18 Best Podcast Hosting Platforms 2026: Reviews, Costs + Checklist

Starting a podcast is one thing. Getting it into the world so people actually listen is another.

That’s where podcast hosting comes in.

It’s the home base for your show. You upload episodes there, and the host pushes them out to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and everywhere else your audience listens.

The hard part is choosing the right one. Some platforms are built for beginners. Others are better if you’re running multiple shows, chasing ad revenue, or uploading video.

I’ve put together the most popular and best podcast hosting platforms so you don’t waste time testing them all. We’ll cover features, costs, and what real podcasters say works best. 

By the time we’re done, you’ll know which one is the best podcast hosting platform that fits your show, your goals, and your budget.

Most Popular Podcast Hosting Platforms (at a Glance)

Need to decide on the spot? Here’s a quick look at the top platforms and what they’re best for:

1. Best for simple publishing and monetization: Libsyn
2. Best for running multiple shows and growing revenue: Acast
3. Best for private content and subscriber perks: Castos
4. Best for fast, simple production: Alitu
5. Best for teams and podcast networks managing multiple shows: Transistor
6. Best for professional hosting and monetization: Captivate
7. Best for solo creators and growing brands: RSS.com
8. Best for flexible monetization and supporter subscriptions: Spreaker
9. Best for independent podcasters monetizing through community: Podomatic
10. Best for premium subscriptions and full audience ownership: Supercast
11. Best for turning listeners into paying members: Patreon
12. Best for automated ads and cross-promotion: RedCircle
13. Best for built-in website, analytics, and monetization tools: Podcastics
14. Best for WordPress users needing analytics and monetization: Blubrry
15. Best for ad marketplace access and premium ad formats: Audioboom
16. Best all-in-one free platform with hosting, promotion, and monetization: Podbean
17. Best for beginners starting fast without upfront cost: Buzzsprout
18. Best for simple hosting, wide distribution, and easy monetization: Spotify for Creators

Podcast Hosting Sites Comparison

Podcast hosting platforms vary widely in price, storage, monetization options, and video support. Here’s a quick look at the top options.

Starting from scratch and not sure if you can make money from a podcast? Learn how to start a podcast without an audience.

What Are Podcast Hosting Platforms?

A podcast hosting platform is what makes your podcast available to the world.

You upload your audio or video files there, and the host stores them, generates your RSS feed, and distributes podcast episodes to podcast directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Most top podcast hosting platforms also give you podcast analytics, podcast website integrations, and monetization tools.

Why do you need a podcast hosting platform?

You can’t just upload an MP3 to your website and expect it to appear on Spotify. Hosting platforms are built to handle the size, bandwidth, and podcast distribution demands of podcast production.

When you choose a platform, it gives you:

• Storage for your episodes
• An RSS feed that will distribute your podcast to major listening platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify
• Analytics so you know who’s listening
• Options for ads, sponsors, or subscriptions

Without a podcasting platform, you’d be stuck managing all that tech yourself, and most creators don’t have the time or patience for it.

Most popular podcast hosts

Some of the most widely used hosts include:

1. Buzzsprout: Known for its simple setup and clean dashboard.
2. Libsyn: One of the oldest and most established hosts.
3. Podbean: This major podcast platform offers strong tools to monetize your podcast + video support.
4. Spotify for Creators: Free option, easy-to-use, and most of all, Spotify.

These platforms lead the pack in terms of users, integrations, and features to grow your podcast.

We’ll cover each in more detail in the next section to help you choose, but this gives you a snapshot of where most creators start when choosing a podcast host.

What Are the Best Podcast Hosting Platforms?

There’s no shortage of podcast hosting options and podcast apps out there. 

Some are built for scale, others for ease, and a few for creators who want to squeeze every cent from their show. 

The “best” platform to host your podcast isn’t the same for everyone. It depends on where you’re starting and where you want to take your podcast. Here’s a breakdown of the top picks and what each platform provides.

What is the best podcast hosting platform?

If you’re after the biggest names that most podcasters trust, two platforms stand out for reliability, reach, and features.

1. Libsyn

Best for: Podcasters who want simple publishing, full distribution, and monetization

Libsyn lets you upload audio or video, schedule episodes, run dynamic ads, and offer premium subscriptions. Advanced stats and social scheduling make audience growth easy.

• Price: $7-$150/month
• Storage: 3-55 hours/month
• Monetization: Dynamic ads, subscriptions, listener-supported content

Pros: Automatic ad insertion, audio and video support, verified analytics
Cons: Higher-tier plans can be pricey

2. Acast

Best for: Podcasters who want to run multiple shows and grow revenue

Acast lets you publish, schedule, and monetize episodes with ads, sponsorships, and subscriptions. Analytics and social clips boost engagement (huge part of what makes a good podcast).

• Price: Free-$40/month
• Storage: Unlimited episodes on paid plans
• Monetization: Dynamic ads, sponsorships, premium subscriptions

Pros: Multi-show management, built-in ad tools, social clip creation
Cons: Free plan limited

Best video podcast hosting platform

Want to add video into the mix? These platforms make it easy to record, host, and share video podcasts.

3. Castos

Best for: Podcasters who want private content and subscriber perks

Castos lets you monetize episodes, run private/hybrid feeds, and auto-publish to YouTube. Advanced analytics track growth and revenue.

• Price: $19-$99/month
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Castos Ads, donations, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions

Pros: Monetize all episodes, private content options, YouTube auto-publish
Cons: Advanced features need higher-tier plans

4. Alitu

Best for: Podcasters who want fast, simple production

Alitu handles recording, editing, publishing, and hosting in one tool. One-click publishing sends episodes to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your own website.

• Price: $38/month
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Host anywhere, integrate ads or donations

Pros: AI audio cleanup, templates, built-in music and bleeping
Cons: Some features require learning curve

Best podcast hosting for multiple shows

Running more than one show? You’ll want a platform that lets you manage them all in one place without paying for a separate account every time.

5. Transistor

Best for: Teams and networks managing multiple shows

Transistor lets you host and distribute unlimited podcasts with dynamic ads, private shows, YouTube auto-posting, and analytics.

• Price: $19-$99/month
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Ads, Patreon, other integrations

Pros: Unlimited shows, team collaboration, built-in analytics and website
Cons: No recording or editing tools

6. Captivate

Best for: Professional podcasters who want hosting plus monetization

Host unlimited podcasts, distribute everywhere, and grow your audience with advanced analytics, dynamic ads, private podcasts, and Captivate Spark AI with Captivate.

• Price: $17-$90/month
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Ads, memberships, exclusive content

Pros: IAB-certified analytics, unlimited podcasts and private feeds
Cons: No free plan beyond 30-day trial

7. RSS.com

Best for: Solo creators, small teams, and growing brands

RSS.com offers automatic distribution, audio-to-video conversion, and transcripts to help expand reach.

• Price: $4.99-$18.75/month
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Ads, subscriptions, Value 4 Value

Pros: Unlimited episodes, cross-platform analytics, auto podcast content distribution
Cons: Limited download data, no free plan beyond free trial

Best podcast hosting platform for beginners

New to podcasting? These beginner-friendly platforms are designed to get you recording and publishing fast, without a steep learning curve.

8. Spreaker

Best for: Podcasters who want flexible monetization and supporter subscriptions

You can host unlimited episodes, distribute automatically to all major platforms, and monetize with dynamic ads, subscriptions, or custom ad campaigns on Spreaker.

• Price: $0-$250/month
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Dynamic ads, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, Supporters Club, self-managed ad campaigns

Pros: IAB-certified analytics, supporter subscriptions, unlimited shows
Cons: Free plan limited in monetization

9. Podomatic

Best for: Independent podcasters growing their audience with community support

With Podomatic, you get one-click distribution, unlimited hosting on higher plans, monetization with ads, donations, and Patreon/PayPal.

• Price: $0-$49.99/month
• Storage: 500MB-Unlimited
• Monetization: Listener donations, Podcorn ad sponsorships, Patreon/PayPal integration

Pros: Real-time analytics, multiple monetization options
Cons: Storage and analytics limited on lower plans

Best podcast hosting platform for monetization

If your goal is to make money from your podcast, you’ll need more than basic hosting. These platforms are built with monetization in mind.

10. Supercast

Best for: Podcasters focused on premium subscriptions and full audience ownership

Use Supercast to launch unlimited subscription plans, sync public episodes, and engage listeners with AMA sessions, email campaigns, and YouTube integration.

• Price: $0.59/subscriber + Stripe fees
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Subscriber payments, premium content, one-time payments, multiple subscription tiers

Pros: Full subscriber ownership, unlimited subscription tiers, detailed analytics
Cons: Costs scale per subscriber, requires Stripe

11. Patreon

Best for: Podcasters looking to turn listeners into paying members

Host multiple shows, share exclusive episodes, run live AMAs, and grow your community with memberships while syncing content to Spotify using Patreon.

• Price: Free starter; 5%-12% platform fee depending on plan
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Membership subscriptions, fan support, exclusive content

Pros: Fan network discovery, multiple shows per account, Spotify sync
Cons: Platform fees, limited analytics on lower tiers

Best podcast hosting providers

A few hosts don’t fit neatly into one category but still deserve a spot on the list for their flexibility and creator-friendly features.

11. RedCircle

Best for: Podcasters who want automated ads and cross-promotion to grow faster

RedCircle combines unlimited hosting with the only platform that automates both host-read and programmatic ads. Use dynamic insertion, cross-promotions, and instant payouts while keeping full control of your ad deals.

• Price: Free-$119.99/month
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Host-read ads, programmatic ads, subscriptions, exclusive content, donations

Pros: Automated ads, unlimited shows, cross-promotion marketplace
Cons: Free plan limited analytics, higher tiers needed for advanced tools

13. Podcastics

Best for: Creators who want a built-in website, heatmap analytics, and monetization tools

Podcastics includes unlimited storage, automated intros/outros, detailed stats, and customizable audio players. It builds a free white-label website with reviews, ratings, polls, and social features.

• Price: Free-$18/month
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Ads, donations (Patreon, PayPal, Tipeee), affiliate program

Pros: Free website, customizable players, social tools
Cons: Advanced features on higher tiers, listen cap for custom pricing

Best podcast hosting service

Looking for extra support, analytics, or growth tools? These services go beyond storage and publishing to give podcasters more ways to grow.

14. Blubrry

Best for: Podcasters using WordPress who need IAB analytics and monetization

Blubrry includes a free WordPress site, video-to-audio conversion, private podcasts, and ad/subscription options.

• Price: $12-150/month
• Storage: 125MB-1GB/month (expandable)
• Monetization: Ads, Apple Subscriptions, premium content

Pros: Seamless WordPress publishing, IAB-certified analytics, private podcasting
Cons: Limited base storage

15. Audioboom

Best for: Podcasters who want ad marketplace access and premium ad formats

Audioboom provides unlimited hosting, advanced analytics, distribution, and monetization with live reads, endorsements, and branded content.

• Price: $12.99-$24.99/month; Pro pricing on request
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Showcase ads, live reads, host endorsements, branded content

Pros: Scales with show size, premium ad network access
Cons: Lower-tier plans capped at 50k downloads

Best free podcast hosting sites

This platform shows you how to start a podcast for free using a complete hosting service without charging you a cent.

16. Podbean

Best for: Creators who want an all-in-one podcast platform with hosting, promotion, and monetization

Podbean offers unlimited storage on paid plans, distribution, customizable website, live streaming, and AI editing tools.

• Price: Free; Paid $9-$79/month; Enterprise on request
• Storage: 5 hours free; unlimited on paid plans
• Monetization: Ads marketplace, dynamic ads, subscriptions, live gifts

Pros: Full-featured platform, multiple monetization options
Cons: Advanced AI features require paid plans

Best podcast hosting platform free

Some platforms let you start for free. A good way to test the waters before you commit to a paid plan.

17. Buzzsprout (free plan)

Best for: Beginners starting fast without paying upfront

Buzzsprout lets you upload episodes, distribute to Spotify/Apple Podcasts, and use a free website. Tools like Magic Mastering and CoHost AI polish audio.

• Price: Free 90 days; $19-$79/month
• Storage: 4 hours free plan
• Monetization: Ads, subscriptions, dynamic content

Pros: Easy to use, free plan covers basics, strong support
Cons: Some features limited to paid plans

18. Spotify for Creators

Best for: Podcasters who want simple hosting, wide distribution, and easy monetization

Host audio or video podcasts, reach millions on Spotify for Creators, track analytics, and earn via ads or subscriptions. Spotify for podcasters works with shows hosted elsewhere too.

• Price: Free
• Storage: Unlimited
• Monetization: Ads, subscriptions, Partner Program revenue

Pros: Huge audience, simple monetization, cross-platform analytics
Cons: Some revenue tools limited to select markets, enterprise features cost extra

Podcast Hosting Costs

Podcasting can fit a wide range of budgets. Here are the main costs to keep in mind and what you can typically expect:

• Basic hosting fees: $0-$40/month depending on storage and features.
• Storage upgrades: $10-$50/month for extra hours or video hosting.
• Advanced features: $15-$100/month for dynamic ads, private feeds, AI tools, or video support.
• Monetization fees: 5%-12% of revenue on platforms like Patreon or Supercast.
• Add-on tools: $10-$50/month for editing software, transcription, or marketing tools.
• Website or custom domain: $0-$20/month depending on whether the host provides a free site.
• Enterprise or team plans: $50-$150/month for multiple shows, advanced analytics, or collaboration features.

How to Choose the Best Podcast Hosting Service (Checklist)

These are the main factors to consider when choosing the right podcast hosting platform for your show.

☐ Storage limits: Know how much audio or video you can upload each month. 
☐ Pricing: Look at monthly fees, extra costs, and revenue cuts.
☐ Monetization: Check for ads, subscriptions, or listener support options. For ideas on monetizing, see how podcasts make money.
☐ Distribution: Make sure your show can hit Spotify, Apple, and other major podcast directories. That’s podcasting 101.
☐ Analytics: Get stats on downloads, listener behaviour, and growth.
☐ Website and branding: Decide if you want a built-in site or custom podcast player.
☐ Support and resources: Guides, tutorials, and responsive support are a huge plus.
☐ Extra features: Think AI tools, editing, private shows, or video publishing if you need them.

Podcast host tips

A good hosting platform makes recording, publishing, and growing easier for all types of podcasts. Keep these in mind:

Dos:

• Do pick a platform that can grow with your show.
• Do choose one with clear analytics and easy reporting.
• Do make sure it supports the type of content you want (audio, video, private).

Don’ts:

• Don’t ignore hidden fees or revenue splits.
• Don’t pick a host with too little storage for your episode plans.
• Don’t overlook support and tutorials. They save a ton of time.

Learn more about podcast monetization: 

Claim Your Podcast HQ

Choosing the best podcast hosting platform can feel tricky with so many options, but the right platform makes your life easier, helps you reach more listeners, and opens doors to monetization opportunities. 

Pick a host that matches your goals, production style, and growth plans, and you’ll spend less time wrestling tech and more time recording great episodes.

Once you’ve got your host locked in, it’s time to plug into the right network and get your show heard. Stop wasting time emailing, searching, or guessing who to connect with. 

Set up your free Talks podcast page right now and get straight to recording with the right hosts and guests.