Podcasts are a good medium for sharing knowledge, networking with professionals in your field, and marketing your business. With the right free podcast software, it takes only a decent headset to get started. You can host your podcast using one of the best free podcast hosting sites and get started without having to pay for them.
If you want to start a podcast, there are many different podcast hosting providers out there. Before choosing a podcast hosting provider, you’ll need to think about what type of podcast you plan to create.
You’ll also need to consider how much you’d like to spend on your podcast hosting. Most podcast hosts come with a free option, but some can include charging monthly fees.
Finally, you’ll need to figure out where you want people to listen to your podcasts.
In this article, we look at the best podcast hosting options to host your podcast for free.
Here are some of the best free podcast hosting platforms out there:
Buzzsprout
Podbean
Spreaker
Anchor
Podomatic
Acast
Choosing the Right Podcast Hosting Platform
Choosing the right podcast hosting platform is crucial for podcasters, as it can affect the quality, accessibility, and overall success of their podcast. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which platform to use. In this section, we’ll explore the key factors to consider when selecting a podcast host and highlight some popular options.
What to Consider When Selecting a Podcast Host
When choosing a podcast hosting platform, there are several factors to consider. These include:
Storage Space: Assess how much storage space you need for your audio files. If you plan to produce long episodes or multiple shows, ensure the platform offers sufficient storage.
Bandwidth: Consider the bandwidth required to support your podcast’s traffic. High bandwidth is essential for ensuring smooth streaming and downloads for your listeners.
Monetization Options: Look for platforms that offer monetization options such as dynamic ad insertion, sponsorships, or listener support. This can help you generate revenue from your podcast.
Analytics: Analytics are vital for tracking your podcast’s performance. Choose a platform that provides detailed insights into listener demographics, episode downloads, and engagement metrics.
Ease of Use: The platform should be user-friendly, especially if you are new to podcasting. A simple and intuitive interface can save you time and effort.
Customer Support: Reliable customer support is essential for resolving any issues that may arise. Check if the platform offers responsive and helpful support services.
1. Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout is a complete podcasting solution designed specifically for beginners. Featuring an intuitive audio editor that simplifies the editing process, this podcast hosting platform helps you easily create and publish podcasts without having to know anything about audio editing software. With Buzzsprout, you don’t even need to know how to edit audio files. You just need to upload your voice recordings and start creating your podcast episodes.
With Buzzsprout, you’ll never miss a beat while recording your podcast. This app automatically detects pauses in your speech and seamlessly continues recording, making it easy to produce professional-quality podcasts.
Once you’re done recording, you can preview your podcast and make sure everything sounds great. If you want to add music or sound effects, you can do that too. For those times when you want to spice up your podcast, there are tons of cool filters and transitions included.
There’s no limit to what you can do with Buzzsprout. You can record multiple episodes at once, and add photos, videos, text, and links to social media accounts. All you need to do is choose a template, customize it however you like, and publish your podcast.
You can even post your finished podcast directly to iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Google Play Music. See out Buzzsprout’s review to learn more.
Buzzsprout’s Free Plan Features
Here is what you get from the Buzzsprout free plan
Automatic deletion of old episodes after 90 days.
Upload 2 hours per month, although audio files are automatically deleted within 90 days.
Advanced analytics and stats on your podcast performance that are IAB compliant.
Accepts almost all audio file formats.
Distribute to major listening platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Casto, and more.
WordPress plugin so that you can quickly and easily publish your podcast directly into WordPress.
Buzzsprout Pricing
Buzzsprout’s free plan gives you 2 hrs of storage per month and hosted episodes get deleted after 90 days. you can upload 3 hours of audio per month for $12/month and get advanced analytics, free podcast imports, and unlimited storage.
2. Podbean
Podbean is a cloud-based podcast publishing tool that helps you create, edit, upload, and manage your podcasts. Podbean also supports audio podcasts, making it easy to handle both audio and video content.
With Podbean, you can quickly set up a podcast, add episodes, record audio files, review and approve your episodes, publish your podcast, and even sell sponsorships.
It is another popular free hosting platform that gives you the option to build a website for your podcast even on their free plan. It’s an ideal all-in-one free podcast hosting platform with a lot of storage, a mobile app, and more.
Podbean’s Free Plan Features
Podbean offers a free plan called Podbean Basic which includes 5 hours of storage space.
You get five hours of storage for every month.
100GB monthly bandwidth.
Ability to use both iOS and Android apps.
An embeddable player so that you could put a podcast player on your website, for instance.
A dedicated podcast website with several themes but branded with Podbean’s logo.
A limited number of the team working on the project.
Post to major podcasting platforms such as Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.
Podbean Pricing
The Podbean free plan gives you up to 5hours of podcast storage. To get unlimited audio podcasting with no limits you can upgrade to their unlimited audio plan for $9/month when billed annually.
3. Spreaker
Spreaker is a podcasting platform from iHeartRadio. It offers tools far beyond just podcast publishing, including tools for creating, live podcast broadcasting, advertising, and more. Spreaker allows you to host multiple podcasts under one account, making it ideal for podcast agencies or individuals managing various shows, while ensuring high audio quality. Some of these features aren’t available in Spreaker’s free plan. It’s free plan has some limitations, but if you’re starting, it might be the right plan for you.
Podcasters can create and publish their podcast episodes without any technical knowledge for free, thanks to Spreaker. This online audio hosting platform allows anyone to upload, edit, manage, and publish their podcast episodes via a web browser. To make it easy for listeners to find the best podcasts, the platform offers a variety of features including automated episode discovery, social media sharing, and comments.
Listeners can discover new podcasts by browsing the latest releases, listening to popular ones, or searching for specific topics. They can also subscribe to podcasts directly from within the app, and listen to them on mobile devices, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. You can check out our Spreaker review to learn more about the platform and its features.
Spreaker Free Plan Features
Spreaker is a popular podcast hosting platform that offers a free plan with a range of features. These include:
Unlimited Hosting: Spreaker offers unlimited hosting for your podcast files, so you don’t have to worry about running out of space.
100 Hours of Audio: The free plan includes 100 hours of audio hosting, which is plenty for most podcasters.
Dynamic Ad Insertion: Spreaker offers dynamic ad insertion, allowing you to monetize your podcast with ads seamlessly.
Analytics: The platform provides comprehensive analytics and insights to help you track your podcast’s performance and understand your audience better.
Easy Upload: Spreaker makes it easy to upload your podcast files with a simple and intuitive interface, ensuring a smooth user experience.
By considering these factors and exploring the features of platforms like Spreaker, you can choose the right podcast hosting platform that meets your needs and helps you achieve your podcasting goals.
Speaker Free Plan Features
Unlimited Access to their online Recording Studio
Unrestricted Uploading & Publishing
Unlimited bandwidth.
Up to 5 hours of audio and up to 10 episodes.
Livestream allowed for only 15 minutes
You get basic stats and analytics that are IAB-compliant.
Automatically post your podcast to iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
You cannot monetize your podcast unless you upgrade to a paid plan
Spreaker Pricing
Spreaker’s free plan comes with 6 months of statistics on your podcast performance for only 10 podcast episodes. You won’t have the option to monetize your podcast with ads on your free plan, but it is a good place to start and try the platform. Upgrading for only $8/month gives you this option.
4. Anchor
Anchor is a Spotify company and is completely free, unlike the above platforms which charge for their services. Their entire purpose is to make podcasting easy for everyone. Anchor is a podcasting platform that offers a lot to beginners and pros alike.
You can easily distribute your podcasts through platforms like Spotify, but you also gain access to unlimited hosting, podcast advertising tooling, and more. Recently Spotify has also launched videos on its streaming service and Anchor followed suit.
With Anchor’s partnership with Riverside, you can now easily record on Riverside and publish directly to Spotify.
Anchor’s Free Plan Features
You don’t need to worry about uploading too many episodes at once.
Limited to one podcast per account.
You own the copyright for all of your content.
One-click uploads to Spotify and other major streaming services.
IAB certified metrics & engagement insights.
Monetize podcasts with ads from Anchor and be paired up with advertisers who want to reach your audience.
Add full tracks from Spotify to your podcast.
Anchor Pricing
Anchor is completely free!
Try Anchor
5. Podomatic
Podomatic makes it easy for anyone to create podcasts. It’s especially good for beginners. It’s relatively easy for people to use and allows them to record podcasts using its mobile application. Overall, the free version is pretty basic but might be a decent starting place for some people.
This free podcast hosting platform is an easy way to create, edit, and publish podcasts from anywhere. It also offers embeddable player software for a wide range of social media platforms and websites.
You can either use one of the two methods available for monetizing your podcast on a free account. You can get sponsors for your podcast by using the Podcorn program. You can also use What for Apparel to sell merchandise like t-shirts and mugs directly to your listeners.
Podomatic’s Free Plan Features
Up to 500 MB Storage.
Up to 6 hours/20 episodes.
15GB of outbound bandwidth per month.
Some basic podcast stats like daily analytics, tracking of performance, and easy podcast distribution through podcaster network apps.
Easy podcast distribution through podcaster app networks.
Monetize your podcast with Podcorn, Patreon, and What For Apparel.
Podomatic Pricing
If you have plans to eventually upgrade to a paid account, it’s worth noting that Podomatic Pro is incredibly affordable, with plans starting at $2.49/month (when billed annually).
Free accounts are limited to 10 episodes per month. Paid accounts give you unlimited episodes monthly.
Try Podomatic
What is Podcast Hosting?
A podcast host is a place where you can upload your audio files and make them available for download using podcast software. A podcast hosting site is essential for managing large media files, storage, and bandwidth needs specific to podcasting. This way, people can listen to your show whenever they want without having to go through iTunes or another app. You can even embed your podcast into other sites if you wish.
Podcast hosting offers many useful features. For example, you can track how many times your listeners downloaded your episodes, see what countries your audience lives in, and much more. Some hosts even allow you to integrate your RSS feed directly into your site, making it easier for visitors to subscribe to your podcast.
Most hosts offer a free plan, though some require a paid subscription. If you decide to sign up for one, most hosts offer different plans based on your needs. For instance, some offer unlimited storage space while others limit you to 10GB per month.
Definition of podcast hosting
Podcast hosting refers to the process of storing and distributing podcast files to various platforms, making them accessible to listeners. A podcast hosting platform provides an RSS feed, which is an online catalog of episodes that podcast directories use to send content to audiences. Podcast hosting platforms often offer additional benefits, such as analytics and monetization tools, to help podcasters manage and grow their shows.
Importance of podcast hosting for podcasters and audio quality
Podcast hosting is essential for podcasters as it allows them to reach a wider audience and increase their visibility. A reliable podcast hosting platform ensures that podcast files are stored securely and delivered efficiently to listeners. Without podcast hosting, podcasters would not be able to distribute their content to popular platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Benefits of Free Podcast Hosting Services
Free podcast hosting services offer several benefits to podcasters, making them an attractive option for those on a budget or just starting out with free software.
Cost-effective solution for podcasters with free podcast software
Free podcast hosting services provide a cost-effective solution for podcasters, allowing them to host their podcasts without incurring any costs. This is particularly beneficial for new podcasters who are still testing the waters and may not have a large budget to invest in hosting services.
Easy to use and manage
Free podcast hosting services are often easy to use and manage, even for those with limited technical expertise. They provide a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to upload, manage, and distribute podcast episodes.
Scalable for growing podcasts
Free podcast hosting services are scalable, meaning they can accommodate growing podcasts with increasing storage and bandwidth needs. This ensures that podcasters can continue to host their podcasts without worrying about running out of space or exceeding bandwidth limits.
By choosing a free podcast hosting service, podcasters can enjoy these benefits and focus on creating high-quality content for their audience.
How Free Podcast Hosting Works
Free podcast hosting services are booming. They provide unlimited storage space and bandwidth and often include ad revenue-sharing options. But there are some downsides to using one of these services.
Some free podcast hosting services also offer video recording capabilities, allowing podcasters to create both audio and visual content.
Hosting providers like Libsyn, Anchor, and Podbean offer free plans. These services make it easy to start a podcast, but they don’t always give you everything you need.
For example, most free podcast hosts limit the number of episodes you can upload each month, and many restrict how long those files can be. While many free hosting services let you add ads to your show, they usually require you to pay additional fees if you want to sell ads directly to listeners.
Podcast Production Tools
Podcast production tools are essential for creating high-quality podcasts. In this section, we’ll explore some popular tools for recording, editing, and publishing your podcast.
Free Podcast Recording Software
There are many free podcast recording software options available, including:
Audacity: Audacity is a popular free audio editing software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers multi-track recording, allowing you to record multiple audio tracks simultaneously. With its robust editing features, you can cut, copy, and paste audio clips, apply effects, and enhance sound quality. Audacity also supports various plugins to extend its functionality and offers multiple export options, including MP3, WAV, and AAC.
GarageBand: GarageBand is a free digital audio workstation available for Mac users. It provides a user-friendly interface with powerful recording and editing features. You can record both audio and video podcasts, edit audio tracks with precision, and add effects to improve sound quality. GarageBand also offers a range of export options, making it easy to share your podcast with your audience.
Riverside.fm: Riverside.fm is a free podcast recording software that offers high-quality video and audio recording. It supports multi-track recording, ensuring each participant’s audio is recorded separately for better editing. Riverside.fm also provides advanced features like automatic transcription and easy integration with podcast hosting platforms, making it a comprehensive tool for podcasters.
Squadcast: Squadcast is a free podcast recording software that offers high-quality audio recording and editing features. It supports multi-track recording, allowing you to record separate audio tracks for each participant. Squadcast also offers a range of editing features, including noise reduction and audio enhancement, to ensure your podcast sounds professional. With its easy-to-use interface and export options, Squadcast is a great choice for podcasters looking for a reliable recording tool.
These software options offer a range of features, including:
Multi-Track Recording: Record multiple tracks at once, including audio and video, to ensure high-quality recordings.
Editing Features: Edit your podcast files with ease, using features like cut, copy, and paste to refine your audio clips.
Effects and Plugins: Add effects and plugins to enhance your podcast’s sound quality and create a polished final product.
Export Options: Export your podcast files in a range of formats, including MP3, WAV, and AAC, to ensure compatibility with various platforms.
By using these free podcast recording software options, you can create high-quality podcasts without breaking the bank.
In Summary: The Best Free Podcast Hosting
Ultimately free podcasting hosts are good only for those ‘casters who don’t know if their show will stick around. If you’re on a tight budget, I’d suggest checking out Buzzsprout. They offer a 30-day trial period where you can try out their podcast hosting services without committing to anything.
Once you’ve signed up, check out what they have to offer. You’ll find plenty of features like RSS feeds, automatic uploads, and a mobile app. But if you want something extra, take advantage of their premium plans.
If you decide to go with the latter option, you’ll still receive some benefits, including the ability to add custom tags, such as “podcast,” “audio,” and “video.”
Now that you’ve got Buzzsprout set up, let’s talk about how to make money off your podcasts. To start, you’ll need a separate email address just for your podcast. This way, you won’t accidentally send emails to your inbox.
Then, once you’ve uploaded your episodes, you can use the built-in RSS feed feature to automatically post your latest episode every week. Finally, you’ll want to promote your podcast via social media, forums, and anywhere else you think people might be interested.
Frequently Asked Questions about Free Podcast Hosting
Are there free podcast hosting platforms?
Yes, there are several free podcast hosting platforms available that allow you to host your podcast without incurring any costs. Some popular free options include Anchor, Podbean, and Buzzsprout, among others.
Is Spotify podcast hosting free?
Yes, Spotify offers free podcast hosting through its platform Anchor. Anchor allows podcasters to create, distribute, and monetize their podcasts at no cost.
How to make a podcast for free?
To make a podcast for free, you can use a free podcast hosting platform like Anchor or Podbean, which provides the necessary tools to record, edit, and distribute your podcast. You’ll need a decent microphone and recording software, which can also be found for free online.
What is the best platform to host podcasts?
The best platform to host podcasts depends on your specific needs. For beginners looking for free options, Anchor is a popular choice due to its ease of use and integration with Spotify. For more advanced features, Podbean and Buzzsprout offer additional tools and analytics.
Can I monetize my podcast on free hosting platforms?
Yes, some free podcast hosting platforms offer monetization options. For example, Anchor provides opportunities to monetize through sponsorships and listener support, allowing you to earn money from your podcast even with a free hosting plan.
Can I upload video podcasts to my podcast host?
Some podcast hosting platforms support video podcast uploads. For instance, Anchor and Podbean allow you to include video content in your podcast episodes, making it accessible to your audience across various platforms.
By understanding the capabilities and limitations of free podcast hosting services, you can make an informed decision about the best platform for your podcasting needs.
