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

Once you’ve got your content ready, where is your podcast going to live? All podcasts need to be hosted via an RSS feed in order to be distributed across platforms. There’s a lot of options out there, how do you choose where to host? We rounded up some of the best podcast hosting platforms out there to help you decide.

What Exactly is a Podcast Hosting Service?

Podcast hosting is 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. Hosting 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 podcast hosting platform ensures your podcast's accessibility and reach.

What to Look for in a Podcast Hosting Platform

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: Our Top Picks

Here are our top choices for everyone. Each platform offers unique features tailored to different experience levels, so have a read to see which one best suits your particular needs.

1. Transistor.fm

Transistor.fm offers a streamlined and intuitive experience for creators. It happens to be the one we use and always recommend to brands for hosting. 

It’s an ideal choice for podcast agencies or anyone managing multiple shows as you can do so under one account.

Key features:

• Host multiple podcasts under one account 

• 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

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 provides a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for podcasters.. With an emphasis on simplicity and scalability, RSS.com is a great choice for solo creators and teams.

RSS.com allows creators to focus on producing great content without getting bogged down in technical details. From detailed analytics to seamless integration with major podcast directories, this is a great hosting platform built for growth.

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 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.

Key features:

• Podcast 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 known for its reliability, and user-friendly interface. What it’s really great for in fact, is private podcasting. If security is important to you they have SSO and features to create, host, and manage a private internal show.

Key features:

• Reliable and user-friendly interface for easy podcast management

• 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

Pros:

• Excellent track record and customer service

• Regular feature updates

• Intuitive, user-friendly interface for easy podcast management

• Free basic plan for beginners

Cons:

• The free plan has limited features (to be expected)

• Advanced features are reserved for more costly plans

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

Pricing:

• Free plan with limited features

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

5. Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is a good podcast hosting platform if you are just starting out. It’s very straight-forward and affordable. 

With automatic episode optimization, seamless distribution to major podcast directories, and engaging podcast website templates, Buzzsprout makes the whole distribution process intuitive and easy.

Its detailed analytics provide insights into your listener base, helping you understand and cater to your audience better.

Key features:

• User-friendly platform for easy podcast management

• Automatic optimization of podcast episodes

• Engaging podcast website templates for customization

• Detailed analytics for insights into listener demographics and behaviors

Pros:

• Free tier (perfect for beginners or hobbyists)

• Excellent customer support with useful resources and tutorials

• Regular feature updates based on user feedback and industry trends

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. Captivate

It's got a user-friendly interface, advanced analytics (it was the first IAB 2.1-certified host), and monetization tools. Additionally, Captivate allows users to create multiple private podcasts on any plan. It can also integrate with various marketing tools to enhance audience engagement and growth. You also can find an AI-assistant with Captivate to help you write and plan future episodes, or transcribe and promote past ones.

Overall Captivate does explore a lot of new podcasting features, so if you are a podcast nerd, then you may have fun checking out what they’re offering.

Key features:

• Users can enjoy unlimited storage, allowing for extensive content creation without additional costs related to hosting multiple shows.

• In-depth analytics, including unique listener data, geographic insights, and episode performance comparisons. Another feature is that it is IAB-certified at the highest level.

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

• An 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:

• 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.

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

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.

7. Megaphone

Acquired by Spotify in 2018, Megaphone is a major player in the world of podcast advertising and publishing. High-end and expensive, it’s a favorite among brands and big media companies due to its dynamic ad insertion tech.

Megaphone isn't for the casual podcaster, its services are designed for larger scale shows that average 20,000 episode plays per month or more. But for those serious about monetization, it's a worthy contender.

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  is a free and comprehensive podcast hosting platform that makes it easy to create, distribute, and monetize podcasts. 

Spotify for Creators supports audio and video content to add another layer of creativity to your podcast. It also includes analytics tools to help you track the performance of your podcast.

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

Pros:

• Free and easy to use

Cons:

• Limited analytics compared to other platforms

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

• Audio quality is lower than some other podcast hosting 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 (250 mg)

Pricing:

• Spotify for Creators is 100% free to use 

9. Simplecast

Simplecast has been around for a while and proven to have a great commitment to quality.It’s a favorite among professional podcasters and brands in need of a powerful podcast hosting platform. 

If you need to collaborate with a team or want to create private podcasts, Simplecast is worth considering. The platform's user-friendly interface, excellent support, and powerful publishing tools make it a go-to for many podcasters

Key features:

• User-friendly interface for easy podcast management and distribution

• 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 hosting platforms

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

• Scalable plans to accommodate podcast growth and changing needs

Cons:

• Pricing is higher than some other podcast hosting 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)

Pricing:

• Price plans start at $15/month

10. 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

11. Castos

Castos is a podcast host known for their seamless integration with WordPress through their Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin makes it an attractive choice for WordPress users.

Castos offers unlimited podcast hosting for one fixed price, giving peace of mind to those who have larger files or publish more frequently. They also provide detailed analytics, so you can track your podcast's progress and make informed decisions.

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

• 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

12. CoHost

CoHost is a podcast host, but more than that it’s also a great audience insights tool.

With its strong emphasis on growth, analytics, and discoverability, CoHost is great for those who really want in-depth metrics and analytics. B2B podcasters will appreciate having access to company listening data, episode comparison data, and other B2B-specific features.

Key features:

• Secure and reliable podcast 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

13. Blubrry 

Blubrry is a good option for podcasters of all types, but it's a real win for those on a budget. With its affordable paid plans and a feature-rich free plan, Blubrry offers a cost-effective solution without compromising on functionality. 

It also has a WordPress integration like Castos, if that is something you’ll definitely need for your show.

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 podcast hosting

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

• Monetization options, such as dynamic ad insertion and subscriptions

Pros:

• Affordable pricing

• Excellent customer support and service

Cons:

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

Pricing:

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

14. Acast

A leading podcast hosting and monetization platform, Acast empowers podcasters to reach their audience and generate revenue through advertising.

This is a great podcast host to tap into their extensive network of advertisers. The capabilities to partner with other popular shows also make it an attractive choice for those looking to maximize their show’s full potential.

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

15. Spreaker

Spreaker is another simple but cost-effective and feature-rich podcast hosting platform. It’s especially good for those looking to take advantage of live podcasting. 

This feature allows podcasters to interact with listeners in real-time, create a sense of community, and even take live calls.

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

Find the hosting platform you needed?

To sum it up, all these podcast hosting 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’s your budget, 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 just need the basics to distribute, check out Spotify for Creators, RSS.com or Buzzsprout.