5 Best Podcast Hosting Sites in 2022 (Expert Podcaster’s Choice)

Podcast Hosting is a service that provides the platform, server space and bandwidth to store and serve your podcast files. Podcast hosting is important because it enables listeners to download your podcast files and listen to them at their convenience.

There are many companies providing podcast hosting services but only a few of them provide an all-inclusive package for both beginner and advanced podcasters.

So, if you are thinking to start your own podcast channel then hosting service would be the first thing you will have to choose carefully. To help you out, here, I will show you best five options highly recommended by expert podcast professionals.

Best Podcast Hosting Sites: Carefully Curated List

1) Buzzsprout: The Best Podcast Hosting Provider for Beginners

Buzzsprout offers commendable free learning material and powerful yet easy to use tools to help you make the most out of your podcast. Another plus point is that their great customer support, so they take my #1 rank when it comes to creating a podcast.

They’ve been in the business for over 10 years and have thousands of happy customers. You can get started for free and there is no limit on the number of team member accounts you can create with them.

Buzzsprout lets you embed a podcast player to your site, which can either be the one episode or an entire playlist.

This beginner friendly podcast hosting site provides an analytical dashboard integrated with smart algorithms which let you track how many people are tuning in to your show within the first 90 days. You can also see what countries your listeners are from and build a better understanding of your audience.

Sound quality is top notch as you can upgrade to 128k stereo optimization. This lets you take advantage of better sound. They also provide podcast transcription service but as an extra add-on.

You can easily upload, schedule and publish your podcast with Buzzsprout. You just upload the audio file, change its title and description, and submit it to all the relevant directories.

Key Features

• It lets you list your podcasts on top relevant podcast directories ensuring better exposure.
• Advanced podcast statistics provide an accurate picture of your progress and are able to tell you exactly how well your podcast is doing.
• With automatic episode optimization, your episodes will be easy to follow and sound great.
• Dynamic content helps your podcast stay fresh and engaging.
• Transcriptions make your podcasts accessible to many more people.

Pricing

Some people just want to serve their content for a limited amount of time, while others are looking for a more permanent solution. With the BuzzSprout free plan, you can upload two hours of content at any given time, which will be accessible for the next 90 days. If your broadcast requirements change and you need to host more or less hours than this, upgrading a plan is an option for you.

• Free: Lets you upload 2 hours of episode each month which will be hosted for 90 days.
• $12/month: Lets you upload 3 hours of episode each month, unlimited hosting and storage.
• $18/month: Lets you upload 6 hours of episode each month, unlimited hosting and storage.
• $24/month: Lets you upload 12 hours of episode each month, unlimited hosting and storage.

What I Like about BuzzSprout?

• Reasonable cost.
• User-friendly navigation.
• Reliable customer service and support.
• Analytical Algorithms.

What I Don’t Like about BuzzSprout?

• None.

Ultimately, Buzzsprout is my number one choice for its month-to-month pricing and easy-to-use dashboard. If you want to get started on low budget, start with the free plan and upgrade afterwards. If you are going to post more content, I advise choosing a paid plan that suits your needs.

2) RedCircle – Best to Monetize your Podcasting Content

Red Circle is a great way to connect with both podcasters and publishers. It not only allows you to create original podcasts but also get in touch with those who publish them. This podcast hosting site also has a very user-friendly interface that allows you to quickly and easily run and start your own podcast.

If you want to increase your audience, and make money with your podcast then RedCircle is the right platform for you. Monetizing your podcast with its ad platform can provide a great way to generate income from your show. You can also use it to promote another podcast or show by cross-promoting with them on your show.

When it comes to creating an audio-only podcast, this is one of the best platforms around. It’s easy to customize and control your content without having to worry about any setbacks. You have the opportunity to release your content whenever and however you want. You can also specify who should see it accordingly.

On the other hand, for brands and agencies that want to launch or grow an advertising campaign, Redcircle can make it easier to expand without risking more money.

Key Features

• Innovative tools to help your podcasts grow.
• It lets you host, distribute, and monetize your audio content.
• One-time and recurring donations to keep you show going.
• Get a recurring monthly income by building subscriptions.
• This Cross-Promotion Marketplace connects you with other Shows to grow your audience.

Pricing

RedCircle offers a great basic plan, which includes unlimited hosting, distribution, and donations.

Below are three paid plans you can subscribe to get more out of this podcast hosting provider –

• Growth Plan: $9/month
• Pro Plan: $30/month
• Enterprise Plan: You need to contact them to have a custom plan designed specifically for your needs.

Note: First two paid plans comes with first 7 days free trial.

What I Like about RedCircle?

• It has got modern UI with user friendly interface which make podcasting and distribution effortless.
• Migration from another podcasting platform is easy with RedCircle.
• RedCircle offers comprehensive analytics for your show to help you measure and grow.

What I don’t Like about RedCircle?

• Inability to change things like title and description after submitting the podcast.

So, if you really want to take your podcasting game to the next level then choosing RedCircle as your podcast hosting service would be a great idea.

3) RSS.com – Best for Professional Podcasters

RSS.com is my all time favorite recommendation when it comes unlimited storage, smart analytics, and a reliable podcasting platform. The features in this podcast hosting platform will make sure that your podcast website can handle any growth you experience as your business grows.

With RSS.com, you can keep saving your episodes without worrying about running out of storage or bandwidth. It lets you create a podcast with unlimited storage and bandwidth and is perfect for expanding your podcast’s audience.

RSS.com offers a variety of tools to help you manage your podcast, such as episode scheduling and social media integration.

Majority of podcasters who use RSS.com seem to appreciate how quickly they can get started on their podcast by using the platform; in just 5 minutes, users can be up and running.

With RSS.com, you can download unlimited episodes and upload new recordings at any time, which means that you can grow your podcast from a few episodes to hundreds or thousands of regular listeners.

Data and analytics help you better understand your listeners and what they’re looking for. This podcast hosting site allows you to customize content to their needs, so that you can take your podcasting to the next level.

Key Features

• You can distribute your podcast to popular podcast directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
• Provides multiple monetization options through Podcorn and a donate button even on your free public podcast website.
• Professional-looking podcast websites make your content appear more credible and easier to understand. Besides it, episode transcription allows your listeners to grasp your content effortlessly.
• Importing and exporting content from one platform to RSS.com is a easy process.
• It allows you to customize your player while maintaining a high-quality presentation and cross-platform compatibility.

Pricing

With RSS.com, you can sign up and upload your first episode for free without any need for your financial information or credit card.

Later on, you can upgrade to any of the below paid plans any time –

• Student and NGO: $4.99 per month
• All In One Podcasting: $8.25 per month

Note: Users with a .edu email will get automatic approval for the Educational plan. Besides it, switching to annual billing will give you a 35% discount.

If you are a non-profit organisation, you may qualify for special offers. Please get in contact with their sales team and they will be able to provide more information.

To enjoy its advanced features, customers are advised to upgrade to its Podcast Networks Plan.

What I Like about RSS.com?

• It lets you share you audio content on Social Media channels with just a few clicks.
• Reaching out to your audience has never been easier!
• It will make sure that your podcast show reaches the largest audience possible and integrates with all leading podcast distributors.
• Easy to analyze stats that are telling you where your listeners are coming and how well your podcast is doing.

What I don’t Like about RSS.com?

• Inability to track subscribers properly.
• You will only be able to schedule a limited number of shows on the free version.

The website has recently made few quality changes like improved sign-in process, page loading speed 10x faster than before, and new languages added. All these together make this podcasting hosting service a reliable and affordable choice.

4) Podbean – Best Podcasting Service for all Types of Podcasters

Podbean is an awesome platform for creating and managing your podcast. It’s beginner-friendly and offers a great experience for all levels of podcasters, from newbies to experienced professionals.

With Podbean, it’s really easy to start building your audience and getting your message out there even with your mobile. You even have a podcast website which makes it easier for other people to find you.

Podbean’s user-friendly platform is intuitive and easy to navigate. The standard ‘top menu’ on the left hand side makes accessing all of Podbean’s features a breeze.

Creating podcasts is pretty simple and doesn’t require much technical know-how with Podbean. You can even import audio files that you already have and start editing with your desired software.

The podcast logo and colour scheme can be updated to your liking, or you can use the default versions that come with Podbean.

The stats overview dashboard tells you how well your podcast is doing, so you can take the necessary steps to improve it.

Key Features

• With free plan, users will get 5 hours of storage.
• Unlimited storage on the paid plan.
• Dynamic and smart Ad insertion.
• Integrated Patreon program to accept recurring payments from your listeners.
• It uploads content on YouTube automatically.
• Podbean has a Mobile app lets you manage your podcasts anytime anywhere.
• It gives you a feature that auto-post your audio content on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Pricing

Podbean offers below four different plans with access to different features –

• Basic Free Plan: Limited hours and storage per month.
• Unlimited Audio: $9/month (Unlimited storage and bandwidth, advanced design, pro themes, and ad marketplace.)
• Unlimited Plus: $29/month (Features above, along with dynamic ad insertion and Patreon program.)
• Business: $99/month (Features above, along with private podcasts, plus multiple domains, live chat support, and advanced statistics.)

What I Like about Podbean?

• A simple podcast hosting service that lets you have your show up and running in no time.
• No downtime and fast downloads.
• It takes just few clicks to upload and publish your audio or video podcast, it’s super fast and easy!
• Integrated with all popular podcast platforms make it easy to distribute shows to a larger audience.

What I don’t Like about Podbean?

• Not good at making cover art or episode art.

5) Spreaker – Best Podcast CMS

If you need to monetize your podcast, then I recommend using Spreaker. It gives you the ability to integrate advertising from the beginning which is perfect for those who want their voice to be heard while making money.

For all you budding podcasters or others who need to create lots of audio content, Spreaker is the platform for you. They provide solutions for recording, publishing and monetizing everything from long-form lectures to short segments.

Spreaker connects podcast listeners, creators and advertisers into one easy to use platform. No matter what you want to do with the app- either be a listener or creator- the app has solutions for you.

With Spreaker, creating a podcast is quick and easy and you can even choose to upload it to your existing blog or website.

The app can also provide insightful information about the fan engagement your show has received. It will also help you reach new audiences by allowing you to promote your show.

Key Features

• Spreaker CMS enables automatic distribution of new episodes to popular podcast platforms including Spotify, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, Deezer, Alexa etc.)
• It allows to schedule multiple podcasts under one account.
• Strategic monetization via dynamic ad insertion.
• Team management features make it easy for you to add collaborators.
• IAB certified statistics.

Pricing

• Free Speech: 5 hours of storage with up to 10 episodes.
• On-Air Talent: $8/month 100 hours of storage.
• Broadcaster: $20/month 500 hours of storage.
• Anchorman: $50/month 1,500 hours of storage.
• Anchorman: $120/month Unlimited storage.

Spreaker’s Broadcaster Plan is the most popular among users available at $20/month. It includes 500 hours of storage for your audio files, advanced statistics, and monetization features.

What I Like about Spreaker?

• Creating and sharing a podcast is easy.
• Doesn’t require multiple tools to get your podcast online.
• Quick and reliable customer service.
• Filters let you find new shows and new content easily.

What I don’t Like about Spreaker?

• If you exceed a certain number of downloads, your payment rate rises. It might be a hassle for some users.
• Sometimes, there were some technical difficulties which prevented a recording from being uploaded.

In brief, Spreaker is my fifth recommended podcast hosting service as it costs you little more comparing others we discussed above. However, the features it provide worth the price if you can afford it.

What is Podcast Hosting?

Just like you need to have a website host for storage and hosting of all your content, you also need a podcast host for hosting and storing your media files.

Podcasts are a series of audio files compiled into a single file, which can take up lots of space. Personal website servers might not have the enough storage needed to store such large podcasts.

Hence, you need a professional podcast hosting site that use servers and provide require space to store your audio and other media files. It lets you download and distribute your large media files.

What are Podcast Directories?

Podcast directories are websites that list and categorize podcasts. They provide a platform for listeners to find the podcasts, listen to them, or download them based on their interest and for podcasters to promote their work.

iTunes, Goole Play, Spotify, Stitcher, Pandora, TuneIn are some of the most popular podcast directories.

How to Choose the Best Podcast Hosting Service?

Podcasts are a great way to promote your business and connect with your audience. But, before you start podcasting, you need to choose the best podcast hosting service. If you get this wrong, then it will be hard for people to find your podcasts.

Below are some of the things to consider while choosing podcast hosting service.

1. Storage and Bandwidth

When it comes to podcasts, make sure that you have enough storage and bandwidth to broadcast episodes. This will help you decide how much content you can put out each week and also impacts download speed.

A website’s storage capacity will determine how many episodes of your podcast you can host, as well as the file size. Before signing up for a podcast hosting site, research their storage limits to make sure they’ll provide enough space if you are planning a long term goal with your show. In order to keep up with your old and new podcast episodes, you’ll need enough storage space as your show will grow.

Your podcast will depend on both your server’s upload and download capacity. This affects how many people can be subscribed to your podcast at a time, so you need to make sure you have enough bandwidth. When your audience grows, the same will happen for your bandwidth needs.

Restrictions on your bandwidth can reduce the quality of hosting for your show. Make sure that you take this into consideration when you’re looking for a hosting platform. There are many options to choose from, from paid services with and without restrictions to content limits to free offerings with more stringent constraints.

Even though podcast hosting is relatively inexpensive, it is important to choose the right company for it. Low-cost providers have poor uptime and poor support, which can be very frustrating.

2. Data Analytics and Reporting

As show creators, you need to better understand from where, how and why people listen to your show. Analytics can help you do that, which will ultimately enable you to create a compelling show that gets the audience reaction and response you want.

Even if you don’t like numbers, a basic understanding of how your podcast is performing can guide you in the right direction when it comes to creating engaging content. The right analytics will also show you which platforms people use to listen.

Make sure to choose a podcast hosting service that provides analytics which must be IAB Certified or compliant. The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has made standards for hosting providers to follow specific rules while analysing data.

Your analytics not being certified or compliant as per the IAB standards can distort the information they provide. You could end up making bad decisions as a result, like adjusting content and/or advertising strategies ineffectively.

Besides it, make sure to get a podcast hosting platform that allows you to export your numbers. You will want this in order to be able to manipulate the data even more extensively and with ease.

3. Compatibility with Website

Though a website is not essential, it’s a great way to promote your podcast and engage followers. We suggest using a podcast hosting platform that integrate seamlessly with your current website. This can save you headaches as you progress with your podcast. There are many podcast hosts often offer the option to create a customized site for you, too.

Many podcasters pick WordPress to develop their podcast websites. This website builder provides multiple plugins compatible with every major podcast host. It helps you to spend less time manage your podcasts within the WordPress dashboard and more time recording content to share with your followers.

4. User Friendliness and Support

The most important thing about podcast hosting is to take a look at the features offered by your hosting site and the ease of use when it comes to use the dashboard. User friendly features can help you manage your podcast effectively.

A good way to get a feel for a podcast host is just to look at screenshots and watch videos of the dashboard. You’ll be able to see everything they have to offer and learn how they can help you, so it’s worth making sure you do.

Moreover, you want to consider support as well. If you have minimal tech skills, then it’s best to go with a podcast host that offers good technical support. This way, if anything goes wrong it will be easy for them to assign someone to fix the problem.

5. Media Player

Nearly every podcast host provides a media player that you can embed in the backend of your site. This is usually done so listeners can stream the content online. You’ll get an HTML code which you need to paste in your podcast’s site to place your podcasts on the website for listeners.

When looking for a hosting company, make sure you check out what type of media player they provide. Some players may be better looking than others. There is usually more to it than just looks, as well.

Don’t forget to check either the media player offers options for listeners to subscribe, like or share your information. By doing this, you’ll increase the likelihood of attracting a larger audience.

6. Monetization

Sure, you might have started your podcast just because you wanted to help people and make a difference. But it’s also important to consider the future and value this project may have for your finances.

Podcast monetization is relatively new and many hosting platforms and software companies are still trying to figure out how to best monetize podcasts.

When looking for a podcast hosting provider, consider the premium subscription capabilities and educational resources they offer. These features can be used to discover new ways to make money from your program, like in-depth research and article topics related to gaining sponsors, or cross-promoting other businesses you’re involved with.

7. Transcription Services

Ensure that your podcast host offers transcripts of each episode. Transcriptions of episodes are a great thing to have on hand if you don’t do them yourself. Look for a podcast company that will make them for you and save your time.

We often overlook the need for a written transcript of podcasts, but there are many benefits such as –

• It lets your show accessible even by people with hearing impairments.
• Transcript can provide a boost to your SEO efforts.
• Podcast transcripts can be repurposed for blog posts, social media captions, email marketing, etc.

8. Cost

When choosing a podcast hosting platform, it’s important to invest in a paid plan. A lot of providers have tiered pricing which can help you predict how much you’ll need to budget if your podcast gets popular.

Generally, it is important to know what storage and bandwidth you require. So, before you commit with a podcast hosting site subscription, try to have an idea on the amount of each that you need.

Additionally, make sure not to pay for any features or storage space that you won’t use in the near future, especially if they’re expensive.

Podcast Hosting FAQs

Wrapping it up…

That’s it – I have done with my suggestions, now it’s your turn to pick one podcast hosting service that meets and greets your requirements.

When comparing platforms, first evaluate its features. You should be able to upload as much content monthly as you need, the platform should comply with the latest trends and regulations, provide analytical reporting and enough storage space.

If you are planning to have a website to add show notes and blog posts related to your podcasts, then you should also look for web hosting with a WordPress or Weebly too. The other thing to check is how good the chosen hosting company is at working with leading podcast networks.

So just pick the best fit tailored to your needs and happy podcasting!