6 Best Podcast Hosting 2024 to Create & Monetize Your Podcasts (Top Free Platforms)

Podcasting has been on the rise in the past few years. 

It has turned into one of the most effective ways to promote your work and make extra money. 

Podcasts are no longer just for niche audiences. In 2024, anyone can create a podcast. This has led millions of website owners to start their own podcasts. 

Podcast hosting services are a necessity for all podcasters out there. But finding the perfect podcast hosting for your website isn’t as easy as it sounds. 

There are hundreds of companies to choose from and all of them claim to be the best, so how can you trust that?

To make your job easier, in this post, I’m going to talk about the 6 best podcast hosting services you could use today to kickstart your own podcasts.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

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6 Best Podcast Hosting Websites of 2024 at a Glance

Let’s take a quick look at my top 5 choices for podcast hosting websites in 2024, so you can pick one that fits best for you.

Podcast HostingStarting PriceFree TrialExclusive Link
Podbean$9/moYesStart Now
Spreaker$8/moYesStart Now
Buzzsprout$12/moYesStart Now
Simplecast$15/moYesStart Now
Transistor$19/moYesStart Now

6 Best Podcast Hosting Platforms 2024 (Ranked and Reviewed)

Hereby getting into the details of my top picks for podcast hosting sites.

1. Podbean

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Podbean is your all-in-one podcasting solution that has all the tools you need to get your podcast up and running with ease.

Its intuitive interface makes publishing a podcast a cakewalk for everyone and distribution & promotion tools will help you reach your potential listeners and grow your audience.

Comprehensive statistics to track your progress and a variety of monetization methods make it the best podcast hosting platform for newbies and professionals.

Because of its powerful features, over 620K podcasters of all genres trust Podbean to start their podcast and achieve their goals.

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The best part? With Podbean you can start a podcast for free even if no credit card is required. 

Podbean Key Features

  • A free podcast website is included with every podcast hosting account
  • Branded domain integration
  • Podcast App to discover and listen to a world of podcasts anywhere, anytime
  • Easy distribution to the most popular listening apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify
  • A variety of monetization tools such as Ads Marketplace, Patron, and Podbean Premium
  • Professional-looking, customizable embeddable players
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Social Media Auto Sharing
  • Amazon Alexa
  • Mobile responsive templates
  • IAB-certified podcast analytics
  • Live audio streaming

Podbean Pricing Plans

Podbean offers 4 simple pricing plans, you can choose one that best fits your needs.

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1. Basic: This is the free plan where you can enjoy 5 hours of storage and 100GB of bandwidth every month.

2. Unlimited Audio: This plan is priced at $9/mo where you’ll get unlimited storage and unlimited bandwidth.

3. Unlimited Plus: This plan supports Video Podcasts and Patron Program, and also includes unlimited storage and unlimited bandwidth. For this plan, you will be charged $29/mo.

4. Network: This is their top-end plan priced at $79/mo that facilitates you unlimited Multiple Podcast Channels and a lot of other advanced features such as;

  • Multiple Admins
  • Private Podcast with SSO authentication
  • Engagement Intel
  • Groups
  • Remove Podbean Branding
  • Live Chat Support
  • Podbean Pro App

Does Podbean offer a free trial?

Yes, all Podbean packages come with a 30-day free trial. To know more about this, do check out our dedicated post on Podbean free trial for 2024.


2. Buzzsprout

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Next, I have Buzzsprout, an amazing destination for all your podcasting needs. 

From easy podcast creation & publishing tools to promotion tools to advanced podcast statistics to track your progress, they’ve got you covered with everything you need to have a successful podcast.

Automatic episode optimization, Dynamic Content, and transcriptions are some of Buzzsprout’s unique features that will help you publish your podcast episodes with ease and make them more accessible.

All because of these reasons, Buzzsprout has been joined by over 100,000 active podcasters. 

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All in all, its easy and powerful tools, free learning materials, and remarkable customer support make Buzzsprout a great pick for every podcast enthusiast.

So, if you’re looking for easy yet powerful podcast hosting to start your podcasting journey, Buzzsprout is definitely for you.

Buzzsprout Key Features

  • A custom website that matches your unique branding
  • Your own domain name
  • Can create multiple podcasts under one account
  • Visual Soundbite to promote your podcast 
  • Seamless integration with the leading podcast tools 
  • Custom embed players
  • Support all of the top podcast directories, reach millions of listeners
  • Powerful Reporting to easily understand stats
  • Magic Mastering to optimize your audio files to match industry best practices
  • A wide range of Free Learning Materials
  • Remarkable Customer Support

Buzzsprout Pricing Plans

Buzzsprout offers simple pricing plans, no long-term contract, no credit card is required, and you can cancel your subscription anytime.  

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Plan 1 (Free): In this plan, you are restricted to uploading 2 hours of podcasts every month that remain available for a maximum of 90 days.    

Plan 2 (12/mo): In this plan, you can upload 3 hours of podcasts every month that remain available for an infinite time. 

Plan 3 ($18/mo): In this plan, you can upload 6 hours of podcasts every month that remain available for an infinite time.    

Plan 4 ($24/mo): In this plan, you can upload 12 hours of podcasts every month that remain available for an infinite time. 

All of the paid plans allow you to add more content as per your needs at an additional cost and come with the following features;

  • Advanced Stats
  • Unlimited Storage
  • Unlimited Team Members
  • Import Podcast for Free

Does Buzzsprout offer a free trial?

Yes, Buzzsprout is free for 90 days, no credit card is needed! 


3. Spreaker

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Spreaker is another all-inclusive podcast hosting solution that lets you create, host, distribute, and monetize your podcast.

Spreaker Studio allows you to record and publish your podcast from anywhere really quickly. 

Its streamlined distribution system sends your episodes to the top podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Podcast Network, Google Podcasts, and more in just one click.

Most importantly, they automatically integrate advertising into your podcast, so that you can make money podcasting from day one.

Here’s what Spreaker podcasters have to say about this platform:

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So, whether you just want to host one podcast or monetize your entire podcast network, Spreaker is for you.

Spreaker Key Features

  • The Spreaker App for audio recording and publishing
  • Live Podcast and chat feature to broadcast from any location and engage with listeners in real-time
  • One-click distribution to all the major distribution platforms
  • Detailed listener analytics
  • IAB Tech Lab-certified analytics
  • Easy Dynamic Advertising Insertion to generate revenue from the very first episode, regardless of your audience size
  • Collaboration roles and permissions within teams and organizations

Spreaker Pricing Plans

Spreaker has perfect podcast hosting plans to meet all your needs which are as follows;

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1. Free Speech: This is the free plan by Spreaker that allows you to upload 10 episodes and offers 6 months of statistics.

2. On-Air Talent: This plan is priced at $8/mo where you will get 100 hours of storage and 6 months of statistics along with the following features;

  • Auto-Upload to iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
  • Customizable RSS Feeds
  • Make money with Ads

3. Broadcaster: This is their most popular plan that costs $20/mo. It comes with 1500 hours of storage and 12 months of statistics along with the following features;

  • Advanced Statistics
  • Auto-Upload to iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
  • Customizable RSS Feeds
  • Make money with Ads
  • Enhanced private podcasts
  • In-App support

4. Anchorman: This plan costs $50/mo and also includes 1500 hours of storage and 12 months of statistics. Here are the features you will get in this plan;

  • Full statistics
  • Auto-Upload to iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
  • Customizable RSS Feeds
  • Make money with Ads
  • Enhanced private podcasts
  • In-App support
  • Customizable Player Colors

5. Publisher: This is Spreaker’s most advanced plan that comes at a cost of $120/mo. This is packed with 24 months of statistics, unlimited storage, and the following features;

  • Full statistics
  • Auto-Upload to iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
  • Customizable RSS Feeds
  • Make money with Ads
  • Enhanced private podcasts
  • Customizable Player Colors
  • Collaboration feature
  • Ad Campaign manager
  • Priority support

Does Spreaker offer a free trial?

To try out this platform risk-free, you can take advantage of their free plan, no credit card is needed. 


4. Simplecast

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Simplecast is an independent podcast hosting and analytics platform that lets you publish your podcast to the world with one click. 

They’ve been in the industry for around 7 years and provide industry-leading publishing, distribution, analytics, and sharing tools to podcasters having shows of all shapes and sizes.

You can assume the popularity of this platform by looking at the world’s leading brands who trust Simplecast to power their podcasts.

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So, if you also want to access the same tools powering shows from the world’s most prominent brands, go with Simplecast today.

Simplecast Key Features

  • Streamlined workflows and forthcoming episode templates
  • Industry’s most robust audio streaming infrastructure
  • One-click publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever your audience listens
  • Enterprise-scale analytics with IAB Certification
  • Simplecast Show Migrator 
  • Backed by the world-class support team
  • Most beautiful, robust, and intelligent web players
  • Custom website and domain
  • Recast® podcast sharing and discovery tool
  • Most advanced Simplecast API 2.0

Simplecast Pricing Plans

They’ve customized three plans for independent podcaster, which are as follow;

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1. Basic: This plan has everything necessary to launch a podcast and will cost you $15/mo or $13.50/mo if prepaid annually.

  • 2 team member seats
  • Unlimited storage & uploads
  • Distribution to everywhere your audience listens
  • Basic analytics
  • Customizable show website with the custom domain
  • Manage multiple shows with one account
  • Embeddable episode web player
  • Recast for you (and your listeners)
  • A secure (HTTPS) site and RSS feed
  • 20K downloads included per month
  • Email support

2. Essential: This plan additionally has essential tools for growing podcasts and will cost you $35/mo or $31.50/mo if prepaid annually.

  • 4 team member seats
  • Additional web players
  • (Mini & Show)
  • Compare analytics across 2 episodes
  • Location analytics
  • (country & state/region)
  • Unique Listener reports
  • Web Player analytics
  • Technology analytics
  • (apps, browsers)
  • 50K downloads included per month

3. Growth: This plan offers collaboration tools and deeper insights, and will cost you $85/mo or $76.50/mo if prepaid annually.

  • 9 team member seats
  • Compare metrics across 5 episodes
  • Location analytics
  • (+ detailed metro areas)
  • Detailed Device analytics
  • Web Player Embed Location analytics
  • Network (ISP) analytics
  • (home, office, mobile)
  • Technology analytics
  • (+ device details)
  • 120K downloads included per month

Apart from these standard plans, they also offer two more plans (Professional and Enterprise) for Networks and Businesses. To know about their cost, you can contact their sales team.  

Does Simplecast offer a free trial?

Yes, all their plans come with a 14-day commitment-free trial. (No credit card required)


5. Transistor

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Transistor is a modern podcast publishing platform that provides podcast hosting and analytics for thousands of organizations and brands all over the world.

It’s affordable, reliable, easy to use, and offers amazing support.

Because of its unique features, top organizations like IBM, the U.S. Dept of Veteran Affairs, and the NHL’s Golden Knights use Transistor for their podcast hosting.

Here’s feedback from the Transistor real user. 

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The best part? There’s no storage limit. You can create as many podcasts as you want and each podcast can contain unlimited episodes.

So, whether you want to start a business podcast, church podcast, education podcast, or anything else, Transistor is a good solution for you.

Transistor.FM Key Features

  • A built-in website for your podcast
  • Can start as many podcasts as you’d like
  • Once-click distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, and many more
  • Embed the podcast player on your website
  • View detailed podcast analytics

Transistor.FM Pricing Plans

Transistor has 3 simple pricing plans which are as follows;

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1. Starter: This plan is priced at $19/mo which includes the following features.

  • Unlimited podcasts
  • Private podcasts
  • Live customer support
  • Advanced analytics
  • Built-in podcast website
  • 2 Additional team members
  • 50 Private podcast subscribers
  • 15,000 Monthly downloads

2. Professional: This plan is priced at $49/mo which includes the following features.

  • Unlimited podcasts
  • Private podcasts
  • Live customer support
  • Advanced analytics
  • Built-in podcast website
  • 5 Additional team members
  • Dynamic ad insertion (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll)
  • Dynamic show notes
  • 500 Private podcast subscribers
  • 75,000 Monthly downloads

3. Business: This plan is priced at $99/mo which includes the following features.

  • Unlimited podcasts
  • Private podcasts
  • Live customer support
  • Advanced analytics
  • Built-in podcast website
  • 10 Additional team members
  • No branding on player
  • Dynamic ad insertion (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll)
  • Dynamic show notes
  • 300 Private podcast subscribers
  • 200,000 Monthly downloads

Does Transistor offer a free trial?

Yes, you can try any of the plans free for 14 days.


6. Castos

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Castos is an all-in-one podcast hosting platform for new and veteran podcasters. More than 65,000 users rely on Castos to distribute their shows. 

Castos is full of features to help you produce, distribute, and monetize your podcast. It offers unlimited episodes and downloads, free transcriptions, dynamic ad insertion, accept donations from listeners, automatic YouTube republishing, detailed analytics, and more.

Castos also offers the leading WordPress integration. With their plugin – called Seriously Simple Podcasting – you can manage their podcast right from your WordPress dashboard. This makes managing your show and promoting it super simple. 

Here’s feedback from a real Castos user:

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Furthermore, Castos helps podcasters earn revenue from their show. Castos Ads will dynamically insert ads into the show. Just turn it on and Castos handles everything. Castos Commerce lets users accept donations from their audience. 

If you’re looking for a powerful podcasting platform that keeps things simple so you can focus on producing content, Castos is for you.

Castos Key Features

  • Unlimited Podcasts, Downloads, and Episodes
  • Automatic Distribution
  • 1:1 Onboarding Call 
  • Free Episode Transcripts
  • Integrations with Other Tools
  • Embeddable Audio Player
  • Customizable Website with Your Own Domain
  • Up to 100 Private Subscribers
  • In-Depth Listener Analytics
  • Castos Mobile App for Private Podcasting
  • Video Republishing to YouTube
  • Headliner Audiogram Integration
  • Private Podcasting
  • Video File Hosting
  • Superb Technical Support

Castos Pricing

Podbean offers 4 simple pricing plans so you can choose the right one for your needs. 

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All plans come with unlimited podcasts, downloads, and episodes. With higher-tier plans, you get more free transcripts, more private subscribers, and more. 

Does Castos offer a free trial?

Yes, Castos offers a free 14-day trial.


FAQs About Podcast Hosting Services

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

What is a Podcast?

A podcast is a collection of digital audio files, recorded on a particular topic, that you can listen to or download via the Internet. Each individual file is known as a podcast episode.

Can I make money with Podcasting?

Of course, you can! If you have a large audience then you can generate decent revenue through advertising and sponsorships. Furthermore, affiliate marketing, selling custom merchandise, online courses, and books, are some of the great ways to monetize A podcast.

How do I host a Podcast?

Choose one of the podcast hosting companies, connect Podcast directories to your hosting platform (one-time job), and start uploading your episodes to your host. All your new episodes will be posted to the connected platforms and distributed to subscribers. You may also use podcast software to record and edit your shows like a pro.

What is Podcast Hosting?

Podcast hosting is the storage space where your audio files are actually stored and then distributed via connected directories. 

What are Podcast Directories?

Podcast Directories are services like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc. that receive new RSS feeds and make them available to end-users for listening and downloading.

What are the best podcast hosting sites?

Podbean, Simplecast, Transistor, Spreaker, and Buzzsprout are some of the best podcast hosting software.

What is the best free Podcast hosting platform?

Podbean could be the best free podcast hosting service as its Basic plan comparatively provides the most features and is free forever.

How frequently should I publish a podcast?

It depends on your industry, niche, audience size, episode duration, and all. 

If your episodes are of a smaller duration, let’s say 15 minutes, you can publish daily. If your episodes are longer, let’s say 60 minutes or even more, you can publish weekly. 
   
In the end, your focus should be on providing the best user experience so that they keep coming back to you.


Also Read:

Final Thoughts on Best Podcast Hosting Products

A lot of new podcasters will tell you they will just use a free audio hosting website. But that doesn’t make any sense. You should never be using a free site because you want to give yourself every opportunity to grow your show.

In order to be a successful podcaster, you must make sure you host your podcast on a reputable and safe platform. You will want to look at reliability, speed, price, customer service, and support when choosing a podcast hosting provider.

In this post, I’ve talked about the best podcast hosting sites on the market today.

All of them are popular podcast hosting platforms and have everything you need for a successful podcast. So pick the best one, start your own podcast, and share valuable content.

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.

4 thoughts on “6 Best Podcast Hosting 2024 to Create & Monetize Your Podcasts (Top Free Platforms)”

  1. Good job on this review Amit. I am on Anchor because I give little energy to podcasting. But if I change priorities I will give these a second look to upgrade a bit. I am busy networking and writing these days. Spreaker keeps popping up all around me.

    Ryan

    Reply
    • Hey Ryan

      I will explore the Anchor platform as well and consider it to add to my list of best podcast hosting websites.

      Podbean, Spreaker, and Buzzsprout, all are good options trusted by thousands of podcasters, so you can.

      Thanks

      Amit Garg

      Reply
  2. Hi Amit,

    In the blogging industry, podcasting has evolved to become one of the most lucrative niches, with top bloggers setting up podcasts. And although I’ve not started one yet, it’s a fantastic way to diversify content production and distribution.
    That said, to make the most of podcasting, one needed to take advantage of top hosting services providers. And here, your review of those five platforms will help podcasters to make better decisions.

    Reply

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