9 Top Podcast Platforms (2023)
To aid you in your search, we've created a brief introduction, highlighted the most important aspects, and outlined the pricing options for nine of the most popular podcast platforms. The platforms have been ranked in order of costs, upload and bandwidth limits, monetization tools, and many more. Let's get started!
Our top list of 9 top podcast hosting platforms:
PodBean
With over ten years of experience, PodBean boasts an impressive 650,000 registered podcasters on its platform. PodBean gives users access to easily-to-read data like downloads according to date and time, trends, top 10 episodes audience demographics, listener numbers, as well as user retention. It also allows you to live stream your content to your viewers as well as allow guests and listeners to connect to your stream to listen or participate.
Important Features
- Plan available for free
- Customizable podcast website on all plans
- A customizable and embeddable podcast player to your website
- Native tools to make it easy Podcast to monetize
- Auto-sharing is enabled on social media accounts
- Live streaming that allows for listeners to call in and listen
Price range:
PodBean is one of the few platforms to offer the option of a no-cost plan. Their free plan supports mp3 file formats and includes 5 hours of space (500MB) and 100GB of bandwidth per month.
Alongside the no-cost plan PodBean has three plans for paid customers including Unlimited Audio ($9) Unlimited Plus ($29), and Network ($79). The unlimited Audio and Unlimited Plus plans feature unlimited storage space and bandwidth. However, the Network plan restricts bandwidth to 3TB with the option of purchasing more.
Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout is the hosting platform that is used by more than 100,000 podcasters. The platform provides advanced analytics to help you monitor the number of people who download your podcasts, from where they're located, as well as how people access your show. They also give you access to several tools , including an embeddable player on websites, an the option of a transcript for your episode, as well as "Dynamic Content," which lets you change pre and post-roll segments even after you've released.
When you upload your podcast via Buzzsprout, you'll be able to list your podcast on every major directories, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Alexa, Castro, Podchaser, and more. Additionally, the platform can automatically enhance uploaded audio files, making your podcast the most effective you can get.
Key Features
- Free plan available
- Customizable podcast website on all plans
- A customizable embeddable podcast player to your site
- Capability to design chapter markers for episodes
- Advanced statistics for tracking your progress
- Dynamic content allows you to alter posts and pre-rolls immediately after you have published
Price band:
Buzzsprout is also among the few podcast platforms that offer a trial plan for free. As for their paid options, they offer 3 plans: $12, $18, and $24 for a month. They do not offer any annual prices at the moment, so you'll have keep to their monthly prices. Only difference between these paid plans is how many upload time each plan provides.
RSS.com
RSS.com features a user interface that's well-known for its simplicity to usage. The platform provides users with access to features such as complete analytics, schedulers for episodes and embeddable episodes as well as social media sharing and an included podcasting website.
In addition to being different in comparison to other platforms hosting podcasts, RSS.com offers a donation button which you can activate or disable. This lets you access funding outside of the typical advertising and sponsorship methods. However, if ads and sponsorships are your thing, they have that too. Podcasters will find sponsors using RSS.com's Podcorn marketplace.
Key Features
- Unlimited episodes and music on all plans
- Customizable podcast website on every plan
- Embeddable podcast player for your website
- Native episode scheduler
- Optional donation button
- Ability to create chapter chapters, soundbites and transcripts within the platform
Price price range:
Although it appears that RSS.com officially offers 3 plans however, the majority of users will be able to avail plans that are the All in One Podcasting plan at $12.99 each month. Non-government organizations and students can benefit from a separate plan that is just for them for $4.99 per month. The Student plan comes with all the features of those in the All in One plan, however you'll need to get approved. If you have more than 10,000 daily downloads will be eligible for the Podcast Networks plan, but you'll need to reach out to the platform prior to signing up.
Captivate
Captivate is an excellent option for new podcasters. The dashboard for hosting is widely known by the podcast industry due to its simple user interface. This platform will help you to easily distribute your podcast episodes across all of the top podcast directories, sell your podcasts using built-in tools for marketing, and make money with private podcasting.
The key features
- A podcast site that you can customize on all plans
- Unlimited podcasts, uploads, as well as storage space on all plans
- Podcast embeddable, customizable player for your website
- Optional Captivate Sync(tm) WordPress Plugin for flexible hosting control
- Podcasting Premium/Private on all plans
- Unlimitable team members and customizable roles
Price range:
Captivate offers 3 plans which include: Personal ($19) as well as Professional ($49), and Professional ($99). There isn't a cost-free plan, you can enjoy seven days of trial free with each plan. The primary distinction between the paid plans is in the amount of networked podcasts and private ones, and private podcast subscribers they allow. Other than these diverse options, all plans are similar.
Transistor
Transistor is a high-quality podcast hosting platform that includes famous podcasts such as Cards Against Humanity. Transistor provides extensive analytics, private shows, and 1-click distribution to every one of the top directories. Additionally, they provide one-click distribution for Listen Notes and The Podcast Index two famous search engines that are dedicated to podcasts.
Transistor is an excellent choice for podcasts with multiple episodes. Transistor allows unlimited episodes for any plan. And they don't limit podcasters with bandwidth or storage or downloads per month, but rather by monthly downloads, which makes understanding limits much easier.
The key Features
- Podcast website that can be customized for all plans
- Unlimited podcasts on every hosting plan
- Dynamic Ad tool for intuitive and automatic ad insertion
- Automatically upload every episode to YouTube
- Exclusive RSS feeds that are unique for every show you have
- Embeddable podcast player for your website
Price range:
Transistor offers 3 pricing plans including Starter ($19) as well as Professional $49) and Professional ($99). There are only three features which change between plans plan. The three are: the amount of team members you are able to add as well as the number of listeners to your podcast that you have the option of having, and the limit on monthly downloads. Luckily, the Starter plan allows the possibility of up to 10,000 downloads per month, which is more than enough for most podcasters who are just beginning their journey.
Audioboom
Audioboom is a reasonably standard platform for most users, with distribution through popular directories with unlimited episodes and a high 15,000 download limit per month on their entry-level plan. Its approach to revenue generation is what makes it apart from others. Podcasters can access the marketplace for monetization once they've reached the 10,000 monthly downloads. For those with a substantial fan base, this shouldn't effect the quality of your show. If you're a small podcast, you could be missing out on the potential to make money once you've reached that pivotal milestone.
Key features
- Unlimited episodes per month
- 15,000 downloads per month on entry-level plan
- Distribution to most well-known directories
- IAB compliant analytics dashboard
- You will be able to join the world's largest advertising marketplace once you reach 10,000 downloads per month
Price band:
Audioboom's pricing plans are simple! The company offers two plans per month which include the Standard Plan ($9.99) and the Plus Plan ($19.99). The Standard plan permits the possibility of up to 15,000 downloads per month. If you're looking for more then you can upgrade to the Plus Plan allows up to 10,000. In case that's still not enough, you'll have to get in touch with them to request a customized Podcast Pros Account.
Resonate
Resonate is a great podcast hosting platform for those who require a single-stop solution. Their hosting plans provide some of the most popular attributes, they're not offering a customizable website, private/premium podcasting and support for customers on their lower-priced plans. But where Resonate lacks in common hosting features, it may be able to make up the difference with extra services.
Resonate offers a wide range of services for podcasts, such as producer, launch, production, video production, podcast marketing and enterprise service. These services enable podcasters to produce a top-quality highly produced and well-produced show in one platform.
Important attributes
- Automatically created podcast microsite
- Embeddable podcast player for your website
- Comprehensive analytics and statistics taken from an embedded player
- Built-in Dynamic Ad Insertion with timing-sensitive announcements as well as timed campaigns
Price range:
Resonate has two ready-to-go month-long plans: Standard ($25) and Premium ($49). Both of these include the ability to download unlimited episodes, and show users. However, the microsite is only available on the Premium plan which separates Resonate from other platforms that offer websites as part of the most basic plans. If neither the Basic or the Premium plan fits your requirements, you should consider the Professional plan which gives you more microsites and assistance options.
Castos
In contrast to other platforms for hosting podcasts, Castos is a WordPress plugin. It's built to integrate to Seriously Simple Podcasting and allows podcasters to control their podcast hosting from their WordPress site. Castos can also allow users to develop custom websites for podcasts with detailed analytics.
In comparison with Buzzsprout and Buzzsprout, their transcription services are much cheaper and cost the low of $0.10 every minute. If you're looking to start a podcast on YouTube, Castos will also immediately upload the episodes to YouTube with certain plans. Castos is focused on improvement and developing new features that will deliver analytic reports tailored to potential sponsors and playback duration metrics that will let you have a better idea of the time that listeners stay watching.
Important attributes
- A podcast site that you can customize on every plan
- Unlimited podcasts episode uploads
- Private podcasting feature for premium content
- Templates for web pages that are pre-built
- Automatic podcast transcriptions (optional)
- YouTube republishing
Price range:
Castos offers 4 pricing plans including Starter ($19) Growing ($49) Pro ($99) and Premium ($499) per month. Opting for annual payments will save you around 17% overall. Although the basic plan offers the basic features, only the Growth plan and above includes YouTube republishing.
Libsyn
Going all the way back to 2004, Libsyn is a long-time player in the podcast industry. It's an excellent platform for new creators and hosts who have short episodes with low episodes, or monetized podcasts. It is important to keep in mind that this platform is limited to uploads and bandwidth, which could cause issues when podcasts have a huge collection of content or a lot of listeners. To increase storage and bandwidth, you'll need to select larger plans, that's why this is the best platform for shows with small audiences, or those that earn a profit.
Important features
- Podcast website that can be customized for all plans
- built-in monetization via advertisements and podcasting in private
- Integrated visual-builder with Canva
- Create a custom iOS and Android app for your show
- Distribution to the most well-known podcast directories
Price range:
Libsyn has a wide range of 6 plans, 3 for audio podcasts and 3 to support video-based podcasts.
Audio Podcasts
Audio pricing starts with $5, and then go up to $15 or $20 per month. Unfortunately, Libsyn limits the number of hours of audio you are able to upload each month as well as the total storage capacity, in contrast to other platforms on this list. Opting for a more expensive package will give the most of both.
Video Podcasts
Plans for video podcasts start at $45 and increase to $150 and $75 monthly. At this level, the analytics remain the same, and only the upload and bandwidth limitations change with each month, increasing once the cost increases.
Final thought
Here you are! Nine of the best podcasting platforms. The choice of a platform is only the first of many decisions you'll have to make when you're a professional podcaster. When you're attempting to find the best platform, make sure to take into consideration your particular needs in the field of podcasting. Start by looking at the basic needs like uploading, bandwidth, downloads and budget. Next, think about the strategy to monetize your website and social media connectivity after narrowing the choices down to your top three choices.
Want more resources on starting your own podcast? Take a look at our previous podcasting posts: