13 Best Podcast Hosting (Free and Paid) in 2023

You’ve spent the time creating your podcast, so chances are you want people to actually listen to it. But you need to get it on a hosting platform first.

Podcast hosting platforms are servers similar to website hosting services. The main difference is that on these sites you can store audio files and distribute them to platforms such as Spotify and iTunes.

You’re looking for a platform that’s quick and reliable, since this will affect audio quality, download and streaming speed, and file security. Many come with extra features such as scheduling and analytics. But there are also several quality options with just the essentials.

To save you from wading through scores of choices and finding the best platform, I’ve put together a list of the top performers, including their pros, cons, and prices—all listed out for you below.

13 best podcast hosting platforms you should check out

1. Easy to use: BuzzSprout

Buzzsprout is a popular hosting service that’s been around since 2009. Over 100,000 podcasters have launched their podcasts with it. It’s got the essential features that a podcast hosting platform needs like scheduling, transcriptions, distribution, and analytics, and you can use it for free for the first three months. A time-saving feature is Magic Mastering, which automatically optimizes audio files to reflect the industry’s best practices.

Pros

• Free for the first 90 days
• Automatic episode optimization to ensure your file uploads and works smoothly
• Automatic episode scheduling
• Transcription creation straight from your dashboard
• Embeddable podcast player and ability to easily publish to Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, etc
• Podcast performance tracking

Limitations

• Free plan has website ads
• Only three hours of content upload with the basic paid plan, with extra charge to upload more
• Magic mastering costs extra

Best suited for: New podcasters looking for an easy-to-use and affordable hosting service.

Pricing: $12, $18, and $24 per month. Free plan available. Magic Mastering (an add-on) starts at $6 per month.

2. Top-rated hosting service: Podbean

Podbean is another popular podcast hosting service that’s been around for over 10 years. More than 560,000 podcasters have uploaded over 10 million episodes with over 8 billion downloads. It’s the best solution for anyone starting their first podcast as it’s got a generous free plan. You also get unlimited storage space and unmetered bandwidth with the starter paid plan.

Pros

• Upload up to five hours of audio with free plan
• Free podcast website included with your account, plus customizable themes for quick set up
• Advance podcast scheduling
• Embeddable podcast player with ability to publish on popular podcast sites, plus automatic upload to Podbean app
• Podcast monetization available directly with the platform.
• Livestream podcasts

Limitations

• Limited data analytics
• Only plus plan has video podcasts
• Multiple podcast channels only available with paid plans

Best suited for: New podcasters looking for a free and scalable hosting platform.

Pricing: $14, $39, and $129 per month. Free plan available.

3. Best professional platform: Simplecast

Simplecast is the right choice if basic podcasting platforms aren’t cutting it, or if you need a platform that also works for businesses and professionals. It’s got various features and plans that suit amateurs, professionals, and enterprises. You get multiple team members, unlimited storage, multiple show management, and basic analytics with all plans. There are some additional benefits like location analytics, technology analytics, and MAE dynamic audio suite with the bigger plans.

Pros

• Unlimited storage and uploads even with the basic plan
• Multiple team members
• Shareable podcasts excerpts for social media, which can be scheduled in advance
• Advanced analytics and reports include information for location, web player, and unique listeners

Limitations

• Limit of 20,000 downloads per month with the basic plan
• No free plan

Best suited for: Anyone looking for an advanced podcasting tool.

Pricing: $15, $35, and $85 per month. Custom plans are also available, as well as a 14-day free trial.

4. Best for infopreneurs: Soundwise

Source: Soundwise

Do you want to make money by selling premium podcasts instead of relying on ads? You should check out Soundwise. It’s a great option for selling audio content such as premium podcasts, courses, and audiobooks. You can also host free podcasts.

Pros

• Both free and paid podcast hosting
• Audio course and audiobook sales included
• YouTube channel to podcast conversion
• Several features like in-app messages to listeners, push notifications, listener profiles, and listening analytics to increase audience engagement

Limitations

• Only Stripe for payment processing, no PayPal
• Limited integrations

Best suited for: Entrepreneurs who want to sell premium audio content.

Pricing: $19, $49, $99, and $399 per month. But you can get it for life for a one-time payment of just $59 on AppSumo.

5. Well rounded platform: Spreaker

Spreaker has features—such as podcast recording and editing, multiple podcast hosting, and customizable players—necessary for running a top-quality podcast. It’s also got very flexible plans and will suit podcasters at various levels. Plans range from free to enterprise. You can host, distribute, monetize, and analyze the podcast with this one tool.

Pros

• Five hours of audio upload included with the free plan, which has no listener limits
• Advanced content management system (CMS) that lets you upload and schedule multiple episodes simultaneously
• Built-in ad revenue sharing, dynamic ad insertions, and paid subscriptions for easy monetization
• Customizable RSS feeds available
• Podcast live streaming with Listner Chatbox for direct communication via app or website

Limitations

• Limited customer support options
• No monetization options available on the free plan

Best suited for: Podcasters who want a platform that makes it easy to monetize their podcasts.

Pricing: $7, $20, and $50 per month. Free and Enterprise plans are also available.

6. Best analytics: Transistor

Transistor is a complete podcast hosting and distribution platform. But where it excels is the analytics. It can help you track and unearth useful metrics, such as average downloads per episode, listener location, and apps listeners are using. These are essential in improving your podcast and attracting more listeners.

Pros

• Unlimited podcasts with any of the plans
• Private Podcasting to share exclusive podcasts with your team, advisors, and subscribers
• Easy distribution of episodes to top sites like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Player FM
• Advanced analytics to track and find a ton of useful metrics
• Included podcast website for professional feel

Limitations

• No free plan available
• More expensive than other hosting services

Best suited for: Professional podcasters that don’t mind starting with a paid plan.

Pricing: $19, $49, and $99 per month. 14-days free trial available.

7. Best for professional podcasters: Captivate

Captivate is a professional-level hosting platform for podcasters who’ve been running their podcast for a while. It can also work for agencies as it has a Business plan that lets you host clients’ podcasts. WordPress users might also prefer it for the plugin functionality.

You can host regular podcasts, private podcasts, and clients’ podcasts with this one tool. You can also add unlimited team members and customize their roles. Plus, there are reusable show notes templates to improve your workflow.

Pros

• Customizable and embeddable player
• Calls to action and links to your podcast player
• Captivate Sync WordPress plugin for easy integration
• Email marketing integration available
• Advance podcast scheduling

Limitations

• Download restrictions (for listeners) depending on your plan
• Only one private podcast with the first two plans

Best suited for: WordPress users, professional podcasters, businesses, and agencies.

Pricing: $19, $49, and $99 per month. 7-day free trial available.

8. Best for WordPress users: Blubrry

Blubrry offers two podcast tools. One’s a regular hosting service to host and distribute your podcast, and the other’s a WordPress plugin called PowerPress. You can integrate PowerPress with Blubrry, or you can use another hosting provider if you just like the plugin.

Pros

• Unlimited bandwidth podcast hosting available with all plans
• Phone, video, and email tech support available
• Free file migration and WordPress site available
• Customizable player
• PowerPress WordPress plugin

Limitations

• Only basic analytics available plans, extra cost for more detailed data

Best suited for: WordPress users and bloggers.

Pricing: $12, $20, $40, $80, and $100 per month. The first month’s free. Standard podcast statistics cost an extra $5 per month.

9. Complete audio hosting site: SoundCloud

Soundcloud isn’t just a podcast hosting platform. You can upload all kinds of audio files to it, but most people use it for music. Over 76 million registered users and 175 million unique monthly listeners access Soundcloud via the web, Chromecast, Sonos, Xbox One, and Android and iOS apps. That means you’ve got access to a large audience right off the bat.

Pros

• Three hours of audio uploads with the free plan and unlimited uploads with Pro Unlimited
• Advance podcast scheduling
• Affordable paid plans
• Monetization options available
• Simplified distribution to Spotify, TikTok, and Instagram

Limitations

• More of a platform centering musicians

Best suited for: Podcasters looking for an affordable hosting solution with a lot of users.

Pricing: $30 and $144 per year. Free plan available

10. Premium podcast hosting: Castos

Castos is a premium hosting service for veteran podcasters. It costs a bit more than other services, but you can create unlimited podcasts and upload unlimited episodes. You can also run private podcasts, but there’s a limit to the number of private subscribers.

Pros

• WordPress plugin makes it easy to sync WordPress websites and podcasts
• One-click migration from previous podcast hosting provider
• Episode transcriptions
• Podcast editing services available for an additional fee
• Easy conversion from podcast to video for your YouTube channel
• Video file hosting directly on platform

Limitations

• More expensive than other hosting services
• Advanced analytics is only available with the Pro plan

Best suited for: Professional podcasters and WordPress bloggers.

Pricing: $19, $49, and $99 per month. 14-day free trial available.

11. Best free podcast hosting: Anchor

Anchor is an entirely free podcast hosting service from Spotify. You can create, host, distribute, and monetize with this one platform. It even offers detailed analytics for free. If you’re just starting or have a tight budget, this is the best option as it is completely free and is easy to use.

Pros

• Completely free to use
• Built-in creation tools for recording, editing, arranging segments, and adding transmissions
• Easy to collaborate with co-hosts, guests, and listeners
• Podcast cover art creation tools
• Monthly listener donation functionality
• Detailed analytics

Limitations

• Limited editing features

Best suited for: Newbie podcasters looking for a free hosting service.

Pricing: Free.

12. Flexible podcast hosting: Libsyn

Libsyn isn’t free like Anchor, but at just five bucks it’s not far off. It’s got all the must-have features like a podcast mini-site, mobile-friendly player, and analytics that a podcast hosting service requires. There are also a lot of pricing options. You can upgrade at your own speed as your podcast grows.

Pros

• Unlimited listeners
• Double opt-in advertising and premium paywall monetization options available
• Text, PDF, and video hosting available
• Mini-site option
• FTP upload support available

Limitations

• Only 50MB monthly storage with the basic plan
• Advanced stats are only available with the larger plans

Best suited for: Podcasters looking for an affordable, yet advanced hosting service.

Pricing: $5, $15, $20, $40, $75, and $150 per month. Enterprise plan also available.

13. Enterprise podcasting solution: OmnyStudio

OmnyStudio is an enterprise-level podcast platform. It costs more, but you can use it for editing, social media scheduling, and even running a radio show. Serious podcasters with a big vision will probably save money in the long-term, since they won’t need to buy additional tools for running a podcast.

Pros

• Includes content distribution network (CDN) to ensure your video streams uninterrupted
• Livestream radio broadcasting
• Built-in drag and drop audio editor and intelligent audio leveling
• Monetization features
• Social media integrations

Limitations

• There’s only one plan. After you exceed 1TB bandwidth, you have to pay $0.06/GB.
• Steep learning curve due to variety of features

Best suited for: Professional podcasters and businesses.

Pricing: $29 per month. 14-day trial available.

Which podcast hosting platform did you like most?

People prefer podcasts over other types of content because they can listen without giving their undivided attention (unlike when your mom calls you for the third time today). 

Many entrepreneurs and digital creators are eager to jump into this hot market. To get people to listen to your podcast instead of the other guy’s, just creating quality content or inviting the best guests won’t do. You need a solid podcast hosting platform that ensures your audio streams without buffering as soon as listeners hit play.

Make sure you find the right platform that fits your specific needs—and budget. You might also want to check out the AppSumo store for several deals on quality software that’ll help you set up and run a professional podcast without a professional pocketbook. But our deals go fast, so don’t miss your chance to snag them before it’s too late!