The Best Podcast Hosting Services in 2021: Reviews & Comparisons
Choose the best podcast hosting site for your show with these in-depth reviews of the 5 top platforms in 2021.
Podcast hosting is essential for getting your podcast onto the top distribution platforms, such as Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and more.
If you’re thinking, “Don’t worry, it’s all good, I’m the host of my podcast, I don’t need anyone else” let me just say that I understand your confusion.
When it comes to podcasts, there are two different kinds of hosts.
- Podcast host: The person who hosts the show, talks a lot, interviews guests etc.
- Podcast host: An online platform to store and distribute your podcast’s audio files.
I am being a bit sarcastic here, but just in case you’re wondering, I’m talking about the latter podcast host in this article — the online platform for distributing your show.
Contents
- What is podcast hosting?
- Why is podcast hosting important
- What are the best podcast hosting sites in 2021?
- Buzzsprout Review
- PodBean Review
- Captivate.fm Review
- Transistor.fm Review
- Castos Review
- Conclusion
What is podcast hosting?
Podcast hosting is a service that stores your podcast “in the cloud” and shares it with the world.
It distributes your audio file to all of the podcast platforms you want it to be on — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts and more — automatically.
You can think of a podcast host as the “home” for your podcast.
It takes care of the data storage and distribution, usually for a small monthly cost.
Why is podcast hosting important?
You started a podcast because you want as many people as possible to listen to it, right?
High quality podcast hosting ensures your podcast reaches the maximum number of listeners.
Technically, you could “host” your podcast on your own website or upload it to YouTube, but you’d be missing out on the massive audiences of Apple, Spotify, Google and more.
Being on these platforms makes your podcasts discoverable for millions of people worldwide and, as far as I know, it’s the only hope you have of achieving some semblance of success.
With a reliable podcast hosting service, you can send your podcast to all the major platforms in just a couple of clicks.
You also get the benefit of audience analytics, which can help to inform your growth strategy.
So while the hosting part is important, the podcast distribution is where a lot of the value of a hosting service.
But you’re probably here because you want to know which podcast hosting providers are the best.
What are the best podcast hosting platforms in 2021?
It’s difficult to choose the BEST podcast hosting platform because they all provide similar services.
But in my experience, there are five main factors that set the best apart from the rest.
- Reliability
- Ease of use
- Pricing
- Analytics
- Extra features
Therefore, those are the factors I’ll be judging the best podcast hosting services on.
The other thing I want to mention is that most blog posts about the “best podcast hosting platforms” simply list ALL of the services with minimal information about why they’re good or not.
That’s not helpful for anyone.
I’ve restricted this list to the 7 best podcast hosting providers — and provided quick reviews of each — to help you make a more informed decision about which one to use.
I hope it helps.
1. Buzzsprout — Best overall podcast hosting
Buzzsprout review
Buzzsprout is the podcast hosting platform I use. Why? Because I think it’s the best.
It makes the podcast hosting experience as simple as possible.
You can start by creating a free account, which allows you to upload two hours of audio each month.
You can then connect your podcast with all of the main directories so people can find and listen to your show on their favourite podcast apps.
As you can see below, it just takes one click to sync your podcast with a directory. That way, whenever you upload a new episode it’s automatically shared with each platform you’ve selected.
For most podcasts, two hours per month won’t be enough. Also, on the free plan Buzzsprout only stores your episodes for 90 days, which isn’t ideal.
That means most users will need to upgrade to a paid plan. Thankfully, Buzzsprout’s prices are very reasonable.
Buzzsprout pricing
- $12/month — upload 3 hours of audio
- $18/month — upload 6 hours of audio
- $24/month — upload 12 hours of audio
Get started with Buzzsprout for FREE today
The Buzzsprout interface is very easy to navigate and its hosting is rock solid.
Once I’ve uploaded an episode to Buzzsprout and clicked ‘publish’, it usually only takes a few minutes for it to show up on all of the big podcast apps.
So, that’s the basics of what you want from a good podcast hosting service.
But Buzzsprout is packed with a bunch of other helpful features, designed to make sharing and growing your podcast easier and more effective.
Buzzsprout analytics
Podcast analytics are notoriously bad. But Buzzsprout does a pretty good job of providing you with high level audience and episode insights that let you know what’s working and what isn’t.
You can see how many downloads each episode is getting, where your listeners are located, which devices and apps they’re using, and more.
One of the coolest stats is The Podcast Predictor, an estimate of how many downloads your next episode will get.
Automatic episode optimization
Buzzsprout will automatically optimize your audio file for easy, high-quality distribution and listening — not matter what file type of bitrate you upload.
If you want to take it a step further, you can use Buzzsprout’s Magic Mastering — described as an “Instagram filter for your audio” — to make your episode sound like it’s been mastered in a studio.
This is a paid feature which I’ve tried out and it definitely makes a difference.
Buzzsprout extras
- Podcast homepage
If you don’t have an official website for your podcast you can create a nice-looking homepage with Buzzsprout, complete with your social media links, bio, podcast app links, and episode feed. - Branded audio players
You can create custom audio players that feature your podcast’s logo and colors for sharing on social media and your website.
Buzzsprout review: Summary
In terms of ease of use, functionality, reliability, and pricing, Buzzsprout is hard to beat.
I’ve been using it for about two years now and I’ve never once thought about looking for an alternative.
I guess that makes me one happy customer.
I personally think it’s the best podcast hosting site in 2021.
Create your free Buzzsprout account today and try it out for yourself!
2. Podbean — Best for monetization
PodBean Review
PodBean is another excellent podcast hosting platform. There’s very little that separates Buzzsprout and PodBean. I just prefer Buzzsprout’s user clean, seamless user experience over PodBean’s.
It has a simple, intuitive dashboard from where it takes a couple of clicks to upload your audio file and share it with your listeners.
It’s quick and easy to sync with all of the major podcast platforms and apps.
PodBean is used by close to half a million podcasters, so it must be doing a lot of things right.
PodBean pricing
- $9/month — unlimited audio and storage
- $29/month — unlimited audio and storage + full monetization
- $99/month — unlimited audio, storage, monetization + business features
Perhaps the biggest factor in PodBean’s favor is that you can use it for free with minimal restrictions.
You get five hours of audio and 100GB of storage each month for free, which is enough for most podcasts — unless you’re recording three-hour marathons like Joe Rogan.
However, I’d recommend going with the Unlimited Plan (just $9/month, billed annually), which gives you unlimited audio and storage, as well as access to PodBean’s snazzy monetization features.
Sign up for an Unlimited Plan here and get ONE MONTH FREE!
PodBean monetization
One of the things that PodBean does really well is it makes monetizing your podcast simple.
It has a built-in ad marketplace, a space for podcasters to connect with advertisers that are a good match for their audience (almost like a match making app).
The only thing is, you need to have an Unlimited or Business Plan to access this monetization feature.
I think this feature is pretty awesome as it removes the hassle and uncertainty of trying to find advertisers and sponsors yourself so you can start monetizing as soon as possible.
This is becoming more common with podcast hosting services, but PodBean seems to have one of the more established ad marketplaces.
In my opinion, this is one of PodBean’s key strengths.
PodBean analytics
PodBean has pretty decent analytics built-in, but only if you sign up for an Unlimited or Business Plan.
You get episode data, listener locations, and trends about how your podcast is tracking.
All of this information is helpful for creating a successful podcast.
PodBean livestream
One of the coolest features of PodBean is the livestream functionality.
This means that listeners can instant message and even call-in live while you’re recording.
I imagine this could be really useful if you’re doing a listener Q&A episode, or if you’re a sports podcast and wanting to get fans’ reactions to a live result.
This feature is really exciting and may be enough to convince you to choose PodBean as your podcast hosting provider.
PodBean review: Summary
PodBean is a feature-heavy, trusted podcast hosting service that has everything you need (and more!) to get your podcast out into the world.
The user experience isn’t quite as smooth as some other options, but really, there’s very little to complain about when it comes to PodBean’s dashboard and functionality.
They’ve left no stone unturned in creating an incredible product that’s designed to make the podcasting experience as smooth as possible.
Sign up for an Unlimited Plan today and get ONE MONTH FREE!
3. Captivate.fm — Best for growth
Captivate.fm Review
Right off the bat, Captivate.fm is the most aesthetically beautiful podcast hosting platform out there.
That’s what sets them apart.
For starters, the Captivate.fm dashboard is nice and clean and easy to use.
It might actually have the most intuitive dashboard out of all the podcast hosting services in 2021.
It’s simple to connect with and distribute your podcast on all the main podcast apps, which is to be expected.
It has everything you want from a top podcast hosting platform.
Captivate.fm pricing
Captivate.fm’s pricing structure is quite different to other providers.
You get access to all of the Captivate.fm features on all of their plans, you just pay based on the number of downloads your show gets per month.
- $17/month — 12,000 downloads/month
- $44/month — 60,000 downloads/month
- $90/month — 150,000 downloads/month
You can start with a 7-day free trial before choosing a plan.
If your podcast has more than 150,000 downloads a month you can contact them to talk about a custom plan.
I find the pricing structure to be a little strange and on the higher end.
I’m not sure why they’ve opted for this approach.
The good thing is that you get all the features no matter how much you pay — so the playing field is equal for the big shows and beginners.
Captivate.fm analytics
You get all of the podcast data that the other hosting services provide, such as episode downloads, trends, and listener locations.
It has everything that Buzzsprout and PodBean has, providing you with a clear overall picture of how your podcast is tracking.
Captivate.fm websites
Where Captivate.fm really shines is with its podcast player and websites, specially called Captivate Sites™.
I can only assume this is why it’s considered a “growth-oriented” podcast hosting platform.
First of all, you’ve got a super impressive podcast player that can be completely branded and kitted out with links to subscribe, share donate and even to your show notes or merch store.
The player looks great and functions as a mini website wherever you embed it.
Captive Sites™ is also pretty awesome. While most podcast hosting platforms let you create your own homepage, Captivate.fm takes this to another level.
It just looks and feels better — like a more homepage in the absence of an official website.
Captivate.fm review: Summary
Captivate.fm offers everything you want from a podcast hosting provider.
It’s beautiful, functional and simple.
The branded podcast player and sexy homepage features definitely set it apart.
However, I just find the pricing structure a bit weird.
Try Captivate.fm FREE for 7 days here
4. Transistor.fm — Best for simplicity
Transistor.fm Review
Transistor.fm is the indie darling of podcast hosting platforms. It’s smooth and simple and doesn’t tack on superfluous features for the sake of it.
For this reason, it’s the preferred choice for the likes of Basecamp, Podia and Indiehackers. If you like those companies, you’ll probably like Transistor.fm.
Transistor.fm does everything you need a podcast hosting service to do and more.
It’s super simple to upload an episode and distribute it across all of the main podcast apps.
One of the cool features is that you can create unlimited podcasts on all of their plans, meaning you don’t need separate accounts for different shows.
Transistor.fm pricing
The Transistor.fm plans are a little bit pricey, but the fact that you can host multiple shows on one account helps to make up for it.
Also, the Starter plan should be sufficient for most podcasts, especially when you’re getting started.
- $19/month — 15,000 downloads/month
- $49/month — 75,000 downloads/month
- $99/month — 200,000 downloads/month
All plans allow you to add collaborators or team members and access podcast analytics.
Get started with a 14-day FREE TRIAL of Transistor.fm here
Transistor.fm analytics
Transistor.fm says it provides “advanced analytics” for your podcast.
The analytics are comparable to most other podcast hosting providers — they’re perfectly adequate, but nothing special.
You can see episode data, listener trends and locations, and estimated subscribers.
Transistor.fm private podcasts
Transistor.fm allows you to create private podcasts.
You might be wondering, why would I want to make a podcast private?
It seems Transistor.fm is tapping into the start-up and work from home trends where managers and founders need new ways of sharing information with staff.
This is where private podcasts come in. What if you had a simple welcome podcast for new recruits, or weekly company updates, or management meetings shared via podcasts?
At first I was skeptical of this idea, but I can definitely see why private podcasts would be useful.
Transistor.fm websites
Transistor.fm does a really nice job of podcast websites.
The example above is the homepage for The Good News Podcast, created with Transistor.fm.
It’s simple, functional and beautiful — a great alternative to an official website.
In my opinion, these websites give Captivate.fm a run for their money.
Transistor.fm review: Summary
I really like Transistor.fm as a podcast hosting service.
I like it’s simplicity, indie feel, and the way it’s finding a home in the start-up/indie business scene.
It has all of the features you’d expect from listed as one of the five best podcast hosting platforms and it leaves out everything that’s not essential.
If you’re into minimalism, you’ll dig Transistor.fm.
Start with a 14-day FREE TRIAL of Transistor.fm today!
5. Castos — Best for integrations
Castos review
Castos claims to be the podcast hosting platform for audience growth.
In my opinion, that claim is neither here nor there, but Castos is definitely packed with features that will help you to grow your podcast.
When it comes to podcast hosting, Castos is a solid option that deserves its place on this list.
You can easily publish your podcast to all the top platforms and easily migrate over from other podcast hosting providers.
One of the best things about Castos is that all plans are effectively “unlimited” — unlimited shows, episodes and downloads.
If that’s what they mean when they claim to be the podcast hosing service for “audience growth”, then they’ve got a point.
The only thing I don’t like about Castos is that it’s not as user-friendly and intuitive as Buzzsprout and PodBean.
It’s lacking in the overall functionality department.
Castos pricing
Castos is on par with most of the other podcast hosting services when it comes to pricing.
All of the plans are effectively “unlimited”, but if you want to make use of integrations with Headliner and YouTube, then you’ll need to upgrade.
Headliner is a cool app that allows you to make great-looking audio clips for social media.
- $19/month — Unlimited
- $49/month — Unlimited + Headliner & YouTube integrations
- $99/month — Unlimited + Headliner & YouTube + Advanced analytics
It’s quite a unique pricing structure and I think the Headliner and YouTube integrations may be enough to convince some podcasters to upgrade to the ‘Growth’ plan.
The ability to share your podcast in different formats — audio clips and video — will help with your show’s growth. YouTube is the world’s second biggest search engine, after all.
Start your 14-Day FREE TRIAL of Castos today (no credit card required)!
Castos analytics
It seems that podcast analytics just are what they are.
All the hosting providers say that they have great analytics, but they’re all pretty much the same.
Castos’ analytics look about the same as all the others. You get the standard episode data and audience insights.
However, Castos is working on some cool new analytics features, including playback duration so you can see how long people are listening to your episodes, and subscriber counts.
Once those features drop, Castos will be leading the pack when it comes to podcast analytics.
Castos integrations
Hands down the coolest thing about Castos is its integration with YouTube.
Castos can convert your podcast audio files into beautiful looking videos and automatically publish them to the YouTube channel and/or playlist of your choice.
This is a powerful feature that can help your podcast reach a whole new audience — and it’s super easy to do. Just set it and forget it.
If you’ve every tried to create YouTube videos for your podcast you’ll know how much of a hassle it is. This feature removes that hassle completely.
Castos also integrates with Headliner.app in a similar way so you can easily create audiograms (short audio clips) to share on social media.
Castos also comes with automated transcription, but it costs extra.
These helpful integrations are what sets Castos apart.
Castos productions
Castos even has its own podcast production service.
You can record your audio, send them the raw files, and they’ll professionally edit and produce your show for a minimal fee.
I’ve got no idea how they keep this service so affordable.
If you’re making a bit of money from your podcast, then this could be a wise investment.
Castos extras
It’s worth noting that Castos also allows you to:
- Create your own podcast website
and…
- Connect your podcast with your Wordpress site using the Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin.
I didn’t think these features warranted their own sections, but they’re worth mentioning.
Castos review: Summary
Castos is a feature-heavy podcast hosting provider that ticks a lot of boxes.
What it lacks in user-experience, it makes up for in impressive features.
The YouTube integration alone is enough to make me consider switching over.
If you’re intent on growing your audience (and I know you are), then I recommend giving Castos a go.
Start with a FREE 14-Day Trial of Castos today (no credit card required)!
Choosing the best podcast hosting for you
When it comes to podcast hosting, there’s no one size fits all.
However, it’s not something you should spend too much time thinking about either.
Most of the podcast hosting providers provide a similar level of service and functionality for a similar price.
So take a look around, decide what you like, and sign up for a free trial.
There are so many reasons to procrastinate when you’re starting a creative project like a podcast.
Don’t let choosing a podcast hosting platform be another one.
Just letting you know that I’ve included a few affiliate links in this article. It took a lot of time to test these hosting platforms and write thorough reviews, so if you do sign up for one, it would be awesome if you could use my link. Cheers!
