Podcasting has become a popular way to make money online. You can build an audience and share your message with the world. And yes, there are many free podcast hosting services online. But some paid options offer more professional features.
But what are the differences between paid and free podcast hosting? How do you know which one is best for your needs?
In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each one so you can decide which option works best for you.
Why Do You Need a Podcast Hosting Platform?
These are the reasons for having a podcast hosting platform.
Space, Efficiency, And Time
With a podcast hosting platform, you can store all your content in one place. This is useful if you have multiple shows and don’t want separate accounts on other sites.
Analytics And Management
Hosting your podcast lets you monitor how many downloads each episode has received. You can see your show’s subscribers and where those listeners are coming from.
Creation Tools
Podcast hosting platforms often have tools to create your show and upload episodes. These include podcasting software for recording, editing, and mixing audio files.
Growth and Monetization Tools
These platforms can help you connect with other podcasters and grow your audience. They offer tools for social media sharing and participating in online forums. You can also interact with listeners through comments, reviews, and more.
Ongoing Support
Yes, free podcast hosting usually doesn’t offer support. But most podcast hosting platforms provide some support. This can include email support, live chat, and tutorials to help you get started.
Is Free Podcast Hosting Free?
Many new podcasters often wonder if free podcast hosting is free. Many online services offer free hosting, but they often come with limitations. These restrictions may make them less than ideal for your needs.
For example, some free podcast hosting services limit your storage space. Others don’t allow you to monetize your podcast through advertising.
As you’ll see later, these limitations might not be problematic for new podcasters. However, they are not ideal for anyone who wants to profit from their podcast or build a large audience.
Free Podcast Hosting Vs. Paid Podcast Hosting
Let’s look at the differences between paid and free podcast hosting services.
What is Free Podcast Hosting
There are various free podcast hosting services available. Some are ad-supported, and some are not. Most free podcast hosting services let you upload your audio and create an RSS feed. You can also provide a link you can share with others so they can listen on their preferred platform.
Here are some benefits of using a free podcast hosting service:
Affordable For Those On A Budget
You can get started immediately without spending money. You won’t worry about technical details such as domain name registration.
Free podcast hosting services are easy to use. They don’t require additional tools to publish your podcast.
Try It Out Before You Commit.
Free podcast hosting services are a great way to try out the medium and see if it’s right for you. You can use a free service until you decide whether you want a premium upgrade.
This offers more features, better stats and analytics, and higher quality audio files.
You’re On Your Own Schedule.
When you host your podcast on a free podcast service, you’re on your own schedule. You don’t have to worry about maximizing the platform till the end of the month when your credit will run out. Furthermore, you can publish whenever and as often as you like.
This flexibility is excellent for those who want complete control over their podcasts.
Free Podcast Hosting Weaknesses
Below are the main cons to using a free podcast hosting service:
No Customer Support
Many free podcast hosting services don’t offer customer support. If your website is down or you have a question about getting started, you’re on your own. Some platforms provide email support, but it may take days or weeks to reply.
Limited Storage Space
Free podcast hosting services limit the amount of data stored on their servers. They may delete episodes or suspend your account if you exceed this limit. This can be frustrating if you have thousands of listeners and are about to hit your limit.
Limited Features
Free podcast hosting services rarely offer advanced features. You don’t get customized player skins, direct RSS feeds, or detailed statistics.
The best free podcast hosting services will have basic features for podcast management.
Monetization Restrictions
Every podcaster wants to make money from their podcast. But the free podcast hosting services often restrict how you can monetize your show. For example, some may not allow you to sell products or accept donations through your website.
What is Paid Podcast Hosting
A paid podcast hosting service is ideal for podcasters who need advanced features. They’re good if you don’t mind paying a monthly fee. If you have the money to invest in your podcast, this can be an affordable way to get all the features you need.
The best paid podcast hosting services will give you much control over your podcast and its monetization options.
Paid Podcast Hosting Strengths
Here are some pros of using a paid podcast hosting service:
Advanced features
Podcast hosting services provides you with advanced features. You get mobile apps, social media integration, and statistics.
You can also use your website address instead of a subdomain on the hosting company’s website.
No Forced Ads Or Commercials
Many paid podcast hosting services let you remove ads. These ads are automatically played at the beginning and end of your episodes. This is excellent if you want to keep things clean and professional. They’re great if you don’t want to promote other people’s products or services on your show.
Simultaneous Syndication To Other Platforms
Growing a podcast can be slow and tedious, especially starting from scratch. But a paid podcast hosting service with built-in distribution features simplifies it. It can publish your episodes to other platforms such as Spotify, iTunes, and Google Play Music.
This is splendid for podcasters looking to expand their audience. It will help you get a more consistent listenership.
Branding And Credibility
Suppose you want to monetize your podcast. Then having a branded URL can help boost your credibility. You’ll gain your listeners’ trust. This is important if you want to sell products or services. This is because people are likelier to buy from someone they know and trust.
Easy monetization
Paid podcasts are additional revenue streams for podcasters. You can set up a paywall with a service like Patreon or Gumroad.
This is great if you want to make money from your podcast. You won’t without worrying about the logistics of selling your products.
Paid Podcast Hosting Weaknesses
These are some disadvantages of paid podcast hosting:
Confusing pricing and features
Paid podcast hosting companies are in the business of selling their services. They don’t always make it easy to understand what you get when you pay for a plan.
You must compare prices and features between different providers. This is usually before deciding which is suitable for your podcast. Such things can be time-consuming, especially if you want to get started.
Locking Yourself Into A Long-Term Commitment
Paid podcast hosting is a subscription service. This means you’ll be locked into a contract with your provider for at least a year. Many companies offer month-to-month payment plans and no-contract options. But these come with higher prices than the longer commitments.
Steep Learning Curve
Podcasting is a skill, and it takes time to learn. While some hosts have great resources on their websites, others don’t. Paying for podcast hosting when you don’t know how to podcast can be a waste of money.
You could spend all that money on a great hosting plan. Then find out that you don’t have the skills or knowledge to create a show.
Transferring Of Data To Other Platforms
If you’ve paid for a full year of hosting, you could be stuck with paying for a different hosting plan. You’ll also have to transfer all your data to another company.
If you have an extensive library, this could be a time-consuming and expensive process. This is true if the new hosting company isn’t compatible with the old one. In that case, you must manually transfer your data. You might also need to upgrade your bandwidth, which can be pricey.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between free podcast hosting and premium podcast hosting can be difficult. Free podcast hosting has its advantages, but it also comes with some significant drawbacks. But premium podcast hosting is usually more reliable.
It offers additional features that could make your life easier. It all boils down to what you need from your podcast. If you’re starting, free podcast hosting might be enough. But let’s say you want to grow your audience and profit from your show. Then premium podcast hosting could be well worth the investment.
