Best Podcast Hosting Platforms for 2022

Podcast hosting platforms are the spine of podcasting. The term ‘podcasting’ first came into the play in 2004 with the invention of a program named iPodder coded by the software developer Dave Winer and former MTV video jockey Adam Curry. Since that time, the popularity of podcasting has been spiking, while Apple started supporting podcasting with iTunes 4.9, the New Oxford American Directory chose podcast as the ‘word of the year’ in 2005.

As the journey of podcasting evolved to become one of the all-time-trends across various sectors, there has been a significant surge in its demand and adoption over the past decade. The global podcast market was worth over US $14 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at nearly 31% CAGR through 2028. According to a latest report, there were over 117 million monthly podcast listeners in the U.S. itself in 2021, while the number was 85.6 million for China and 39.2 million for Brazil, even 25% of the U.K. population are monthly podcast listeners. These figures are just a glimpse of the ever-growing inclination of the audience towards podcasts that now businesses are utilizing in multiple ways- to increase audience engagement to boost brand voice.

A podcast hosting platform is the most important foundation to create your own podcasts/podcasts for your brand/business. There are ample of such platforms in the market that are both good and bad news for you at the same time, because picking the best one is tricky, tedious, and confusing at times. To ease the process, here we have listed out the best podcast hosting platforms in 2022 and all you need to know.

What is a Podcast Hosting Platform?

Podcasting requires a platform to store, distribute/deliver the audio media files as well as other related solutions such as audio live stream and on demand content, content security, analytics and many more. A podcast hosting platform caters to all these and hence is the most important thing for podcasting.

The features/solutions of a podcast hosting platform may vary but here are some of the must-have features to look for in any platform-

• Your own branded platform for podcast hosting (Develop Website OTT app/website)
• Multiple audio formats support
• Easy monetization of audio content with multiple monetization models
• Both live audio streaming and on-demand audio content support
• Content partner portal
• High security

And 

• Analytics 

To name a few.

Best Podcast Hosting Platforms for 2022 – A Complete Guide

1. Muvi

Muvi comes with a complete solution for podcasting that includes a robust infrastructure, scalable CMS (Content Management System), billing engine, and many more. Not only podcasting but it offers an extensive solution for audio/music streaming – both live and on-demand. Designed to deliver industry-grade audio streaming and podcast hosting solution, the pros and cons of Muvi are as shown below –

Pros

• Fully featured own branded app and website to target 20+ platforms, devices, and ecosystems like Android, iOS, and Roku, to name a few
• Supports multiple formats of audio tracks and files such as MP3, ACC, WAV etc.
• Dedicated content partner portal that allows multiple partners to contribute their content such as podcasts, music and others that you can monetize and increase your revenue
• Solution to create your own online platform with pre-recorded podcasts, and other audio content for the customers to buy
• Multiple monetization models 
• Multi-DRM protected secure content delivery along with Geo-blocking, VPN protection, and others
• Easy live streaming of podcasts for better audience engagement
• Fast integration
• No coding required

Cons

Too many features and solutions that may not be required for the beginners, however, those help you in the long run.

2. Buzzsprout

This podcast hosting platform helps you start your own podcasts easily by creating your own platform. While it offers a set of features meeting the business requirements, it has its own pros and cons. 

Pros

• Easy hosting, promoting and tracking solution
• Magic mastering feature to sweeten and optimize your audio
• Dynamic content tools
• Free learning guides such as podcasting guides, courses, and others

Cons

• Quite limited features to give competitive benefits
• Mostly suitable for podcasting episodes and not diverse audio content
• Not enough tools for marketing and monetization

3. PodBean

PodBean is a podcast hosting and monetization platform that is equipped with easy-to-use multiple tools to create, promote and monetize podcasts. Check out its features, pros, and cons below –

Pros

• Unlimited hosting solution that comes with flat-rate plans
• Scheduled publishing
• Easy cover art creator
• Podcast studio solution
• Easy podcast monetization options

Cons

• Limited options for professional site designs
• Not so efficient in terms of SEO optimization/SEO solutions
• No guaranteed uptime

4. Transistor

Transistor provides an extensive podcast hosting solution for various brands, artists/individuals as well as solutions to distribute it over Apple podcasts, Spotify, and Google podcasts. The features, perks, and cons are as listed below-

Pros

• Easy podcast upload and sharing
• Analytics
• Private podcasting for specific members/group/team
• Analytics & insights

Cons

• Very basic features and not suitable for growing/big businesses
• Lacks marketing tools/solutions
• No clear monetization model/structure

5. Fusebox

Fusebox provides a simple-to-use solution for podcasting for any website/app/business/sector. Equipped with different types of players such as sticky player, archive player, and track player, the pros and cons of Fusebox are as follows –

Pros

• Rev and Temi transcription services that come with email opt-in and website optimization
• Easy customization
• Social sharing

Cons

• A lot of limitations in terms of add-ons, marketing and others
• Requires good technical knowledge at many steps such as using transcription services other than Rev and Temi
• No easy-to-transfer plugin to migrate to a new CMS

6. Simplecast

Simplecast’s podcast hosting, management, and analytics solution is a good fit for various businesses and hosting requirements. It provides customized features based on the podcasting requirements, goals, and other factors. Here we have listed out the pros and cons for your knowledge.

Pros

• Unlimited storage and upload
• Secure HTTPS and RSS feeds
• Recasting
• Customizable website and domain

Cons

• Most of the features are limited unless you pay for higher plans
• Analytics solution is very basic and not enough to give industry-grade advantages
• Less customization options
• Issues with site going down and lack of technical support

7. SoundCloud

SoundCloud provides music streaming and podcast hosting solutions for the creators. While it lets you set up your profile easily for podcasting, there are certain factors you must be aware of –

Pros

• Easy profile set up and monetization
• Create podcasting community to build up audience and boost engagement
• Marketing solution

Cons

• Not suitable for the growing businesses
• The features don’t suffice to provide industry-grade advantages for podcasting
• Lacks features in terms of analytics, SEO tools, and other add-ons

Wrapping Up,

There are plenty of podcast hosting platforms and also new platform providers are coming up with their own solutions. But the catch is, not every platform provider will cater to the specific podcast requirements/the purpose of your podcasting. While apparently every podcasting requirement seems the same, in reality they differ significantly from one another. However, the above guide will help you make the right decision.

Muvi, the all-in-one audio/video streaming platform provides a robust all-in-one solution for podcasting. Not only it helps you get additional advantages as mentioned above but makes every task simple and fast through its easy-to-use dashboard.

Take a 14-day free trial now to get started (no credit card needed)!