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podcast hosting, which is a service that allows users to upload, publish and share audio files. It can be used to create and distribute podcasts, as well as other audio content.
Podcast hosting is different from website hosting in that they offer specific tools dedicated to optimizing the subscription experience. Choosing a reliable hosting platform for your podcast is critical because it can help you grow your audience faster while making it easier for you to manage your podcast files.
In this article, we will introduce some of the most popular podcast hosting platforms.
Most of them are free, and some charge a small fee to provide better support and tools.
What is Podcast Hosting
Podcast hosting is a dedicated service that provides storage and delivery of media files associated with podcasts. Just like you need hosting to store all your website files, podcasts have the same hosting service, but only for podcast media files.
Now, you may be wondering: can I use web hosting to store podcast files?
The answer is yes, but it's not suitable for your site or your listeners. Podcast episodes are large files, and using the same server to process them will take up a lot of hardware resources, which can slow down your site and even crash it at high loads.
If multiple users are downloading at the same time, most web hosts will block the process that is taking up server resources, which means they can't listen to your podcast.
For these reasons, you need to be dedicated to hosting services.
These companies specialize in storing and delivering large media files and have dedicated tools for working with them.
You also get the support of industry experts that will make a massive difference in the long run.
Podbean
Podbean is the best podcast hosting provider on the market, offering unlimited traffic packages, beautiful design tools that allow you to host your website with customizable themes, and easy embedding of dedicated players into WordPress posts and pages.
On top of that, they have a range of promotional tools that automatically submit your episodes to the top podcast directories, which allows listeners to use their favorite tools to listen and download.
There is also an advertising marketplace that offers excellent opportunities for you to profit from your podcast.
Buzzsprout
This is one of the best podcast hosting providers for beginners. Buzzsprout has been in the business since 2009 and has built a strong podcast community that includes some top podcasters.
When you start using it, you will find it very easy just to upload your media files, and everything else will be handled automatically.
They will also submit your episodes to all the top podcast directories to ensure access on all devices and apps.
The embedded player looks great, works well on all screen sizes, and displays control for cover images, social sharing buttons, forward/backward, and more.
The free WordPress plugin is also here, making embedding into the site even more comfortable.
If you don't want to build a website, Buzzsprout can automatically handle this task and adjust the design look and use a custom domain name.
The downside is that even the paid plans have storage and bandwidth limitations.
Blubrry
Blubrry offers flexible hosting plans for users of all experience levels. With the popular PowerPress plugin, you can easily upload podcast clips directly to your hosting provider, as well as to Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts platforms.
This allows your podcasts to be easily found by listeners in apps such as Google Home, Google Assistant, Google Podcast, and more.
Other features include profit-making options, social sharing, podcast statistics, and more.
Transistor
The transistor is an easy-to-use and powerful podcast hosting service for beginners and professionals alike.
They offer unlimited hosting plans, which means that the Transistor does not charge a fee based on airtime, unlike other competitors.
Uploading and publishing podcasts is extremely easy, and they also provide data analytics to allow you to see how each segment is performing for listening. The embedded code makes it easy to add each episode to WordPress posts and pages, even if you don't have a website - Transistor can create one for you quickly. Note that plan packages have limits on the number of downloads, so as the podcast grows, you'll need to upgrade to a higher plan.
Fusebox
Whichever hosting service you choose, you'll need to embed a media player on your website to display the content in the right way. However, not all platforms offer players, and it's hard to beat Fusebox in every way -- beautiful and sophisticated looking, allowing you to display podcast episodes on individual pages, which users can navigate through on-screen controls and share on social media platforms.
Compatible with all devices such as desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more allows you to change the colors to match your website and make it float at the top or bottom. In addition to finding new listeners, Fusebox can help you grow your email subscription list. This tool powered many of the top podcasts and was created by the team behind Pat Flynn.
Libsyn
As another reliable podcast hosting provider, Libsyn offers an easy-to-use platform that puts your brand at the center and helps you push your podcast across a variety of different platforms, devices, and apps.
Founded in 2004, this company has a large number of loyal subscribers, including some of the most influential podcasters. They offer hosting plans with unlimited traffic and profitable options, data analytics, Libsyn Publisher Hub plugins, and other features.
SoundCloud
This is a popular music and podcast hosting platform that allows you to embed any podcast episode from SoundCloud by simply placing the URL anywhere in your WordPress posts and pages.
The free plan offers up to 3 hours of playtime, which is a great starting point for beginners who want to test the waters, and the paid plan comes with more traffic, storage space, stats, and money-making options. soundCloud is easy to use but not the most flexible podcast hosting platform.