Podbean Review 2024: Is It The Best Podcasting Platform?

Podbean Hosting Review 2024
5

Summary

Podbean is a reliable yet affordable hosting platform where you can create, promote, monetize, and track your podcast with ease. We recommend it to anyone who wants to start their podcasting journey and achieve their goals.

Looking for a podcast hosting platform? Well, Podbean could be a good fit for you. 

Thousands of podcasters have been using Podbean for more than a decade now and are quite happy with it. 

It’s not only good in terms of functionality but reliable and affordable as well.  

If you’re considering Podbean then the following review will help you deal with any doubts. 

So without much ado, let’s check out this Podbean review and see why it should be your first choice when trying to create a podcast.

podbean review
  • Save

Podbean at a Glance

podbean home page
  • Save

Based out of Wilmington, Delaware, Podbean came into existence back in 2006.

Since then, they’ve evolved into a market leader in the podcast hosting industry, providing all podcast tools and services that enable anyone to start, promote and monetize their podcasts in an easy way.

The Podbean app lets you record and publish your podcasts from anywhere in the world. Furthermore, it allows you to live-stream which you can take advantage of to engage with your audience in real-time and build community.

Podbean also lets you distribute your podcasts on the most popular listening platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.

Apart from that, it has integrated advertising and monetization models that will help you monetize your podcast without any hassles.

And if I talk about its pricing then let me tell you that it has a free plan which is free forever and three paid plans that are packed with advanced features and unlimited storage space.

Here’s a quick overview of the Podbean’s top features:

  • Unlimited audio and video hosting
  • Easy podcast recording, scheduling, and publishing
  • Free podcast website
  • Podcast distribution across all major destinations
  • Integrated Advertising and monetization
  • Comprehensive statistics
  • iPhone/Android App
  • Live Streaming, and many more

All these features make it an all-in-one podcast platform for aspiring and professional podcasters.  

And because of this, Podbean has become the #1 choice of over 620K podcasters of all genres. 

podbean stats
  • Save

So, are you ready to get started with Podbean? Let’s dive in.


How to Get Started with Podbean Hosting?

Well, it’s super easy to get your podcast up and running on the Podbean platform.

All you need to sign up, set up your podcast, start publishing, and see your podcast is being listened to on the most popular podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, etc.

Now let’s find out how you can do the same.

Step 1: Simply visit this link to go to the Podbean official website which may look like this;

podbean unlimited hosting page
  • Save

Step 2: Click on the “Get Started For Free” button.

Step 3: Here, you need to make a plan selection, let’s say — Unlimited.

podbean unlimited hosting plans
  • Save

Step 4: Create your new account for free by submitting an email address and password.

podbean sign up
  • Save

Step 5: Enter your card details to finish the signup process. You don’t need to worry as you will not be charged within the first 30 days and you can cancel your free trial anytime if you don’t like Podbean for whatsoever reason.

podbean unlimited hosting cost
  • Save

Step 6: After successful signup, you will see a screen like this;

podbean new podcast options
  • Save

Choose “Create New Podcast” if you’re creating a new podcast else choose the second option if you want to switch your podcast to Podbean. Here I’m selecting the first option.

Step 5: Next, you will be displayed the dashboard where you can set up your podcast 3 simple steps: 

1. Set up your podcast — First, provide a few basic details about your podcast and hit the “Update Options” button to save changes.

podbean podcast setup
  • Save

2. Publish your episodes — Next, you need to add episodes to your podcast which you can do simply by uploading the audio files. 

podbean podcast episode upload
  • Save

Enter the episode title and description, and hit the “Publish Now” option to release the episode. You can even save a draft/schedule for publishing it later.

3. Distribute your podcast — Finally, you need to distribute your show that you can do it via;

  • Podcast Website
  • Third-party platforms
  • Social media accounts
  • Embedding them on existing sites

See, how simple is that? 


Podbean Incredible Features (Reviewed)

Let’s discover the key features that make Podbean a handy tool for every podcast enthusiast out there.

1. Unlimited Audio & Video Hosting

Podbean paid plans offer unlimited storage space and unmetered bandwidth at affordable flat pricing. 

There is no restriction on downloads, episodes, or recording time. 

Nonetheless, Amazon Web Service (AWS) and its own CDN network, ensure a fast and reliable network.

All in all, this leads to a worry-free podcasting experience.

2. Easy Publishing

At Podbean, no learning curve is involved as its intuitive interface makes it extremely easy for everyone to upload their content.  

All you need to do is browse the file you want to upload, edit the title, and episode description, and hit the Publish button.

podbean episodes
  • Save

Moreover, you’re also allowed to save your episodes as drafts to release them later or schedule to post at designated times.

podbean episode uploading
  • Save

3. Podcast Studio App

You will get instant access to the Podbean app that further allows you to record audio podcasts from your phones and tablets, with no expensive equipment needed.

In addition to podcast recording, it has powerful editing and post-production features that help you publish studio-quality episodes faster than ever before.

Here’s what’s included in the Podbean mobile app;

  • Audio Recorder App — with rich background music and vivid sound effects
  • Magic Editor and Post-production — lets you save hours of editing work (edit, split, merge, and export) with a few clicks
  • Collaborate with co-hosts from anywhere
  • Audience Engagement — Engage with your audience by leaving comments and responding to their comments, and make connections by seeing followers and following others in the app.
  • Performance Data – give you powerful insights such as which episodes are performing best that further help you grow and learn more about your audience.

The Podbean podcast app also allows you to deliver your patron-only content and bonus episodes to your paid listeners or donors.

The best part is that it is available for both Android and iOS users. 

4. Professional Website & Custom Domain

With Podbean, you can create your own website for free where you can embed your podcast episodes.

Plenty of beautifully designed, mobile responsive free and paid themes are available that you can customize according to your needs.

Additionally, a free subdomain of your own choice is also included with every account.

podbean website
  • Save

Not only a subdomain but you’re also allowed to use a custom domain.

So, it’s better to buy a custom domain from any reputed domain registrar to monetize your podcasts and build a flourishing online business.

5. Podcast Distribution

Podbean lets you distribute your podcast on the top podcast apps so that you can reach the maximum number of potential listeners and expand your audience.

podbean podcast distribution apps
  • Save

These are the directories where you can submit your episodes with one click:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts
  • Podbean App
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music/Audible
  • Pandora
  • TuneIn + Alexa
  • iHeartRadio
  • PlayerFM
  • Listen Notes
  • Samsung
  • Podchaser
  • Stitcher
  • Addict
  • Deezer

The whole process is straightforward. All you have to do is click on the “+” icon for each app and follow the instructions mentioned.

Finally, copy your RSS feed URL, paste it into the required field, and submit it for approval.

The approval may take a few weeks but fortunately, it’s a one-time job.

Once your request gets approved, all your new episodes will be published automatically.

I would also like to let you know that distributing your episodes to Apple Podcasts, will also make your podcast automatically available in the following podcast apps:

  • Overcast
  • Pocket Cast
  • Castro
  • Castbox

6. Social Media Sharing Options

Podbean also has an option to automatically share your new episodes to your connected social media accounts.

podbean social sharing
  • Save

Moreover, you can generate videos to use on Facebook, YouTube, and more.

7. Embeddable Player

In case you already own a website or blog, you can quickly add your podcasts to your existing site by taking advantage of their Embeddable Players.

They look professional and at the same time, you can customize their sizes, shapes, colors, etc. as you wish to match your brand. 

podbean embedded player
  • Save

All you have to do is copy the “Widget Code” of your podcast and paste it anywhere on your site. 

8. Monetization Opportunities

Want to turn your passion into profits? Podbean has got you covered. 

There are three built-in ways you can choose from that best fit your Podcast.

1. Podcast Advertising

This is the simplest way to earn money from your podcast. 

All you need to do is list your podcast in Podbean’s ads marketplace for free and let the potential advertisers find you. 

You can even set episodes and time slots for ads in your podcast. You’ll be informed once selected for a campaign and are allowed to opt out anytime you wish.

Their sophisticated ad management with dynamic insertion capability will help you run ads like a pro and maximize your revenue. 

2. Premium Podcast

This is another powerful option to monetize your podcast where you’re allowed to create as much premium content as you want and listeners can securely purchase content in a couple of clicks via mobile app or online.

3. Patron for Podcasters

This is their exclusive program that lets you earn recurring funding for your podcast. Your listeners can become patrons by paying a monthly amount directly from the podcast app and in return they can enjoy any bonus content you publish.

9. Comprehensive Statistics

Podbean gives you detailed insights to track your podcast progress and find out growth opportunities.  

Simply, head over to Statistics >> Overview from your dashboard and you will come to know about how many times your podcast has been downloaded, the number of followers, comments, and likes.

Scroll down and you will get to see deeper insights, divided into six categories for better analysis.

podbean statistics
  • Save

Downloads and Trends — Podbean will provide you with the number of downloads for each episode along with their trends so that you can better understand how well your podcast is performing.

Top 10 Episodes — You will be presented with the top 10 episodes of your podcast for various date ranges that will help you spot what’s making them so popular. 

Eventually, you can follow the same pattern in the upcoming episodes to grow your audience.

Listener Geographies — This map shows where your audience is coming from. This will help you analyze which part of the world your podcast is popular in so that you can update your content accordingly and target sponsors and more.

User Agents — This chart helps you know which devices and apps your audience uses to get your podcast. After knowing all this, you can explore more opportunities on those apps to engage with listeners or further grow your audience.

Downloads by Time of Day — You will be shown peak listening days and times for your podcast thus you can decide what days and times are best to release new episodes.

User Retention — Podbean also provides the percentage of listeners retained over the recent weeks which further shows how attractive and effective your content is. 

10. Live Streaming

Podbean offers a high-quality audio live-streaming service for free to interact with your audience in a real-time environment. 

This is an invaluable feature for doing comedies and talk shows, webinars and classes, virtual conferences, and so on.

Your listeners can chat with you and even call you during a live session which leads to an overall extraordinary experience.

Furthermore, you can invite remote co-hosts or guests from all over the world via the live stream feature.

Podbean also allows you to repurpose your live show recording into an evergreen podcast episode.

The best part? You can monetize your live stream by selling virtual tickets to your listeners and in return, you can accept virtual gifts that can be cashed into US dollars.

Some more exciting features you get with Podbean Live Stream;

  • Easily scheduling on the web or iOS/Android apps
  • Invitation-only mode to keep your room private 
  • Built-in VoIP phone service
  • Customize your live stream’s layout, background music, and overall branding

11. Podbean Plugins & Email Integration

This podcast software also allows integration with a lot of useful services and plugins for your podcast. 

Mailchimp is one of them that lets you automatically send emails to your Mailchimp subscribers when you publish new episodes.

podbean plugins
  • Save

12. SEO Features

We all want our podcasts to reach a maximum number of listeners, right?   

This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes into the picture. 

But here, I want to let you know that most of the podcast directories including iTunes and Google Play have their own search engines. Even Podbean has its own search engine. 

So, instead of optimizing your podcast for search engines like Google, your focus should be on podcast search engines.

Interestingly, Podbean comes with an integrated plugin — SEO Meta Tags that will help you with SEO-friendly titles, keywords, descriptions, and basic tags to enhance your search engine rankings.

podbean seo meta tags
  • Save

Podbean Pricing Explained

Podbean has 4 simple pricing plans out of which 1 plan is free forever. 

The other three are paid plans that offer advanced features and better monetization opportunities.  

Let’s get into the complete details of the Podbean podcast hosting pricing so that you can choose one that fits best your needs.

podbean pricing plans
  • Save

1. Basic ($0): This plan offers 5 hours of storage and 100GB of bandwidth, and is always free.  Here’s what you get in the Podbean free account;

  • 5 hours of storage space
  • 100GB monthly bandwidth
  • iPhone/Android App
  • Embeddable Players
  • Your Own Podcast Site
  • Distribution to All Major Podcast Apps
  • Beautiful Podcast Themes
  • IAB Certified Basic Stats

So, this plan is good to start with, and later upgrade to the higher plans. 

2. Unlimited Audio ($9/mo): This plan is priced at $9/mo where you will get the UNLIMITED storage & bandwidth for audio podcasts, and the following features;

  • Unlimited Storage
  • Unlimited Bandwidth
  • iPhone/Android App
  • Embeddable Players
  • Your Own Podcast Site
  • Distribution to All Major Podcast Apps
  • Beautiful Podcast Themes
  • Advanced Theme Customizations
  • IAB Certified Advanced Stats
  • Use Your Own Custom Domain
  • Multiple Podcast Channels
  • Built-in Monetization Options

So, this plan is a good fit for those looking to start their journey with audio podcasts without worrying about storage space. 

3. Unlimited Plus ($29/mo): This plan additionally supports Video Podcasts and comes with the following additional features;

  • Unlimited Video Hosting
  • Full Theme Customizations
  • Patron Program

So, this plan is best for video podcasts and podcast monetization.

4. Network ($79/mo): This plan is designed for podcast networks and business podcasts, and includes the following additional features; 

  • Unlimited Multiple Channels 
  • Unlimited Multiple Admins 
  • Private Podcast with SSO authentication
  • Remove Podbean Branding
  • Live Chat Support
  • Detailed individual listener data
  • Content segmentation
  • Podbean Pro App

So, this plan is best suited for large companies that deal with SaaS. 

Quick Notes: 

The above pricing is applicable to annual subscriptions.

You save up to 35% if you choose to pay them yearly. 

A 30-day free trial is available on all their paid plans. To know more, you may check out our Podbean free trial post.

A 7-day refund policy is also there. 


Podbean Customer Support

First thing first — a very well-categorized massive knowledge base having articles and video tutorials is there that have answers to all your problems.

In addition to that, you can take advantage of their ticketing system to get your queries handled quickly. 

Nonetheless, Business plan users are also facilitated with live chat support.


Podbean Positive and Negative Sides 

Podbean is hands down a one-stop destination for all your podcasting needs — recording, hosting, promotion, distribution, and monetizing your podcasts.

The best part? You can try their services without paying even a single penny to them.

Now let’s see the pros and cons of using this platform so that you can make a final decision with ease. 

Podbean Pros

  • Setting up an account on Podbean is quite easy 
  • One-click distribution of your podcast show to the most popular apps iTunes and Google Play 
  • Comes with a free podcast website along with a free subdomain of your own choice
  • Can use your own branded domain
  • Beautifully designed, mobile responsive themes that you can easily customize to show off your podcast
  • Built-in monetization methods to make money from your podcast from day one
  • Comprehensive data analysis 
  • Support video podcasts
  • 30-day free trials 
  • 7-day money-back policy

Podbean Cons

  • Lacks security features
  • Uptime guarantee is not there
  • Lacks backup features
  • Phone-call support is missing

FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions asked around the Podbean podcast hosting site you may find helpful.

What is Podbean?

Podbean is a podcasting website that allows you to create an account and distribute your own audio or video files to the most popular listening apps while monetizing the same.

Is Podbean free?

Yes, Podbean has a free plan that you can take advantage of to start a podcast for free. To enjoy advanced features, you can upgrade to their paid plans at any time.

What about Podbean pricing?

Apart from Podbean’s free podcast hosting service, there are three plans you may subscribe to — Unlimited ($9/mo) which comes with unlimited storage and bandwidth for audio content, Unlimited Plus ($29/mo) best fit for video podcasts and podcast monetization, and Network ($79/mo) designed for podcast networks and business podcasts.

What are the payment methods accepted at Podbean?

All major cards (Visa, Master, American Express, Discover) are accepted at Podbean. 

Does Podbean offer a free trial?

Yes, a 30-day free trial is available on all Podbean plans. 

What are some benefits of using Podbean hosting?

Here are some key benefits of using Podbean that make it a solid choice for everyone’s podcasting needs.

— Extremely easy-to-use interface
— Podcast Studio App to record podcasts in studio quality from anywhere
— One-click distribution & promotion
— Offers seamless ways to monetize your podcast
— Comprehensive statistics to track your podcast performance
— Supports Live streaming 

Is Podbean safe?

Absolutely! Podbean is one of the best podcast hosting sites, trusted by 620K+ podcasters including some big brands such as J.P. Morgan, IBM, etc.  

Does Podbean own your content?

No, Podbean does not own or control any content, your content belongs to you or the relevant third parties.

How to use the Podbean app?

Simply download the Android or iOS app and create your account. Log in, tap on the red “Record” button to start recording, add music/effects (optional), edit (if required), and then hit the save button. 

Finally, tap on the upload icon, add an episode title, description, and other relevant information, and click “Publish” when you’re ready to make it live.

How to have 2 podcasts in Podbean?

You can easily create new channels by navigating to — Podcast — Podcast Channels from your profile left side panel. Please note multiple podcasts feature is only available to unlimited audio and above plans. 

Where does Podbean distribute the content?

At Podbean, you can submit your podcast to various podcast apps such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, and many more.

How to download podcasts from Podbean?

There are three ways you can download podcasts from Podbean for offline listening:

1. Tap three dots on the episode of the podcast then click Download
2. Tap three dots on the top right corner of the episode playing page then click Download 
3. Tap three dots on the top right corner of the podcast page then select Batch Manage to select episodes to batch download episodes.

What is Podbean’s Patron Program?

It’s a great way to receive recurring revenue for your podcast from all over the world.

What is Podbean’s money-back guarantee?

All Podbean subscriptions come with a 7-day money-back guarantee.


Also Read:

Final Thoughts on Podbean Review 2024

The folks at Podbean offer great services and supply all the tools you require to launch a successful podcast.

Its intuitive interface, podcast recording app, one-click distribution, variety of monetization tools, and comprehensive analytics, all together lead to a stress-free and enjoyable experience. 

This is all that has made Podbean a go-to podcast hosting solution for everyone.

So, what are you still waiting for? 

Launch your dream podcast risk-free with the Podbean 30-day free trial right away and start sharing your content with the world.

What’s your thought on this detailed review of Podbean podcast hosting? Got any questions? Let us know in the comments below!

A seasoned blogger with over four years of experience, has crafted a successful online journey and generated an impressive revenue surpassing $50,000. His expertise lies in creating engaging content and navigating the digital landscape, making him a go-to source for those seeking insights into the world of profitable blogging.

1 thought on “Podbean Review 2024: Is It The Best Podcasting Platform?”

  1. Hi Amit,

    Podcasting is a viable content marketing channel that can help marketers develop a profitable connection with their target audience. Indeed, presenting information via an auditory format has significant benefits, including stressing essential details by regulating your voice tone to emphasize your point. So it helps to use the best podcasting tools in the market to get optimal ROIs. While I’m not yet into podcasting, your review makes a solid case for Podbean.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

0 Shares
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap