14 Best Podcast & Website Hosting Platforms (Feb. 2024)

Podcasts have doubled in number over the last decade. This stat may not come as a surprise to the many who use podcasts to listen in on favorite subjects, follow businesses, and immerse in murder mysteries. Podcasts are easy to integrate into daily activities and have a variety of niches to choose from, helping us consume topics in a fun and engaging way.

Podcasts have proven to be a great business opportunity or even a fun pastime. Wherever you land within the podcast realm, you will need to know how to host one. Many podcast creators choose to distribute their shows on personalized websites catered to their brand. Displaying their podcast on a website allows them to showcase who they are to their listeners in a customized environment.

If you’re looking to do the same, you have come to the right place. Below, we’ll share with you how to find the best podcast hosting platform, ranging from cheap to premium hosting plans. We also discuss an alternative type of podcast platform that offers excellent distribution options and perks.

Podcasts are a great way to consume content, whether for entertainment or educational purposes. Its rise in popularity has captured many people’s attention for both listening and content creation. For those who want to jump-start their podcast journey, websites can be a crucial piece to their long-term success. Websites allow podcast creators to market themselves, distribute multiple shows via an RSS feed, and display additional features, including merchandise and donation support.

Choosing the best podcast host will come down to your needs and overall future goals. If you plan on growing your podcast, you will need a stable web hosting provider that can provide scalability. Beginners who don’t want too much commitment can go for a lower plan to get started. And there are many more options available between these two endpoints. Thinking of your budget and end goals will be your best bet when deciding on the perfect podcast hosting service.

If you’re just getting started with podcasting, a cheap podcast hosting service is a fantastic option. Shared plans are usually lower on costs but also offer valuable features and performance to maintain a podcast hosting site. These podcast hosting services are ideal for users who want less commitment or have smaller budgets. Podcasting can be a huge undertaking that requires a lot of time, so having an affordable hosting service can allow you some leeway if you decide against it.

Shared hosting includes multiple features, including unlimited bandwidth and web-building tools with podcast integrations for big names such as an Apple podcast or a Google podcast. With the perfect mix of features, users can build a reliable podcast hosting site that is presentable and successful. Shared hosting is also easier to use than other hosting forms, making it perfect for beginners. Podcasters should look for plans with an intuitive control panel, domain registration, SSD storage for high speeds, SSL certificates for web security, and 24/7 technical support for quick responses to your website questions.

Take a look at our top-rated shared hosting plans offering features that could help you build and boost your podcast web presence.

Now that we talked about shared hosting providers, we can go up the hosting spectrum to cloud and VPS hosting plans. These plans exist in the middle because they are both similar in pricing and performance capabilities. VPS and cloud hosting plans give users more resources and also flexibility and scalability with those resources. These two server types can make for a fantastic podcast hosting service if you plan on growing your website while accommodating to demand shifts.

Podcasters can choose between managed and unmanaged cloud and VPS plans. The unmanaged plans will cost less but require more technical expertise. VPS and cloud plans can help users easily build a stable podcast hosting platform because they offer more security and better uptime guarantees than shared hosting. Podcasters will get dedicated resources that no one else can use, securing server performance and reliability.

VPS and cloud plans also offer extra storage and unlimited bandwidth meters. Users can expect optimal SSD storage, root-level access, higher RAM, and hosting staples, including SSL encryption and easy-to-use control panels. For users with multiple podcasts, you can also get a plan that supports more than one website to keep all your podcast websites under one roof.

Check out the web hosts below to see where your needs best fit. With these plans, you will definitely find the power you need to get one or even multiple podcasts off the ground and running for the long haul.

If you don’t want to settle with a web host too soon, you can use a free trial. The beauty of a free trial is that you can test your hosting provider and if a podcast website fits your plans, no strings attached. Leveraging a free plan can help you determine what you’re looking for in podcasting and what resources will best suit your needs. Web hosts are a fantastic option for novice podcasters and website owners who need more experience with hosting before going all in.

Below, we list some of the top web hosts in the shared and cloud hosting spaces offering free trials. Whether it’s 30 days or 14 days, you will definitely get the free podcast hosting experience you need to make a choice.

Being a successful podcast host requires a good podcast hosting platform. Thankfully, there are tons of platforms out there for podcast distribution, from the likes of Apple Podcasts to smaller niche platforms. A podcast hosting platform is where podcasters upload their audio file for distribution. Each hosting platform has its own benefits. Niche podcast hosts can be a great starting point for beginners to launch their podcast shows.

Below, you can find some of the top names in the niche category for podcast production and distribution:

• Libsyn
• BuzzSprout
• Goodpods
• Anchor
• PodBean

These podcast hosts can offer you a comprehensive platform with all the tools you need to get started on your podcasting journey. With them, podcasters can publish their episodes on almost any podcast directory, produce unlimited podcasts, and receive analytics for their episodes, such as viewers per month. Some things to consider, however, are that not all of these hosts offer support for podcast websites and may have the customization you need. A more robust podcast hosting solution may fit better into your plans if you seek to grow with a website.

To understand podcast hosting, let’s first start with the definition of a podcast. A podcast is a series of audio files that can be distributed over the internet using RSS feeds. An RSS feed helps maintain subscriptions on the internet, whether an email list or a podcast catalog.

Podcast hosting has more to do with the production and distribution of a podcast. If you want to make your podcast discoverable to a listener, you must find a podcast platform to host it. Podcast platforms, including Libsyn, help you distribute your podcast to a podcast directory, such as Apple Podcasts or Podcast Addict. A directory is where users can search for and listen to a podcast episode.

Podcasters also have the choice to host their own podcast website. This type of hosting is when a user purchases a web hosting plan to create a website with the intention of marketing their podcast. A podcast website gives users more control and customization over their brand and allows them to feature financial support, plugins for social media, and merchandise options. Having a website can drive more traffic to your podcast and build a larger web presence beyond the bounds of a podcast distribution channel.

Launching a podcast show is an excellent business opportunity in this day and age. It’s an affordable and user-friendly way to reach an audience and market yourself. But how you distribute your podcast episodes can affect your success. Although podcast websites can boost your podcast trajectory, it is not the best idea to use them for hosting your audio files.

Podcasts shows can feature an unlimited amount of episodes. If you host those unlimited podcasts on your website, they can start to weigh down your performance. Those massive audio files will take up too much storage space and bog down your podcast website’s speed.

If you want to display your podcast on a website, you can choose a web host with podcast integrations for popular podcast directories. You can also leverage the services of a podcast host with website support. The podcast host will use an RSS feed to maintain your podcast subscriptions, and all you need to do is link your podcast host to your website. Podcasters can upload a new episode to their hosting platform and watch the RSS feed handle the rest. Each time a new episode appears, that change will be reflected on the podcaster’s website.

Choosing the best podcast hosting platform can be tricky, but knowing what you want can help you narrow down your decision. Podcast platforms come in all shapes and sizes, varying in price, features, and functionality. When choosing, you should consider storage capabilities, website integrations, podcast analytics, and monetization support.

Prioritizing your goals and your long-term outlook is your best bet. If you have plans for expansive growth, you may want a podcast host that can support a budding website presence and has a large storage capacity for unlimited podcasts. Beginners can try out smaller distributors with more affordable plans and simpler interfaces. Podcast analytics is also an excellent feature for all podcasters, as you can track your reach and monitor success for long-term goals. But be cautious of free podcast hosting services. Paying a little extra can help you get a stable platform while avoiding performance issues or advertisement overflow of a free plan.

Once you prioritize your needs, choosing the best podcast hosting service will be that much easier. This advice can also be used for selecting a web hosting provider for your podcast website. Try to aim for a web host that fits your budget and provides top-notch performance for all your podcast and marketing needs.