Creating a podcast has been a rising hobby as of late. From regaling the vast internet audience with your tales of travel to mundane yet incredibly insightful stories of everyday life. But you might find that starting a podcast is no easy task, especially if you’re starting from scratch.
Not to mention if you plan on being successful, there are some things you’ll definitely need to learn before you dive into podcasting.
This is where podcast hosts come in handy as they can help you host your files (the clue’s in the name), assist you in uploading them online to the most popular podcast distributors, and save you some time in searching for and picking through all the possible podcast hosting options. Here are some of the best podcast hosting platforms currently on offer.
1. BuzzSprout
Let’s start with one of the oldest and most successful hosting platforms on the internet, BuzzSprout. One of the key advantages BuzzSprout offers is integrating your podcast, more specifically your audio itself, into your own website. So that you have a specialized embedded player that can distribute your podcast without integrating with other audio or video distributing platforms.
You can even make that player hold your entire playlist or maybe just a single episode to get your listeners excited about your newest playlist. And to make sure your podcast’s working properly, BuzzSprout offers an in-depth analytical dashboard so you can keep track of all your metrics in real-time.
If you’re very much inclined to organize everything properly, this platform will be perfect for you, as not only can it quickly upload and automatically schedule releases, but you can also create special chapters in each of your episodes. That way, your listeners can quickly jump to their interest points when they want to share a highlight.
And if you’re just a beginner, BuzzSprout’s perfect for you as it offers a free starting plan with reasonable upgrades.
2. Transistor
And if you want to grow your audience with professional help, look no further than Transistor. Some of the world’s most popular podcasts are hosted on Transistor, which comes as no surprise considering the features they offer.
Multiple users can access your account, which can really come in handy since the best podcasts usually include multiple people as presenters. Having them analyze your metrics can be invaluable in directing what kind of audience your podcast strives for. And it can even distribute your podcast to all the major distributors like YouTube or Spotify.
And on top of all that, you get to host unlimited shows, so you needn’t worry about your episode or time limit each month. Plus, Transistor’s extremely detailed dashboard really makes up for the fact that even the starter plan comes in without a free option.
But to ensure that you have the best pricing plan possible, Transistor offers a scaling option where, depending on how your audience grows, you can increase your plans to scale.
3. Podbean
With 10 years of experience, Podbean prides itself as one of the best podcast hosting platforms when it comes to ease of use. This means it’s perfect for newcomers that are looking for a free option to start out with.
With over 4 hours of free storage, you can really get a solid start before you need to upgrade to the unlimited plan, which by the way, costs a measly $9 a month, so even then, it’s a pretty cheap alternative to some more costly alternatives. Podbean also offers solid Patreon integration programs so that your listeners may support you in your entertainment endeavors.
And to ensure you’re getting as much outreach as possible, Podbean even automatically uploads and shares to other platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. If you’re new, Podbean might just be the platform for you. It even has a mobile app so you can keep track of your podcast on the go.
4. Podcastics
If you’re looking for something new and fresh, Podcastics is the thing you need. With an intuitive dashboard and great adaptability, you’ll be able to create amazing podcasts with little to no issues. It even offers a special management option that can help you manage multiple podcasts at once through the same dashboard.
One of the best features currently on offer is live streaming, so to no surprise, Podcastics has it readily available for you. After all, there’s no better engagement booster than responding to your audience live. You can even edit your podcast inside the platform, so you won’t need other 3rd party programs for podcast management.
You can even integrate modern sharing tech such as QR codes inside your podcast so that your podcast can be seen not only online but on physical stickers as well. And if you’re interested in where your listeners are tuning in from, you have access to a heat map as well. And with pricing starting around $5 a month, it’s really worth checking out.
5. Simplecast
One of the leading podcast hosting platforms, Simplecast got to such a prominent position by offering its users the complete podcast package and by ensuring that each aspect of your podcast can be managed on the platform.
That’s why Simplecast wants to streamline your podcast publishing process by offering you the ability to publish your podcast with a single click as well as automated scheduling and release on other platforms. This includes the ability to take highlights of your episode and release them on social media platforms as a form of a teaser for the upcoming episode.
Of course, Simplecast creates all those opportunities through its incredible analysis system, which you and your team members may utilize at any point. With the basic plan starting with $15 a month, you can have an incredible start in your podcast, building a career as you go along.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what the best podcast hosting platforms are, all that’s left is creating some wonderful content with your friends. And remember, the best podcasts are those where hosts feel natural and are having fun. No matter if you’re themed around a niche hobby or general slice of life news. With these hosting platforms, your success is all but ensured.