Podbean is widely considered to be one of the best hosting platforms for podcasters.
Podbean hosts over 460k+ podcasts including popular shows like Ted Talks and The Daily.
Does that mean it’s the best hosting solution for your podcast? In this review, we will walk you through the features like hosting limits, pricing plans, monetization methods, publishing and distribution, pros and cons for beginners, overall experience, and who it’s best suited for.
In this Podbean review, we’ve compiled some of the most relevant information about the popular service. Step by step, we’ll address all your burning questions about the included features, pricing, and potential drawbacks of Podbean.
Wired Clip – Bottom Line & Verdict
🥇 Best hosting platform 2023
As a beginner looking to start your first podcast, you really can’t go wrong with Podbean as your hosting platform. It’s quick and easy to set up and get going.
- Offers 5 hours of free audio hosting
- Unlimited audio Starting at just $14 per month or $9 per month on an annual plan
- Every feature you need from start to finish. Start, Grow and Monetize your Podcast.
What I like About Podbean
🎙️ Easy Creation & Publishing: Craft and share your unique stories through podcasts and live streams right from your phone.
🎙️ Promotion Tools: Spread the word and share your passion with a wider audience on popular platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
🎙️ Monetization Features: Unlock revenue potential with ads, subscriber-based content, and patron programs.
🎙️ Free Podcast Website: Showcase your podcast on a sleek, mobile-responsive website.
🎙️ Comprehensive Analytics: Discover who’s listening and what resonates with your audience.
🎙️ Live Streaming Capabilities: Engage with your audience real-time and make every episode an event.
- Easily start your own podcast today!
- There is a reason Podbean is used by 570,000+ Podcasters!
Podbean Review Features
Podbean is known for providing tools for both the front and backend of podcasting. With intuitive publishing, distribution, and analysis tools, the service handles all of the frustrating details of getting yourself out there.
Simple Publishing
Podbean simplifies the podcast publishing process significantly, making it straightforward to get my podcast live with its intuitive interface. The platform offers unlimited audio and video hosting, which is a relief as I don’t have to worry about exceeding any limits on downloads, episodes, or recording time. I appreciate the professional look that the free podcast website provides, and the variety of themes allows for customization to my taste. The option to integrate my own domain is fantastic for brand consistency. I find the scheduled publishing feature very convenient, allowing me to upload my audio and schedule episodes to post at specific times. Lastly, the Cover Art Creator is a handy tool for generating custom cover art effortlessly, which is great for catching the eyes of potential listeners.
Podcast Promotion and Distribution
Podbean acts as a megaphone, amplifying the reach of my podcast to potential listeners which is crucial for growing my audience. The platform’s all-destination distribution feature is a breeze, allowing my podcast to be heard on major platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
I love the professional touch the embeddable players add to my website, and the customization options help me align it with my brand aesthetics. The social media auto-sharing feature is a time-saver, automatically sharing new episodes to my social networks, and even generating videos for platforms like Facebook and YouTube.
It’s exciting that as soon as I publish a new episode, it’s available on Alexa devices through the Podbean Alexa skill, broadening the accessibility for my listeners. The instant availability of new episodes in the Podbean apps for iOS and Android ensures that my audience can catch the latest episodes on-the-go. Lastly, the email integration via Podbean’s Mailchimp integration is great for collecting email addresses and keeping my subscribers in the loop with new episodes, fostering a close-knit listener community.
Monetization
Podbean provides multiple monetization avenues for my podcast. I can list my podcast on the Podbean advertising marketplace to get matched with potential advertisers, enrolling in either Programmatic Ads or Host Read Ads to maximize earnings.
The Dynamic Ad Insertion system manages ad campaigns automatically, which is a big time-saver. With Patron for Podcasters, I can create a patron page quickly for recurring monthly donations, and it’s straightforward to set different levels of donations/rewards. The Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration allows me to set up subscription levels, provide exclusive content, and release episodes exclusively for subscribers, which is great for generating a steady income.
Analytical Insight and Statistics
Podbean offers insightful analytics on downloads and trends, helping me gauge how my podcast resonates with my audience.
The Top 10 Episodes feature summarises download data, highlighting the most listened to episodes over various date ranges, which is helpful in identifying what captivates my listeners.
The Listener Geographies section provides a geographic breakdown of my audience, aiding in tailoring content and targeting sponsors more effectively. Through the User Agents chart, I can discern the devices and apps my audience predominantly uses to access my podcast, which is valuable for exploring engagement opportunities.
Lastly, the Downloads by Time of Day analysis is instrumental in pinpointing the optimal days and times to release new episodes to maximize listens. These features collectively empower me to make data-driven decisions to grow and engage my audience.
Live Streaming
Podbean provides a comprehensive platform for you to live stream your audience directly. Through the Podbean platform, you have tons of options to engage with listeners, like easy instant messaging.
It’s easy to call in remote hosts or specific audience members for seamless group calls.
Many big-name podcasters even sell virtual tickets for live stream access or receive fans’ virtual gifts that can be converted to real currency.
Podbean Podcast App
The Podbean app, with its million active users, simplifies podcast recording, making studio-quality recording accessible anywhere. With just a single tap, I can start recording without the hassle of wires or complicated equipment, capturing audio directly from my phone or tablet.
The Exclusive Music Integration feature allows me to personalize my podcast with background music, sound effects, or a catchy intro/outro from a diverse music library. The Magic Editor significantly cuts down editing time; with a few clicks, I can replay, trim unwanted content, merge with intro/outro, and either publish or export.
Collaborating with co-hosts or guests is straightforward; I can schedule and invite up to 7 individuals for remote interviews, making recording a collective effort regardless of location. Additionally, Podbean fosters audience engagement through its community tools within the app, enabling interactions via comments and follows, which is great for building a community around my podcast.
- Easily start your own podcast today!
- There is a reason Podbean is used by 570,000+ Podcasters!
Podbean Pricing
Podbean offers four plans: a free Podcast Starter plan, an Unlimited Audio plan at $9/month (billed annually) or $14 monthly, an Unlimited Plus plan at $29/month (billed annually) or $39 monthly, and a Network plan at $79/month (billed annually) or $99 monthly, catering to different podcasting needs from beginners to professional.
| Plan Name | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🎧 Podcast Starter | $0 | Always Free |
| 🎙️ Unlimited Audio | $9/mo. (billed annually) or $14 monthly | Audio Podcasting, No Limits |
| 🎥 Unlimited Plus | $29/mo. (billed annually) or $39 monthly | Best for video podcasts and podcast monetization |
| 📡 Network | $79/mo. (billed annually) or $99 monthly | Best for multiple public podcasts and podcast networks |
Once you decide you want to climb to the next tier, it’s easy to switch the plan at any point without needing to speak to a customer service representative. In this way, Podbean is totally scalable depending on how your needs develop over time.
The Basic plan is totally free, providing you with five recorded hours of storage space and 100 gigabytes of monthly bandwidth. This free version even comes with Podcast site-building tools, iTunes and RSS feed support, and podcast statistics.
For more beefy features, the Unlimited Audio tier provides unmetered and unlimited storage and bandwidth at just $9 per month. You’ll get access to professional site themes, custom design options, a free domain name, and an advertising marketplace.
Click here for the latest Podbean coupon codes
The Unlimited Plus plan at $29/mo is recommended for podcasters who wish to use video and monetize. In addition to everything offered at the lower levels, this tier provides every monetization tool: premium sales, the patronage program, and dynamic advertiser integration.
Finally, the Network plan is everything that a mid-size company needs to build an audience. Starting at $79 a month when billed annually, the tier provides multiple podcast channels, multiple admin accounts, private SSO authentication, live chat, and zero Podbean brandings.
- Easily start your own podcast today!
- There is a reason Podbean is used by 570,000+ Podcasters!
The Pros and Cons of Podbean
Podbean is a great platform for those new to podcast publishing, distribution, and monetization. With easy-to-use tools, it’s possible to create an attractive webpage, embed your audio, and port your podcast to all major platforms.
Satisfied users appreciate that all monetization schemes are automatically built into the service. The service provides a holistic way to deal with all the podcasting details you’d rather leave behind, allowing you to focus on generating quality content.
That said, Podbean’s biggest advantages are also its biggest drawbacks. Some complain that the service is a little simplistic, especially since the podcast site will have limited functionality compared to a WordPress site.
Others are concerned that Podbean doesn’t offer enhanced security features, backups, and no site uptime guarantee. More experienced developers may be better off investing in the best hosting service for their needs.
Video Podcasts
Video podcasts can be created on Podbean in addition to creating a video clip that you could easily share on YouTube.
Podbean has everything you need to get started with video podcasting.
Unlimited hosting for your videos, so you have peace of mind with storage. No need to pay more when your podcast grows.
Podcast Site – Build a website with Podbean
Podbean subscription includes a podcast website for free.
Your new podcast site can be beautifully designed and mobile-friendly.
The podcast website features innovative design as well robust features for easy customization for your Podcast site. Choose from a variety of professional themes that you can customize to fit your needs
Podbean Alternatives
Not every new podcaster is quite ready to jump into paid hosting. Here are my favorite podcast hosting services and alternative options to Podbean which you can check out. They also offer a free plan to get you started.
User-friendly interface with various plan options.
Provides podcast promotion tools, transcription services, and detailed analytics.
Offers podcast hosting, analytics, and a WordPress plugin for website integration.
Provides monetization options through an advertising program.
Focuses on podcast growth with a user-friendly dashboard and analytics.
Offers a built-in podcast website along with various promotion tools.
Offers basic podcast hosting services with a user-friendly interface.
Provides monetization options through Patreon integration.
Is Podbean Worth It?
Yes, Podbean is indeed worth it for me. I opted for the Unlimited Plus package primarily for its video podcasting and monetization features. The ability to host video podcasts expands the dimensions of storytelling, making my content more engaging and visually appealing. The monetization options are a boon; they provide a viable avenue to generate revenue from my podcast, which is encouraging and financially supportive as I continue to create content. The package price is reasonable considering the array of features it offers, and the ease of use of the platform makes podcasting a less daunting endeavor. The analytics and promotional tools further add value, aiding in understanding my audience better and growing my listener base. Overall, Podbean’s Unlimited Plus package is a solid investment towards achieving my podcasting goals.
- Easily start your own podcast today!
- There is a reason Podbean is used by 570,000+ Podcasters!
Final Verdict
In conclusion, choosing Podbean as your podcast hosting platform is a decision you won’t regret. Its user-friendly interface is welcoming for both newcomers and experienced podcasters. With a spectrum of pricing plans, including a free option, it caters to various podcasting needs.
The Unlimited Plus plan is a gem for those into video podcasting and monetization, offering a wealth of features at a reasonable price. Key features like straightforward publishing, insightful analytics, effective promotion tools, diverse monetization avenues, and live streaming significantly enhance the podcasting experience.
The Podbean app further simplifies podcast recording and audience engagement on the move, making Podbean a solid and rewarding choice for podcasters.
Podbean FAQs
What is Podbean?
Podbean is a reputable podcast publishing and monetization platform offering a range of customizable hosting packages. It simplifies podcast management, publishing, and analytics through a user-friendly interface.
Features include easy promotion and editing tools, a popular audio app for audience expansion, flat-rate plans with unmetered bandwidth, free storage, and analytics. Podbean also offers monetization and live streaming support, catering to podcasters of all sizes for managing, distributing, and monetizing podcasts.
How Much Does Podbean Cost?
Podbean has four plans: Podcast Starter ($0), Unlimited Audio ($9/mo. or $14 monthly), Unlimited Plus ($29/mo. or $39 monthly), and Network ($79/mo. or $99 monthly
Does Podbean have a free option forever?
Podbean offers a completely free plan called the basic plan, which provides the most basic functions, however, has a limit to the amount of storage and bandwidth.
How Do You Use Podbean?
There are a few limits to the ways you can use Podbean. Podbean is a general tool that makes the problems of publishing, distributing, monetizing, and growing your audience easier.
How do I monetize my podcast with Podbean?
You can monetize your podcast on Podbean through dynamic ads, the advertising marketplace, Patreon integration for monthly donations, and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions for subscriber-based content.
Is Podbean Really Free?
Yes, at the Basic tier, Podbean is always completely free. This podcast starter plan provides a great way to get your feet wet before you decide whether or not the service works for you.
Once you decide you need more features, it’s easy to bump up to one of the paid plans. Many podcasters remain on the Basic Plan and remove audio files as they need to remain under the 5-hour recording storage space limit.
Can You Make Money on Podbean?
Yes, it’s possible to make money through Podbean. Experienced podcasters state the platform pays for itself many times over.
There are several different ways that a Podbean user can make money, whether it’s through integrated advertising, setting up premium accounts, live stream donations, or making a sleek patron page.
Does Podbean own your content?
Podbean does not own your podcast episodes or content. Podbean is a hosting platform that can help distribute your podcast content to other platforms like Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Podcast.
Does Podbean cost money to listen to podcasts?
No, it does not cost to listen to podcasts on Podeban, it is free for all. Watching the video podcasts or listening to the audio version.
Can I use Podbean to create a private podcast?
Yes, you can use Podbean to create a private podcast. Podbean allows you to limit access to your podcast by creating a private RSS feed. You can offer this private podcast to a select group of listeners or as a paid subscription.
How Does Podbean Compare
- Easily start your own podcast today!
- There is a reason Podbean is used by 570,000+ Podcasters!
