There are a lot of podcasts out there, then it follows that in that location would be a lot of free podcast hosting services out there. Podcast hosting services are the way that podcasts are stored and distributed. If yous desire to create a podcast, information technology needs to be hosted somewhere. These places provide an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use identify to host shows for people who don't want to get the DIY route. Ideally, these places provide an easy way to upload audio files, generate an RSS feed for these files, distribute that RSS feed, and provide a identify where an audience tin listen. Other features a hosting service might provide are analytics, advertising integration, and a website for your podcast. In that location are a lot of options for podcast hosts, both free and paid. If you don't want to spend coin to host your podcast, here are some free podcast hosting options.

A podcast hosting service acts every bit the domicile for your show. Just like a website needs a hosting provider, podcasts also need some way to help store and distribute the podcast sound files. Though virtually accept cost tiers associated with them, and y'all can read about our favorite podcast hosting services hither, several have more affordable options and some even provide gratis podcast hosting. Below is a list of the pros and cons and reviews of the best gratis podcast hosting services.

In general, podcast hosting services:

  • Create an easy method to upload audio files
  • Generate an RSS feed to describe the files also as establishes file locations for download
  • Distributes your podcast RSS feed to iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more
  • Provides a server where listeners can go and find the audio files

Another way to await at hosting is it serves as a vehicle that transports the show from its upload to its storage to its distribution and finally to its analytics as well as potential money-making opportunities. The host helps simplify everything in the cosmos and direction process.

Don't desire to read the unabridged analysis? Here'due south our quick winner:

Buzzsprout —  a simple, intuitive, and characteristic-rich podcast host perfect for virtually podcasters.

What to Wait for with a Costless Podcast Host

Best Practices and How to Kickoff a Podcast

In add-on to its means as a platform that stores your important mp3 files and information, gratuitous services are too geared toward startup shows and traditionally has a lot of extra features and resource. These services may provide valuable tutorials and other reading fabric to learn more near what makes a good podcast and how to improve the overall quality of the audio recording. If yous're but starting out, make sure to check out our guide on how to start a podcast.

Podcast Analytics

Though the analytics for a podcast are basic at the free level, they tin can still aid evangelize important data and where and how your generating an audience every bit well every bit build upon that audience. The goal is to eventually have plenty listeners that you can profit on the podcast, though many withal do it simply for the hobby of podcasting.

Pitfalls of Free Podcast Hosts

There are many other avant-garde features that are sometimes included with a gratuitous version and other times only granted to podcasters with paid accounts. These include a blog or website for listeners to finish in and visit, methods for listener feedback, automatic uploads to pop directories (Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, etc.) and client service for whatever questions or problems you run across regarding the hosting or RSS feed.

The aforementioned rule applies with podcast hosting with whatever production: y'all get what you pay for and once again the old aphorism is truthful, "if you're non paying for the product, you're the product."

If later some time your podcast outgrows the free host tier,  in that location is always the opportunity to upgrade to a paid subscription. Many are reasonably priced between in $10 to $twenty per month. Until then y'all can wait the upload time and bandwidth to be limited, which non simply impacts the number of hours you can upload each calendar month but also the playback speeds. Advanced metrics and potential money-making opportunities are ordinarily restricted to paid subscribers too.

In the stop, costless versions are basic means to an RSS feed and file hosting, simply equally your audience grows y'all'll desire to consider an upgrade. When you become to that point, make sure to read our best podcast hosting services review. For now a free account is sufficient for many new podcasts.

Compare Gratuitous Podcast Hosting

Podcast Host Bandwidth Storage Submit to Apple tree, Google, and Spotify Monetization Analytics
Buzzsprout 250 GB ii hours ✓ Ten ✓
Spreaker Unlimiited five hours ✓ X ✓
Podbean 100 GB 5 hours ✓ X ✓
Castos Unlimited Unlimited ✓ X ✓
Simplecast Unlimited Unlimited ✓ X ✓

Best Free Podcast Hosting Services

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is a hosting service that features a bones, costless plan along with affordable monthly options that require no contract or credit card to sign-up. Buzzsprout currently works with notable podcast directories like Apple/iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcast and Stitcher.

The website has worked to provide hosting for over fifty,000 people since the website was launched in 2009. It boosts several 5 star reviews from satisfied customers.

Strengths

  • Subscription includes your own custom website and ways to sync with popular directories
  • 250 GB of bandwidth each month for paid plans, fifty-fifty less for the free version
  • Supports multiple sound file types then optimizes the quality of the file
  • Easily drift a podcast from some other source onto Buzzsprout with minimal endeavour

Weaknesses

  • Unlimited storage for free plan, just can only upload 2 hours each calendar month
  • Only 90 days of hosting for a costless podcast before Buzzsprout wants you to upgrade to a paid version

Buzzsprout is promoted every bit one of the easiest ways to host, promote and track a podcast. Similar a lot of providers information technology includes detailed analytics to larn more most the audience tuning in.

The website is designed to make information technology easier to upload and publish once an episode is recorded. Publishing tin have place within minutes of an upload, or even go scheduled days or weeks in advance.

It supports a number of different audio files. Non only that but the website optimizes the file based on if information technology'southward more spoken give-and-take, or a prove that also incorporates a lot of music. A purchasable addition will event boost audio to 128k stereo.

I great feature on the dashboard is that it provides a notification of how much upload time is left in the current cycle, then you do not have to guess approximately how many more than minutes you lot have left to upload each month.

Podcasters may larn everything nigh where and how listeners are connecting, what device or directory they are using to play the episode, and more advanced stats.

Buzzsprout helps get you listed on pop podcast directories and is also mobile-friendly. An embedded version is provided for your own domain. The hosting provider also includes your ain website upon sign-upwards.

The free subscription delivers 2 hours of upload fourth dimension each calendar month and the episode is hosted for ninety days before its removed. The next stride upward costs $12 per calendar month, and only one more hour of upload time each calendar month nevertheless is hosted indefinitely.

Plans Storage Hosting Bandwidth
Free 2 hours ninety days Express
$12 month 3 hours Indefinitely 250GB
$18 month vi hours Indefinitely 250GB
$24 calendar month 12 hours Indefinitely 250GB

Deal: Get a $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up. Click here .

Spreaker

Spreaker is a well known provider for podcasters equally information technology's an all-in-one organization for new also equally established shows. Information technology provides a versatile plan that helps you create, distribute, also as potentially make coin on your podcast.

Spreaker says they are "the ane-finish-shop for recording, publishing, monetizing, and distributing your podcasts." The free programme gives you basic stats, and the ability to store up to 5 hours of audio, and 10 episodes for the whole account. The episode size limit is 300MB for all plans on Spreaker. You tin host multiple podcasts on the aforementioned business relationship, and they aid with distribution to iHeart Radio, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Spreaker does not offer monetization for their gratis plan, though it is available on their paid ones. You don't demand a credit card to sign up for the free programme. Spreaker has an app you tin can utilize to produce your bear witness, and even go live (no other free podcast plan allows for alive dissemination). The free program has a 15 minute limit per live broadcast session.

Spreaker was launched in 2010, and now hosts thousands of publishers forth with millions of active listeners. It includes apps for Android and iOS as well.

Strengths

  • The best recording studio of any free hosting service for podcasts
  • External tools like broadcasting software and mixers supported for advanced sound production
  • Unlimited bandwidth on all subscriptions including the gratis version
  • Alive streaming, including up to 15 minutes per episode for users non paying a dime
  • Podcast monetization plan with dynamics ads, giving sixty% of the revenue to the podcaster
  • IAB certified podcast statistics
  • Allows a single account to manage multiple podcasts

Weaknesses

  • Monetization is only bachelor on the paid plans

Spreaker is unique in that information technology likewise features an onboard recording and editing system on its platform. Users may tape a podcast and mail at a later date, or even broadcast live. Content may also get migrated from an existing service through its RSS importer. The studio app is extremely resourceful and piece of cake to use.

After y'all tape or upload an audio file, information technology's time to distribute. Spreaker supports various forms of social media for uploads every bit well as mainstream directories similar Apple tree Podcasts and YouTube. Like almost podcast hosting services, y'all may too embed a widget onto your ain website for immediate playback.

Analytics are crucial to the success of any new podcast and Spreaker provides basic statistics for its complimentary and $5.99 per month plans, besides as more than detailed stats for the higher priced monthly subscriptions. The analytics for the free plan is good just non swell, near what y'all would expect likewise equally comparable to other free hosting providers.

The complimentary plan also includes 5 hours of audio storage and 15 minutes of max live streaming (in a single session). However, the podcast monetization tool is non available with the free sign-upwards. Bandwidth is unlimited on every blazon of subscription.

Plans Storage Bandwidth Monetization Analytics
Free five Hours Unlimited ☓ Basic
$6 calendar month 100 Hours Unlimited ✓ Basic
$18 calendar month 500 Hours 3 Unlimited ✓ Advanced
$45 calendar month 1,500 Hours v Unlimited ✓ Full

Deal: First calendar month costless with code "discoverpod". Click here.

Simplecast

Simplecast is taking a large and bold approach, with a mod design aesthetic that looks more like a loftier cease gym or streetwear brand than a podcast hosting service. Just, don't exist distracted by the assuming fonts — with a $15 per month unlimited program and ii-week trial with no credit card required, they conspicuously mean concern. Simplecast as well offers tools aimed at growing podcasts in their $35 per month Essential plan and $85 per month Growth plan, including more avant-garde analytics, collaboration tools and an increase in the number of included monthly downloads.

Simplecast also offers Professional and Enterprise plans for larger volume shows, which is rare for some of the newer podcast hosting platforms out in that location. You have to contact Simplecast's sales team for pricing, but working with a growing host could be a great pick for a growing podcast network looking to become competitive pricing and lots of access to customer back up.

Podbean

Podbean is self-described as an "piece of cake and powerful" style to podcast. The podcast hosting service provides 4 dissimilar plans for users, including one completely free version. Equally your podcast grows it as well offers 2 paid versions.

Podbean currently hosts over 240,000 podcasters with more than than 7.four meg episodes combined. The site also boasts effectually half-dozen billion downloads.

Strengths

  • Provides excellent resource for sharing and building audience
  • Features an app for Android and iPhone users
  • RSS Feed and iTunes Back up included fifty-fifty with free program
  • One of the largest podcast hosting platforms available
  • Will scale as you lot grow

Weaknesses

  • Complimentary version is limited to 5 hours of storage
  • Cannot utilise your own domain proper name for a podcast through costless subscription

Podbean advertises as a service that presents everything you need to create, manage, and promote a podcast. The website features everything from custom domains to upload and publishing tools, methods to promote a podcast, too as embedded players for the episodes.

The provider is like a lot of the podcast hosting companies featured in the article in that little programming noesis is necessary to record, produce, upload and share your new podcasts. It is as well mobile-fix which is a must for any podcast hosting service these days.

Though the iii paid options exercise evangelize unlimited bandwidth, the gratis version is capped at 100GB monthly, and v hours of storage infinite. The hosting is described as reliable with a robust network that is flexible based on where and how your viewers listen.

Podcasters may connect their own website to the hosting provider or embed a thespian on their own domain for easy playback. Sharing tools enable listeners to connect with you lot on social media, while other types of audience engagement like enabling feedback are nice additions.

Podbean presents a breakup of how the podcast is performing, and also provides ad sponsorship opportunities for its members. The website can help introduce premium subscription services to your podcast as well as crowdfund.

Related reading:

  • Libsyn vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review
  • Blubrry vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review
Program Bandwidth Storage Analytics Monetization
Costless 100 GB five Hours Bones ☓
$ix month Unmetered Unlimited Avant-garde ✓
$29 calendar month Unmetered Unlimited Avant-garde ✓

Deal: Get your showtime month complimentary if/when you upgrade for a paid account. Click here.

Acast

Acast says they are "the globe'due south leading contained podcast company." The free plan gives you basic analytics, unlimited episodes, and a bones podcast website. You can't integrate with Patreon, customize your website, monetize with advert, or distribute to Amazon Music, Spotify and Youtube using Acast on the free programme (as these features require a Pro account). Yous'll have to submit your RSS feed to listening platforms manually. There is not a limit to episode size for the free programme specifically, though the max episode size is 150MB for all plans on Acast to match the file download limit on Apple tree Podcasts. Y'all don't demand to input any billing info to sign upward on the free plan. Acast allows for multiple shows, but you are billed one plan per podcast – not an consequence for using the free plan, but could potentially make upgrading costly if you take multiple podcasts on Acast.

Ballast

Anchor is cocky-proclaimed every bit "the easiest mode to make a podcast." When it started, Ballast had some controversy about who owns the content uploaded to it, but they accept since clarified in their terms of service that "You retain ownership of your User Content. Using Ballast does not crusade you to lose ownership of your content."

Since beingness acquired by Spotify, Anchor has had numerous issues with the podcast community including producing podcasts in a non-compliant manner, making their podcasts unplayable in some podcast players, several large-scale bugs, deleting podcasts without cause, allowing pirated podcasts on their platform (and here) — and to be monetized, and many others. I would recommend staying away from Anchor.

They simply offer a gratis plan, which allows for unlimited episodes, basic analytics, a uncomplicated website, and some monetization options, though the latter is available only to users in the US. At that place is no episode size limit, though you can just upload 250MB at a fourth dimension (but multiple files can be combined into a unmarried episode). The biggest downside of Ballast is that yous can merely create one podcast per account. If you want to utilize Ballast for multiple feeds, yous'll need multiple emails – simply only a different e-mail, as you don't need a credit carte du jour to sign up. Anchor also assists with distribution to a number of listening platforms, and has an app that podcasters can use to brand their bear witness.

Castbox

Castbox is a podcast app (cocky-proclaimed as "the best free podcast app with over 95 1000000 volumes of content") that also allows podcasters to host their feeds for costless. Their programme allows unlimited hosting, just they only offering statistics from people who heed using their app. If yous want additional analytics on your bear witness, you lot'd take to use a third party service, and this can be a dealbreaker to many (especially because many tertiary political party services aren't gratuitous themselves). Y'all can host multiple feeds in the aforementioned account on Castbox, and you lot don't need to input any billing info to sign upwards. The episode size limit is 400M, the second largest of all the free hosting services. There are no monetization options available through Castbox, and you'll need to submit your RSS feed to other platforms manually – though it volition automatically show up on the Castbox app.

Pinecast

Pinecast'southward tagline is "podcast hosting made easy." The free programme gives yous basic analytics, upwards to two podcast feeds, and access to the tip jar (which lets yous collect donations from your listeners). Pinecast besides assists with distribution to a number of listening platforms. On the free plan, you can upload an unlimited number of episodes, just merely the ten most contempo episodes per podcast are available to listeners – previous episodes are not deleted, and if you bring together a paid plan your full backlog will exist available to all. If you lot're making a serialized show with more than 10 episodes, this might be a dealbreaker, but if you lot're doing topical episodes this might not exist an issue. The free plan has a 48MB episode size limit, which becomes 80MB on a paid plan (along with unlimited feeds instead of two). Y'all don't need a credit bill of fare to sign upwardly for the gratis programme, and there are no monetization options available through Pinecast across the tip jar.

Podomatic

The complimentary plan gives y'all xv GB of bandwidth per month and 500MB of storage a month, by far the nigh technical limits of any free podcasting plan. There is not a limit on the number or length of episodes beyond the available bandwidth and storage on your Podomatic account. The episode size limit for Podomatic is 350MB for all plans. On the free plan, you cannot get any analytics for your prove, integrate with Patreon, or get sponsorships with Podcorn using Podomatic, just they will assistance aid with distribution to a number of listening platforms. Like with Castbox, the lack of analytics is Podomatic's biggest drawback. You tin manage multiple feeds using ane email, just must accept split up accounts with unlike usernames. Podomatic likewise offers a way to record your podcast straight on the podomatic website (though it does non support guest callers), and you lot don't need to input whatever billing information to sign up.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is not a podcast host. Do not utilize SoundCloud for podcasts.