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10 Best Podcast Hosting Sites of 2023 – Our Top Picks for this Month

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Podcasting is a great way to get your message out there in front of many people who are interested! It kind of makes sense if you think about it since the number of podcasts seems to grow every day.

There are lots and lots of people who enjoy listening to podcasts all across the world, and that number continues to increase. And though there are quite a few choices for podcast platform providers these days, we can help you sort out just the best option for your particular needs.

From pushing your podcast to iTunes and Spotify to storing your files and marketing your show, the best podcast hosting of 2023 can help grow your audience. In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the best podcast hosting, along with our verdict for top 4 podcast hosting choices, so you can pick the best one for you.

Podcast hosting is different than website hosting because it offers specific tools built to optimize the listener experience. Later in this article, you’ll learn more about what separates podcast hosting from other website hosting platforms.

Why Trust ThemeSutra.com?: We’re pretty proud of our research department because they look into the background and capabilities of each podcast hosting companies.

So you want to know why we’ve compiled this list of the most popular podcast platforms according to our readers? We have conducted a thorough investigation into each of the following areas:

  • Ease of use
  • Design flexibility
  • Customer support
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Dashboard quality
  • Features quality

This allows us to evaluate and compare the podcast providers on even terms so that we’re focused on factors that users have said were important. We average each podcast providers scores in a given category, which we then use to come up with an overall rating.

There’s a lot to consider before creating and launching your own podcast, whether you have years of experience in audio production or none at all. It’s important to ensure that what you create is unique and stands out from the crowd – after all, there are over 850,000 podcasts in the world today!

This guide compares the best products on the market according to price, technical support, monthly upload volume, compliance, storage, and ease of use. Many of them are free podcast provider and some charge a small fee because they offer better support and tools.

What is Podcast Hosting and Why do you need it?

Before we get going on this guide, if you are wondering what a podcast is all about, it’s very simple. A podcast is a custom radio broadcast delivered by way of the internet or, more commonly these days, an app on your smartphone or tablet.

DEFINITION: A podcast is a collection of audio files on a specific topic that can be listened to and downloaded to a computer or mobile device. A podcast is often hosted at an independent website, but some are also posted on larger sites such as SoundCloud.

Just like you need a place to store all the files on your website and all your blog posts, you also need a storage unit with shelves that can hold all the media files uploaded by anyone who uses the service.

Since podcasts tend to contain large amounts of data in order to download them, they cannot be hosted on personal websites unless they have greater space and bandwidth than most standard web hosting applications.

Podcast hosting sites provide you with options to upload audio files online, where your audience can listen to them. These podcast hosting sites also offer analytics reports, marketing tools, 24/7 customer support, and much more.

There is an abundance of podcast hosting services out there. These services design their solutions so that you can upload your content and enjoy the benefits of being ensured that it is stored in the appropriate section of their servers with the best security possible.

In addition to this, these solutions also make it easier to share your podcast files across different social media platforms via links.

We’ve compiled a detailed breakdown of the best podcast hosting services to help you make an informed decision about what plan is best for your weekly or monthly broadcasts.

What is the best PodCast Hosting Sites for 2023?

We have created this guide on the right podcast hosting software options for you to read. This will save you time, and instead of researching who your podcast host should be, we have done all the hard work for you and listed out who we think are the best companies to host your podcasts with.

Here are my top picks for the best podcast hosting sites of 2023:

  1. Best Podcast hosting for beginners: Buzzsprout
  2. Best Podcast platform for Monetization: Podbean
  3. Best for multiple podcasts program: Transistor.fm
  4. Best for brand: SimpleCast
  5. Best Podcast platform for growth: Captivate
  6. Best for Podcast distribution service: Castos
  7. Best podcast hosting for WordPress users: FuseBox
  8. Best Cheap Podcast hosting: Libsyn
  9. Best for building an audience worldwide: SoundCloud
  10. Best for Podcast resources: SimpleBoom

1. BuzzSprout

buzzsprout-podcast
– BuzzSprout Podcast hosting

If you’re looking for a podcast platform with an all-around excellent system, then I would highly recommend Buzzsprout it’s one of the best place to host a podcast. They offer helpful resources to help you get started, along with the powerful tools needed to make your recorded podcasts the best they can be.

Their customer service department is also one of their main strong points so overall, I’d say they are my #1 choice when it comes to creating a podcast.

Buzzsprout is a top podcast hosting provider designed to make the process easy and enjoyable so you can focus on creating the best content possible. They have a wide range of powerful tools, as well as a community with podcasters of all levels, which gives you helpful tools and info every step of the way.

Whether you’re new or have been podcasting for years, Buzzsprout makes it easy to get your first episode up within minutes!

Key Features:

They offer an easy-to-use podcast analytics dashboard with an algorithm that estimates how many new listeners your episodes and show receive within the first 90 days. You can also view which countries your listeners are tuning in from so you know who’s listening from what country and help you further develop a better understanding of your audience.

With Buzzsprout, users can upload and distribute podcasts from their own website with no hassle. The site works in the background so that you can focus on your podcasting efforts.

If you don’t have your own website, no problem! There is a website template provided by Buzzsprout or you are able to use your own domain name and customize it how you’d like – thanks to CSS and HTML.

buzzsprout customer reviews
– BuzzSprout reviews

Their podcast episode player is easy to work with, looks great, and works well on all screen sizes. It includes cover art, options for social sharing, skip controls, and is highly customizable. Best of all, there’s not a special plugin to download – all you do is copy and paste the code!

Audio quality is great on these and they tune-up to 64kbps stereo optimization for better sound. In fact, they also offer podcast transcription services as an extra add-on which is super easy to use.

Another advantage of using episode chapter markers to your advantage is that you can easily add episode chapter markers that are clear and easy to understand.

This feature helps listeners get a quick idea of the subjects discussed in an individual episode by giving it a name or defining the episode topic. It’s really up to you but don’t worry, because it’s not required for every podcaster out there.

Pricing:

buzzsprout pricing
– Buzzsprout pricing

Pricing: Their free plan allows you to upload two hours of content hosted for 90 days. If you’re a serious podcaster, you can expand your account by buying hosting time in advance as well as get access to premium features that aren’t made available on the free plan. Source

Paid plans start at $12 per month and allow you to upload up to 3 hours of audio with each of the paid plans. Episodes are hosted indefinitely with any of the paid plans.

After looking at all of the features and various tiers, I recommend you get started on their free plan and then upgrade to a plan based on how many hours of content you plan to upload each month.

2. Podbean

podbean-podcast-platform
– Podbean podcast hosting platform

Podbean is to Buzzsprout as WordPress is to Blogger. The folks over at Podbean have created their own little “pod” because they saw that the music industry was lacking in all the best pod beans — and they felt compelled to solve this issue!

Podbean provides a platform for users to help them host websites, build mobile apps, and even create baked goods! That’s right – they have a recipe site designed to help make food-related projects.

Additionally, they also allow users to customize their sites by using the theme of their choice along with several other tools that can be used to improve user experience.

Moreover, it offers a crowdfunding feature. This is an efficient way to convert podcast fans into sponsors, through which your podcast can generate a monthly income stream.

Key Features:

Podbean is one of the few best free podcast hosting that offers a great free plan for anyone who wishes to share their stories and opinions in audio form! However, with this particular plan, you are able to upload up to just five hours of content. What’s cool about Podbean is that we consider it a free trial so that it enables you to really find what works best before making the commitment to our paid accounts.

Unlike Buzzsprout, Podbean does not charge users a certain amount per month for extra storage space so you can upload as much audio as your heart desires. This is great for podcasters that are aiming to upload shorter episodes or for people who want to release the audio on a more regular basis.

SUMMARY: Podbean is a very easy platform to use – whether you’re a newbie or a pro. They have the features to help you start making money from it and build your brand as an influencer or a thought leader. The fact that Podbean provides professional-quality equipment when you sign up with them is awesome because now,

I don’t have to worry about what kind of quality my podcast will project. And if I don’t know how to use any gear, they also include step-by-step video tutorials as part of their service!

Aside from that, they also have a range of tools that automatically post your episodes to the top podcast directories of choice. This allows your market to listen and download right on the service itself — making it easier for those tech-savvy fans looking to get content on the go!

Pricing:

podbean-pricing-plans
– Podbean pricing plan

Pricing: Podbean subscription plans start at $9 per month, with the most expensive plan costing $99 per month. Free Podbean accounts are limited to a specific number of downloads and lack monetization features such as video streaming or in-line video ads for example.

3. Transistor Fm

Transistor podcast hosting platform
– Transistor FM podcast hosting platform

Transistor is a powerful simple podcast hosting service that’s easy to use and great for beginners! They offer unlimited podcast storage plans along with the tools needed to make your podcasts sound professional, such as mobile apps and swipe-to-seek.

Transistor allows you to host multiple podcasts under the same account, thus making it easy for podcasters as well as beginner podcasters to get started and start sharing their voice with the world. You don’t even have to spend all that money on starting a new podcast, nor do you need one per show!

They make it very easy for you to create your podcast with a simple three-step process. They have excellent support staff and each year host many events and conferences to help educate podcasters.

Key Features:

They also offer custom designs for podcasts that include additional features like sales pages, stat software, and a moving banner. The only thing to be wary of is that if you don’t want to upgrade over time they limit the number of downloads per month.

They allow you to easily upload your podcast media and publish it. They also offer analytics, so you can track how each episode performed.

Transistor is a fairly easy-to-use service. The main drawback of using them is their download limit. This makes it difficult for your show to grow and for you to get your message out there if the audience can’t download your latest installments.

One way around this problem is by asking your listeners and viewers to join your email list – of course, you’d want that anyway because it’s an invaluable marketing tool but you’re bound to convert less people into paying customers as opposed to “subscribers”.

Podcasts are big business today and many people want to be in on the game. If you want to reach as large an audience as possible, then investing in your content distribution through platforms like Transistor will only help you strengthen your podcast presence!

Pricing:

Transistor pricing plan
– Transistor pricing plan

Pricing: Transistor does not currently offer a free plan but you can get a 14-day free trial on one of its paid plans. Prices for the plans start at $19 per month for the Starter plan, which allows up to 15,000 downloads per month.

4. SimpleCast

Simplecast podcast hosting platform
-SimpleCast Podcast hosting

SimplyCast is a private podcasting host with a growing reputation for its industry-leading features offered at affordable prices. Offering reliable support and three tiers of features – including live shows, nonprofit pricing, and advanced playlist management – SimplyCast today offers podcast hosting services starting at $15/month.

SimpleCast has been reliable in hosting brands like Kickstarter, Nike, Facebook, and HBO. SimpleCast stands out with industry-leading features like unlimited listener plays, customizable websites, and an embeddable audio player.

They host some huge brands like Kickstarter, Nike, and HBO. SimpleCast is known for its impressive features such as being able to have an unlimited number of listeners complete plays, reliable analytics, customizable websites and the ability to embed your audio player into other platforms for example.

Their standout choice is the ability to invite others to collaborate with you on a podcast and set up multiple managers.

Key Feature:

Simplecast’s name is truly suggestive of what this company does. It offers “powerful tools” and it helps software developers involved in the field of media to reach their goals with ease while creating a superior user experience.

One standout feature of Anchor podcast hosting is their Recast tool (Pilot podcast), which allows you to schedule and share clips of your podcast on social media. For example, one publisher using this feature is The Pilot Podcast. You can see a recent publication from them on below:

thepilotpodcast
– The Pilot Podcast

One standout feature of Smartcase is its Recast tool, which allows you to schedule and share clips of your podcast on social media.

Pricing:

Simplecast pricing
– SimpleCast Pricing

Pricing: Ultimately the Basic Plan for $15/month is going to be just that – basic. This gives you a deeper insight into your podcast base and will answer very important questions that should help you better understand how they’re interacting with your podcast episode.

Only upgrade to a higher plan if there are too many users or downloads and you can justify the upgrade. (Basic plan offers 20k downloads/mo) To get started with a 14-day free trial of Simplecast, follow the button link below.

5. Captivate

Captivate podcast hosting
– Captivate Podcast hosting

As they say, “Great things take time.” In the case of this company, four years was a great amount of time for them to create Captivate, a podcasting platform that addresses and caters to the specific needs of podcasters looking to grow their audience.

Captivate provides efficient growth strategies to help you grow your podcast. You can tell they are focused on this cause by their tagline: “The only growth-oriented podcast host”

This new addition is their greatest product yet as they took everything they learned from years of podcast experience and put it into one new podcast hosting service.

This service leverages the same team and experience behind Podcast Websites as they continue to offer unlimited podcasts and team members, analytics, funding support, and a mobile-friendly website with custom designs.

Key Features

Moreover, Captivate marketing tools automatically generate links for you to use on other sites or blogs where you can circulate your podcast and get more exposure. All plans come with an unlimited number of podcasts, unlimited team members, a new podcast player, advanced analytics, and marketing tools.

Like Transistor FM, Captivate puts download limits on their plans. Plans are otherwise the same, with no extra features to make one more attractive than the other. Download limits only differ based on average monthly downloads.

A few standout growth features of their podcast website builders are donations on calls to action and mobile-friendly websites.

Each upgrade plan includes a customizable, donation-ready website with built-in listener support in the form of paid or free ads that get you more listeners by giving people the opportunity to listen to your podcast just by sending money your way.

Captivate is constantly updating its software to meet the needs of all broadcasters. Captivate works closely with IAB to ensure that your viewers are engaged and educated.

You can also easily import your show from another podcast host like Blubrry with one simple import tool, making it easy to start using Buzzsprout’s Podcasting Optimization and Analytics for your new or existing show.

Their podcast marketing tool makes it possible to automatically generate links to places like Overcast and Pocket Casts, which helps new subscribers find your show easily.

Pricing:

Captivate podcast hosting pricing
– Captovate Pricing Plan

Pricing: The cheapest option on the table is their $17 plan if paid yearly and allows up to 12,000 downloads per month. Although we don’t have a completely free option, each of our plans comes with a 7-day free trial.

Captivate is coming onto the podcasting scene, and it’s going to make things a whole lot better! They have a ton of great features for you to use on every plan. If you’re looking for a growth-oriented podcast host with lots of marketing features, then get a 7-day free trial of Captivate.

6. Castos

Castos podcast hosting platform
– Castos podcast hosting platform

Castos is a streaming music industry, which has top-quality music content and a high level of audio qualities, a Powerful fandom system with an online fans community, and developed virtual gift support.

It’s also easy to use, especially if you’re a WordPress user who wants an all-in-one solution. With their WordPress plugin, it’s very easy to publish podcast content. Furthermore, the Castos Premium Podcasting feature allows for monetizing podcasts through subscriptions.

Pricing:

Castos podcast hosting pricing
– Castos Podcast hosting pricing

Pricing: Castos is an excellent option to consider. Just their starter plan is slightly higher priced than other services, however, the features included justify the cost. The Starter plan price is $15.83 per month for the annual rate.

7. FuseBox

Fusebox Podcast hosting platform
– Fusebox podcast hosting

Fusebox is a multimedia platform designed to help you manage the growing number of podcasts out there. Although not very common, it’s still a useful content management tool that mixes great features like podcast hosting and analytics with some basic website builder features, all of which are top-notch and make this product one of its kind.

Users don’t even need to sign up as there’s no form whatsoever – just head over to fusebox.fm and start creating your first site instantly.

Fusebox is an innovative new podcasting tool created by Pat Flynn from smartpassiveincome, one of the most popular podcast platform and entrepreneurs in the industry.

Fusebox makes it easy for you to deliver beautifully designed audio and video with high-quality content through your own site without any technical expertise, which has always been an issue with podcats until now.

Key Features:

Fusebox offers a lot of great features. From podcast players that can automatically capture email addresses to make it easier for you to grow an audience with each episode, to audio specs recognized by Apple, Google, and others.

They also allow you to have text appear across the bottom of your video that automatically forms a transcript as you speak! If you’re interested in learning more about how this helps improve search rankings for your videos, don’t hesitate to check out their blog for info.

ACTION ITEM: To spend less time on social media, you can use the Fusebox plugin for WordPress. After installing plugins, you feed your show to the Music for Podcasters directory by entering your RSS feed information and then add your show to other directories such as iTunes and Stitcher.

Fusebox is also user-friendly. It has three different players that you can try out and customize to match the needs of your website – A cloud storage with a large amount of space is available for users to store their files, as well as having the option to manually upload videos from your computer.

Pricing:

FuseBox pricing plans
– FuseBox pricing plans

Pricing: There is a free plan available for Fusebox customers that allows up to 10,000 monthly views. The Pro plan costs $15.83 per month if paid annually. There are no higher-priced plans available since Fusebox does not actually host podcasts themselves and all features are included in the Pro plan.

Fusebox has advanced options for users who are looking for premium podcasting tools like audio and video hosting, S3 integration, and advanced monitoring.

8. Libsyn

libsyn podcast hosting platform
-Libsyn Podcast hosting platform

A reliable podcast hosting service can be hard to find. There are many to choose from and some of them may not give you the support that you need. While we don’t want to go so far as to make a recommendation, we will say this much:

EXPERT OPINION: We consider Libsyn one of the best podcast hosting providers because it offers a platform that’s been thoughtfully designed for podcasters and optimized for acoustic content. Podcasters who use Libsyn have reported that they have found other features like social promotion tools very useful in helping them gain more listeners!

Founded in 2004, Libsyn has been a pioneer of podcasting since its earliest days. With the number of podcasts in their directory increasing every single day, it’s no wonder why! In just one platform, you can create and submit your podcast to multiple directories as well as check statistics to gauge how successful your show is.

Key Features:

Libsyn was one of the first podcast hosting companies to enter the arena, back in 2004 and ever since then has enjoyed being a staple product among many prominent podcasters including those who’ve created some of the most popular podcasts.

It was their very own in-house podcast software which was developed specifically by podcasters for other podcasters and turned into a product that became popular with everybody.

Libsyn was formed in 2004, with podcasting being really popular by this time. Libsyn has over a million podcasts hosted on its network. Libsyn is one of the oldest podcast hosting services and is also one of the most well-known.

Pricing:

Libysn podcast hosting platform
– Libysn Podcast hosting pricing

Pricing: Libsyn offer three different podcast hosting plans, each offering varying storage limits for your files; these are unlimited however with respect to monthly bandwidth.

They also enable monetization through their platform with the addition of detailed analytics, such as download info and geographical data. Additionally, Libsyn offers integration features between its website and WordPress in the form of the Libsyn Plugin called the Libsyn Publisher Hub.

Yes, they aren’t fully free but the starting rate is $5 per month with 1 GB monthly of storage.

9. SoundCloud

Soundcloud podcast hosting
– SoundCloud Podcast hosting

SoundCloud is a media-sharing site that helps users upload and record their own sounds. The good thing is that you can embed SoundCloud podcast episodes into your WordPress post or page by simply placing the URL anywhere in your WordPress posts and pages.

SoundCloud is the world’s largest music and audio content site and has a user base of 175 million monthly active users. Every month, 12 hours of content are uploaded to their website.

Key Features:

SoundCloud is free for up to 3 hours of uploads. Beginners can use their free plan as a test run to see how it goes and give them time to familiarize themselves with everything that comes along with SoundCloud.

SoundCloud is great for podcasters who want to upload their episodes onto the directory and therefore make use of the SoundCloud podcast host as well. This way, they can take advantage of all of the other music listening services that come bundled with their podcast host.

Using their Podcast hosting services, you’ll get access to all of their embeddable podcast players, engage with readers via Twitter Cards and tweet times, and also receive basic monthly reporting.

Pricing:

SoundCloud upload track
– SoundCloud upload first track free

Pricing: Free podcasts can only be 3 hours long on SoundCloud. It’s SUPER easy to use which is great for beginners! The PRO plan gives you more storage space, subscriptions, advanced statistics and distribution options.

SoundCloud Pro Unlimited gives you all of the basic benefits associated with a free membership as well as providing an unlimited upload time, scheduled releases, embed controls and five podcast pin slots. It is available at $12 per month when paid annually.

10. AudioBoom

audioboom-podcast-hosting-platform
-AudioBoom Podcast hosting

Audioboom is an incredible site that gives you all the resources you need to start a podcast, from distribution and streaming to a fully-featured player. Many people are drawn to it for its monetization options, though! Audioboom provides insane tools for deep-level analytics on your RSS feed and social pages.

Once viewers find your show, they can click on the ads or say their product or service name, and visitors will be taken directly to their site whenever they hear those keywords spoken in your podcast.

Key Features:

AudioBoom has a dynamic podcast hosting feature that allows you to easily monetize your website once your audience grows. This is compatible even with any other hosting platform, offering an easy way to start and expand your traffic as needed.

No matter how many episodes and channels you have, Audioboom will allow anyone to access your content without subscription fees.

Some other features include an embeddable player with social media integrations and analytics is broken down by geographic region, app, and device.

Pricing:

audioboom-pricing-plan
– AudioBoom pricing plan

Pricing: Audioboom paid subscriptions will fall under the price of $9.99 per month.

What are Podcast Directories?

A podcast directory is a service that helps you self-publish and distribute your audio content. A couple of examples of popular podcast directories include iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play. When you have created a podcast episode on your own website, you can submit it to these directories with just a few clicks.

Podcasting is a great way to connect your message with your audience. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that you can also reach an incredibly large audience with podcasting. After all, it’s becoming increasingly more popular.

Here’s how it works,

how-podcasting-works
– How podcasting directory works

One of the best ways to promote your podcast is by making sure it’s listed on podcast directories. Two popular destinations for including your show on are Apple Podcasts and Spotify (but there are many more you can use).

However, distributors don’t host or feature anything – they simply help listeners find you via an RSS feed from a site like your own so you can list all of the places your show publishes.

Which are the Best Podcast Platform to Publish My Podcast on?

So after you’ve chosen a podcast host, how do you release your podcast? It’s simple. Once you upload files to your podcast host, you’re ready to decide where you want your audience to find you. Allow your audience to find your show with a podcast app on their computer, iPhone, or Android device!

Podcast hosting platforms are great tools to help you build your audience and grow listeners. Here’s a quick list of some of the top podcast hosting platforms:

1. Apple Podcast

Apple podcast platform
– Apple podcast platform

Apple has officially announced that podcasts have become more popular than ever before. It was Nielsen’s Podcast Content Report that revealed the following statistics: in March 2018, Apple Podcasts passed 50 billion all-time podcast downloads and over 550,000 shows. Very impressive numbers!

Apple is the biggest player in the podcasting space, so it’s important to have your podcast listed on Apple Podcasts or iTunes. Statistics have shown that 70-80% of your listeners will come from this platform alone and both Apple Podcasts and iTunes provide a simple and easy-to-navigate interface for your website to be uploaded.

Any podcast with a listing on either platform would see huge growth in their audience, popularity, and reach.

2. Google Play

Google play podcast
– Google play podcast

Google Play is one of the most popular applications available today. Even in 2019, there are over 1 billion active users and it’s only growing! You can also use Google Podcasts which is a way to find trending podcasts as well as free ones that are suitable for all ages.

Google Podcasts is another big player among podcast sites. They have two ways to find podcasts: Google Play Music and Google Podcasts. Their recommendation system is based on what other people with similar tastes to you listen to – this makes it an easy tool to get your show discovered!

3. Spotify

spotify podcast platform
– Spotify podcast platform

Spotify is an excellent place to easily find new podcasts to listen to through either the subscriber-based free app or the ad-free premium version.

At the moment, Spotify boasts 191 million monthly listeners and 87million paid subscribers who get many perks including being able to download music, listen ad-free, play any song with unlimited skips, and feature higher quality audio for podcast listening.

Spotify originally allowed users to only listen to music but has come a long way and now has the option of listing podcasts. This is fantastic news for podcasters because it means that they can reach a much larger audience than before.

Spotify listens to podcasts have been liberated in October 2018 and we hope that you too have embraced the platform by subscribing to shows that you love.

With the launch of Spotify Podcasts, they have reached an incredible number of people and shown that they are more than just a music streaming platform.

By ensuring your content is featured and listened to on Spotify with the integration of their new and popular podcast section, you can significantly expand your network, providing one with a much larger reach for all of your educational or hilarious podcast ideas!

4. Stitcher

stitcher podcast
– Stitcher-podcast

When they need news, people turn to Stitcher, the app that specializes in on-demand news broadcasts and podcasts.

This podcast directory has been around since 2008 and portrays itself as the easiest way of listening to podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, Android, PC, Smart Speaker and in your car. Stitcher platform counts its monthly active users as 71 million! Because it is only a mobile app, more people can find you on the go, directly through the app.

The Best Equipment You Need To Start A Podcast for this Year

If you’re out to create a podcast, your starting point should begin with purchasing your needed equipment for recording. Just like the saying goes that you need a website to start an ecommerce business – but of course, there are many different options out there – so too it is when it comes to your podcasting equipment.

There are a lot of things you need when it comes to recording and producing your podcast. A solid microphone, headphones, software, an audio interface, and a computer with decent specs all make for great podcasting essentials!

1. Shure: Best Podcast (Microphone)

Shure microphone
– Shure microphone

Podcasting is of course all about audio, but you can’t begin to make and share your own audio files if you don’t have the right tools to do so. A high-quality microphone is just one tool that should be at your disposal as a podcaster, but this particular tool will set any podcast up for success.

Microphones are used for all sorts of reasons – karaoke, singing, podcasting and even gaming! When you’re first getting started in your studio or when you’re setting up your first recording set-up, it is a good idea to invest in an affordable microphone that will get the job done. One great option is the Shure Microphone.

2. Shure Stand: Best Mic Stand for Podcasting

shure microphone stand
– Shure microphone stand

The Shure microphone does have a built-in stand in the USB cord. However, it is medium, and really adjustable in any place. Some people find that this makes it inconvenient to use. If you need some more stability for your mic, there are an array of choices when it comes to stands in different colors and combinations.

3. Pop Filter or Windscreen

You don’t need a pop filter or a mic windscreen in order to do great audio recording. But if you want the best quality sound, they’re definitely going to help!

4. Shure SCM268: Best Mixer For Podcasting

Shure microphone scm268 mixer
– Shure microphone scm268 mixer

Other audio recording applications give you control over the sound your computer produces, but some people prefer to use a device called a ‘mixer’ because it gives them more flexibility when it comes to using different levels of volume.

If quality audio is important to you and is worried that your computer may not have enough power in its own speakers, try one of many software programs designed specifically for professionals and enthusiasts who want to tweak original sounds straight from their computers into something completely new!

My favourite mixer of podcasting is the Shure microphone scm268 mixer.

5. HeadPhones

shure headphone srh840a
– Shure headphone srh840a

In order to deliver the best quality sound, why not invest in a pair of headphones! If you’re having a discussion with someone over Skype or FaceTime, make sure you’re using headphones to chat. Headphones can eliminate any outside noise or echo.

The best headphone I recommend for your podcasting is the Shure SRH840A professional studio.

6. Editing Software

Audacity
– Audacity

If you need to edit audio files and make them sound as clear as possible without dropping a lot of cash on expensive software, we suggest checking out Audacity.

It’s essentially the same as other audio editors like Adobe Audition which are much more expensive.

How to make a podcast successful?

Starting and maintaining a podcast can seem like a difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be! Once you’ve started your own podcast, the next step is to promote it so that you can get listeners.

1. Get It Listed

Podcasting offers a very unique platform for marketers to promote products and services. To do this successfully, a person will need to submit their podcast to directories where listeners can be reached such as iTunes or Google Play, which are among the most widely used in terms of general popularity.

2. Have your Own Website

joe rogan podcaster website
– An example of podcasting website

Another essential part of starting a podcast is the need for a website where the audio files will live. Apart from a podcast hosting service, you will also need a website/podcast hosting account on which to publish your episodes. This serves as your home on the internet where you’ll promote it and help users discover more content.

When devising a website one does need a domain name and a hosting account – some people choose to get them from the same provider for convenience sake.

ACTION ITEM: The domain name for your business will typically cost you $11.99 per year and website hosting plans range from as few as $2.95 per month usually paid annually to more depending on how much disk space you need.

Lucky for you, our friends at Bluehost are offering Themesutra users a free domain and 67% off hosting.

3. Invest In Best Podcast Setup

Shure wireless headphone bundle
– Shure wireless headphone bundle

You don’t need to spend thousands on investing in recording equipment and software, just as long as you have a decent microphone and software to start your podcasting career.

A microphone, headset, and some basic editing or audio enhancing software will allow you to get started right away. The initial investment cost of podcasting is very small compared to the profit potential involved.

4. Interview Other Podcasters

One thing you could do as a podcaster is to invite guests on your show who are also podcasters. Usually, people will share a link when they’ve been featured on someone’s podcast or they’ll say thank you afterward and share the link to their own show, so this can have a nice effect of getting more listeners through word of mouth.

5. Choose a Podcast Niche

Where people listen podcast data
– Where people listen podcast data

In order to attract and maintain a big audience, your podcast needs to be focused on a niche that is rich in subject matter. When you are passionate about your specific topic, it will resonate with others who share the same passion or interests.

The scope of your podcast should also be considered when deciding which direction it will go in. A super narrow focus will draw like-minded people but won’t do as well with a broader audience.

6. Find out the audience’s Taste

As a best practice, create original but curated content that can appeal to multiple audiences while still focusing on your core demographic.

Remember, you want to engage and communicate with your target audience members so deliver the right content that not only keeps them interested but also builds trust and ensures that they become your loyal fan base!

7. Track your progress

The best way to track your podcast’s progress is to set goals, develop a strategy, and then adapt as you go. Luckily for you, most podcast directories share your podcast’s metrics with you through which one can gain valuable insights into how it’s performing.

Our Picks For Best Podcast Platform for Monetization

That concludes our list for the best Podcast Hosting services for this year.

We’ve looked at the various options available, debated, and watched demos. In order to determine which service is best, consider what you’ll be using it for or how much different you want the outcome to appear.

That vein, here’s a list of things to consider:

a) Best Podcast Hosting For Beginners – Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout logo

Ranked #1 for best podcast hosting for beginners

If you’ve always wanted to start a podcast but did not want the hassle of dealing with all of the technical aspects, Buzzsprout is your best option.

BuzzSprout Final Verdict

You can create a podcast quickly and easily without sacrificing key features. Even though their free plan has its limitations, it lets users know the basics of adding episodes and downloading subscriber feeds which is great for those looking to get started immediately!

b) Best Podcast hosting for Monetization – Podbean

podbean logo

Ranked #2 for best podcast hosting for monetization

Podbean is one of the great saved apps in my podcast category on my phone, easy to use for both beginners and advanced podcaster.

Podbean Final Verdict

Podbean has several different tools that have a variety of purposes. If you are trying to monetize your show, consider the tools Podbean offers for sponsorships and affiliate programs. These options will help you to make money with your show and encourage others to listen to it as well.

c) Best Podcast Sites For WordPress Users – FuseBox

fusebox-logo

Ranked #3 for best podcast hosting for WordPress users

Fusebox is a great podcast platform that helps you to grow your podcast through their in-built website builders.

FuseBox Final Verdict

If you have an existing WordPress-powered website or blog and you’re looking to add a podcast to it, you may want to start your search with Fusebox and Castos. Both companies offer awesome plugins that make it easy to manage the podcast from your WordPress dashboard.

d) Best Podcast Platform for Growth – Captivate

captivate logo

Ranked #4 for best podcast hosting for growth

Captivate is a marvelous podcast software tool, and it’s one that more businesses should take advantage of – like blogging.

Captivate Final Verdict

“If you’re looking to reach as many people as possible, then you’ll probably love some of the features that Captivate offers. The calls to action that are available right from the player can help you grow your audience quickly and reach more people.”

Wrap Up

Podcasting could be used as a way of extending an existing business or an entirely different company from the one doing the podcast. While there are plenty of opportunities for how to make money with podcasts, it’s important to action upon them and seek out others who can help you get the ball rolling!

The best podcast hosting platforms covered in this article are free and help you to grow your podcast while minimizing the technical details that you need to manage.

This article is about choosing the best podcast hosting platform for your podcast. We hope you enjoyed our roundup of the best podcast hosting platforms.

We have used each of these platforms and are confident that they will help you to create and grow your podcast. If you have any questions about the article feel free to let us know below. You may also want to see our article on the Best drag and drop website builder for WordPress and tips on why you must avoid nulled WordPress themes and plugins.

Podcast Hosting: FAQS

How To Host a Podcast?

If you want to host a podcast, you should consider the following aspects. Firstly, you should be interested in creating a podcast. Secondly, you should be interested in the topic of your podcast. Next, you should think about why you will want to host a podcast. One of the main reasons for hosting a podcast is to promote your business or cause.

Lastly, you should think about the format of your podcast. The format of your podcast should be attractive and attention-grabbing. If your format will be attractive and attention-grabbing, then you will be able to attract a lot of listeners to your podcast.

The most wonderful thing about the recorders is the ability to download audio files to a computer or upload it to a website. It is pretty simple to start your own podcast. Although it might seem a little tricky at first, there is nothing to worry about!

How much do Podcast Hosts Make?

Podcast hosts make $100-$1000 per podcast, with an average of $200 per show. The producer of the podcast may receive part of the money. Also, there are many ways to make money by podcasting: making money by selling ads, selling your own products, using affiliate marketing, and so on.

It is difficult to answer the question “how much a podcast host make?” because each podcast host has a different set of skills and different strengths.  Some podcast host might make a lot of money, while some might make just enough to cover the cost of their equipment.  To answer this question, we need to take a general idea of how much a podcast host make.  On average, a podcast host can make a $100-$300 per episode, but that is just an estimate.

The more experience and skill they have, they more they will be able to charge.  For example, the top earning podcast host, Adam Carolla, makes $40,000 per episode, that is $1.1 million per year.  Also, the podcast host will make $100 for every 1,000 downloads their show gets.  For example, the top podcast, NPR’s Car Talk only made $30,000 per episode, but it had a huge number of downloads, which added up to $1.1 million per year.  So, it is not about how popular the podcast is, but more about how much effort the host puts into their show.

Where can I Host a PodCast?

You can host your podcast on your own website. In fact, it is the only way to truly have complete control over it and have 100% ownership of it. Since podcasts that are hosted on third party sites such as iTunes and Stitcher will have to abide by their rules and regulations.

There are various hosting options available for podcasts. There are websites that specialize in podcast hosting like BuzzSprout , Podbean etc. You can also use your own website. If you are looking for a free top podcast platform, Podbean and Soundcloud does not charge for hosting podcasts and can be used by anyone.

Why do I Need a PodCast Host?

Podcasting is growing in popularity. You can attract new customers, gain customers trust, drive sales, and create new leads via a podcast. Podcasting can be an effective and inexpensive form of marketing or a way to increase your brand’s exposure. The first thing you need to know is podcast hosting. Podcast hosting is the service that allows you to upload your audio files to a server so that listeners can play your files through the feed on their computers and portable devices.

The word ‘Podcast’ is derived from the words iPod and Broadcast, which means it is a special broadcasting for iPod. This is an emerging trend in the media niche, which allows anyone to publish audio, video or text and deliver it through podcast.

One of the main advantages of podcast is that it is a ‘Web based media’, which means you can publish the content on your own website, and then the users can listen to it on their own domain or on their mobile phones.

How to be a Good Podcast Host?

A good podcast needs a good audio quality and a good host who can maintain a good flow of the conversation. A good microphone is a must , but casual tone of speech is also very important. If you can sound interested, then you’re going to maintain the interest of the listeners. Be conversational. Keep the listeners engaged with your voice and make them feel like you are really talking to them.

Make sure to tell your listeners where you are located, to show that you are a real person, not some talking machine. Don’t make it a formal conversation. If you’re talking with a guest, you should be like two friends talking about a topic in a relaxed and informal tone.

Make a list of topics of interest to your target listeners. Preparation is the key to success for any podcast host. Do your research and get things right the first time. Make your podcast public on the Web so that people from everywhere can download it easily and listen to it whenever they want. Keep the quality of your interviews professional and fresh.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means if you click on some of the links and go on to purchase the product, we earn a small commission that helps support our initiatives, no cost on your part!

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