Few industries have grown as rapidly in recent times as the world of podcasting. With its origins dating back to the 1980s, podcasting has evolved from a niche hobby to a mainstream form of entertainment enjoyed by over 464 million listeners worldwide.
As you dig deeper into podcasting, you must recognize the role that podcast platforms play in delivering your content to your audience. In this guide, we’ve conducted extensive research to choose the 10 best podcast platforms available today.
TL;DR – Top 10 Podcast Platforms for Creators
Without further ado, here are our 10 best picks for podcast platforms to help you thrive as a creator. We will talk about these in detail later in the blog:
- Hello Audio
- Buzzsprout
- Spotify for Podcasters
- Podbean
- Spreaker
- Streamyard
- Simplecast
- Blubrry
- Acast
- Libsyn
Making it to the #1 spot in our list is Hello Audio. You can create private podcasts to connect with your audience on a deeper level and maximize your engagement and reach.
Sign up for a free 7-day trial today to see more of what Hello Audio offers – and how it can help you repurpose existing content into podcasts in minutes!
What is a Podcast Platform?
Podcast platforms are modern-day libraries for your digital content. These platforms allow you to manage, store, and distribute your podcast episodes all in one place. They enable you to upload audio files, add episode descriptions, and publish your content to various platforms.
Not only are they platforms that allow you to host but also they help you grow your audience and monetize your content. Some platforms boast recording and editing tools for a more streamlined podcasting experience.
Other podcast platforms also enable you to customize your podcast website and provide many monetization options – so you can create, grow your community, and earn all simultaneously!
Things to Consider While Choosing a Podcasting Platform
Your podcasting platform serves as the foundation of your podcasting journey. After all, the right platform provides the right tools and resources to grow your podcast effectively.
Take note of the following factors to consider:
- Ease of use: The last thing you’d want in a podcasting platform is a clunky user experience and interface, as it can interfere with your productivity. Read up on customer reviews or avail of free trials to assess whether a platform’s user experience meets your preferences.
- Storage: Each podcasting platform has its storage limit – so before you commit to using a specific platform, check out its storage limit and policies.
- Budget: When selecting a podcast platform, browse and compare their pricing plans. Always consider each platform’s features in relation to their cost to find the best fit for your budget.
- Analytics: Because each podcast platform offers different forms of analytics, you have to read up on the specific analytics features and metrics provided by each platform to determine what works best for your podcasting needs.
- Integrations. While podcasting platforms pack impressive features and stand on their own, they become even more powerful when they integrate with other tools and services that podcasters rely on. Depending on your needs, look for social media, monetization, and analytics integration, among others.
Top Podcast Platforms
We’ve classified each podcast platform according to its standout features:
Best Podcast Hosting Platform
A podcast hosting platform like no other, Hello Audio is the one to beat – for many good reasons.
The platform gives you the power to repurpose your content into private podcasts – which can lead to higher engagement, more sales, and a tight-knit community.
This can be especially useful to educate your audience, as the connection feels more personal. Plus, it allows a tailored learning experience that resonates with your audience’s interests.
Upload your audio and videos, and we can deliver your content through audio feeds on popular podcast apps like Google Podcasts and Spotify.
Indeed, connecting with your audience has never been easier than before. Get an instant demo today to see the true magic of Hello Audio.
Best Podcast Distribution and Podcast Syndication Platform
Spotify for Podcasters, formerly known as Anchor, snags a spot in our top 10 podcast platforms for its seamless syndication and distribution. Because it’s a Spotify-owned platform, it is not surprising that it integrates easily with the popular streaming platform.
One of the platform’s winning features is its automatic distribution feature to all major podcast directories – Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Castbox, and the like.
The platform also offers unlimited storage and in-depth analytics. Even better, these features all come for free! While an excellent choice for podcast syndication, it’s perfect for podcasters still dipping their toes into the world of podcasting.
Best Podcast Platform for Monetization
Creators start their podcast journey for various reasons – some enjoy educating their audience, and others find fulfillment in sharing their personal experiences and stories. If you’re a podcaster looking to do these while monetizing your content, there’s no better platform than Podbean.
In their Ads Marketplace, you gain access to all sorts of advertisers. You’ll find offers for each advertiser, and you can choose one that suits the interests of your listeners.
Podbean also offers a crowdfunding platform, the Podbean Patron Program, which allows listeners to support you directly from the podcast. On top of that, it integrates seamlessly with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions – this enables you to offer premium content to your fans, giving you an additional income stream for your podcasts.
Best Podcast Recording Platform
Spreaker outshines its competitors in several key aspects for a podcast recording platform. It has the Spreaker Studio, a free podcast recording software with all the editing tools you need as a creator.
Should you download the Spreaker app on your Desktop, you can use external microphones and mixers for premium recording quality. Be sure you clean up your audio recordings to provide the best listening experience for your audience.
Podcasting doesn’t have to be one-sided, and because of Spreaker’s live podcasting feature, you can connect with your fans in real time. If you’d like to bring a guest over to your podcast, don’t forget to take advantage of its Skype recording feature.
Best Video Podcast Platform
Video podcasts make your podcasts come to life. Adding visuals provides a more engaging experience for your listeners, and there’s no better way to do that than on Streamyard.
Whether it’s a pre-recorded video or a live video that you choose, this podcasting platform has got all bases covered. Adding high-quality videos is as easy as cake, and there is no limit on the number of videos, their file sizes, or even their lengths.
Best Platform to Start a Podcast
Becoming a podcaster these days shouldn’t be intimidating because you only need some simple podcasting equipment to get started.
And while there is a wide selection of platforms to choose from, one, in particular, stands out for its intuitive interface.
Buzzsprout provides advanced podcast metrics to help analyze your growth and reach. Plus, it has also integrated AI into the workflow. Cohost AI, launched in July 2023, can help market your podcast by automating social media posts and drafting blog posts once you create an episode.
Honorable Mentions
With plenty of podcast platforms, not all receive the same attention.
The following platforms are worth mentioning for their unique features and appeal:
Simplecast
If you’re looking to handle multiple podcasts and work with a large team, Simplecast can be a great choice.
Depending on the plan you choose, you can also embed your episodes on your website or social media accounts. The Basic Plan gives you the standard player, but if you’re looking for more customizability, you’re better off selecting a plan of a higher tier.
Blubrry
This podcasting platform is more suitable for podcasters with experience. An interesting feature of buying a Blubrry plan is that you get a free WordPress website – making this a stellar choice for those looking to expand their reach beyond social media and other digital channels.
Having your website improves your podcast’s visibility, especially when optimized for search engines. Blubrry also allows you to create and manage your website without prior experience.
All you need to do is select a template, and Blubrry will do all the backend work.
Acast
One of the newer podcast hosting services, Acast is an all-in-one platform that gives you free access to Podcastle, which allows you to edit your podcasts from your browser. This podcast platform can convert audio into video, which can be quite handy in social media marketing.
Libsyn
The final podcast platform to make it to our list is Libsyn. This feature-packed hosting service offers features like dynamic podcast ads, comprehensive podcast data and insights, and more.
If you want to get a little artsy with your podcast cover and episode art, Canva integration can flow your creative juices to keep your visual content appealing to your listeners. While these features may seem enticing, note that no free trials are available for Libsyn.
How to Upload a Podcast to All Platforms
Making your podcast available to all platforms is a surefire way to maximize your reach and expand your audience.
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how you can upload your podcast to all platforms:
- Create a podcast.
- Choose a podcast hosting platform.
- Locate your RSS feed link.
- Select some podcast directories.
- Add your RSS feed link to the chosen directories.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions on this topic:
How Can I Switch My Podcast to a Different Platform Without Losing Subscribers?
Should you find yourself in this scenario, take the following steps:
- Import your podcast to a new podcast hosting provider.
- Paste your old feed.
- Confirm your feed settings.
- Create a 301 Redirect.
Note that these steps may vary slightly depending on your chosen podcast host and may not specifically apply to all hosts.
How Do Podcast Platforms Handle Content Rights and Ownership?
Podcast platforms comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which serves as a basis for addressing infringement claims. If, for example, a copyright holder has reported a specific episode that violates their rights, the hosting platform acts by the DMCA.
In terms of content ownership, content creators typically retain the ownership of the content, but they do give podcast platforms the license to host their content based on their terms of service.
What Support and Resources Do Podcast Platforms Offer for New Podcasters?
Podcast platforms offer a range of resources to help new podcasters launch their podcasts successfully.
First, they often provide in-depth guides, tutorials, and videos on how to use their platform. Eliminating the guesswork, these guides often discuss submitting podcasts to directories, publishing your first episode, recording audio, and much more.
Besides that, many podcast platforms offer technical support to resolve any issues you might encounter while navigating the platform’s features.
Other platforms offer free plans, which are perfect for beginner podcasters to taste the podcasting experience without the financial commitment.
Can I Integrate My Podcast with Social Media through Podcast Platforms?
Yes, integrating your podcast with social media can be done through some podcast platforms. Platforms like Buzzsprout integrated AI algorithms to help automate social media publishing, which boosts your podcast marketing.
Whether your platform is Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, your social media posts should revolve around creating engaging posts or launching teasers to attract new audiences.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, there are numerous podcast platforms to choose from, each ideal for a specific objective. There’s a podcast platform for just about everyone – beginners, those looking to monetize their content, video podcasters, and all kinds of podcast creators!
These platforms are fantastic choices for podcasters of different skill levels and objectives. But if there’s one that takes the cake, it’s Hello Audio.
Remember: the key to growing your audience is creating engaging content while using the best podcast platform tools to maintain their quality.
By helping you create private podcasts and giving you access to repurposing existing content into private podcasts, Hello Audio is a no-brainer option. Begin your free trial today (no credit card required).
