When you’re deciding to start a membership association podcast, one of the most important choices you can make is where do you host your podcast. Usually podcasts are available as a series of episodes revolving around a particular theme. Because the internet is filled with many places to store and broadcast your work, it’s important to know from the start what you can expect to get out of the podcast hosting site you choose.
We’ve rounded up a list of the best podcast host platforms around. Plus, we’ve reviewed each platform’s unique features so you can select a host that truly shows off your membership association podcast to the best of its ability.
Best podcast hosting sites
- Libsyn
- SoundCloud
- Podbean
- Spreaker
- Buzzsprout
- Simplecast
- Transistor
- Captivate
Libsyn
You’ll see Libsyn at the top of most ‘podcast host’ lists online, and for good reason: It’s pretty great. It’s been around since podcasting first broke onto the scene, it provides a fantastic set of features, and it is competitively priced.
While there are other hosts out there that offer a similar feature set or even better pricing, the combination of a longstanding (positive) track record and multiple plans to choose from, depending on your needs, make Libsyn a good first stop in your podcast hosting search.
Plans:
Libsyn offers a handful of different plans, each increasing in features as you go up. Plans range from $5 a month to $75 a month and the primary change between plans being storage options (with caps from 50MB to 1500MB).
Key features:
- Custom mobile app
- YouTube publishing
- Advanced analytics
SoundCloud
You’ve probably heard of SoundCloud before, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising if you didn’t know it’s a popular podcasting host as well. In reality, it’s not a surprising move for the company. While its primary focus is music, it has positioned itself to be a podcast hosting company without ever really intending to be.
SoundCloud’s popularity for music gives it a ‘mindshare’ advantage that a lot of names on this list simply can’t compete with. That said, popularity doesn’t mean everything and some may find this offering isn’t exactly what they need. Case in point, as a premium user of SoundCloud, the analytics are lacking quite a bit. If you are someone who wants to dive heavily into the analytics of your pod, you may want to look elsewhere.
Plans:
SoundCloud keeps things simple with only three types of plans: A free plan with a three-hour upload limit per month, an $8 a month plan that doubles the upload time of the free plan and adds some goodies, and a Pro Unlimited plan that allows for more upload time, scheduled releases and more.
Key features:
- Free plans
- Timed comments
- Twitter cards
PodBean
PodBean’s user-friendly interface allows you to upload, publish, manage and promote your association podcasts with just a few clicks of your mouse. But what really sets them apart from the crowd is its crowdfunding options for those more serious creators looking to make money from loyal listeners.
In terms of capabilities, the platform is simple and intuitive. One major advantage of choosing PodBean is that your association podcast is included in their network, adding another layer of discoverability for you.
Plans:
PodBean comes with four different plans to choose from. Its free option is a no frills, straight forward five hours of audio uploaded a month, with 100GB of bandwidth. It also comes with basic stats, customizable players to embed, and your own podcast landing page site. The first paid tier, Unlimited Audio, introduces paid monetization, increased upload hours and bandwidth to unlimited, plus a few more services.
If you’re a beginner, you will most likely find what you’re looking for between the first two paid options. However, if you’ve got some exemplary podcasting skills under your belt and are looking for ways to grow your podcast or need extra business tools, PodBeans’s latter two paid options will be more fitting.
Key features:
- Monetization capabilities
- Alexa integration
- Free plans
Spreaker
From its website, description of its features and the layout of its plans, literally everything about Spreaker feels professional. One thing that sets them apart from most of the other hosts on this list is that it gives you ‘unlimited daily sessions,’ allowing you to start a live stream as many times as you want per day.
The length of time you can keep the live stream going is indicated by the plan you’re on. While this isn’t something everyone is going to use or even care for, it’s a pretty nifty and unique feature to have (freely) available to you. Outside of its unique ‘live’ feature, Spreaker offers up the expected features any budding or expert podcaster could want, with a focus on marketing and other professional services.
Plans:
Spreaker’s plans range from free to over $1000, but the value per plan increases significantly as you go up. The first pain plan, called On-Air Talent, increases daily session limit, audio storage, and allows you to distribute your content via iHeartRadio and Spotify. The more expensive plans, Broadcaster, Anchorman, & Station, all increase daily session limit, storage, and improved analytics, marketing and monetization tools.
Key features:
- Chat while streaming live
- iHeartRadio distribution
- Ad-free pages
Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout’s name is usually found on lists of top podcast hosts, and is credited for its ease of use. It’s a modern service designed to keep things simple. The platform brings exactly what a podcast needs to the table and then some. It includes all the good stuff like stats, easy migration and embedded podcast players.
Their well-designed dashboard makes it easy to upload and publish your episodes. On the flip side, you can also schedule shows in advance. That way, your listeners are never neglected. If you’re the obsessive type about stats, then you’ll love the mobile dashboard which includes the option to manage promotions and keep a close eye on your numbers no matter where you are.
Plans:
Just like the platform itself, Buzzsprout offers simplified paid plans. There is a free plan that allows for two hours of upload a month, and three paid plans that offer increased storage ranging from three to 12 hours a month. The most expensive of those paid plans still only reaches $24 a month.
However, instead of having a hard cap of audio hours, Buzzsprout will simply charge you for additional hours. The exact amount you are charged per extra hour is dependent on the existing paid plan you have. It’s a nifty feature to have just in case one of your association podcast episodes runs longer than expected.
Key features:
- Free for 90 days
- Mobile friendly dashboard
- Easy migration from other hosting platforms
Simplecast
As you might have guessed by its name, Simplecast is known for being an incredibly easy-to-use podcast hosting site. In spite of this simplicity-focused approach, this podcast hosting site offers a professional service packed with powerful tools for every stage of your podcast’s life. The platform’s long list of features includes unlimited storage, one-click publishing, analytics tools, and a customizable site.
A quick glance at Simplecast’s website makes it clear that the platform boasts a modern and bold brand identity, which translates into which translates into aesthetic players that can be embedded into your site. Another key differentiating element that has put Simplecast among the best podcast hosting sites is Recast. This unique tool allows podcasters and listeners to seamlessly share clips on social media, allowing you to reach a wider audience.
Plans:
Simplecast offers three different podcast hosting plans for independent creators, as well as two high-end tailored plans for professional podcasters and enterprises. You can get unlimited storage and uploads plus features such as distribution and multiple shows management for $15 a month. If you need to add more than two members or use advanced features such as curated audience reports and website analytics tools, you’ll need to upgrade your plan.
Key features:
- Unlimited storage and uploads
- Integrated social media sharing tools
- Custom domain name for your site
Transistor
Transistor launched just a couple years ago, but has quickly grown to become one of the most well-known podcast hosting sites in the market. With a wide array of powerful and easy-to-use features, this platform is meant for both large brands and creators who have just decided to start a podcast.
One of Transistor’s defining characteristics is the fact that it offers unlimited storage for an unlimited number of podcasts for all users. The plans are instead tiered based on the total amount of monthly downloads podcasters receive. Other features include embed code, professional websites, distribution tools, and customizable domains. But what truly makes Transistor stand from the crowd is its analytics dashboard, where users can track stats such as average downloads per episode, subscribers, and historical performance.
Plans:
Transistor offers three different plans ranging from $19 to $99 per month. Subscriptions can be paid on a monthly or yearly basis. Those choosing a yearly plan will get two months of usage for free. All plans include unlimited podcasts, live customer support, in-depth analytics, and a customizable website. The main differences between plans are the monthly downloads available, additional users per podcast, and private podcasts support.
Key features:
- Advanced analytics
- Multi-platform distribution
- Unlimited podcasts
Captivate
Captivate was developed by a team with a long, successful trajectory in the podcast industry, which becomes instantly apparent upon seeing the platform’s unique approach. This podcast hosting site is focused on growth, offering a long list of unique features aimed to empower creators and provide them with everything they need to build a successful online business.
Among Captivate’s growth-oriented features you’ll find a mobile-friendly website you can customize with your brand colors, mailing list integrations to power your email marketing efforts, and a downloadable PDF report with your latest stats that can be used as part of a press kit or to show potential sponsors. These groundbreaking tools are, of course, offered in addition to traditional podcast features such as cross-platform distribution, in-depth analytics, custom plugins, and more.
Plans:
Captivate has three pricing tiers ranging between $19 and $99 per month. Unlike other podcast hosting sites, monthly downloads are the only element linked to these tiers. The basic Podcaster plan supports up to 12,000 downloads, while Professional and Brand set the cut at 60,000 and 150,000 downloads respectively. All core features on Captivate’s catalogue are available in all plans.
Key features:
- Unlimited podcasts and team members
- Built-in calls-to-action
- User-friendly analytical dashboard
Remember you don't have to manage your association podcast alone. Let's set up a time to chat about how AVNation can help you start or optimize your podcast.
