Podcasts are a great way to make money online, share your expertise, network with professionals in your industry, and market your work. It takes only a decent headset to get started. You can use one of the best free podcast hosting services and start your show without spending a dollar.
Let’s dive right into it!
Why you need podcast hosting
You may be thinking that you’ll upload your podcasts directly to networks like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Those are, after all, the places where your podcast is most likely to find an audience. Unfortunately, these platforms don’t actually store podcasts.
Your existing website host doesn’t have the tech needed to host a podcast either. Specifically, they don’t have the tools to compress your audio and distribute it to podcast networks or “podcatchers.” To achieve this distribution, you’ll need to work with a dedicated podcast host.
Some podcast hosts also offer tools for recording, editing, and monetizing your podcast. This lets you do all of the important tasks related to running a podcast in one place.
How free podcast hosting works
If podcast hosting is such a specialized service, how can companies afford to provide it for free? Well, there are a couple of ways.
First, many podcast hosts limit the storage space available to members of their free plan. This is often listed as an amount of recorded time that you can upload, for example two hours. You may also find that some free podcast hosts limit certain features only to premium accounts.
Other podcast hosts use revenue-sharing to make their money. This means they place ads on podcasts, then split the revenue from those ads with the podcast hosts. Considering that podcast advertising is a billion dollar industry,[1] this is a great way for hosting companies to earn money. Even better, some podcast hosts will help you find advertising partners.
Best free podcast hosting
Now that we’ve discussed the finer details of podcast hosting, let’s see what you can achieve with the best free podcast hosting services.
1. Spotify for Podcasters
⚙️ Features:
- # of episodes/storage space: Unlimited
- # of podcasts per account: 1
- Outbound bandwidth: Unlimited
- Website: ❌
- Monetization: ✅
- Distribution: One-click distribution
- Analytics: Advanced analytics built right into the Spotify for Podcasters dashboard
Spotify for Podcasters is a 100% free podcast host owned by Spotify. The service provides unlimited access to everything, including tools for recording and editing your podcast. You’ll even gain access to free libraries of music and sound effects that can be used to give your podcast a more professional feel.
Another big advantage of Spotify for Podcasters is access to the platform’s detailed analytics. Podcasters can easily access information about the number of people who listen to each podcast episode, what services people are using to listen, and where in the world your listeners are. You can also view a line graph that tracks listener trends over a weekly, monthly, or even a daily period.
Podcasters are also able to take advantage of this tool’s monetization program (the podcast subscriptions are available in 34 countries, while the other monetization options are available only in the US). This is a revenue sharing program where Spotify for Podcasters splits the revenue 70/30 with the creator, with the 70% going directly to podcasters. This makes it one of the best free podcast hosting options for those who want to maximize their monetization potential.
I personally use this podcast hosting solution to host the Spoonie Authors Podcast and have quite enjoyed working with the platform.
2. Acast
⚙️ Features:
- # of episodes/storage: Unlimited
- # of podcasts: 1
- Outbound bandwidth: Unlimited
- Website: Only available with paid plans
- Monetization: ✅ (via paid subscriptions and donations)
- Distribution: ✅
- Analytics: Advanced
Acast offers one of the most generous free plans on this list. There’s no limit to the number of episodes you can have, file sizes you can upload, or the number of times people can download your podcast. You’ll also get access to an easily edited podcast site.
Free users can also access marketing tools, like an AI transcription service and access to Podcastle, a tool that helps you record, edit, and mix your audio files.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to run multiple podcasts on their free plan. However, it’s worth noting that the premium plans include direct integration with Patreon, one of the most popular tools for earning money on podcasts.
3. Pinecast
⚙️ Features:
- # of episodes/storage space: Unlimited uploads, 10 episodes available at a time
- # of podcasts: 2
- Outbound bandwidth: Unlimited
- Website: Only available with paid plans
- Monetization: ✅ (via tip jar)
- Distribution: ✅
- Analytics: Basic (more advanced options available with premium plans)
Pinecast earns its place on this list of the best free podcast hosting by offering wide distribution, unlimited bandwidth and downloads, and tip jar capabilities to all of its users, including folks on the free plan. You can also have up to 10 episodes, split between up to two podcasts, available through the free plan at any given time.
When you’re ready to go premium, you’ll find that Pinecast has a lot to offer. The Starter plan is available for $10 per month or $110 per year and includes unlimited shows, unlimited episodes, a podcast website, embeddable players, and premium analytics.
The one drawback of Pinecast is that it doesn’t include tools for recording or editing podcast episodes. You’ll need to use a separate program for the actual creation of your podcast.
4. Podomatic
⚙️ Features:
- # of episodes/storage: 6 hours/20 episodes
- # of podcasts: 1
- Outbound bandwidth: 15 GB/month
- Website: ❌
- Monetization: ✅ (via sponsorships)
- Distribution: ✅
- Analytics: Basic
Podomatic is one of the best free podcast hosting services around because it lets you record and edit your podcasts, then quickly distribute them to a variety of podcast networks. The company also provides embeddable players for a wide variety of social networks and your website.
There is one way to monetize your podcast on a free Podomatic plan: you can get sponsorships through the Podcorn program. You can also get paid by your listeners through Patreon if you upgrade to the premium plan.
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 $2.99 per month (when billed annually).
5. Buzzsprout
⚙️ Features:
- # of episodes/storage space: 2 hours/month for up to 90 days
- # of podcasts: 1
- Outbound bandwidth: 250 GB
- Website: Only available with paid plans
- Monetization: ✅ (via ads)
- Distribution: ✅
- Analytics: Advanced
Founded over ten years ago, Buzzsprout is one of the oldest and most respected names in podcast hosting. Its main draw is automated file optimization and conversion. This makes it possible to plug virtually any file type into the Buzzsprout software and turn it into a high-quality podcast.
Another reason why Buzzsprout is on this list of the best free podcast hosting is the availability of integrations. You can combine Buzzsprout with a variety of popular tools, including advanced analytics tools and WordPress.
The one disadvantage of Buzzsprout is the limited storage space available on the free plan. This means you’ll need to have a plan for monetization, and the eventual switch to a paid hosting plan, if you host your podcast on Buzzsprout.
6. Spreaker
⚙️ Features:
- # of episodes/storage space: Unlimited
- # of podcasts: 1
- Outbound bandwidth: Unlimited
- Website: ❌
- Monetization: ✅ (via ads)
- Distribution: ✅ (one-click distribution)
- Analytics: Basic for 6 months (more on paid plans)
Spreaker is a high-quality podcast host with a plethora of advanced features, including episode scheduling and the ability to host live podcasts. Moreover, it lets you host unlimited episodes in the free plan.
Once you publish a podcast episode, Spreaker auto-uploads it to iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts so you don’t have to. If you want to share it on other podcasting platforms, you need to submit it through the one-click distribution feature.
One limit of Spreaker’s free plan is that it only lets you monetize your podcast through ads. If you want access to more monetization options, you’ll need to invest in one of their paid plans.
Therefore, it’s a little bit more limited compared to some of the other best free podcast hosting options.
7. Podbean
⚙️ Features:
- # of episodes/storage space: 5 hours (500 MB) total
- # of podcasts: 1
- Outbound bandwidth: 100 GB/month
- Website: ✅
- Monetization: ❌
- Distribution: ✅
- Analytics: Basic
Podbean is a great podcast host with a limited free plan that lets you test their platform. You can upload episodes, create a simple website, and use integrations with email marketing tools and social media to perfect your promotion.
Another benefit of Podbean is the direct connection to the Podbean Audio Recorder app. This app lets you record, edit, and publish podcasts directly from your phone. There are versions available for both Android and iOS.
The five-hour limit does mean you’ll need to switch to a paid plan for a long running podcast, but the premium plans offer some of the most advanced features available. They include the ability to create a monthly patron program, similar to what many podcasters use Patreon for.
Final advice on the best free podcast hosting
As with any business decision, the best free podcast hosting is the one that meets your needs and your goals:
- To keep your podcast hosting free forever, choose Spotify for Podcasters or Acast.
- For a tool that integrates with services you’re already using, choose Buzzsprout or Podbean.
- To host multiple podcasts on one account, choose Pinecast.
- For access to a variety of monetization options, choose Podomatic or Spotify for Podcasters (most of them are available only in the US, though).
- For unlimited episodes, choose Spreaker, Spotify for Podcasters, or Acast.
If you want to build a WordPress site for your podcast, check out this in-depth guide on how to go from zero to a fully functioning podcast website.
Do you have any questions about starting a podcast with these services? Ask away in the comments below!
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