set of marketing tools.

It’s dense with features aimed at audience conversion, such as trackable "single promotional links" and automated PDF sponsor kits that pull your latest stats into a presentation-ready deck.

We recommend it for anyone who treats their podcast as a brand or business, though the sheer volume of toggles and marketing settings can be overwhelming for a casual user.

What stood out to us is that it allows every subscriber, even on the lowest tier, access to the full suite of tools, including private feeds and network management. However, Captivate uses a download-based pricing model, meaning your costs are tied directly to your success.

It’s an ideal home for serial creators who want to run multiple shows under one roof without being "nickeled and dimed" for every new RSS feed, provided you're comfortable with a dashboard that prioritizes data and distribution over creative or editing tools.

Key features:

• Enjoy unlimited storage for extensive content creation without additional costs related to hosting multiple shows

• IAB-certified at the highest level

• Dynamic ad insertion, allows podcasters to insert ads into their episodes retroactively, in bulk, or episode by episode

• Integrated guest booking platform that simplifies scheduling interviews with external participants, complete with customizable availability, and rescheduling options

• AI Podcast Assistant (Captivate Spark) to help write notes, transcribe, and suggest ad markers

Pros:

• No gatekeeping. Advanced features are not locked behind expensive "Pro" or "Enterprise" tiers.

• Offers unlimited podcasts, storage, and team members across all plans

• Provides comprehensive analytics without hiding features behind paywalls

• Includes built-in tools for memberships, dynamic ad insertion, and tipping

• AI Assistant to help with admin tasks and future episode planning

• Highly responsive support and an active community led by the platform’s founders

• Unlimited team members with granular permission settings on all plans

Cons:

• The extensive features may require time to fully understand and utilize

• While unlimited in other areas, costs can increase if you’re consistently getting above 150,000 downloads per month.

• Some directories like Apple Podcasts require manual submission

• You will need a separate tool (like Riverside or Descript) to actually create your audio

• The dashboard is feature-rich, which can lead to a steeper learning curve for absolute beginners

Pricing:

• Price plans start at 17EUR/month. This includes full and unlimited feature access. However, it will increase if you are regularly exceeding 150,000 downloads per month.

8. Megaphone

Megaphone sits at the enterprise end of podcast hosts and is designed for organizations running podcasts as part of a broader media or revenue operation, rather than as a standalone content project.

Since being acquired by Spotify in 2018, it has become a core part of Spotify’s podcast publishing and advertising infrastructure, which shapes how the platform is built and who it best serves.

The platform makes sense when podcasting is tied into established ad operations and network-level reporting, and where dynamic ad insertion is a core commercial requirement.

It is not a casual hosting choice and tends to be a poor fit for smaller or early-stage shows. The value shows up at scale, typically for brands and media groups running high-volume shows, where monetization workflows justify the platform overhead.

Key features:

• Efficient podcast management system for both individual creators and teams

• Comprehensive analytics and reporting to track your podcast's performance

• Monetization opportunities through its targeted marketplace, offering dynamic ad insertion technology

• Embeddable media player to help users share content across social media and other platforms

Pros:

• Sleek and easy-to-use interface

• Fast and dependable customer service with live chat support

Cons:

• No free plan, and it doesn’t appear to offer a money-back guarantee either

• Not open to all creators: Megaphone is currently an exclusive platform

Pricing:

• Price plans start at $99/month

9. Spotify for Creators

Spotify for Creators functions more like an on-ramp into the Spotify ecosystem than a neutral, infrastructure-style hosting layer.

It works best when Spotify is expected to be the primary distribution channel for a show, and when publishing workflows are shaped around that assumption rather than built to stay platform-agnostic.

It's great for those who want to experiment with the medium without an upfront investment, offering unlimited storage and distribution at no cost.

However, this convenience comes with a "walled garden" trade-off; while it's a powerhouse for visibility within the Spotify ecosystem it provides significantly less control and customization than independent hosts.

The platform is distinct for its focus on the "social" side of podcasting. It is currently the only host that allows for native video episodes and direct listener engagement via Q&A and polls that appear right in the Spotify app.

While it offers a streamlined path to monetization through the Spotify Partner Program, the platform takes a substantial cut of ad revenue, and its analytics are heavily weighted toward Spotify users rather than providing a holistic view of your entire global audience.

Key features:

• Free hosting and unlimited storage and bandwidth

• Customizable embedded audio player

• Easy-to-use recording and editing tools within the app

• Sponsorship integration for straightforward monetization (within the U.S. only)

• In-app analytics tools to understand listener demographics and behavior

• Basic community engagement features

• Video integration

• Seamless browser-based recording and transcript-based editing via the integrated Riverside tool.

Pros:

• The lowest possible barrier to entry for new podcasters (no cost, low technical floor)

• Excellent discovery potential within Spotify’s 700M+ active user base

• Native video hosting is a rare feature among free or entry-level hosts

Cons:

• Limited analytics compared to other platforms

• The monetization feature is currently limited to the U.S.

• Audio quality is lower than some other platforms

• You own your content, but Spotify reserves the right to use it at its own discretion

• There are limits in terms of how much you can upload in one sitting

Pricing:

• Spotify for Creators is 100% free to use 

10. Simplecast

Simplecast has been around for a while and proven to have a great commitment to quality. While many platforms compete on how many extra tools they can bundle in, Simplecast focuses on perfecting the core infrastructure of delivery and data.

It’s a great choice for brands and established creators who need "enterprise-grade" reliability without the clutter of a bloated interface.

Simplecast treats your podcast as a piece of software, prioritizing 99.9% uptime and a streamlined publishing workflow that feels significantly more modern than the legacy dashboards of older hosts.

The platform is unique for its "Recast" tool, which turns the typically cumbersome task of social media promotion into a native experience; it allows both you and your listeners to trim and share audio "audiograms" directly from the player.

While it lacks the AI-heavy editing suites of its newer rivals, it makes up for it with "Audience," an IAB-certified analytics engine that provides deeper insights into listener drop-off points and device technology than almost any other host in its price bracket.

It’s the ideal home for the "stat-obsessed" creator who wants a beautiful, high-performance site but doesn't need an all-in-one recording studio.

Key features:

• User-friendly interface for easy podcast management and distribution

• Includes a "one-click" tool (Show Migrator) designed for a seamless transition when moving an existing show from another host

• Robust analytics to gain insights on listener demographics and episode performance

• Customizable podcast website with options for branding and domain integration

• Integration with popular marketing tools like Zapier and Mailchimp

• Advanced features such as private podcasting and team collaboration

• Recast: a tool for creating and sharing short clips from your episodes on social media

Pros:

• Top-notch customer support with prompt responses

• Regular updates and improvements based on user feedback

• Simple and straightforward migration process from other platforms

• Integration with various third-party platforms and services for enhanced functionality

• Scalable plans to accommodate podcast growth and changing needs

• Among the most visually polished and smooth-functioning embeddable players in the industry

Cons:

• Pricing is higher than some other platforms

• Video isn’t supported, so if that’s your angle you should look elsewhere

• There’s no free plan but Simplecast does offer a 14-day free trial (no credit card required)

• Unlike "unlimited download" hosts, Simplecast has monthly download caps that scale with your pricing tier

Pricing:

• Price plans start at $15/month

11. Libsyn

Libsyn has been around since 2004. It’s pretty simple as far as design, but it's known for its reliability, comprehensive set of features, and excellent customer support. This veteran of the podcast hosting world continues to deliver.

All plans include distribution to popular apps like Apple, Spotify, as well as access to monetization via ads or subscriptions.

You'll benefit from FTP uploads, dark mode publishing, faster publishing with episode defaults, and unlimited storage of text snippets. Plus, audio and video podcast players that you control and always own.

Key features:

• Unlimited storage and bandwidth

• Customizable embedded audio player

• Comprehensive analytics for insights on listener demographics and episode performance.

• Options for direct monetization through sponsorship, partnerships, and more

• Team management tools

• Ability to create and manage multiple podcasts

• Built-in podcast recording and editing tools

• Customizable podcast website with branding and domain integration

Pros:

• Reliable and easy to use

• Variety of plans to cater to different podcasting needs

• Excellent customer support with a vast reservoir of resources and tutorials

Cons:

• The interface is considered less user-friendly compared to other platforms. (Or maybe it’s just dated?)

• There's no free plan available, although they do have affordable starting options

Pricing:

• Price plans start at $7/month

12. Castos

Castos is an invisible workhorse for creators who want their podcast to feel like a native extension of their own website rather than a tenant on a third-party platform, all thanks to its "Seriously Simple Podcasting" plugin.

This allows you to manage episodes, show notes, and analytics without ever leaving your site's dashboard.

It transitions the podcasting workflow from a separate chore into a standard part of your blogging or business routine, though it requires a baseline comfort with managing a WordPress environment to get the most value.

What makes Castos truly unique is that it provides a flat-rate sanctuary for experimental creators who want to launch multiple shows or long-form series without financial surprises.

It’s particularly grounded in its approach to video; rather than just hosting a video file, it offers automated "YouTube Republishing" that converts audio into video to capture search traffic.

It’s a practical, high-value hub for brands and educators who view their podcast as one piece of a broader, content-heavy ecosystem.

Key features:

• Unlimited hosting for both audio and video podcasts

• Seamless integration with WordPress via Seriously Simple Podcasting Plugin

• Automatic episode transcription services for accessible content

• Advanced analytics to understand listener demographics and episode performance 

• Customizable podcast website with domain name integration

• In-built podcast recording and editing tools

• Monetization options through ad placements and sponsorships

Pros:

• Straightforward pricing with unlimited uploads

• Perfect choice for WordPress users

• Offers both audio and video podcast hosting

Cons:

• Lacks some of the advanced features available on other platforms 

• No free hosting option available

• The analytics could be more detailed and comprehensive

• While IAB-certified, the data visualizations can feel less granular than those provided by Captivate or Simplecast

• Customer support isn't always as responsive or as fast as some of the bigger platforms

Pricing:

• Price plans start at $19/month or $190/year

13. CoHost

CoHost is an analytics powerhouse built for the "corporate" side of the industry. While most hosts focus on the creative act of publishing, CoHost focuses on the business outcome of every download.

It’s a data-heavy solution for brands and agencies that need to justify a podcast’s budget to leadership. It moves beyond standard download counts by offering "B2B Analytics", which shows you exactly which companies, industries, and job roles are engaging with your content.

The platform functions as both a host and an intelligence tool. It recognizes that for a brand, a download from a Fortune 500 decision-maker is more valuable than a thousand anonymous clicks.

Its "Prefix" technology even allows creators to keep their current host while layering CoHost’s sophisticated tracking on top. It’s a grounded, ROI-focused environment for professional teams who need to link their audio performance directly to their sales pipeline or marketing funnel.

Key features:

• Secure and reliable hosting, with unlimited storage and bandwidth

• Variety of tools to help you grow your podcast audience, such as embeddable players, social media sharing tools, and email marketing tools

• In-depth analytics on your podcast listeners, including demographics, listening behavior, and social media engagement

Pros:

• User-friendly interface (makes it easy to manage your podcast, even if you are a beginner)

• Lots of features specifically designed for B2B podcasters

Cons:

• No free plan

• Lite paid plan is very light on features

• Some reviews say that customer support is slow to respond

Pricing:

• Plans start at $34/month with yearly and monthly subscriptions available

14. Blubrry 

Blubrry has maintained a reputation for technical stability and a fierce commitment to creator ownership since 2005. We recommend it for WordPress traditionalists; while newer platforms try to reinvent the dashboard, Blubrry’s PowerPress plugin allows you to keep your entire workflow within your own site.

It’s a robust, IAB-certified backbone for shows that prioritize data integrity and long-term control over their RSS feed. The platform is unique for its "by podcasters, for podcasters" philosophy, offering perks like phone support and a "Vid2Pod" tool that automates the transition from YouTube to audio.

While its dashboard can feel dated and certain modern features (like advanced AI tools or ad insertion) are siloed into paid add-ons like the "Thrive Bundle," it remains one of the few hosts that won't penalize you for a sudden spike in traffic.

Key features:

• Unlimited storage and bandwidth

• Customizable embedded audio player

• Seamless integration with WordPress through the PowerPress plugin

• Detailed stats and analytics

• Free WordPress website with hosting

• Automatically converts YouTube playlists into audio podcast episodes to streamline multi-platform distribution

• No-fault hosting–extra storage for those months when you need it

• Monetization options, such as dynamic ad insertion and subscriptions

Pros:

• "No-fault" overage policy: you won't be charged extra or cut off if you occasionally exceed your monthly storage

• Affordable pricing

• Excellent customer support and service

Cons:

• No free plan but they do offer the first month free

• Many essential features like transcription, media mastering, and advanced ads require extra monthly fees

• The user interface is functional but lacks the modern, slick feel of competitors like Transistor or Riverside

• Unlike "unlimited" hosts, base plans are capped by monthly upload volume (MB), not hours

Pricing:

• Price plans start at $12/month or $120/year

15. Acast

Acast is built for the monetization-first creator who views their podcast as a scalable media business rather than a personal archive. It’s ideal for those who want to tap into professional advertising networks without the need for a dedicated sales team.

It specializes in ad-tech infrastructure, offering dynamic insertion and an open marketplace that connects even emerging shows with global brands. It’s an all-rounder that prioritizes cash flow and distribution, though it lacks the boutique aesthetic and deep website customization of more design-centric hosts.

We really like its "Acast+" ecosystem, which allows you to mix and match revenue streams within a single dashboard. Clippy fans will appreciate that Acast is committed to the "Open Podcast Ecosystem," ensuring your premium content and ad-supported episodes work across nearly any listening app.

Key features:

• Embedded audio player

• Dynamic ad-insertion technology for effective monetization

• Advanced analytics to track and understand listener behavior and demographics

• Ability to create and manage multiple shows

• Integration with popular marketing and productivity tools

• Customizable podcast website with branding and domain integration

• In-built recording and editing tools

• Direct listener support via Patreon integration

• Unlimited storage and bandwidth

Pros:

• High-quality ad management and monetization opportunities

• Detailed and comprehensive analytics

• Free 14-day trial

• Easy-to-use platform

• Good customer support

Cons:

• Dashboard and analytics can be overwhelming for beginners

• More expensive than some of the other platforms

Pricing:

• Free Starter plan available

• Paid plans start at $14.99/month

16. Spreaker

Spreaker is grounded in its "Spreaker Studio" legacy, offering a mobile and desktop app that allows you to record, mix in sound effects, and publish from anywhere.

It is the perfect choice for solo creators who want to avoid a complex post-production chain, though the interface reflects its long history and can feel a bit more utilitarian and less "slick" than modern rivals.

The platform is most distinct for its aggressive, low-barrier monetization. It is one of the few hosts that allows programmatic ad insertion, complete with "silence detection" that intelligently places ads during natural pauses (starting from their entry-level plans).

For shows that hit the 5,000-download mark, its "Spreaker Prime" network offers professional representation, serving as a talent agency of sorts for mid-sized shows. It’s perfect for high-volume creators who prioritize immediate revenue and mobile flexibility over aesthetics.

Key features:

• Live podcasting and interaction with listeners

• Integration with popular social media platforms for easy sharing

• Built-in podcast recording and editing tools

• Comprehensive analytics to track and understand your audience

• Monetization options such as dynamic ad insertion and subscription services

• Create and organize multiple podcasts with one account

• Ability to strategically adjust the ad insertion rate for each episode and show

• Manage teams and collaborate with additional members

• IAB-certified statistics

Pros:

• Offers live podcasting capabilities

• Free plan available

• User-friendly interface

Cons:

• Limited storage on lower-priced plans

• The free version has limitations on the number of audio hours you can upload

• Limited customization options for the embedded player

Pricing:

• Free plan available

• Paid plans start at $20/month

Choosing the Right Platform for Your Needs

To sum it up, all these platforms have great features that will let you upload your show and distribute it. When it comes to choosing one you need to consider how many episodes and shows you’ll manage per month, what your budget is, and if you’ve got any other particular needs. 

We love Transistor.fm for our own agency, and for brands we work with. But if you’re looking more for monetization features, check out Megaphone and Acast. If it’s private podcasting you’re after, then PodBeanPro is a great one to consider. 

And if really, you really just need the basics to distribute, check out Spotify for Creators, RSS.com, or Buzzsprout.