Best Free Podcast Hosting service is a solution for novice podcasters who want to start building Podcasts with minimal capital without compromising the quality of the Podcast content itself.
Starting to build a podcast doesn’t even need the perfect audio equipment. You can start with just a smartphone and headset to record your voice. Then you can put your voice content on the best free podcast hosting services without spending a penny.
Currently Podcasts have become a digital platform that is able to make money online and is in demand by many people besides YouTube. Whatever your skill set, there’s no reason not to give this audio content platform a try.
Podcasts are also a solution for those who are embarrassed to appear in front of the camera. Only with audio, now you can work without the need to be ashamed of your beautiful face. Some people choose to work on Podcasts because they don’t have the confidence to work on YouTube.
Why Need a Podcast Hosting Service?
Maybe now someone is asking, why do you need a Podcast Hosting service? Shouldn’t you just upload it to a Podcast network like Spotify or Apple Podcasts? Or maybe to hosting a website that you own?
So here’s the thing, actually podcast platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts don’t store our podcast content. Yes, that’s a fact. And why not just put it on website hosting, because the website hosting technology doesn’t have it? Tools to compress audio and of course do not have a podcast network that can distribute our podcast content.
Therefore, in order for our podcast content to be distributed, it is necessary to work with a special podcast host.
Another plus is that some podcast hosting services also have features to record, edit, and monetize your podcast. So that in one service, we can do many things without switching services or tools.
Why is Best Free Podcast Hosting Service?
As a user, you might get a podcast hosting service for free. But it’s not really free. This means that they will still benefit from the services it provides.
There are several ways why a podcast hosting service can provide services for free.
First, Providing Restrictions. Multiple services free podcast hosting limit the users. For example, restrictions on storage space or podcast duration. Later, if users want to get more storage space or longer podcast durations, they can upgrade to a premium account.
So indirectly, the free service it provides is a mutually beneficial marketing strategy.
Second, Profit-sharing system. In addition to using a restriction system, some podcast hosting services also use a revenue-sharing system from advertisements served by podcaster. This is one way for hosting companies to earn money from the free services they provide.
Best Free Podcast Hosting Service
Well, we don’t really need to know how podcast hosting services can provide their services for free. The most important thing is that you as a podcaster can get a podcast hosting service that is free and can be used to work without the need to spend any capital.
Here are 6 of the best free podcast hosting services that you can use.
1. Anchor
Anchor is a 100% free podcast service owned by Spotify. This service has unlimited access, includes tools for recording and editing audio. You can also get various sound effects and music for free in its music library. So this will make your podcast more professional.
Another benefit that users get from Anchor is access to a complete analysis tool. Later you can get complete analytical data such as the number of listeners per episode, what services listeners use, listener demographics, and you can see listener trends over time.
For now, specially podcaster from the US can take advantage of the Anchor monetization program to make money. Profit sharing system 70:30, of which 70% will be part of podcasters, while 30% for Anchor.
Features:
- Storage capacity: Unlimited
- Number of podcasts per account: 1
- Bandwidth: Unlimited
- Websites:-
- Monetization: US users only
- Distribution: One-click distribution
- Analytics tool: Yes
2. Acast
Acast has a free service called Starter. This service allows the podcaster can have unlimited number of episodes, including the file size. Another feature that users will get later is also access to marketing tools that can help podcaster to be able to create a snippet of a podcast clip that can be distributed to social media.
For this (free) Starter plan, unfortunately podcaster cannot enjoy its monetization service. Unless you want to upgrade to a premium package. Later it can be integrated with Patreon, a podcast monetization service that is quite popular.
Feature:
- Number of episodes / storage: Unlimited
- Number of podcast accounts: 1
- Bandwidth: Unlimited
- Website: Yes (with ads)
- Monetization: None
- Distribution: Yes (limited)
- Analytics tools: Standard
3. Podomatic
If you want a best free podcast hosting service that has recording, editing, and publishing tools all in one, Podomatic is one of them.
What’s interesting about this Podomatic is the monetization system it provides. Podcaster can have the desired monetization system. The first can be through a sponsorship system that has collaborated with the program Podcorn. The second can be by selling merchandise through What For Apparel.
What For Apparel it is a subsidiary of Podomatic. Uniquely, in the distribution of product advertisements later, it will use POD technology so that it can easily reach listeners.
Features:
- Number of episodes / storage: 6 hours/20 episodes
- Number of podcast accounts: 1
- Bandwidth: 15GB per month
- Website: none
- Monetization: Yes
- Distribution: Yes
- Analytics tools: Standard
4. Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout is a long-standing podcast hosting service. One of the advantages that users love is its automatic conversion and optimization technology. Not only that, all types of audio files can also be converted through the Buzzsprout software into quality audio podcasts.
Many think that Anchor is the best free podcast hosting service, but Buzzsprout is arguably the best of the free podcast hosting category. The reason is that the integration features are quite complete.
Users can combine Buzzsprout with various popular tools, both in terms of analytics and services blog like WordPress.
In terms of monetization is also quite complete. Users can have monetization using sponsorship systems, advertisements, or donations from listeners.
Features:
- Number of episodes / storage: 2 hours/month for 90 days
- Number of podcast accounts: 1
- Bandwidth: 250GB
- Website: Yes (with ads)
- Monetization: Yes
- Distribution: Yes
- Analytics tools: Standard
5. Spreaker
One of the advantages of this best free podcast hosting service is the podcast episode scheduling feature. Apart from that, you can also host multiple podcasts under one account.
Unfortunately, this free Spreaker plan has limitations that are quite uncomfortable for users. For example, users can only store a maximum of 10 episodes or a total of 5 hours of content.
For those who have long-term podcast plans, this doesn’t seem like a good fit. Because there is a time limit on it.
Apart from that there are other limitations in terms of monetization. For this free service there is no monetizing program.
Feature:
- Number of episodes / storage: 5 hours (10 episodes)
- Number of podcast accounts: unlimited
- Bandwidth: unlimited
- Website: none
- Monetization: none
- Distribution: none
- Analytics tools: Standard
6. Podbean
This free podcast hosting can be a solution for those of you who want to try to start making podcast trials with the support of a simple website and the integration of existing email and social media marketing tools.
Support for the Podbean Audio Recorder application makes it easier for you to record, edit, and publish podcasts directly from your phone. Currently Podbean is available for Android and iOS.
If you want your podcast to last longer, you can switch to the premium plan.
Feature:
- Number of episodes / storage: 5 hours (total 500 MB)
- Number of podcast accounts: 1
- Bandwidth: 100GB per month
- Website: yes (with ads)
- Monetization: none
- Distribution: Yes
- Analytics tools: Standard
Best Free Podcast Hosting Final Advice
Of the 6 options above, all are good to use. If you are confused about which one to choose, it all comes back to your podcast needs and goals.
- If you want to find podcast hosting that is free forever, then the choice falls on Anchor or Acast.
- If you want one that has existing integration tools and services, then go for it Buzzsprout or Podbean.
- If the need is to host multiple podcasts without spending a budget, just choose it Spreaker.
- Meanwhile, if you want one that has various monetization features, the best choice is Podomatic.
Whatever your needs and goals, the most important thing is to start now and create quality content.
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