Picking the right hosting platform is one of the most vital parts of kickstarting a podcasting journey. A good application helps you grow the audience faster and makes managing and arranging your files simpler.
Before buying quality microphones and headphones, think about the best podcast platform to make money that suits your needs and favorite style.
The list makes you happy with options full of stand-out benefits: Buzzsprout, PodBean, Transistor, Captivate, Speaker, Soundcloud, Anchor, and Castos.
We’ll give you an in-depth review of their fantastic aspects, so you can save energy and time focusing on your first recording episode.
What Is The Best Podcast Platform To Make Money?
The best podcast site provides you with advanced analytics figures of your 24/7 support, social sharing selections, marketing tools, listeners, and more. The below names are the ones.
#1. Buzzsprout
The developers have strived to make Buzzsprout a yet not limited hosting site.
Podcasters can enjoy one of the best dashboards, which allows them to focus on creating content rather than spend time struggling with uploads.
We love this site because they always offer users the newest, up-to-date features. Recently, they’ve updated or added:
- Magic Mastering: It makes your recordings sound perfect.
- integrated transcription setting
- affiliate marketing insertion that lets you sell products on your site
- publishing workflow
- embed player
- text editor to show notes
Plus, the site will give you precise, helpful statistics (newly updated since 2020) and an affiliate marketplace. You can earn money by selling products or running advertisements in your show.
Also, the mobile-friendly website allows easy access through mobile phones and team member addition (editor or admin access levels).
You’ll get a free plan when signing up, but they’ll remove your episodes after three months or 90 days. Their plans cost $12/month, which is value for money.
#2. PodBean
Monetizing and setting up your podcast turns into a breeze with the help of PodBean.
We love that either professionals or newbies can easily handle this platform and perform their tasks.
With just two or three clicks, you can share your message and love with the entire world, even when using your phone.
Another plus point is that they provide your podcasting site with a distinct account, making it easy for your audience to search your shows online.
This platform has been around for more than ten years, hosting 540,000 podcasters and offering great ease of use to newcomers.
Time to walk around its key features:
- Unlimited storage for a $9-per-month plan
- 5-hour storage for a free plan
- Patreon program that accepts recurring money from listeners
- Dynamic advertising insertion
- Auto-posting and auto-uploads to social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube
- Mobile app
Here is the overall look at PodBean’s pricing:
- Business: Features above, live chat, advanced statistics, private podcasts, plus multi-domains ($99/month)
- Unlimited Plus: Features above, plus Patreon program ($29/month)
- Unlimited Audio: Ad marketplace, advanced design, pro themes, and unlimited bandwidth and storage ($9/month)
- Basic: 100 GB per month and 5-hour storage (Open-Source and Free)
#3. Transistor
Our list won’t be complete without shouting out to Transistor – a renowned professional hosting site that powers numerous popular podcasters and offers superb hosting plans.
This platform provides a private podcasting option and a robust set of analytics tools that helps you grow your audience.
To be more specific, below are Transistor’s key features:
- Create a branded web: Users can build branded websites using their domain names.
- Easy distribution: Immediately distribute your recording to all primary networks with just a click.
- Multiple users: The ability to add different members to an individual account
- Unlimited shows: You can host unlimited shows on your podcasting account.
They’ll gift you 14 days to try the service for free. After that, their “Starter” plan will charge $19/month, permitting 15,000 downloads/month, analytics, respective podcasts, and unlimited episodes and shows.
Meanwhile, their “Business” plan requires a $99 payment per month, allowing up to 200,000 downloads.
Of course, you’ll also get advanced private podcasts, collaborators and analytics, and unlimited episodes and shows.
#4. Captivate
Though Captivate is a relatively new name in the podcast hosting game, it’s emerging in popularity and gaining great attention for helping many podcasters grow their revenue figures and audience.
This hosting service doesn’t have a free plan. Yet, it gives you seven days to try and decide if you wish to discover more of their extraordinary features.
The cost shouldn’t be a problem as valued at $19.00/month. Let’s look at some of this service’s prominent features to see if this service is worth it:
- Integrated calls-to-action and opt-in forms to assist you in managing your emails
- Customizable web with integrated donation support
- Batch uploading
- Powerful analytics
- Unlimited team participants
- Unlimited podcasts
Captivate deserves a seat on your to-buy list, particularly if you’re an independent content producer seeking a platform that is either helpful for growing your podcast or straightforward to use.
#5. Speaker
What makes Speaker stand out from the crowd is the straightforward way to distribute and create podcasts, listener statistics, and modern monetization analytics.
Also, this hosting service is well-known for its user-friendly and sleek interface. Managing audio storage turns breezy with the help of a speaker.
What riveting features does Speaker have that can persuade you to spend money?
- Monetization and marketing support
- Content repurposing (basic)
- Modern analytics
- Website integration (for “Pro” plan)
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 100-hour audio storage
How about their pricing strategy?
- Anchorman: Customizable theme player colors, advanced settings, paid subscriptions, everything in their On-Air Talent plan – $50/month
- Broadcaster: Everything in the On-Air Talent plan, advanced settings, paid subscriptions – $20/month.
- On-Air Talent: Easy-to-customize RSS feeds and programmatic monetization, Apple, Spotify podcasts, episode uploads to iHeartRadio, and multi podcasting hosting – $7/month
- Free speech: Apple, Spotify podcasts, episode uploads to iHeartRadio, multi podcasting hosting – free
#6. Soundcloud
While Soundcloud primarily obtains customers by providing music streaming services, it also does an impressive job on podcasting hosting.
Podcasters can take advantage of it to send the world your shows and messages and possibly get some exposure to its users.
Fortunately, it comes with a free plan, including basic reporting and three-hour content storage per month.
You can access a more fantastic feature set, giving you plenty of freedom to generate content and develop it effectively by upgrading to Unlimited Pro and Soundcloud pro.
They cost $12/month and $6/month respectively. Here are what Unlimited Pro can satisfy you with:
- Customizable built-in controls
- Advanced analytics
- Scheduled releases
- Unlimited uploading time
The fact that Soundcloud is dominant in music streaming doesn’t mean that it can’t become the best podcast platform to make money. Don’t hesitate to give it a try if you are interested.
#7. Anchor
Anchor is a free podcasting platform – what many beginners are probably looking for. Nothing is comparable to Anchor when talking about websites that are 100% free without strings attached.
Still, there are two noteworthy limitations:
- You have little freedom on monetization capabilities.
- They don’t include a built-in podcast player.
Despite that, you can do everything on Anchor, from hosting to creation and distribution. With Spotify’s stability, they secure the best service out of all platforms out there.
What features can you expect from Anchor’s services? Here are major pointers:
- User-friendly creation tools
- Analytics dashboard
- One-click episode distribution
However, please note that this option doesn’t apply to professionals who wish to control particular parts of the content creation process.
Why’s that? Because the site is heavily reliant on automation.
For hobbyists and beginners, though, Anchor is a superior choice. You can learn the fundamentals of podcasting and producing audio content without spending a penny.
#8. Castos
Many hosting sites have such restricted features that they force you to go for a premium plan or change to another provider.
Fortunately, Castos won’t leave you to deal with that issue, shouting to its unlimited bandwidth and storage.
It means you have unlimited freedom to produce content and gather thousands or millions of listeners.
See how Castos assist you in making shows and spreading your voice:
- Analyze professional data in an easy-to-use and straightforward dashboard
- Allow you to connect with your private audience more effectively by creating pages for your shows
- Automatic transcription for improved SEO performance and accessibility
- Republish your episodes on Youtube, gathering more and more listeners
- Manage your shows on the WordPress site using the SSP plugin
Though Castos is not the most affordable service on the market, the prices come with true value:
- 14-day trial to test the service – Free
- Pro plan – $99/month: A perfect choice for those wishing to access the best analytics
- Growth plan – $49/month: This plan allows users to engage with 250 private subscribers and upload their shows to Youtube. That means they can enjoy the video podcast feature as well.
- Starter plan – $19/month: Unlimited episodes, bandwidth, and storage
FAQs
We’ve also answered some common questions that you will have to ask at least once in your podcasting journey.
How Do I Start A Podcast Business?
- Focus on promoting assets
- Develop a prestigious brand
- Draw a sustainable plan for your marketing, shows, and growth
- Research the clients and market well
- Maximize your time management skill and productivity
- Supplement engagement strategies
- Create a podcasting site as your business space
- Keep promoting content development
- Determine a solid monetization route
- Focus on quality improvements
- Lead the game
Do I Need A License to Start A Podcast?
There’s no specific license for podcasters, yet it doesn’t always mean you will not need any permit or license at all.
Before launching your business, remember to check with your state to know whether there are privilege taxes or franchises imposed on LLCs or not.
Also, check if your country or/and municipal government entities lay down any relevant licensing requirements.
Do I Need An LLC For A Podcast?
Yes, you should have an LLC since it’s an inexpensive and simple way to save money on taxes and protect your assets.
An LLC is vital when risks are occurring to your business or/and when it can benefit from increased credibility and tax options.
Where Should I Publish My Podcast?
Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Apple podcasts are the three giant services you’d better start with.
There are numerous places people can seek and listen to their favorite podcasters. Some widely popular apps, including Castbox and Overcast, consider Apple Podcasts their go-to source of episodes.
Final Thoughts
So, what is the best podcast platform to make money this year is? Keep in the know that you need to dig thoroughly into the service provider’s features.
The recommended companies can be valuable assistants in storing, distributing your content to the world, and supporting your journey.
It’s time to chase your podcasting success!
