A popular question we always get from clients and podcasters is: “How do I distribute my podcast?”

The simple answer: podcast hosting platforms. 

But it doesn’t end there. So many podcast distribution platforms exist, but they’re not all built the same. Therefore, it’s all about finding the one that works best for you, supports your podcast’s goals, and makes it simple to manage. 

In this article, we’ll make the process of selecting a hosting platform a little easier. We’ve compiled this year’s top 11 podcast hosting platforms and are breaking down: 

• Platform overviews 
• Key features 
• Pricing 

So you can feel confident your show will get in front of the right eyes (and ears).

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What are podcast hosting platforms?

Podcast hosting platforms are online services that store and distribute audio files for podcasts. They provide essential features like storage, bandwidth, RSS feed generation, analytics, and distribution to various podcast directories such as Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and Spotify. 

However, like most things, podcast hosting platforms aren’t created equal. These platforms offer a range of features and pricing plans to accommodate different needs, whether you're a brand, hobbyist, or professional podcaster looking to scale your show. 

So without further ado, let’s jump into this year’s top podcast hosting platforms.

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Podcast hosting platform comparison table

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1. CoHost‍

‍Pricing: Starts at $31/month
Best for: Brands & Agencies
Free Trial: 7-day free trial

Created by the award-winning podcast agency, Quill, CoHost is a podcast analytics and audience insights platform that equips brands and agencies with the data and tools they need to measure podcast reach, growth, and impact. 

Trusted by leading brands and agencies like PwC, Yelp, eBay, and L’Oreal, CoHost empowers users with in-depth insights and tools to understand who their audience is and how their podcast is performing. 

Features: 

• Advanced Audience Demographics: Verify if podcasts are reaching target audiences by gaining insight into listeners' age, income, family makeup, social habits, and more. 
• B2B Analytics: Discover which companies your listeners work at, their job role, industry, size, location, and average revenue through an exportable list. 
• Consumption Data: Uncover listener behavior across Apple and Spotify so you can optimize episodes, prove engagement, and keep audiences coming back. 
• Tracking Links: Users can track clicks to downloads across marketing channels. Discover top download sources with a consolidated LinkTree-style landing page. 
• In-Depth Analytics Dashboards: Data including new listener metrics, growth rates, top episode vs. latest episode insights, and downloads and unique listener data.
• Hosting Capabilities: Including one-click publishing, multiple user permissions, custom media players, and multi-show management. ‍
• Migration Services: If you wish to switch from your existing hosting platform to CoHost, their team will handle the entire migration process for you.

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2. Transistor 

Price: Starts at $19/month 
Best for: Hobbyists & Pro Podcasters
Free Trial: 14-day free trial

Since 2018, Transistor has grown to serve 26,000 podcasts of all different types. This podcast hosting platform offers good features for indie podcasters, small businesses, and enterprise companies alike. Their plans also support a high number of listeners per month, so it’s easy for independent podcasters to fit into the cheapest package. 

Features: 

• No hosting limits: Create unlimited podcasts, unlimited uploads/storage, and invite unlimited team members.
• Built-in monetization options: Including Apple Podcasts subscriptions and a Patreon integration that lists your supporters on your website.
• Advanced analytics: Episode performance burndown charts, episode comparison, popular apps, devices, and listeners by region.
• AI transcription: Automatically transcribe your audio and display it on your podcast website with clickable timestamps.
• Private podcasts: Generate a unique RSS feed for each subscriber, subscribe via QR code, and email subscribers new episodes.‍
• Customizable podcast website and custom domains: Choose from a variety of website themes that you can customize to fit your needs.

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3. Podbean

Price: Starting at $12/month
Best for: Hobbyists
Free Trial: No free trial but you can get started with a free account

With Podbean, users can share their own audio and video content on a single, user-friendly platform that guarantees simplicity and security. While this is a great option for beginners, if you are planning on really growing your series, we suggest looking at the other platforms suggested. 

Features: 

• Built-in monetization options: Including crowdfunding, Apple Podcasts subscriptions, a Patreon integration, and a marketplace for finding sponsors.
• Embeddable players: Coming in different sizes, styles, and colors, embed your podcast into your blog or website.
• Social media auto-sharing: Connect your social platforms of choice to Podbean for automatic sharing. Plus, generate videos for Facebook, YouTube, and more.
• Podbean AI: Leverage AI to help simplify noise reduction, transcriptions, cut-out filler words, and much more.
• Unlimited hosting: No limits on downloads, episodes, or recording time.‍
• Customizable podcast website and branded domains: Choose from a variety of professional themes that you can customize to fit your needs.

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4. Buzzsprout 

Price: Starts at $19/month
Best for: Hobbyists & Pro Podcasters
Free Trial: Free for the first 90-days

Buzzsprout is another great, cost-effective option for podcasters who are a little less experienced. It’s easy to use and offers additional features that can assist with the production of your series, such as transcriptions and Magic Mastering. If you’re a more seasoned podcaster, you may want to look into some of the other podcast hosting platforms we’ve broken down.

Features: 

• Embeddable podcast player: The interface looks great and works well on all screen sizes.
• Built-in transcription integration: This feature allows you to attach a transcript to any episode within your podcast and then automatically display it on your Buzzsprout site.
• In-depth episode analytics: This includes the average number of plays and information about what device your listeners tuned in on and which listening platform they used.
• Show analytics over time: These reports include your most popular episodes by plays. They also feature the number of plays your show has gotten in the last 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, and even over the lifetime of your podcast.
• Visual assets for distribution and promotion: Buzzsprout lets you create short videos quickly and easily using sound clips from your podcast.‍
• Magic Mastering feature: This tool streamlines the audio editing process and is great for creators and brands who do not have audio engineering experience.

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5. Blubrry

Price: Starts at $15/month
Best for: Pro Podcasters
Free Trial: 30-day free trial

Blubrry is a podcast hosting platform that has been around for quite some time and is a platform that is more fitting for podcasters who have been in the space for a while. For some, Blubrry can seem a little confusing, but through iterations, they have cleaned up their platform and made it more user-friendly. 

Features: 

• Listener Analytics: With the option of purchasing advanced statistics for $5 a month, which gives you insights into full downloads, plays, and partials. 
• Long tail podcasting: A service where you can go back in time to edit past podcasts without taking up more of your data storage. You may want to use this to add ads or change intros.
• Private podcasting: Perfect for brands creating internal podcasts.
• PowerPress plugin: This includes a customizable WordPress webpage.
• ID3 tagging: This includes embedding artwork, titles, and more.‍
• Pro Production Service: An audio mastering service to clean up your sound.

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6. Libsyn‍

Price: Starts at $12/month
Best for: Pro Podcasters & Networks
Free Trial: 30-day free trial

Libsyn is one of the most widely known and popular hosting platforms among podcasters. With plans available for every level of podcaster, Libsyn is a safe and trusted option for most. On top of hosting capabilities, their platform helps you understand your audience and optimize podcast promotion strategies with interactive maps, charts, and insights about fan-favorite apps, players, and destinations. 

Features: 

• ONPUBLISH: Offers integrated publishing options to over 20 of the most popular listening apps. 
• Podcast subscriptions with GLOW: This integration allows users to easily build subscription membership programs, including ad-free content, early access, a members-only newsletter, exclusive videos and courses, and more.
• Integrates with Headliner: This integration helps users create short videos to promote their content across social media. 
• Video publishing options: This allows users to publish their video content without changing hosting providers.‍
• Podcast analytics: For those on the advanced plan, you can access episode-specific data, geographic insights, and day, week, and month stats.

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7. Captivate 

Price: Starts at $17/month
Best for: Pro Podcasters & Brands
Free Trial: 30-day free trial

Since 2013, the Captivate team has been working to help creators grow their audience and monetize their shows. Created by indie podcasters, their goal is to “bring the innovation, quality, and technology only previously available to ‘big' podcasters to everyone.”

Features: 

• No limitations: Unlimited podcasts, unlimited uploads/storage, unlimited team. 
• Monetization options: Including member-only podcasts, listener tips, exclusive and bonus content, early-access content, and a one-click media kit.
• Dynamic show notes builder: Captivate automatically constructs show notes and publishes them with your podcast episodes.
• Extensive integrations: Including Mailchimp, WordPress, Descript, Squadcast, and Zapier.
• Private podcasting: Designed for internal corporate podcasts.‍
• Access to Captivate Growth Labs: Get feedback from other podcasters, learn more about the industry, and ask questions.

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8. Simplecast 

Price: Starts at $15/month
Best for: Pro Podcasters & Networks
Free Trial: 14-day free trial

With Simplecast, you not only get secure hosting but also access to Recast and a stunning web player, creating a captivating website for your show. Moreover, their analytics platform is one of the industry's most comprehensive, providing valuable insights into your listeners' demographics and locations. Simplecast is a good distribution platform for more seasoned podcasters, and their features (and prices) match that. 

Features: 

• Podcast analytics: Get insight into your streams, retention rate, drop-offs, and consumption rate.
• Podcast website: A customizable site that allows you to use your own branded domain.
• Recast™ tool: Allows you to schedule and share clips of your podcast on social media.
• Intelligent web player: Depending on your plan, there are three different types of web players available: Standard Simplecast Audio Player, Simplecast Mini Player, and Simplecast Show Player. 
• Simplecast 2.0 API: With certain plans, you can create your own, custom podcast experience with your website, listening app, analytics dashboard, and more.

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9. Megaphone

Price: Contact for pricing
Best for: Brands & Networks
Free Trial: No information on free trials

Megaphone by Spotify is a highly exclusive podcast hosting platform geared toward professional podcasters and enterprise publishers/networks with over 20,000 downloads per episode. We recommend looking into some of the alternative options that we’ve listed if you’re just getting into podcasting. 

Features: 

• Podcast hosting: Designed for publishers and networks that work with advertisers. 
• Monetization: Users have access to the Spotify Audience Network to sell advertising slots in their shows.
• Dynamic ad insertion: Includes flexible ad points to maximize revenue and ensure a seamless transition between ads and your content.
• Advanced targeting: Megaphone leverages Nielsen to target and measure listeners by purchase intent and demographic, down to their zipcode.
• Downloads and ad delivery: Filtered by country, region, state, city, and app. ‍
• Enterprise-specific features: Technical Account Manager, 24/7 support, access to the Megaphone API and Metrics Export Service, and more.

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10. Spotify for Podcasters (Formally Anchor)

Price: Free
Best for: Hobbyists 
Free Trial: No free trial since it’s free

Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) is a podcasting platform that has made waves over the last few years. They offer tools to create and distribute your podcast. If you’re just wanting to test out podcasting, this can be a great free resource, but if you’re a brand or a more seasoned podcaster, we recommend checking out some of the other distribution platforms we’ve listed. That’s because while Spotify for Podcasters does offer some great features, it just doesn’t match up to some of the others out there that require payment for their services.

Features: 

• Listener analytics: Including episode drop-off, location, demographics, listening platform, and more.
• Sponsorships: Available only to US users to monetize their podcast.
• Video capabilities: Podcast video uploads to Spotify.
• Audience engagement tools: Including Q&As and polls.‍
• Listener support: Provides listeners with the option to donate to your series.

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11. Castos

Price: Starts at $19/month
Best for: Hobbyists & Pro Podcasters
Free Trial: 14-day free trial

Castos is an easy-to-use podcast publishing platform that caters to both newbies, pro podcasters, and everyone in between. They have a great WordPress integration and an option for outsourcing your podcast editing to Castos Productions.  On top of that, they specialize in tools for private or premium podcasts, so they’re a great option to look into if you’re looking to produce exclusive content.

Features: 

• Custom podcast website: Includes unique website links for each podcast and a WordPress Integration.
• Video capabilities: Including video republishing to YouTube and video file hosting.
• Automatic podcast transcriptions: Between 10-100 free transcriptions a month, depending on your plan.
• Monetization opportunities: Including one-time and recurring listener donations.
• Podcast analytics: Including episode-specific, device, location, and app-based insights.‍
• Private podcasting: Perfect for members-only and exclusive content.

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FAQ: Podcast Hosting Platforms in 2026

1. What is a podcast hosting platform?

A podcast hosting platform stores and distributes your podcast episodes through an RSS feed. It also offers tools like analytics, monetization options, website players, and distribution to apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

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2. Do I need a podcast hosting platform to launch a podcast?

Technically, no, but it definitely makes it a lot easier. You need an RSS feed in order to publish a podcast, and a podcast hosting platform will generate and manage your RSS feed for you.

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3. Can I switch podcast hosts later?

Absolutely. Many platforms, including CoHost, offer free migration services to help move your podcast and retain your data.

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4. Which podcast host is best for analytics and audience insights?

If you’re a brand or agency focused on ROI and audience data, CoHost offers in-depth data, including firmographics, demographics, psychographics, new listener data, consumption data, and show analytics.

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5. What’s the difference between free and paid podcast hosts?

Free platforms often limit your control over monetization, branding, and analytics. Paid platforms offer more customization, storage, support, and deeper insights, making them better for serious or growing podcasts.

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6. Can I monetize my podcast through my hosting platform?

Yes, many hosts like Transistor, Podbean, Captivate, and Libsyn offer built-in monetization tools including dynamic ads, subscriptions, and listener donations.

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What podcast hosting platform is right for you? 

Ultimately, choosing the right podcast hosting platform for your show depends on you as a podcaster and what you’re looking for, whether it’s price, podcast analytics, number of downloads, storage, hours, etc. 

As your podcast develops and grows, you may find yourself switching platforms as you learn more about what’s important for you. That's okay and completely expected! Don’t be afraid to try out different platforms, whether it’s through their free trials or free packages. 

If you have any further questions about podcast hosting or want to learn more about the options available, get in touch with our team!