How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Spotify for Creators (formerly Spotify for Podcasters) is the only major host that is completely free, which makes it the default starting point for hobby shows.
- Buzzsprout remains the easiest paid host for beginners, with guided publishing, a free tier, and video podcast support.
- Transistor is the pick for creators running multiple shows, since every plan includes several podcasts, while Captivate leans into growth and marketing tools.
- Libsyn and Simplecast serve established shows and networks that need serious analytics and monetization, and Podbean bundles hosting with an ad marketplace.
- Your RSS feed is your most valuable asset: choose a host that lets you own it and leave freely, which all ten of these do.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Buzzsprout | first-time podcasters who want hand-holding | See website | Yes |
 Spotify for Creators | free hosting with Spotify distribution | Free | Yes |
 Podbean | monetization from day one | See website | Yes |
 Transistor | creators and brands running multiple shows | $19/month | Free trial (14 days) |
 Captivate | podcasters focused on audience growth | See website | Free trial |
 Libsyn | veteran shows that want the original host | See website | No |
 Simplecast | teams, brands and networks | See website | Yes |
 RSS.com | affordable unlimited hosting | See website | Free trial |
 Spreaker | live recording and broadcasting | See website | Yes |
 Acast | monetization-focused shows ready to scale | See website | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Buzzsprout has guided more beginners into podcasting than any other host. Upload an episode, and the platform walks you through titles, show notes, scheduling and distribution to every major directory. The free tier lets you test the whole flow, and features like Magic Mastering and automatic transcripts add polish without extra tools.
The pricing model is the thing to watch: plans are tied to monthly upload hours rather than flat unlimited storage. A weekly 30-minute show fits comfortably, but daily publishers will feel it. For most new podcasters, though, Buzzsprout's ease is worth it.
What we like- The simplest publishing workflow in the category
- Free tier to start
- Video podcast distribution to Apple, Spotify and YouTube
Watch out for- Pricing scales with upload hours, which gets expensive for prolific shows
- Advanced monetization lags specialists
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Spotify for Creators is the current name for what launched as Anchor and later became Spotify for Podcasters. The deal is unchanged: free hosting, free distribution, and a straight path to Spotify's hundreds of millions of listeners, plus video support and monetization options.
It is the rational choice for hobby shows and experiments. Serious shows often graduate to a paid host for better analytics, migration flexibility and platform independence, but starting free costs nothing and teaches you the workflow.
What we like- Completely free hosting with no upload caps
- Direct pipeline to Spotify's audience
- Monetization tools including the Partner Program
Watch out for- Analytics and customization are thinner than paid hosts
- You are building on Spotify's platform, which sets the terms
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Podbean has been around since podcasting's early days and built a full monetization stack: run ads from its marketplace, take patron subscriptions, even live stream to your audience. The free tier covers basic hosting, and paid plans stay affordable.
The product shows its age in places, and power users sometimes find the feature set less cohesive than Transistor or Captivate. But if earning from your show early matters, Podbean puts more revenue tools in front of beginners than anyone else at the price.
What we like- Built-in ad marketplace, patron subscriptions and live streaming
- Affordable paid plans
- Free tier for testing
Watch out for- The interface feels dated next to newer hosts
- Some advanced features are spread across plan tiers
Starting price$19/month
Free planFree trial (14 days)
Transistor's defining feature is that one account hosts several shows, which makes it the favorite of agencies, networks and creators with a portfolio. Plans start at $19/month with a 14-day trial, and you get unlimited storage, a fast website builder, private feeds and solid analytics.
If you run exactly one small show, cheaper single-show hosts exist. But the moment you add a second podcast, a client show or a private feed, Transistor's pricing becomes the best value in the category.
What we like- Every plan includes multiple podcasts
- Clean analytics and a modern interface
- Private podcasting for courses and internal shows
Watch out for- No free tier beyond the 14-day trial
- Per-show thinking means single-show hobbyists pay for capacity they do not need
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Captivate positions itself as the growth platform: beyond hosting, you get listener calls to action, sponsorship kits, and analytics aimed at understanding what drives downloads. Paid plans include unlimited uploads, and the onboarding from another host is genuinely painless.
It is more than a pure beginner needs on day one, but for podcasters treating the show as a marketing channel, the growth tooling justifies the price. Try the trial and see whether you actually use the marketing features before committing.
What we like- Marketing toolkit with calls to action, guest booking links and attribution
- Unlimited uploads on paid plans
- Clean migration tools
Watch out for- No permanent free tier
- Growth features add complexity if you just want simple hosting
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Libsyn hosted podcasts before podcasting had a name, and that history shows in its directory relationships and rock-solid RSS infrastructure. Plans start at $5/month with storage-based tiers, and the platform now bundles production, promotion and monetization tools for growing shows.
New podcasters will find the interface old-fashioned compared with Buzzsprout or Transistor. But for established shows that value stability, advertising infrastructure and two decades of uptime, Libsyn remains a respected choice.
What we like- The longest-running podcast host with deep directory relationships
- Strong monetization and ad network
- IAB-verified stats
Watch out for- Plans start at $5/month but charge by storage, and the interface feels legacy
- No free tier
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Simplecast, owned by SiriusXM, serves brands and networks that treat podcasting as a business line. The analytics platform is genuinely best in class, distribution is one click, and the ad marketplace integration gives larger shows real monetization power.
Solo beginners can start with the free account, but the pricing and positioning aim upmarket. If your show is a company asset with stakeholders and revenue targets, Simplecast's analytics alone may justify it.
What we like- Enterprise-grade analytics with IAB certification
- One-click distribution and strong monetization via AdsWizz
- Free account to start
Watch out for- Pricing runs higher than indie-focused hosts
- The feature set targets teams more than solo creators
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Spreaker started in live audio and still does it best: stream live to your audience, then keep the recording as an on-demand episode. The platform adds hosting, distribution and an ad marketplace, with a free tier for getting started.
If live shows are not your format, simpler hosts will feel cleaner. But for broadcasters, radio-style shows and anyone who wants live interaction with listeners, Spreaker's combination is unique.
What we like- Live streaming plus on-demand hosting in one platform
- Ad marketplace and programmatic monetization
- Free tier available
Watch out for- The live-broadcast heritage makes the interface busier than pure hosts
- Pricing tiers can confuse beginners
#10
Acast
Best for: monetization-focused shows ready to scale
Visit acast.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Acast is the monetization endgame for many independent shows. Its ad technology, host-read marketplace and network deals help mid-size and large podcasts earn serious revenue, and it operates globally with particular strength outside the US.
This is not a beginner host: pricing is custom and the value only appears once you have an audience worth monetizing. Start elsewhere, grow your show, and consider Acast when advertisers start asking about your download numbers.
What we like- Powerful ad tech with dynamic insertion
- Creator funds and network effects for growing shows
- Strong in the UK, Europe and beyond
Watch out for- Built for shows with real audiences, with custom pricing to match
- Overkill for a new show with ten listeners
How we chose
We compared hosts on pricing models (upload-based versus unlimited), free tiers and trials, distribution breadth, analytics quality, monetization options, multi-show support, and RSS feed ownership and portability. We read vendor homepages and pricing pages, independent comparisons, and public reviews on Reddit, G2 and podcasting publications. We did not test hosting accounts hands-on.
Recording is not hosting: how the two fit together
Beginners often confuse recording tools with hosting platforms, so here is the split. Recording software like Riverside, Audacity or Descript captures and edits your audio. A hosting platform like the ten above stores your files, generates your RSS feed, and distributes episodes to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and everywhere else. You need both.
The practical stack for most beginners: record in Riverside or Audacity, edit in Descript or Audacity, host on Buzzsprout or Spotify for Creators. Some tools blur the line. Zencastr and Riverside now bundle hosting, Alitu includes it, and Spotify for Creators covers the basics free. But keeping recording and hosting separate gives you the freedom to switch either side without rebuilding your whole workflow.
Moving hosts without losing listeners
Your RSS feed is the asset; the host is interchangeable. Every platform here supports 301 redirects, which tell directories your feed has moved permanently, so subscribers follow automatically. Before switching, export everything, set up the redirect on the old host, keep the old account active for a few weeks, and verify the new feed in Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Never delete the old feed on day one. Done right, listeners never notice the move.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free podcast hosting platform?
Spotify for Creators is the only major host that is completely free with no upload caps. Buzzsprout, Podbean, Spreaker and Simplecast offer free tiers with limits, and RSS.com, Transistor and Captivate offer free trials. Start free, upgrade when your show outgrows the limits.
How much does podcast hosting cost?
Entry-level paid hosting runs roughly $5 to $19 per month: Libsyn starts near $5, Buzzsprout around $12, Transistor and Captivate at $19. Prices scale with upload hours, storage, or shows. Most beginners spend under $20/month until the audience justifies more.
Can I switch podcast hosts later?
Yes. Podcasting is built on the open RSS standard, and every reputable host supports feed redirects that move your subscribers automatically. Choose a host that makes your feed portable and avoid any platform that locks it in.
Do I need a separate host if I record with Riverside or Zencastr?
Not necessarily. Both now bundle hosting and distribution, and Alitu includes hosting too. But many podcasters still prefer a dedicated host like Buzzsprout or Transistor for better analytics and flexibility. Either approach works; the key is owning your RSS feed.
Which podcast platform is best for making money?
Podbean and Spreaker offer ad marketplaces accessible to smaller shows, while Acast and Simplecast serve larger audiences with serious ad tech. Spotify for Creators includes monetization tools free. Realistic expectations matter: meaningful ad revenue typically needs thousands of downloads per episode.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://buzzsprout.com/
- https://podcasters.spotify.com
- https://www.podbean.com
- https://transistor.fm
- https://www.captivate.fm
- https://libsyn.com
- https://simplecast.com
- https://rss.com
- https://www.spreaker.com
- https://acast.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
