Looking for the best podcasting hosting sites in 2022?
We provide the list of the best podcasting hosting sites where you can find some that fit your podcast business.
If choosing one of the best podcast platforms for your show is holding you back not to getting started, then you’re in the right place.
Are you thinking of starting a successful podcast and changing your life by sharing your audio content with the world?
A podcast is one of the best ways to promote your business and gain more visitors to help you generate more leads and convert them into customers.
If you’re new to the podcast, then you know that some tools and equipment are required to help you get started.
As a podcaster, you have to start by choosing the podcast hosting site of your choice. It may be difficult and time-consuming as there are tons of hosting with similar features.
How do you choose the best podcasting hosting in 2022?
In this post, I will provide some information on the best podcast hosting to guide you in finding the one that fits your business.
There are free and paid options, and everything depends on what you want to achieve when selecting the hosting.
The review will state some features of each podcasting hosting software, such as Ease of use, integration, customer support etc.
If you have started a podcast and want to find better hosting, some of the best hosting sites allow you to migrate your podcast into their platform without any stress.
From our research and testing, here are some of the best podcast hosting platforms you may want to check for a better experience with excellent results.
You will find more information about each of the podcast companies below and learn more about their features, pricing, integration and more.
Before we continue, it is crucial to understand what podcast hosting means; this will give you more idea on how to choose the best hosting for your podcast.
What is the Best Podcast Hosting 2022?
The best podcast hosting sites are Podbean, Buzzsprout, Captivate, Transistor, Podcast websites, Castos etc.
It is fascinating to start a podcast, record audio with the best equipment to share your knowledge, skills and your passion to the world.
But don’t forget that your hosting platform determines how people will get access to your podcast before listing to your voice.
This guide will save you time and provide the best options to choose from, so you can concentrate on recording great podcasts that people will love.
My Top Pick Best Podcast Hosting Sites In 2022
1.BuzzSprout
Buzzsprout is my #1 recommendation. They have been in the business since 2009. They offer free podcast hosting as a great option to test their service.
Their free plan allows you to upload up to 2 hours of content and host all your files for 90 days.
You can then later upgrade your account to a paid plan. The paid plan starts from $12 to $24 per month.
Buzzsprout hosts your entire files. They offer unlimited storage, 250GB of bandwidth per month. They allow you to embed your podcast player into your website and feature your episodes.
They make it easy to get all your podcast listed in all podcast directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Alexa, Overcast, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, PocketCasts, Castro, Castbox, and more.
With these features, a podcaster can reach millions of potential listeners without extra cost.
Analytic Feature
With their advanced podcast statistics, you can track your progress. You can know the number of people who are listing to your podcast per month.
It helps you to find out apps people are using to listen to your podcast and where they are listening to the podcast.
This will help you to understand your audience, which country are they coming from etc
Another great thing about Buzzsprout is that they automatic optimise episodes. Only need to upload your audio file, and Buzzsprout will automatically optimise them.
You can also publish your episode immediately or schedule your episode to go live.
Transcriptions
You can also transcribe your episodes inside your Buzzsprout to make the podcast more accessible to search engines, speed-readers, and to aid the hearing impaired.
Monetise your podcast
The best way to generate income from your podcast is to monetise it. They partnered with some brands to help get you to monetize all your podcasts.
Buzzsprout Pricing
The Buzzsprout has four plans
The price starts from $12 to $24 per month. If you’re just starting, you can start with the lowest price, 12 dollars to upload up to 3 hours per month.
The $24 per month allows you to upload up to 12 hours per month.
Get Buzzsprout free account now
2. PodBean
Podbean is a powerful way to start a podcast; they provide everything you need to begin a successful podcast. Podbean has both free and paid offers, so you can test their service by creating a free account and later upgrade when you are satisfied with what they offer you.
PodBean is among the best if not the best podcast hosting sites with all the necessary features podcasters need for starting a podcast.
You can start with the FREE plan which allows you to upload up to 5 hours of podcast, plus you get 100GB of bandwidth.
This plan gives you almost everything to start a podcast, and you can upgrade later to their $9 per month plans to get more features, unlimited space etc
If you are a professional podcaster or you’re serious about taking your podcast business into the next level, I recommended upgrading to the $29 per month Podbean Unlimited plus plan.
This plan is the best for video podcasts and podcast monetization. I know you will not want to waste your time and efforts without monetizing your podcast.
They have been in the system for the past ten years helping podcasters to start and grow their podcast.
What Good About The Podbean
What is amazing about them is that you can publish your audio and video podcasts. It only takes a few steps to get your podcast up and running. They keep the process simple, so you can focus on just making the best podcast without any stress.
They distribute all your podcast to all destinations such as Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, the Podbean Podcast App and more.
If you want to get your podcast heard by thousands, even millions of people all over the world, then Podbean podcasting hosting is the best platform to host your podcast.
Measure Your Podcast Success
With the Podbean platform, it is straightforward to measure your podcast success. They provide industry-leading statistics, so podcasters can track how their podcast is doing and get insights into the audience.
Podbean Help You To Monetize Your Podcast
Podbean is among the best podcast hosting platform that provides complete podcast monetization tools. You can monetize your podcast by using a dynamic built-in advertising system and other programs such as Patron Program, and Premium Podcast service.
Podbean Pricing Plans
The Podbean has four pricing plans starting from free to paid.
Basic Plan
The basic plan is free, and you don’t need to pay any fees, but the disadvantage is that you can get enough space and time for your podcast, but good to test the platform and see what they offer.
The storage space is only allowing you to upload 5 hours podcast and 100GB monthly bandwidth.
Unlimited Audio: $9 per month
This plan allows audio podcasting with no limit: unlimited storage space, and unmetered bandwidth.
Unlimited Plus: $29 per month
The unlimited plus plan is best for video podcasts and podcast monetization. If you want to include a video podcast and monetize all your podcasting, then this plan is the best option.
With this plan, you can synchronize your video podcast into YouTube directly without any stress.
3.Captivate
Captivate is a new podcast hosting platform with great features. It was built by a well-known team who has run a successful podcast website for many years. They provide everything podcasters need to succeed.
Here are a few of their features
- Advance analytic
- Easy Customizable
Captivate was designed to work beautifully on every device from laptop to phone; each layout has been crafted for any device so that people can access your podcast anywhere at any time.
In-built Calls To Action
With this feature, you can easily direct people to your website, store, product or service through their in-built call to action by Linking directly from your podcast player. It will help you to generate more leads and grow your business.
Integration
Synchronise your podcast to your website with their simple WordPress plugin, a great way to get more people to your podcast.
The design helps you to focus on audience growth & the expansion of your audio influence.
Import Your Podcast for Free
If you hosted your podcast on another platform such as Libsyn, Blubrry, Simplecast and more, you could move them to Captivate platform with their quick, simple import tool.
24/7 support in case you have any issues with your account.
Captivate Pricing
They have three payment plans starting from $19 to $99 per month based on the number of downloads per month.
Podcaster: $19/month with up to 10,000 downloads
Audio Influencers: The audio influencers plan $49 per month with up to 50,000 downloads.
Podcaster Brand: At $99 per month, it allows you up to 100,000 downloads.
All plans come with an unlimited number of podcasts, unlimited team members, marketing tools, a new podcast player and advanced analytics.
Captivate is a new player when it comes to podcast hosting, but their features and advanced tools, help them to established and grow faster.
If you’re looking for the best place to host an unlimited podcast that allows unlimited team members, with great features, then you can give Captivate a try.
Start Captivate 7-day free trial
4.Transistor
The Transistor is among the best professional services that host some popular podcasts. They provide podcasters with everything they need to grow their audience. They focus on brands such as Cards Against Humanity and people who are passionate about the podcast.
The Transistor hosting has a powerful tool with great features such as:
- Ability to manage user par account
- Hosting unlimited podcast
- Distribute your podcast into different channels
They allow you to host unlimited shows on the same account for one monthly price, no cost.
Podcast analytics
With their analytics, you can know the number of people who are listening to your show every week. Podcasters can track their most popular episodes, average downloads, and where their listeners are located. This feature will allow you to know where you are getting more audiences.
One thing I like about Transistor is that you can embed your podcast audio anywhere. For example, you can embed your episodes on the following:
- Your website (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix)
- A landing page ( Unbounce, Leadpages)
The features will allow you to market your podcast across different channels.
Generate a website for your podcast.
With Transistor, you can generate a website for your podcast which will automatically update every time you add a new episode. This will help you to promote your podcast to your listeners.
Moving your podcast from another host to Transistor is very easy with a simple click. You only need to enter your current RSS feed, and Transistor will import your MP3s and show notes for you in a matter of seconds.
If you have a show from any of the podcast hosts such as Podbean, Blubrry, Soundcloud, Libsyn, Simplecast and Anchor, you can move them into Transistor.
Transistor Pricing
They have four pricing plans. Starter, professional, business and enterprise.
The starter starts from $19 per month for 10,000 downloads per month which are suitable for most podcasters.
The professional plan starts from $49 per month. This plan comes with 50,000 downloads per month.
All plans come with an in-built website.
Start Transistor two weeks trial
5. Castos
Best WordPress Podcast Hosting Solution
The Castos podcast hosting is designed for WordPress lovers. It has incredible features and easily integrates with WordPress.
They make it easier to manage your podcast feed and upload a new episode from your WordPress. With Casto’s plugin, you can manage your podcast from your dashboard.
You can upload your episodes, create multiple feeds and view listener analytics to know more about your visitors.
Repurpose Your Podcast Content
Another great feature is that you can automatically publish your podcast to YouTube in one click to increase your podcast’s reach.
They help you to make money from your podcast by pioneering the next generation of Premium Subscriptions. You can charge for access to some (or all) of your podcast episodes. This is one of the best ways to monetise your podcast.
Do you know you can transcribe your podcast on autopilot?
With Casto’s plugin, you can transcribe your podcast with a click from your dashboard and pay a very low, flat fee per audio minute.
Castos Pricing
Castos has three plans, starter, growth and pro.
The starter plan starts from $19 per month. The growth plan is $34 while the pro plan is $49.
Costos has 14 days free trial.
6. Fusebox.FM
Great Podcast Hosting platform from Pat Flynn
Fusebox.FM formally known as Smart podcast player was created by a well-known and one of the top entrepreneurs, a famous podcaster, Pat Flynn of the Smart Passive Income.
He has wide experience, and through his expertise and the challenges people are facing, he came up with a podcast player for people to have a better experience when listing to a podcast.
He designed a smart podcast player with great features such as email capturing, speed control, light vs dark and more.
Fusebox FM is the ONLY podcast player that allows podcasters to capture their listeners’ email addresses to grow their business.
Another great feature about Smart podcast player is that it works with WordPress. The Smart Podcast Player is explicitly designed for self-hosted WordPress websites.
It is a built-in mobile player, where you can adjust them automatically to fit tablets and other cell phones.
Highlight each episode of your podcast
The smart podcast player allows you to highlight one specific podcast episode, song, or sound clip, so visitors can easily find your podcast no matter where you place them.
If you’re a blogger and love podcasts, then this tool helps you to upload all your episodes into your blog page or post for your readers, and then capture their email addresses to build the list.
7.Podcast Websites
The Podcast Websites take a new dimension and provide everything for you to create a successful podcast that you can monetise without the need to spend extra money.
Podcast Websites is simple, powerful & scalable. They make it easy to grow your online platform with your voice on your terms.
Here is what you will get when signing up with the podcast website
- Web hosting
- Website creation and development
- Unlimited Podcast hosting
- Personal support 24/7
- A simple drag & drop design interface
- Domain name
- And so much more.
Podcast Websites provide everything you need to have a professional podcast website launched in no time.
They ensure you benefit from all of the quality of the world’s best web creation tools while adding podcaster specific features.
You get full support and a unique podcasting workflow experience that allows you to only focus on creating & growing your show.
Podcast websites have now included academy membership. You will get a fully stocked video tutorial library, thriving support community and monthly Academy education sessions where they will feature world-class marketers, podcasters etc.
No design skills required
You will get a complete done for your website with all the features needed to grow your podcast.
You will also get all these:
- Very unique podcasting specific themes
- Powerful landing pages
- Completely mobile & tablet compatible
Integrations
You can integrate your website with the following tools to grow your email list.
- Aweber
- Clickfunnels
- Infusionsoft
- Convertkit
- MailChimp
- And more
Podcast Websites Pricing
The podcast websites cost $67 per month.
Try Podcast Websites for 7 days Free
8.Audio Boom
Audioboom is another podcast hosting you can check, especially if you’re a beginner. They allow you to Host, distribute and monetise your podcast.
One of the best features of AudioBoom is that they help you to monetise your episode once you have reached 10k play per episode.
You can invite others to collaborate on your show. Also, manage permissions to get help running your show or work with a co-host.
Pricing
The price starts at $9 per month.
With $9 per month, here is what you will get: Unlimited episodes per month, 10,000 plays per month or 25,000 with Plus Plan.
You can distribution your podcast via Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts Spotify and more.
The advanced analytics with breakdowns by device, app, and geographic region
Embeddable Players for your social media and website integration
Learn more about AudioBoom
What Is the Best Free Podcast Hosting
There are free podcast hosting platforms that can help you to get started. Also, you can get some low-cost podcast depends on your budget.
If you’re new to the podcast, you can start with a low cost or free hosting service and upgrade later if you satisfy with their features and support.
The only downside is that you may not get enough hours of content for your podcast; some may even limit the number of downloads.
Below is the list of the podcast hosting that offers both free plan and trial to test their service.
Best Free Podcast Hosting of 2022
If you want to start your podcast with a free podcast hosting platform, then check the list below. Some of them also offer a paid plan but the free plan is good to get started.
Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout free hosting plan provides everything you need to host your podcast compared to other hosting sites.
With Buzzsprout free plan, you can upload up to 2 hours of podcast and host episode for 90 days. If you’re starting, their free plan is enough to get going.
They are straightforward to use; you can upload your file to all the major podcast directories. They allow you to track your listeners with their advanced analytics.
Pricing
Free -$24 per month
9.Blubrry
Blubrry is another excellent hosting for podcasters. They have the best WordPress plugin for podcasters with more than 75,000 installs.
The plugin is free to use, with the SEO option to optimise your podcast. They called themselves the most flexible tools for the podcasting.
Features
The easy integration with WordPress
Advance statistic with the free hosting plan
You can upload more than your monthly limit at no extra cost. Their free plugin has major podcasting features such as iTunes compliant RSS feeds, in-page media players, podcast SEO tools etc.
Pricing
The Blubrry plan starts with $12 which offer 100MB Storage per month with No-Fault overage
Unlimited bandwidth hosting service. You can upgrade if you need a professional plan.
They have four different plans starting from $12 to $80, which offer from 100MB to 1,000 per month of storage space.
Blubrry has become one of the top-rated podcast hostings due to its excellent features and its flexibility.
Try Blubrry now
10.Libsyn
Libsyn is among the best podcast that focuses on helping podcasters to monetise their work. They started podcast hosting as far as 2004.
They have more than 62 million audiences with over 35,000 hosted podcast. You can get between 50 and 500 MB of monthly storage, provide a report and analytics.
Their plan starts at $5, which is very affordable to begin hosting your podcast with Libsyn, but the storage is limited to 50MB. To get more storage, you will need to upgrade to $15 per month plus 250MB.
Most people recommend Libsyn because they have been in the market for years, but there are better platforms now.
11.Megaphone
Megaphone is a smartest podcast tools to publish, monetise, and measure your podcast business. You can schedule and publish your content across all major podcast apps with one click.
It has an intuitive design, so you only need to focus your energy making that hit show and less time figuring out how to succeed with your podcast business.
The megaphone was built with smart and flexible. All users have full control over the listener experience. Their dynamic insertion tools let you control where, when, and in what order ads and promos appear in your show.
You will need to request to join the Megaphone to host your podcast.
12.Podomatic
Podomatic helps your podcast to be played directly from Facebook and Twitter feeds. You can ALSO embed your episodes on your site or any other social media network.
They partnered with Weebly to provide the powerful drag-and-drop website builder to all Podomatic premium members, hosting and domain included without any coding.
You will get all the features you need to get started with their free accounts. You get up to500 MB Storage, and you can store up to 6 hours of recording for free.
Podomatic provides 15 GB Bandwidth per month and up to 180 hours of non-stop listening. This is enough to get started.
13.Podserve.fm
Podserve.fm is a podcast hosting platform that promises to help podcasters launch a successful podcast without any problem.
They do all the work for you and get your podcast to feature on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast directories.
Whether you are new or have years of experience in podcasting, they will help you to make your podcasting reach the world. You can choose where you want to make the podcast available such as iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc.
Another great thing about the Podserve. fm is that they are the only podcast host that helps podcasters get listeners.
Like other podcast hosting platforms, Podserve help promote your podcast. They will make sure your podcast saw by thousands of people.
You can start 14 days free trial without a credit card. They have only one payment plan, which is $19 per month.
With $19 per month, you get all the features and unlimited space and bandwidth.
14.BackTrack fm
Backtracks hosting claimed to be the world most advanced podcast analytics platform. They connect creators and advertisers for the best content for the best ads.
Backtracks Podcast Analytics track and let you know if a download resulted in a play. They collect depth of audio and listener data.
Another thing about this platform is that they Track listener engagement like how long a listener listened and not just simple counts.
The Backtracks help the podcasters to learn what is working and not in their podcast content and ads.
They create tools for publishers to win in podcasting and help analyzed the tools that podcast publishers need to thrive, then they created them.
With the Backtracks measurement and monetization expertise, their tools set you up for podcasting success. You may check the Backtracks free podcast hosting site if you want to host your podcast with the best free podcasting hosting.
What is Podcast Hosting?
Provide RSS feed and file hosting for your podcast. When a visitor subscribes to a podcast, the podcast host sends the audio files and media to the platforms directly.
They store and distribute podcast audio that you will submit to podcast directories such as to Apple and others.
How Do I Choose The Best Podcast Hosting Service?
Choosing the best podcast hosting sites may be a difficult task and time consuming if you are a beginner. Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself when choosing your podcast platform:
- The audio storage and the file you will be uploading per month
- Do you need to integrate your podcast with WordPress site?
- Does the platform has the analytic where you can track all the stats such as traffic, where they are coming from, the number of download per month etc
- Would you be able to monetise your podcast if there is need?
- How much would you willing to invest?
- Dose the podcat hosting is simple to use with a friendly interface?
These are a few questions you may need to answer when choosing the one that fit your podcast business.
If you’re a beginner, you don’t need to invest in hosting that can cost you much money. Start from the small plan that has all the features requires hosting your podcast, and later upgrading if you need more storage etc.
Check the following before you sign for any hosting:
Uploading Time: Many podcasts hosts only give you two hours of uploading time per month, while some offer you unlimited. Determine the number of hours you need per month before choosing anyone.
Bandwidth: Find out if you can get unlimited storage or you can upgrade if there is a need.
Monthly Downloads: Some of the podcast sites have different monthly downloads.
Pricing: You can save a lot of money if you can afford to pay annually instead of monthly. Make sure you check their pricing plans to find out.
Features: This is crucial if you want to succeed in your podcast business. Only choose the site that has all the necessary feature requires to host a successful podcast.
Start with free trial: Most of the best podcast hosting platforms have a free trial to test their service.
How To Start a Podcast: Step By Step Guide
Now that you know the list of best podcasting platforms to host your podcast. Let look at the step by step to create and publish your first podcast.
Whether new or professional, this guide will help you and give you more inspiration to market your podcast to get maximum results.
There are more and more people developing an interest in listening to podcasts than ever before.
Research shows that the number of Americans listening to a podcast every week has increased significantly to 120% over the past few years. And more than 92 million Americans listen to a podcast every month.
As the podcast’s audience continues to grow, this is a better time to start a podcast for your business, brand etc.
This guide will help you to launch your podcast and take advantage of these new materials that are available to have success.
People are not just creating a podcast; they are creating a podcast because it makes a difference.
The question is:
What makes podcasts different?
Because podcasts allow you to engage your audience uniquely with a long form’s content, it is more convenient for people to listening than reading blog posts. People can listen to podcasts while working out, driving even when doing minor work at home.
Research shows that there are at least over 600 million blogs, 24 million YouTube channels, but less than 800,000 podcasts in Apple Podcasts.
So, there is an opportunity to reach more audience and attract more customers with your podcasts.
Now that you understand how a podcast can make different in growing your brand and business. Let drive into the step to get started with podcasting.
Below is step by step to make your podcast goes live in less than 48 hours.
Step 1: Develop a Concept
The first step is to develop a podcast concept. There are podcasts about culture, neuroscience, marketing, history, health & wellness etc. The only limit to what you archive depends on your efforts and how ready you are in this booming marketing model.
Before we continue, you need to ask yourself these questions
Why am I starting a podcast? And what is my podcast is about?
It will help you to overcome some obstacle along the way and make your podcast dream reality.
What’s your goal for creating a podcast?
- To help you, here are some common goals in podcasting:
- To become an authority in your market/niche
- To generate leads and acquire customers
- To share an important message about your brand and business
Make sure to write your answer down so you can refer to it when needed.
Now you know the primary goal of creating a podcast, let’s move on into the next important aspect.
Pick a podcast topic
The first thing is to figure out your show’s topic or theme. Your topic can be as broad as marketing, news, wellness or focused as discussions about recent events such as Black Live Matter.
The most important is to be passionate about whatever topic you choose. It should be something you can research and regularly discuss. Once you have a good topic to discourse in your podcast, it’s time for market research.
There are many places you can search your show’s topic to make sure you’re in the right track such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify etc., see if there are already related podcasts.
If there are, make sure to listen to some episodes to see what they’re doing and think of best ways they could improve.
Name your podcast
You already know the topic to discourse in your podcast; the next step is to pick a podcast name. Choose something memorable, catchy, and that can easily rank for your podcast’s relevant keywords.
Make sure to pay adequate attention to the following:
- Title
- Author
- Description tags of your podcast.
Most professional podcasters use the title, author, and description fields for search.
Make your title specific and relate to your market. A podcast name that is too vague won’t attract many subscribers even if the content is impressive.
Use only related and relevant keywords
You don’t want to include unnecessary keywords in your title, but make it easy for people to find your podcast. You can add a brief description in the title tag to help search results.
That is how to develop a podcast concept. In step two, we will look into how to select the best podcast format.
Step 2: Choose the Podcast Format
You can create a podcast without firstly knowing the format. Many podcasts have a single host, while others are scripted stories or feature interviews.
Make sure to choose a format that fits what your podcast is about—there is no correct answer regarding podcast formats.
There are some standard podcast formats, so let’s talk about them.
- Educational podcasts
- Scripted non-fiction
- Interview podcasts
- News recaps
- Scripted fiction
You can learn more about the podcast format here
Your Podcast length
Most new podcasters get confused about the length of the podcast. And if you’re new, you may probably be thinking to what extent should your podcast.
But the answer is that there is no specific length. It depends on what you want to archive or the information you want to pass across your listeners.
There is no actual length for a podcast episode.
Some Podcasts can take averages of 2 hours per episode, while some shows are 25 – 30 minutes long. But make sure it is worth the time of the listeners.
All podcasts can benefit from editing, so be sure to cut out the parts of the episode that don’t add any value to the listener.
If you’re producing high quality and engaging content, people will keep listening.
Now that your podcast is ready, it is time to discuss the podcast schedule.
Podcast publishing schedule
The publishing schedule may depend on the time; it may be a full-time, part-time job or doing it on the side.
You might decide to publish every day, twice in a week or once in a month
If you have enough time and get results, we recommend publishing once or twice a week, it will help you to:
Develop; build a relationship and connection with your listeners. If you publish daily, your listeners will start to schedule your podcast into their day.
A weekly podcast schedule will help you to build more connections with your listeners.
Grow your Brand: Releasing episodes consistently can keep your podcasting going viral. You want to build up the habit of creating podcasting to continue to grow your show.
When you have your podcast format, approximate podcast length, and publishing schedule, it is time to invest in the best podcast equipment.
Step 3: Podcast equipment and software
Step 3 is super important; without equipment or software, you can’t create a podcast. You don’t need expensive podcast equipment to get started.
You can even start recording your podcast with just an iPhone and a pair of headphones. Remember, the content is the most crucial part, not the equipment.
It’s relatively simple to begin the process with little experience.
People don’t listen to a podcast because it has sound quality; they’re less concerned about the sound quality if the content of your episode is excellent.
Let look at some of the best equipment to create your podcast.
Podcast Equipment
Choosing the best podcasting software can be confusing, especially if you don’t have experience in audio recording. To guide you, we put together the podcast equipment packages based on the number of people you’re recording.
- Audio-Technica ATR2100x – $99
- Samson Q2U (great alternative) – $60
- Foam Ball – $3
If you’re a cohost, you need to 2x of each of the software
Other Recommended accessories
- Rode PSA1 Boom Arm – $120
- On-Stage MY420 Shock Mount – $25
- Audio-Technica M20x Headphones – $50
- Newer Pop-Filter – $9
Best Podcast Software
Your podcast won’t be quality if you don’t have tools at hand to edit it to remove all the aspect that doesn’t worth listening.
Once you complete recorded your podcast, it’s time to make edits and adjustments to get the best sound quality that people will love.
The best thing is that podcast editing software is very affordable. Below is the list of the best podcasting recording and editing software you can get to make your work easier.
Best Podcast Recording and Editing Software
Audacity: Free – Windows, Linux & Mac
Audacity is the most popular podcast editor, and it is free. It allows users to make changes to the original code easily. You can easily customize your user experience and make improvements where it is necessary.
Audacity also has pro-level features, so your podcast software won’t hold you back. But the only downside to Audacity is that it doesn’t provide training on how to use the tool, but tons of videos and tutorials are available to help new users learn how to use the platform.
Below is free training to learn how to use Audacity.
How to use Audacity to edit a Podcast
Complete Audacity Podcast Tutorial
Garage Band: Free – Mac & iOS
GarageBand is another excellent tool that you can pre-install on most Apple computers. You can download it for free if you don’t have it.
The GarageBand is a little bit more intuitive interface than Audacity. It is only available for macOS and iOS, but not for Windows computers or Android phones.
Complete GarageBand Podcast Tutorial
Hindenburg: $95 – Mac and Windows
Hindenburg is a premium audio editing software for radio and podcasts. It is more expensive than Audacity, but it also offers many built-in podcasting features.
They have a 30-day trial. You can start with the free trial.
Additionally, you can also check the following podcast editing software.
Podcast interview recordings Software
If you want to interview guests on your podcast or cohost, you must record your show from different locations.
The below tools make it easy to make long-distance recordings without losing quality.
SquadCast: $20/month
SquadCast makes it easy to set up a remote podcast interview and get high-quality audio. It records lossless audio, offers video conferencing and provides separate tracks for each speaker.
Zoom: Free
Zoom is a powerful tool, and one of the go-to online interview platforms for podcasting. The audio quality is above-average and ease-of-use for remote podcast interviews.
Zoom allows you to save each speaker’s audio to separate tracks, but it does not provide lossless audio like other software such as SquadCast.
You can also use Skype, but not recommended due to sound quality.
Now it is time to record your first episode.
Step 4: Recording your first episode
If you’re just starting, recording your first episode may seem complicated, but once you master it, very easy to do without feeling inferior.
Editing is where a lot of podcasters give up. Many newbies get caught up when recording a podcast and quickly lose interest when things get tricky.
Have It In Mind: Most of the best podcasters also experience difficulty when they just started. The only way to improve is by continuing to record more episodes until you master everything.
Here is how to record your first podcast episode
Write a podcast outline
Writing the podcast outline is the best way to avoid rambling, one of the most common mistakes new podcasters make.
It is not necessary to write out your podcast verbatim, but taking time to jot down some points will make a significant improvement in the flow of your episode.
If you’re cohosting your podcast, it is a good idea to share the outline with them so you can look into it together and make all the necessary corrections.
Not only will it make you flow when creating your podcast, but it will also help you to avoid some common mistakes.
Pick a place to record
You don’t want to record your podcast in a noisy place or in small spaces with flat surfaces to prevent reverberant-sound. And you don’t want such in your podcast audio.
You can record in a tranquil room with plenty of space around you If possible.
Choosing the right place to record your episodes is more important than buying expensive headphones or editing software. At all costs, you need to deal with audio problems.
Set up your recording equipment and software
Now you have a place to record your episode. The next is to get your microphone ready to record by connecting it to your computer or audio recording device.
We strongly recommend purchasing a USB microphone you can easily plug into your computer or Laptop, except you have experience with audio equipment.
Recording set up: Setting up USB Microphone: Plug your microphone directly into a USB port on your Laptop or computer. After plugged in, go to the settings of your audio editing software such as Audacity, GarageBand, etc., and ensure that your microphone highlights it as your audio input.
After you’ve selected your microphone as your audio input, you are ready to start recording.
If it is an XLR microphone, a USB interface like Scarlett Solo will work better to record directly from your microphone into your computer.
You can also hook up your XLR microphone to an external audio recording device that will save your audio to an SD card.
Microphone technique for podcasters
If you notice too many sibilances sound in your recordings, the simplest way to prevent it is to move off-axis from the microphone.
Setting your microphone up to the side slightly toward your mouth may prevent air from beating the capsule, resulting in a more natural podcast audio.
It is better to position your mouth 2″ – 5″ away from the microphone for the best sound, but the optimal distance may vary depending on your mic.
Start by recording yourself talking at a steady volume at different positions, and then listen to the recording to see which position is best for audio quality—different test positions.
You’ve put down your outline, picked the best place to record, set up your microphone, and practised your microphone technique. Now it’s time to start recording your first podcast episode.
When you’re recording, don’t fear mistakes, stammers etc. The next step is how to edit your episode to make everything look amazing.
Step 5: Editing & uploading your first episode
It is a very crucial aspect when it comes to podcasting.
This process allows you to edit, segment your podcast, and remove audible distractions. Also, insert pre-recorded ads, intros, outros and voiceovers.
You can create a quality, well-edited podcast with the right software and a few pointers.
But remember that the process requires a little preparation, but don’t let the process devastate you.
Create a podcast intro
If done right, good intros can improve the listening experience and listener engagement, but they aren’t compulsory.
Choose your podcast theme song
If you create an intro for the podcast, you’ll perhaps want to get some intro music. There is thousands of free royalty music to use for your podcast. Head to Google and type “Free royalty music“, or you can purchase your show’s music.
Royalty-free music is great for a podcast, but other podcasters might use the same track you choose since it’s free.
Most podcast listeners will never notice, but if you want more special music, you can purchase a track for your intro.
Here are the two different resources to buy intro music for your podcast.
Audio Jungle: Prices start at $1 plus thousands of free royalty music.
Audio Blocks: The audio block costs $15 per month, and you will get access to their library of more than 100,000 songs, sound effects, and loops.
Get ready to edit your first episode once you’ve decided on the intro and episode music for your podcast.
Here are five excellent tips to help you edit your podcast episode without stress.
Tips for editing a podcast episode
Editing a podcast episode is a topic itself that we can’t discuss in full detail, but these five tips will significantly improve your post-production.
Don’t become a full-time podcast editor while you want to have excellent sound quality. The main goal is to create a show your audience will find valuable and engaged.
Another thing is that you don’t want your editing to become an excuse and hold you back from publishing your first episode.
If you need to hire a professional podcast, we recommend contacting one of the best podcast editing companies like WeEdit Podcasts and Resonate Recordings. They will do the job for you.
Save and Export your Podcast Episode
Once you complete editing your podcast, you need to export it from the editing software as a full Wave file.
A podcasting hosting company like Buzzsprout will add ID3 tags automatically and convert your file to the right format and encoding.
Conversely, if you’re on Podbean, Blubrry’s WordPress Plugin, Libsyn, SoundCloud, or other podcast hosting services, you’ll need to export your file in the recommended format.
The best file type for a podcast
Many podcasters prefer to export their episodes as MP3s to ensure they are compatible with most podcast apps. They also set the bitrate to 96 kbps mono and 192 kbps stereo for podcasts that feature music.
- Podcast File type:
- MP3
- Bitrate:
- 96 kbps mono for spoken word and 192 kbps stereo for music.
Upload episode to Podcast Hosting Site
Your podcast episode is ready; it is time to upload it into your podcast hosting. Uploading your podcast may vary depending on your hosting platform.
We will be using the Buzzsprout podcast hosting service as an example.
Now that your final file is ready, we want to upload it to your Buzzsprout podcast hosting. Start by creating a free Buzzsprout Account.
Then log in to your account, click Upload Podcast Episode and drag your audio file onto the page. After the uploading file, you can add the name and write the description for that podcast episode.
Once the file uploading is complete, Buzzsprout will automatically optimize your file; then, you’re good to move to the next step.
Step 6: Podcast Artwork and Categories
Now let me walk you through the process of creating artwork for your podcast before it goes live.
As your podcast is almost ready to submit to podcast directories like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, you’re about to share the content with your listeners.
At this junction, make sure you’re doing your best and not relenting so that your podcast will look great in all podcast directories.
Create artwork for your episode
While quality content should always be the focus of your podcast, your episode cover art is the first thing the listeners will see on Apple Podcasts and other social media.
Your artwork should tell your listeners what your show is about when glancing through it.
If you want your artwork to fit with other directories, there are some technical Specifications you need to follow.
Here is what Apple’s Podcast Artwork recommended.
- Square Image
- 3000 x 3000 pixels
- PNG or JPEG file types
- Resolution of 72 dpi
- Colorspace RGB
Podcast artwork must communicate the subject of the podcast. Your ultimate goal is to make potential listeners understand what your podcast is about by looking at your artwork.
Design different sizes. You will use the artwork on several platforms, so it must look good even at 55 x 55 pixels.
Avoid too many words– and make sure it’s readable even at small sizes.
Always be consistent: The podcast artwork is a part of your podcast branding.
Creating your podcast artwork
If you have the skill or good knowledge in design, you can design your artwork using Photoshop or Sketch. But we recommend Canva or 99Designs for people without any design skills.
If you don’t want to create the artwork yourself, you can hire professionals to help you. But you can learn how to use Canva to create the artwork, which can only take a few minutes.
Hire a professional: 99Designs
99Designs and Fiverr are great options for hiring a professional designer for your podcast if you have a few bucks to spend on your graphics.
Write a description for your podcast
A podcast description is considered metadata that provides information about your MP3 file: the name of your show, the description, episode number, and the release year.
The description will make your episode appears on Google Play, Apple, and Spotify, or wherever listeners search for your show’s category.
A good writing episode description is vital for success. It explains what your show is about in a simple paragraph.
You can always change the description later, so don’t let writing the perfect description take up too much of your time.
Pick the best category for your podcast
Optimizing your podcast is a great way to make it appear in Apple Podcasts, and the best way to do that is to choose the correct podcast categories for your show.
You can pick up to three categories, but Apple Podcasts only cares about the first one, so make sure is the category you want your episode listed.
Not only will it make your show appears on the Apple podcast, but It can boost your show’s visibility.
We’re about to get to the next step: learn how to get listed on other major podcast directories.
Step 7: Getting listed in Podcast Directories
Getting listed in podcast directories like Apple, Google, and Spotify is crucial for success.
Apple Podcasts is a centralized place for podcast listeners to find new shows.
Getting listed in these podcast directories is a vital part of your podcast marketing strategy as some new listeners will find your podcast through these podcast directories.
Steps to get listed in the podcast directories
With more than 800,000 podcast listings, the #1 podcast directory in the world is Apple Podcasts.
Here is how to get into the Apple podcast:
- Log in to your Buzzsprout and go to the Directories tab.
- Click on the Get Listed under Apple Podcasts. It will send you to Apple Podcasts Connect with your podcast information pre-populated.
- The next step is to log in to Apple Podcasts Connect.
- Make sure you click Validate to make sure everything looks good. If any fields are missing, go back and complete those in Buzzsprout.
- Submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts by clicking submit. It may take up to 2-weeks for the submission process, and you will get an email when you’re approved.
Submit your podcast to Spotify
Spotify launched its directory two years ago, and they’ve become the second-largest podcast directory in the world.
1. log in to Buzzsprout
2. Go to Directories
3. Under Spotify, click Get Listed
4. Click Submit Podcast to Spotify
Once submitting your podcast to Spotify, it will be listed instantly, unlike Apple Podcasts which may take up to two weeks.
Submit to Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts is another excellent directory allowing your podcast to feature in Google web searches and Android phones.
Make sure Google crawl your podcast website rather than submit it to the directory.
Every website that comes with a Buzzsprout account is compatible with Google Podcasts. Some podcasters see their episodes appear on Google Results within two weeks without taking additional steps.
If you host your podcast on other podcast hosting services, check out this guide on how to get a podcast listed in Google Podcasts.
There are other directories apart from those we mentioned above that are worth submitting your episode and gaining more listeners.
Other podcast directories
If your podcast show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, it is already in front of 90% of all podcast listeners.
Step 8: Launch your podcast
It’s time to launch your podcast.
There are two ways to launch your podcast: Grand Opening or the Soft Open launch
Grand Opening Launch: When most professional podcasters are ready to launch their episode, they usually have big promotion plans.
They pick a day to launch their podcast, have others and influencers preview it, and run many adverts to create awareness.
You can follow this step for your podcast if you have access to an existing audience or influencers or have a few bucks to spend to promote your show.
You can pick a date before the launch, say weeks, and start getting in touch with people you think might be interested in the show.
You can join some social groups related to your market or niches and post about the podcast episode.
But if you don’t have what it takes to promote your podcast to thousands of people, you may want to consider Soft Open a better option.
The Soft Launch: A podcast Soft Open launch is when you start podcasting without anyone listening. You begin publishing as if people are listening, but wait a week or more before you do any promotion.
Both options work well but depend on the one that fits your business.
Marketing your podcast
Marketing is very crucial to having success in your podcast journey. You want more people to listen to and download your podcast.
You’ve put it in the real effort; even if you don’t have any downloads yet, it’s essential to remember that one download is equal to one person listening to your episode.
If you don’t have a community waiting for your podcast when launching it, it’s essential to leverage existing communities to get more listeners.
Find the groups of people who should be interested in your podcast and tell them about your show. Your main goal is to add value to the community and not spam them.
The six marketing tactics we believe have the best chance of directing listeners to a new podcast:
Share your episode with friends and family.
If your podcast would add value to your friends and family, make sure you share it with them. Don’t forget to ask for feedback in the form of reviews on Apple Podcasts.
Post episodes on social media.
Sharing your show on social media is the best way to reach more audiences, but it goes beyond just posting your episodes to your social page.
It is about sharing valuable content on your social channels. Posting quality, consistency, and interaction with listeners across several podcasting platforms can help your show go viral.
Join a relevant Facebook Group.
There are lots of Facebook groups that relate to your podcast. If you’ve got a podcast on marketing, find some marketing or business podcast groups.
Join these groups, contribute by sharing informative content, answering questions and asking the admin’s permission to share your podcast.
If you have been contributing to the group, the group admins might post the link for you.
Share your show on Reddit & Quora
Quora is one of the best questions and answer sites you can use to drive people to listen to your episode.
Search Quora for questions about your podcast’s subject matter and provide a relevant answer.
In your post, mention that you discuss the related topic thoroughly in the podcast and link to the episode.
You can establish a presence by engaging and answering questions on Quora, leading people to listen to your podcast for years.
You can start by providing one or two answers for each episode you post. You can use the same approach on Reddit.
With Reddit, you need to focus more on providing value on the platform. Make sure you help people and link to your podcast.
Share Your Episode On Relevant Blogs
Sharing your podcast on relevant blogs is an easy way to expose your show to more listeners. You can find an established blog that is getting thousands of traffic and has a following in your show’s genre, then reach out to the owner to see if they’d like to partner with you.
The best way to attract more bloggers is to promise to promote their podcast on your show so that they can share your podcast on their blog.
It is a win= win.
Overcast Ads
Overcast is an exceptional podcasting app, and they run ads for podcasts.
If you can spend a hundred bucks, you can run ads on your podcast for a whole month. It is a great way to get the first 100 subscribers to your show.
Podcast Hosting Sites FAQ
What is the most popular podcast hosting?
The most popular and best podcast hosting sites are Podbean and Buzzsprout. Not that they are the only popular podcast hosting and the best among the rest.
If you want to choose the best podcast hosting platform for your show, I strongly advise you to select Podbean or Buzzsprout. Both also offer a free account to help you get started.
Others are:
- Captivate
- Transistor
- Fuxedbox
- Castos
Where can I host my podcast for free?
If you’re looking for the best free podcast hosting services to host your podcast, they are a few of them that are worth it.
The problem with free hosting is that you may not have enough bandwidth and space. But as your podcast business grows, you can upgrade your account to have more features.
Can I host a podcast on my website?
Yes, you can host your podcast on your website. Many podcast hosts allow you to feature your podcast on your WordPress site.
Here are the best WordPress hosting sites for your podcast:
Fuxedbox
Castos
How much does podcast hosting cost?
The cost to host a podcast varies and depends on the hosting site. Most podcast platform starts from $5 to $95 per month.
If you’re starting, you can get $5 per month of hosting. Podbean hosting is the best place to get started.
Best Podcast Hosting Sites 2022: Conclusion
Here we go. I list the best podcast hosting platforms you can try to host your podcast. When choosing your podcast hosting platform, check its features, bandwidth, space etc.
Find out if you would be able to upload an unlimited podcast or episode or require upgrading your account to get more advanced features.
In addition, it is essential to know if your podcast hosting will allow you to monetize your podcast, have support promote your show etc.
Most top-rated podcasting platforms allow you to distribute your podcast into podcast directories, so check if the one you pick has these features.
I recommend the new podcaster to start with Buzzsprout and get a free gift card worth $20 or Podbean, one of the best podcast hosting sites in 2022.
Choose the best option that suits your podcast business and have successful podcasting.
If you have any questions about choosing to host for your podcast or finding the best podcast equipment, kindly let me know from your comment.
Make this year your best and add podcast marketing to your plan to grow your online business while still building customers to sell more of your products and services.
I know a lot of top marketers and entrepreneurs who are getting thousands of traffic to their websites and converting them into customers. If you follow the guide, you can make your episode live in less than 24 hours.
Many online tutorials can guide you on monetising your podcast with affiliate programs to make more profits from your hard work.
We want you to succeed in podcasting, which is the main reason to research and compile the list of the best podcast hosting sites and platforms, so you will not need to waste your time finding the best service for your episode.
I will share more information about podcasting and how you can use it to grow your online business.