9 Top Podcast Platforms (2023)
To aid you in your search, we've created a brief introduction to the platform, highlighted its key features, and covered pricing plans for 9 of the most popular podcast platforms. We've ranked the platforms in order of cost, upload and bandwidth limitations, tools for monetization, and many more. Let's get started!
This is our list of the 9 top podcasting platforms:
PodBean
With more than 10 years of experience, PodBean boasts an impressive 650,000 podcasters on its platform. PodBean provides users with easy-to-read analytics like downloads by date and time, trends and top 10 podcasts, listener demographics, and user retention. This platform also lets you live stream your content to your viewers as well as allow guests and listeners to connect to your stream to join in or to listen.
Important features
- Free plan available
- A podcast site that you can customize on all plans
- Embeddable and customizable podcast player for your website
- Native tools that make it simple to podcast to monetize
- Auto-sharing is enabled on social media accounts
- Live streaming, with the capability for listeners to call in and listen
Price price range:
PodBean is one of the few platforms that offer an affordable plan. Their free plan supports MP3 formats, and comes with 5 hours of space (500MB) and 100GB of bandwidth per month.
Alongside the free plan, PodBean offers 3 paid plans that include Unlimited Audio ($9) Unlimited Plus ($29) and Network ($79). The unlimited Audio and Unlimited Plus plans feature unlimited storage space and bandwidth, while the Network plan restricts bandwidth to 3TB with the option of purchasing additional bandwidth.
Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout is the hosting platform of choice for more than 100,000 podcasters. The platform provides advanced analytics that let you track the number of people who download your podcasts, from where they're coming from, as well as the number of people access your show. It also gives you access to a range of tools like an embeddable episode player on websites, an transcripts of your episodes that are optional, and "Dynamic Content," which allows you to alter posts and pre-roll segments after you've released.
After uploading your audio to Buzzsprout, you'll be able to showcase your podcast on most of the leading directories including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Alexa, Castro, Podchaser, and more. Additionally, the platform can automatically enhance uploaded audio files, making your audio the best possible.
Important Features
- Free plan available
- Customizable podcast website on all plans
- Embeddable customizable podcast player on your site
- The ability to create chapter markers to mark episodes
- Advanced statistics to track your development
- Dynamic content lets you change pre and post-roll segments after publishing
Price band:
Buzzsprout is also among the few podcast platforms to offer a trial plan for free. For their paid plans They offer three plans including $12, $18, and $24 monthly. There is no annual pricing at this time therefore you'll need choose to use the month-to-month pricing. The only difference between their paid plans is the number of upload hours each plan includes.
RSS.com
RSS.com features a user interface that's known for its ease and ease of use. It gives its users access to features like comprehensive analytics, episode scheduling as well as an embeddable player for episodes, social media sharing, and a podcasting website that's included.
Setting itself apart from other platforms for podcast hosting, RSS.com offers a donation button that you can turn on or off. The donation button lets you get funding outside of the typical ads and sponsorship options. However, if ads and sponsorships are your thing there are other options. Podcasters are able to find sponsors through RSS.com's Podcorn marketplace.
Key features
- Unlimited episodes and audio on every plan
- A podcast site that you can customize on all plans
- Embeddable podcast player for your website
- Native episode scheduler
- Donation button with donation option
- The ability to make chapter chapters, soundbites as well as transcripts, within the platform.
Price range:
It appears RSS.com has three plans available, most users will only be eligible for the All in One Podcasting plan with a price of $12.99 per 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 has similar features to that of the All in One plan, but you'll have to be accepted. Any person who has more than 10,000 downloads per day 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 a good choice for beginning podcasters. Its hosting dashboard is well-known by the podcast industry due to its simple interface. The platform allows you to easily distribute your podcast episodes across all of the top podcast directories, market with integrated marketing tools and make money with private podcasting.
The key attributes
- Customizable podcast website on every plan
- Unlimited Podcasts, Uploads, and storage space on all plans
- Podcast embeddable, customizable player for your website
- Additional Captivate Sync(tm) WordPress Plugin for the flexibility of hosting control
- Premium or private podcasting available with all plans
- Unlimited team members with customizable roles
Price band:
Captivate has three plans available which include: Personal ($19), Professional ($49) and business ($99). There isn't a trial plan for free however, there is the free trial period of 7 days for every plan. The major differences between paid plans are in the number of networked podcasts, private podcasts as well as subscribers to private podcasts they allow. Outside of these variable options, all plans are the same.
Transistor
Transistor is a top-quality podcast hosting platform , which includes famous podcasts such as Cards Against Humanity. They provide extensive analytics, private shows, and 1-click distribution to each of the popular directories. They also offer 1-click broadcasting via Listen Notes and The Podcast Index two well-known search engines devoted to podcasts.
Transistor is an excellent choice if you have multiple podcasts. Transistor allows unlimited episodes on any plan. They don't restrict podcasters by storage or bandwidth but only monthly downloads, which helps to understand limits more easily.
The key attributes
- A podcast site that you can customize on every plan
- Unlimited podcasts on every hosting plan
- Dynamic Ad tool for intuitive and automatic ad insertion
- Upload each episode automatically to YouTube
- Unique RSS feeds for every show you have
- Embeddable podcast player for your website
Price price range:
Transistor has three price plans including Starter ($19) and Professional ($49)) and the Business plan ($99). The only features which change between plans plan. They are the number of team members you can add as well as the number of podcast listeners who are private you are able to have, as well as the limit on monthly downloads. Fortunately, the Starter program allows you to download up to 10,000 monthly downloads, which is more than enough for podcasters new to the field.
Audioboom
Audioboom is a reasonably standard platform that is suitable for the majority of users. offering distribution to popular directories with unlimited episodes and an impressive 15,000 download limit per month on their entry-level plan. The platform's approach to the monetization process is what sets this platform apart from the others. Podcasters are able to access the marketplace for monetization once they reach 10000 monthly downloaded. If you have a significant fan base, this shouldn't effect the quality of your show. But if you're a smaller podcast, you could be missing out on the potential to earn money until you hit that pivotal milestone.
The 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 price range:
Pricing plans for Audioboom are straightforward! The company offers two plans per month that include which are the Standard Plan ($9.99) and the Plus Plan ($19.99). The Standard plan permits as much as 15,000 downloads per month. If you need more, The Plus Plan allows up to 50k. If that's not enough, get in touch with them to request a customized Podcast Pros Account.
Resonate
Resonate is a fantastic podcast hosting platform for those who require a single-stop solution. Although their plans for hosting offer certain standard options, they're missing the ability to customize their website, private/premium podcasting, as well as customer service for their cheaper plans. However, where Resonate lacks in common features for hosting, it could compensate with additional features.
Resonate has a broad range of podcasting services. These include launch, producer videos, marketing, as well as enterprise services. These additional services allow podcasters to create a high-quality production, highly-produced shows all on the same platform.
Key Features
- Automatically generated podcast microsite
- Embeddable podcast player for your website
- In-depth analytics from embedded player
- Inbuilt Dynamic Ad insertion that allows for time-sensitive announcements and timed campaigns
Price range:
Resonate has two ready-to-go monthly plans: Basic ($25) as well as Premium ($49). Each of them comes with the ability to download unlimited episodes and users of the show. Unfortunately, the microsite is available only on the Premium plan, separating Resonate from platforms with websites included in their most basic plans. If you find that neither the basic or the Premium plan fits your requirements, you should consider the Professional plan which provides more of a microsite as well as support capabilities.
Castos
Unlike other podcast hosting platforms, Castos is a WordPress plugin. It's specifically designed to work to Seriously Simple Podcasting and allows podcasters to manage their podcasts directly on their WordPress site. Castos also allows users to develop custom websites for podcasts and detailed analytics.
In comparison to Buzzsprout and Buzzsprout, their transcription services are significantly less costly and cost the low of $0.10 every minute. If you're looking to start your own podcast through YouTube, Castos will also automatically upload episodes to YouTube in specific plans. The platform is focused on improvement and developing innovative features that can provide analytic reports tailored to potential advertisers and metrics on playback duration, so you'll know how long listeners are listening to your podcast.
The key attributes
- Customizable podcast website on all plans
- Unlimited podcasts episode uploads
- Private podcasting feature for premium content
- Templates for web pages that are pre-built
- Automatic podcast transcriptions (optional)
- YouTube is republishing
Price price range:
Castos provides four price plans: Starter ($19) Growing ($49) and Pro ($99) as well as Premium ($499) each month. Paying annually could save you about 17% over the course of your contract. Although the basic plan offers all the features you would expect, the growth plan and higher includes YouTube Republishing.
Libsyn
From 2004 to the year 2004, Libsyn is an established player in the world of podcasts. It's a great platform for new creators, hosts with short episodes and a low episode count or podcasts with monetization. Important to know that the platform restricts uploads and bandwidth. This could cause issues with podcasts that have a massive collection of content or a lot of listeners. To increase storage and capacity, you'll need choose larger plans which is why this platform is best suited for shows with small audiences, or those that earn a profit.
The key attributes
- A podcast site that you can customize on every plan
- Inbuilt monetization using advertisements and podcasting in private
- Visual-builder integrated with Canva
- Create a custom iOS as well as Android application for your show
- Distribution to the most of the most popular directories for podcasts
Price band:
Libsyn offers a grand total of six plans. 3 are for audio podcasts and three to support video-based podcasts.
Audio Podcasts
The audio pricing plans start at $5 and go up to $15 or $20 for a month. Unfortunately, Libsyn limits the number of audio hours you can upload per month and total storage capacity, in contrast to other options on this list. Selecting a pricey package will give the most of both.
Video Podcasts
Video podcast plans start at $45 and increase to $150 and $75 monthly. The analytics remain the same, but only upload and bandwidth limitations change, again increasing as the cost increases.
Final Thoughts
Here you are! Nine of the most popular podcasting platforms. The choice of a platform is only the initial decision that you'll face as a producer. As you continue to research for the right platform, be sure to consider your own specific needs for podcasting. Consider your primary needs such as uploading, bandwidth downloads, and budget. Next, think about the strategy for monetizing your site and the social media connection when you've narrowed your list down to your top three choices.
Want more resources on starting an audio podcast? Look through our other podcasting blog posts: