Starting a podcast is easier than it was a few years ago. You don’t need a professional studio, expensive equipment, or a huge team. A decent microphone, a good idea, and a place to host your episodes can be enough to get started.
But that last part can be confusing.
There are so many podcast hosting platforms that choosing one can feel like a project on its own. Buzzsprout, Anchor, Podbean, Libsyn, RSS.com, and plenty of other names show up when you start searching.
In this article, we’re going to focus on three popular options: Buzzsprout, Anchor, and Podbean.
There is one important thing to clear up first. Anchor is no longer a separate podcast hosting platform. Spotify acquired Anchor and later combined its creator tools with its own podcast platform. The service is now called Spotify for Creators. So when people search for “Anchor vs Buzzsprout” today, they are really comparing Buzzsprout with Spotify for Creators.
All three options can work well, but they are aimed at slightly different types of podcasters.
Buzzsprout is probably the easiest choice for someone who wants a simple, polished podcasting experience. Spotify for Creators is hard to beat if you want free hosting. Podbean is a strong option if you want a larger collection of features and room to grow.
Let’s look at them one by one.
Buzzsprout: Simple and Beginner-Friendly
Buzzsprout has built its reputation around one main idea: podcast hosting shouldn’t be complicated. And honestly, that’s a useful approach.
When you first start podcasting, there are already enough things to learn. You have to figure out microphones, recording software, editing, artwork, show notes, promotion, social media, and eventually monetization.
The last thing you need is a hosting dashboard that makes you feel like you need a computer science degree. Buzzsprout keeps things relatively simple.
You upload your episode, add the title and description, choose when you want it published, and Buzzsprout handles the hosting and distribution side.
The platform currently offers features such as advanced statistics, podcast websites, directory distribution, transcripts, subscriptions, listener support, dynamic content, and custom podcast players. It also supports both audio and video podcasting.
That makes Buzzsprout a good fit for someone who wants to focus on making the podcast instead of learning the technical side of podcast hosting.
How Much Does Buzzsprout Cost?
Buzzsprout has a free option, but there is a catch. The free plan gives you two hours of uploads each month, and episodes are hosted for 90 days. If you want to keep a podcast running long term, you’ll probably want a paid plan.
The current paid audio plan starts at $15 per month when billed annually. The plan includes up to 72 hours of uploads per year, unlimited episodes, advanced statistics, a premium website, directory distribution, and other premium features.
There are also audio-and-video plans if you want to publish video versions of your podcast.So Buzzsprout isn’t the cheapest option on this list. But you’re paying for convenience.
If you don’t mind spending a little money every month, Buzzsprout is one of the easier platforms to recommend to a beginner.
Anchor: Now Spotify for Creators
If you’ve been researching podcast hosting for a while, you’ve probably seen Anchor mentioned everywhere. Anchor became popular because it made podcasting accessible to almost anyone.
You could start a podcast without paying for traditional hosting, and the platform provided tools for recording, publishing, distribution, and audience analytics.
Spotify acquired Anchor in 2019, and the service eventually became part of Spotify’s broader podcast creator platform. Today, it is called Spotify for Creators.
The basic idea behind Anchor is still there. Spotify for Creators provides free podcast hosting and tools for distribution, audience insights, and monetization. Spotify also supports both audio and video podcasting.
The biggest advantage is obvious. You can start without paying for podcast hosting. That makes it especially attractive if you’re just testing an idea.
Let’s say you have an idea for a podcast about football, personal finance, technology, movies, or anything else. You don’t know if people will listen yet.
Why spend money on hosting before you’ve even published your first five episodes? You can start with Spotify for Creators, learn how podcasting works, and decide later whether you need something more advanced.
Is Spotify for Creators Only for Spotify?
No. This is something that sometimes confuses new podcasters. Using Spotify for Creators doesn’t mean your podcast can only be heard on Spotify.
Podcast distribution is built around RSS feeds, and Spotify’s creator platform supports distribution beyond Spotify.
That’s important because listeners use different apps. Some people listen on Spotify. Others use Apple Podcasts or other podcast players.
You want your show to be available wherever your potential audience already listens.
Podbean: More Features, More Room to Grow
Podbean takes a different approach from Buzzsprout. Instead of focusing almost entirely on simplicity, Podbean gives creators a much larger collection of tools.
You can use Podbean for podcast hosting, analytics, distribution, monetization, podcast websites, audio, video, and more.
Its current Unlimited Audio plan costs $12 per month when billed annually, or $17 per month when paid monthly. It includes 1GB of uploads per month, unlimited total storage, unmetered bandwidth, advanced statistics, a customizable podcast website, monetization features, and one-click distribution.
That pricing makes Podbean interesting. It’s cheaper than Buzzsprout’s standard annual audio plan while giving you unlimited total storage.
Of course, there are differences in how each service handles uploads, so price alone shouldn’t decide the winner.
Podbean also has an Unlimited Plus plan for creators working with audio and video. It costs $29 per month when billed annually and supports two audio or video podcasts with 10GB of uploads per month.
And if you’re running multiple podcasts or a podcast network, Podbean has larger plans designed specifically for that type of operation.
This makes Podbean more scalable than you might expect from a platform that is also beginner-friendly.
Buzzsprout vs Anchor vs Podbean: Pricing
Let’s talk about money because this is probably where the biggest differences appear. Spotify for Creators wins if your priority is free hosting.
You can get your podcast online without paying a monthly hosting fee. Podbean comes next if you’re looking at paid hosting value.
Its Unlimited Audio plan is currently $12 per month when billed annually and includes unlimited total storage and unmetered bandwidth.
Buzzsprout is more expensive, with its standard annual audio plan starting at $15 per month. But Buzzsprout is also very focused on making the experience simple.
So I wouldn’t simply say that Podbean is better because it costs less.
You’re comparing slightly different products.
It’s a bit like comparing a simple car with a car that has a lot more features. The second one might cost less, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s the better choice for you.
Which One Is Easiest to Use?
For me, this is where Buzzsprout wins. Podbean isn’t difficult to use. Spotify for Creators isn’t difficult either.
But Buzzsprout feels particularly straightforward. The platform seems to understand that most podcasters don’t want to think about hosting.
They want to upload an episode and get back to creating content. That’s a big advantage when you’re publishing every week.
Imagine you’re six months into your podcast. You’ve already made 25 or 30 episodes.
Every week, you need to upload your audio, add your show notes, schedule the episode, check your analytics, and maybe update some information. At that point, a simple dashboard can save you a surprising amount of time.
Which One Has Better Analytics?
All three platforms provide analytics, but they approach them somewhat differently. Buzzsprout offers advanced statistics with its paid plans. You can use them to understand your podcast’s performance and audience.
Podbean also provides advanced statistics. Its current plans include information about listener locations, devices, sources, trends, episode performance, and listener engagement.
Spotify for Creators provides audience insights as well, including information about your performance on Spotify.
If most of your listeners are on Spotify, Spotify-specific data can be very useful. If you want a broader podcast hosting dashboard with more traditional podcast analytics, Buzzsprout and Podbean are probably more appealing.
Monetization
Making money from a podcast sounds exciting, but it’s worth keeping expectations realistic.
You aren’t going to upload three episodes and suddenly have a full-time income.
You need an audience first. Once you have that audience, though, monetization becomes much more interesting. Buzzsprout offers features such as listener support, subscriptions, and advertising tools.
Spotify for Creators also offers monetization options for eligible creators, including opportunities connected to Spotify’s creator ecosystem.
Podbean has a particularly strong monetization setup. Its current plans include features such as Apple Podcasts subscriptions, an Ads Marketplace, dynamic ad insertion, and premium content tools.
That’s one of the reasons I think Podbean is worth considering if you want to turn your podcast into a business. You have more options available as your audience grows.
What About Video Podcasts?
This is becoming harder to ignore. A lot of podcasts now have video versions, especially on YouTube.
If you already record video while making your podcast, you may want your hosting platform to support it.
Buzzsprout now offers an audio-and-video plan that allows creators to publish video to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Podbean also supports video podcasts. Its Unlimited Plus plan supports audio or video podcasts, with 10GB of monthly uploads.
Spotify for Creators also supports video podcasting.
So all three platforms have moved beyond the old idea that a podcast has to be audio-only.
If video is a major part of your strategy, though, I’d take a close look at Podbean and Buzzsprout’s current video plans before signing up.
What About a Podcast Website?
Having a website for your podcast is useful. It gives you a place to publish episode information, transcripts, links, resources, and other content. Buzzsprout includes a premium podcast website with its paid plans.
Podbean also provides customizable podcast websites and lets eligible users connect their own domain.
Spotify for Creators gives your show an online presence too, but I wouldn’t rely completely on any podcast platform for your long-term website strategy.
If your podcast becomes a real business, I’d recommend owning your own domain and website. That gives you much more control.
Which One Should You Choose?
At this point, the decision becomes pretty simple. Choose Spotify for Creators if you are just starting out and want to spend as little money as possible.
It’s especially good if you’re experimenting with an idea and don’t know how big your podcast will become.
Choose Buzzsprout if you want a clean, simple, professional podcast hosting experience and don’t mind paying for it.
This would be my pick for someone who says, “I don’t want to deal with complicated podcast technology. I just want something that works.”
Choose Podbean if you want lots of features and room to grow. It’s particularly appealing if you want built-in monetization, customizable websites, advanced analytics, audio and video support, and tools for running multiple podcasts.
Final Thoughts
So, which is better: Buzzsprout, Anchor, or Podbean? The honest answer is that there isn’t one perfect platform. They are good at different things.
Spotify for Creators is the best choice for free hosting. Buzzsprout is the best choice for simplicity. Podbean is the best choice for features and flexibility.
If I were starting my first podcast with no budget, I’d probably start with Spotify for Creators.
If I knew I was serious about podcasting and wanted a simple platform that I wouldn’t have to fight with every week, I’d choose Buzzsprout.
If I wanted to build a larger podcast business, publish video, experiment with different monetization options, or manage multiple shows, I’d take a serious look at Podbean.
And here’s the thing I would keep in mind before making your decision. Don’t spend weeks comparing podcast hosts while your microphone is sitting unused. Your hosting platform isn’t what will make your podcast successful.
Your content will.
A great podcast can grow on a simple platform. A boring podcast won’t suddenly become popular because it has an expensive hosting account.
Pick the platform that fits your budget and your current needs. Get your first episode out there. Then learn from your listeners and improve as you go.
If you’re completely new, Spotify for Creators is probably the easiest place to start because it’s free.
If you want the smoothest overall experience, Buzzsprout is hard to beat. And if you want the most flexibility and a bigger collection of built-in tools, Podbean is probably the strongest option of the three.