Looking for the best podcast hosting for WordPress that lets you self-host your podcast, install the best WordPress podcast plugins using your web hosting services or any other server or podcast hosting platform.
If you’re getting into podcasting or are already a pro podcaster, the best podcast hosting for WordPress comes with available tools, WordPress themes, and WP plugins to help you create and manage your podcast episodes right from inside your WordPress administrator dashboard.
Don’t Miss: Best Webcam for Podcast
Podcast hosting platforms like Castos, Libsyn, iTunes, Blubrry, Buzzsprout, PodBean, and Simplecast provide in-built WordPress plugins to help you manage your audio files and podcast episode from within your WordPress site. For example, PowerPress by Blubrry is one of the best WordPress podcast plugins for 2020 that provides you with the complete set of tools you need to build a powerful podcast in WordPress.
In this post, I’ll look at 7 of the best podcast hosting for WordPress and 16+ best WordPress podcast plugins, pros and cons, free & premium, and compare their features and the options to look for in any podcast hosting sites and platforms.
Having your podcast hosted on your own WordPress site gives you a place to connect with your audience, listeners, guests and advertisers. They can learn more about your site and podcast.
See Also: Best Wireless Earbuds for Podcasts
Our pick of the best podcast hosting services (most have free plans or trial) that offer premium and free WordPress podcast plugin and podcast integration from inside your website.
What is Podcast?
A podcast is an episode series of digital audio or video files which a listener or user can download and listen to.
Podcast is a digital audio file made available on the internet for download to a mobile device or computer. Podcast is available as a series or new releases that can be automatically received by subscribers.
Podcasting uses a subscription model that automatically enable new episodes to download via web syndication to a user’s mobile application, laptop computer or portable media player.
In summary, podcasting is a way of distributing podcast audio files that can be downloaded via the internet.
What is Podcasting?
Podcasting is the practice of making digital audio or video recordings of broadcasts available for downloading to a mobile device or computer using the Internet.
Podcasting is a logical next step of distributing audio content from blogging. Podcasting is a simple way to distributing audio files via the Internet. A podcast is an episode series of digital audio or video files that can be downloaded from the internet in MP3 format.
What Is Podcast Hosting?
Podcast hosting is a site platform providing the upload and distribution of audio and video contents through RSS feed which your listeners can subscribe to listen to or download your podcast episodes.
Podcasting is a combination of blogging with digital audio technology. It was coined from the combination of two words – iPad and broadcasting.
Podcast hosting sites provide the storage space and bandwidth needed to run and manage uploads of podcast episodes with a push distribution technology to podcast directories to enable your audience access them directly from their devices.
Further Reading:
Best Podcast Hosting Sites
Best Podcast Hosting for Beginners
Best Podcast Hosting for WordPress & Plugins
Best Podcast Hosting for Churches
What Are the Best WordPress Podcast Plugins for 2020
Are you looking for the best WordPress podcast plugin that can help you create podcast episodes in minutes?
I’ve carefully reviewed and handpicked the best WordPress plugins for your WordPress website, so you can get started with podcasting.
Here are my top picks for the best WordPress podcast plugins in 2020 and beyond.
1. Buzzsprout WordPress Podcast Plugin (Free)
To make podcasting with WordPress easy for WP lovers, Buzzsprout has developed a WordPress podcast plugin to help you extract episodes from BUzzsprout directly into your WordPress site or blog.
The Best Podcast Plugin for WordPress – Free WordPress Podcast Plugin
Buzzsprout is a podcast hosting service that lets WordPress users to integrate podcast episodes into their site.
The Buzzsprout podcasting plugin allows you to embed your podcast episodes into your WordPress pages or posts.
Buzzsprout helps you:
- Upload or optimize your podcast episodes.
- Publish complaint RSS feeds.
- Create web players.
- View stats for all your podcast episodes.
You can download the Buzzsprout podcasting plugin for WordPress at:
https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/buzzsprout-podcasting/
How Buzzsprout Podcasting Plugin for WordPress Works
Here are the installation instructions
- Download the plugin and extract into a folder.
- Upload the folder to wp-content/plugin/ directory of your WP installation.
- Enable the plugin.
- Specify your Buzzsprout feed URL to retrieve episodes from Buzzsprout podcasting settings.
Buzzsprout Podcasting Plugin Usage
- The Buzzsprout podcast plugin enables a new icon into your “Upload/Insert” toolbar.
- Click this icon to select the episode within your post.
- A shortcode will be added to your post once you select the episode.
Buzzsprout podcast hosting site offers a limited 90 Day free plan.
If you are serious about podcasting, you can upgrade to their paid plans starting at $12/month.
H4 Key Features of Buzzsprout – Podcast Plugin for WordPress
With the growing popularity of podcasting, Buzzsprout podcasting remains a premium solution with a free WordPress plugin offering HTML5 players, iTunes support & statistics. It has the following features.
- External hosting.
- Simple Podcast migration tool.
- Intuitive play-by-play analytics engine.
- HTML players.
2. Simple Podcast Press (Paid)
Simple Podcast Press is a WordPress podcast player designed to grow your audience and build your email list on auto-pilot.
The Best WordPress Podcast Player
Simple Podcast Press is a standalone plugin that you can use it by itself or integrate with other podcast plugins such as:
- Smart Podcast Player.
- Blubrry PowerPress.
It is the ideal podcast plugin for increasing leads and subscriptions with your podcast.
Simple Podcast Press is a powerful WordPress podcast player that comes with stylish and functional podcast player with some powerful functionality like:
- Podcast playlists.
- Click-to-tweet functionality to show notes.
- Automatic publishing from your podcast feed to your website.
- Automatic URL shortener.
- Clutter-free transcripts.
- iTunes review showcase.
- Collapsible transcripts.
- Clickable timestamps in show notes.
- Ability to integrate with Smart Podcast player and Blubrry PowerPress.
- Podcast integration with podcast hosts and distribution networks.
Simple Podcast Press is compatible with all podcasting platforms including:
- Libsyn
- Sound cloud
- Spreaker
- iTunes
- Appendipity
- Blogtalkradio
- Podbean
- Buzzsprout
- Podcast Websites
Simple Podcast Press costs $67 for a single site license, $97 for professional license for up to 3 websites, and $147 multi license for up to 10 websites.
3. Blubrry PowerPress (Free)
PowerPress podcasting plugin by Blubrry is all-in-one plugin that lets you upload, host and publish a podcast from your WordPress website.
PowerPress by Blubrry podcast hosting is one of the top podcasting plugin for WordPress that lets WordPress users to create podcast and manage all of their media files, episodes and iTunes RSS feeds.
Most Popular Free WordPress Podcast Plugin – Blubrry Podcast Hosting
Blubrry Power Press is the most popular WordPress podcast plugin that boasts of raw popularity of 5-start rating and over 130 great reviews.
Blubrry PowerPress boasts multiple videos and audio player options, Podcast SEO feature, subscription tools.
Key Features from Blubrry Podcast Hosting Plugin
Blubrry PowerPress is packed with great functionality and features such as:
- Simple and advanced modes.
- Integrated HTML5 media players.
- Full iTunes and Google Play support.
- Podcasting SEO functionality.
- Simple podcast importing from Sound Cloud, PodBean, Libsyn, Squarespace or Podcast RSS feed services.
- Create iTunes compliant podcast feeds.
- Has built-in social share buttons.
- Subscribes page short code to increase leads and subscribers.
- Built-in show notes link.
- Built-in playback speed or skip forward/backward.
Blubrry PowerPress plugin is free
WordPress Podcast Without Plugin
Blubrry podcast hosting provides subscription based access to advanced statistics and/or dedicated podcast hosting that are helpful but does not required the use of the plugin Blubrry supports.
4. Smart Podcast Player (Premium)
Smart Podcast Player is a podcast WordPress plugin developed by Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income website that helps WordPress users manage their podcast with ease.
Best Podcast Player for Serious Podcasters
Smart Podcast Player has built-in best out of the box design options you can choose from.
Smart Podcasting Key Features
- Mobile & responsive designs that looks great on any device.
- The player has built-in email capture feature to help boost your email marketing.
- It includes social sharing buttons to help you boost social shares and engagement of your podcast episodes.
- Just like most WordPress podcasting plugins, visitors can skip forward or backward to listen to your podcast in chunks.
- Support pagination and search.
- Ability to display unlimited number of podcast episodes.
- Your listeners can also change the speed of your podcast – speed control button.
Smart Podcast Player cost $12 per month or $96 per year. This two pricing options help fit your stage of podcasting journey.
If you’re looking to capture your listeners’ email list directly from your podcast episodes, I highly recommend you try smart podcast player.
- Image customization.
- Smart track player.
- Download button.
- Color customization.
- Plugin updates.
5. Seriously Simple Podcasting Plugin for WordPress (Free)
Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin is an easy-to-use podcasting solution for WordPress website.
Best WordPress Podcast Without Plugin
Seriously Simple Podcasting is the easiest way to set up your podcast with a WordPress site. Use this handy, free and easy plugin to manage your podcast shows and episodes within your WordPress dashboard.
With more than 20,000+ active installs and over 160 5-Star reviews on WordPress.org, Seriously Simple podcasting is the top rated podcasting plugin for WordPress.
Seriously Simple podcasting focuses on helping you to create an easy way to share your podcasts.
Key Features of Seriously Simple Podcasting Plugin
Here are some important features.
- Free basic stats add-on.
- RSS feed supports Google Play, Stitcher & iTunes.
- Integrated podcast hosting on its seriously simple hosting platform.
- Option to use any post type for your podcasts.
- Support for both audio and video podcasts.
- Widgets and shortcodes for episodes lists and single episode display.
Seriously Simple podcasting allows you to syndicate your podcast to other sources. It uses WordPress native media player on your own website.
The big players like Simple podcast press, Libsyn, Blubrry, Soundcloud podcast WordPress plugin do not use native WordPress interface and minimal settings.
Seriously Simple Podcasting offers you the freedom to host your media files anywhere – on the same site, Castos integrated hosting platform or any other server.
You can download the plugin for free at no cost at:
httsp://wordpress.org/plugins/seriously-simple-podcasting/
- Has the best review for WordPress podcast management.
- One click imports to migrate an existing podcast show into your WordPress site.
- Enhanced player experience – you can embed Spotify podcasts with the new WP editor embed block.
- Manage multiple shows.
- Better SEO management.
- Convenient workflow.
- Free Add ons.
- Integrated statistics.
- Dedicated hosting platform.
Castos is the developer of Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin for WordPress, and at no price for free trial, you can get started and see how easy podcasting can be.
6. Podlove Podcast Plublisher (Free)
Podlove Podcast Publisher is a great plugin that helps you with:
- Showcasing your podcast episodes with a web player.
- Managing your podcast RSS feeds.
- Chapter support for podcast with distinct sections.
- View downloads statistics inside your WordPress dashboard.
- Template system to customize how the plugin displays your podcasts.
You can download Podlove Podcast Publisher at:
Free Podcast Publishing for WordPress | Best WordPress Podcast Theme & Custom Templating
The Podlove Podcast Publisher helps podcasters save time while providing a cutting edge listening experience for their audience.
Podcast publishing built on open source under MIT and GitHub license where podcaster programmers are free to contribute any help to improve the plugin.
Podlove Podcast Publisher is built on WordPress and pushes the limits of podcasting with:
- Self-hosted – keep the core of your podcast business in your hands.
- 4+ years development and on-going support.
- Modular – features and interface are designed as modules.
- Powerful analytics – ability to collect data about listens, feed subscription and analyze/compared data.
- Subscribing with ease – makes subscribe button accessible to everyone.
- Custom templating – helps you build podcast pages based on WordPress podcast theme.
Give Podlove Podcast Publisher a try, its free to download, install & use for your WordPress podcast site.
7. Libsyn Publisher Hub (Free, Premium/Paid)
Libsyn users can create a podcast website quickly by customizing it with WordPress podcast themes and podcast plugins.
Libsyn Podcasting plugin for WordPress
Libsyn podcasting is a renowned and popular podcast hosting solution that also provides the best WordPress podcasting plugins and themes to start a new podcast or migrate to more powerful podcast hosting.
You can easily install & configure Libsyn podcasting plugin for WordPress with your site.
Libsyn developed the Libsyn podcasting plugin to help podcasters use their podcast hosting services with ease.
You can upload audio media files to Libsyn via your WordPress dashboard, generate episode drafts and schedule posts. It’s a great option to connect your podcast to your WordPress site.
The Libsyn publisher hub is probably the most popular plugin for WordPress that allows a direct connection from WordPress CMS to Libsy.
It makes podcast publishing and publishing episodes from WordPress easy and ensures your media files and RSS feed are hosted off your web hosting server.
In order to install and activate this plugin in WordPress, you also require a podcasting hosting account with Libsyn and a PHP 5.6 or higher and WordPress version 4.0 or higher is recommended.
Libsyn podcasting hosting service plans start at $5 per month. They have a podcast directory that showcases shows hosted by Libsyn which is similar to Anchor, SoundCloud and PodBean podcast hosting platforms.
Libsyn is similar to Buzzsprout podcasting plugin which is best suited for podcasters who are already using the Buzzsprout podcast hosting.
8. iTunes Podcast Review Manager Plugin for WordPress
iTunes podcast review manager gathers all of your podcast reviews from iTunes and display them in a tabular format.
A New WordPress Plugin to Display Reviews
Want to see all of your iTunes reviews from all around the world in WordPress.
The iTunes reviews are displayed in the backend menu, and on the front end of your WordPress site using [IPRM] shortcode.
iTunes automatically check for new podcast reviews every 4 hours by the plugin.
The iTunes podcast review manager has the following features:
- Column sorting.
- Multiple podcasts.
- Caching.
- Rotating widget.
- Email notifications for new reviews.
You can sort the table by country, date, rating, title, reviews or username.
You can install the plugin in WordPress via Add New plugin or manually downloading and uploading it.
Activate the plugin and go to settings under the Podcast Review menu and enter the iTunes store URL of your podcast.
9. Amazon Polly Plugin for WordPress
The Amazon polly plugin for WordPress is a podcasting plugin that enables you to voice your website content to your readers.
Your website visitors can listen to news and articles directly from your website. It’s a great service that turns your website text into life-like speech recording.
With Amazon polly plugin, you can generate an audio feed for text-based content and insert it into an embedded player to increase accessibility.
Your websites can stream the audio using online audio player and mobile application.
The AWS for WordPress plugin can be configured to:
- Create audio recordings of archived content on your website.
- Automatically create audio recordings for new content upon upon publication.
- Create recordings for individual WordPress posts.
- Use the Amazon Pollycast RSS feed to podcast audio content.
An important feature of AWS for WordPress plugin for podcasting is the ability to create audio files in any of the language and supported voices.
10. Sermon Manager WordPress Plugin
Sermon Manager is the No. 1 WordPress sermon plugin designed to help churches publish sermons online.
#1 Sermon Podcasting Plugin for WordPress
With 1-click importing, sermon manager supports importing/migration from other sermon plugin like Series Engine and Sermon Browser within WordPress installations.
The Sermon Manager is a free download that you can upgrade to Pro version.
The Sermon Manager is a handy WordPress plugin with great features that include:
- Bible references integrated via Bib.ly
- Add speakers, topics, series, service types and books.
- Attach MP3 files, PDF, Doc, PPT or other file types.
- Attach images to sermons, topics, speakers and series.
- Integrated with WordPress search.
- Full featured iTunes podcasting support.
- Embed video from YouTube or Vimeo.
- Flexible shortcode integration.
- Works with any WordPress theme and you can customize it, great for athemes.
- Live chat support within the plugin.
- SEO & marketing ready.
11. Compact WP Audio Player
Compact WordPress audio player plugin is in flash hybrid + HTML5 based WordPress plugin used to embed an MP3 audio content file using shortcode in your WordPress page or post.
Compact WordPress Audio Player Plugin supports both .ogg file and .mp3 file formats and works on all devices.
It comes with excellent features like:
- HTML5 compatible that helps audio to play on iOs devices.
- Works on all major browsers including:
– Firefox
– Safari
– IE9 and
– Google Chrome. - Responsive audio player.
- Podcasters can embed audio player via shortcode on their WordPress site.
Compact WP audio player is a free to use WordPress audio plugin that boasts of over 40k+ active installs.
12. Spreaker ShortCode WordPress plugin
The spreaker shortcode plugin for WordPress is a simple and easy way to embed spreaker audio player into your WordPress site or blog.
It allows embedding spreaker widgets simply by pasting a shortcode generated from your podcast page. Also, it lets you configure your spreaker podcasts with lots of shortcode parameters.
The Embedded Audio Player on WordPress
Spreaker podcast hosting site provides a handy WordPress plugin to easily embed the spreaker player into your WordPress website or blog.
This plugin generates [spreaker type=player …] shortcode to your WordPress and replaces all the shortcodes with the related player.
The spreaker shortcode plugin supports all the attributes supported by the JS loader without the data prefix. For example, you can share the latest episode by show, with and/or without playlist.
What’s the Best WordPress Podcast Plugin for your site?
Which podcast app or plugin should you be using? Podcasts are great and finding the best podcast plugin can be tough.
To figure out what’s the best for you and have you covered. I’ve tested around 30 podcast player plugins for WordPress and I’ve handpicked 13+ that offer a great overall experience and unique features.
13. Podcast Player Plugin
Podcast player WordPress plugin takes your existing podcast RSS feed and automatically displays your entire podcast catalog in an intuitive looking player.
This plugin creates one unified player for all your episodes, rather than individual players for different episode.
It’s a great option to display your episodes on your WordPress website.
Podcast player plugin is available free for download at WordPress.org
How Podcast Management Works on the Back-End
Podcast player plugin has no backend management. All you need to do is plug in the existing URL to your podcast feed. Using a separate tool, you’ll need to host your podcast episodes and generate the RSS feed.
A Look At The Frontend Audio Player
To set up the podcast player plugins add the widget, or included block or shortcode and paste in the RSS feed to your podcast.
You can easily customize various parts of the player using the default setting options.
This enables your visitors to choose different episodes, search episodes, skip forward and backward, and share your episodes on social media channels.
14. Podcast Importer SecondLine WordPress Plugin
The Podcast Importer SecondLine plugin helps podcasters to easily import existing podcasts into WordPress blog or site.
It’s a new way of importing external podcast feeds to your website. You can import podcast into your WordPress posts or custom post type.
Podcast Importer plugin supports popular WordPress podcasting plugins such as Simple Podcast Press, Anchor Podcast WordPress Plugin, PowerPress, Soundcloud Podcast WordPress Plugin, Seriously Simple Podcasting, and PodBean WordPress plugin.
The plugin works perfectly with podcast themes developed by SecondLine Themes.
It enables continuous import of podcast RSS feeds and automatically creates import within WordPress with a release of new podcast episode.
Additionally, you can set multiple import schedules and import different podcasts from separate sources all at once or at the same time.
The plugin supports automatic embed of audio player from podcast hosting providers like Anchor, Transistor, Whooshkaa, PodBean, Omny, and Simplecast.
How to Use Podcast Importer SecondLine Plugin
- To use Podcast Importer SecondLine plugin, go to your WordPress dashboard main menu.
- Simply run a new import under “Tools > Podcast Importer SecondLine”.
- Set the different options before running the import process.
About SecondLine Themes
SecondLine Themes is a developer of popular tools, unique WordPress plugins and professional WordPress themes for podcasters.
15. Podcast Subscribe Buttons plugin
Podcast Subscribe buttons is a WordPress plugin for podcasts that adds highly customizable podcast subscribe buttons to your WordPress website or blog.
This handy plugin helps podcasters to quickly include 41+ custom podcast specific subscribe button anywhere within your WordPress site with a simple shortcode.
The Podcast Subscribe Buttons plugin allows you to display subscription links to your podcast across podcast platforms. These links include direct links to RSS feeds, regular links to your pages on external podcast directions or platforms, or URL links to open in an external application directly.
Podcast Subscribe Buttons plugin is developed by SecondLine Themes.
To use Podcast Subscribe Buttons plugin, create a “Subscribe Button” via the main menu in your WordPress dashboard.
Adjust the default settings, link options, and paste the button via a shortcode anywhere within your website.
For example, see [Podcast_Subscribe-id=”23456”].
Podcast subscribe buttons plugin is 100% free to download and use. It is considered as one of the best WordPress podcasting plugins that is free and easy to use.
16. Anchor Podcast WordPress Plugin
Are you looking for the best WordPress plugin for podcasters to use on your podcasting website?
Touted as one of the easiest ways to start a podcast, Anchor podcast WordPress plugin is a free handy plugin/app that allows you to create podcasts, distribute and host your podcast, recorded with high-quality.
You can hassle freely and seamlessly record a podcast using this app with multiple people.
17. Featured Podcast Widget
Featured Podcast Widget is an easy to use and functional plugin that lets you show a featured podcast using PowerPress plugin. It lets you include full episode or partial episode or an image in the featured episode.
18. WavePlayer Audio Player Plugin
WavePlayer Audio Player is a free premium and great plugin that lets you add your own tracks and create playlists on your WordPress site or blog.
19. As Heard On Widget
As Head On is a widget that offers additional tools for WordPress podcast plugins. As Heard On widget helps podcasters to beautify their podcast channel with different imagery related to the episode or podcast channel.
With randomized settings, you can include random album art work in the sidebar or on your WordPress site page or post.
20. Cincopa’s WordPress Podcast Player Plugin
Cincopa’s WordPress podcast player plugin boasts amazing podcast templates with boxed design and opo-up audio player.
Cinocopa provides a variety of digital products for podcasts, multimedia solutions, music embedding and videos.
21. SoundCloud Podcast WordPress Plugin
SoundCloud Podcast WordPress plugin is an easy-to-use WordPress plugin is an easy-to-use WordPress plugin that lets you browse and insert soundcloud tracks, playlist and favorites to your posts.
Soundcloud is an audio distribution platform that lets podcasters upload, record, promote and share their podcast audio content with their audience.
Here are the top 7 quality SoundCloud Plugins for WordPress
- SoundCloud master.
- SoundCloud is Gold.
- Sound Cloud Sounnd Competition.
- Sound Cloud Ultimate Plugin
- Stratus
- OEmbeb in Library
- SoundCloud Search
22. PodBean WordPress Plugin
Podbean makes sharing of your podcast episodes to social networks and integrating with WordPress via PodBean WordPress plugin super easy.
Social sharing and organic promotion of podcasts are vital to podcasting success.
PodBean WordPress plugin provides an easy and simple way to embed podbean player into your WordPress blog via PodBean shortcode.
Which WordPress Podcast Plugin Should You Choose?
Are you looking for the best WordPress podcast plugins?
If you’re thinking about starting a podcast but don’t know or if you can’t decide which one to choose from tons of plugins in the market, this list may help you.
If you are looking for a free WordPress podcast plugin, your best options are either Seriously Simple Podcast plugin or PowerPress by Blubrry.
As for premium options, Smart Podcast player plugin offers the best podcast player designs on our list. While Simple Podcast Press plugin is a standalone plugin that can also integrate easily with other podcasting plugins like Blubrry PowerPress and Smart podcast player plugin.
If you use a dedicated podcast hosting site or platform, then Buzzsprout and Libsyn plugins provides easy integration with WordPress.
If you’re using Soundcloud to manage your podcast episodes, the WordPress oEmbed functionality can help you embed the soundcloud player into your posts or pages without plugin.
WordPress Podcast without Plugin
WordPress has built-in oEmbed functionality that helps you manage your podcast in WordPress without the need for a podcast plugin.
For example, with oEmbed option, you can quickly embed the soundcloud player into your WordPress posts seamlessly.
Podcast Hosting Made for WordPress
There are tens of podcast hosting companies that provide web hosting that you can easily manage podcasts through a WordPress blog or website.
Some of these podcast platforms or sites provide great functionalities such as:
- Top rated WordPress plugins and tools to help you create and manage your podcast within WordPress dashboard.
- Unlimited podcasting for one pricing option that powers your podcasts without storage limits.
- Unmatched analytics and audience insights to help you track all your listeners’ activities and location.
- Enhanced player experience with shortcodes and Gutenberg embed block.
- Provides
the best way to manage your podcast from your WordPress site like:
– Manage multiple shows.
– Better SEO management.
– Convenient & seamlessly workflow.
– Free add-ons, widgets and plugins.
– Integrated statistics.
– Dedicated hosting platform.
What to Look for in WordPress Podcast Plugins
There are WordPress plugins for almost any aspect of podcasting. These are the basic things or options to look for in WordPress podcast plugins.
- Plugins that lets you create and host your own podcast RSS feed.
- Plugins that allow you to submit your episodes to Apple podcasts or other podcast publishing platform.
- Plugins with intuitive podcast audio players with specific features like quick forward rewind or control of playing speed.
- Plugins that help you import your existing podcast into WordPress.
- Plugins that help you create stunning podcast subscribe buttons in WordPress.
- Plugins that allow you to pull the RSS feeds in WordPress.
- Plugins that offer unmatched WordPress podcast themes that are compatible and mobile-friendly & responsive with all devices.
- Plugins that are constantly or consistently being updated or upgraded with technical, visual and aesthetics support.
Why Choose WordPress as a Podcasting Platform
There are several reasons you should choose WordPress as a podcasting platform over other CMSs. Here are some of them.
- Hosting a podcast with your WordPress site gives you full control of your podcast content.
- Gives you the ability to offer a paid subscription to access episodes or ad-free service using WordPress membership site plugin.
- WordPress site allows you to connect listeners and advertisers and receive support.
- Gives you limitless website design options to choose from such as podcast specific WordPress themes to make your site mobile and user-friendly.
- Have access to tons of WordPress plugins to increase the functionality of your site, get subscribers and earn more money.
6 Best Podcast Hosting for WordPress for 2020
The best WordPress podcasting hosting that are available can help you grow your podcast and audience.
Podcast hosting is different from website web hosting because podcast platforms offer specific tools to optimize and grow your podcast.
Choosing a podcast hosting that support WordPress integration is crucial for your podcast because it will help you manage your podcast audio files, get subscribers using RafflePress, MonsterInsights, WPForms or OptinMonster, and grow your audience faster.
In this section, I’ll compare the best podcast hosting for WordPress and the companies that offer free, paid, premium and freemium services as well as those that charge a small fee to offer great support and better tools.
What are the Best Podcast Hosting for WordPress and Why You Need WordPress?
Podcast hosting sites are specialized service platforms which offer to host and deliver your media audio files associated with a podcast.
Just like you run a website on a web hosting service (dedicated host server) that stores all of your website files, a podcast hosting for WordPress offers the same service for your podcast’s media files.
Here are my latest picks of the 6 best podcast hosting for WordPress.
1. PodBean
PodBean is one of the best podcast hosting service provider on the market that supports WordPress as a content management system.
With PodBean, you can easily embed the PodBean podcast player directly into your WordPress posts and pages.
They include design tools to host your website with customizable WordPress themes.
Their podcast hosting plans comes with unlimited bandwidth, promotion tools, ability to submit your episodes to top podcast directories.
PodBean hosting platform allows your audience to use their preferred networks to download and listen to podcasts.
Podbean offers an advertising marketplace for podcasters to monetize their audio content.
PodBean Pricing
Podbean offers free plan with limited storage. Paid plans start from $9 per month with unlimited storage.
2. Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout is an easy-to-use podcast hosting provider for WordPress beginners.
Buzzsprout offers a free WordPress plugin which lets podcasters to embed podcast player into WordPress site or blog easily.
If you’re a podcast beginner, you’ll find it easier to upload your media files and it takes care of the rest automatically.
Buzzsprout automatically submit your podcast episodes to all the best podcast directories which makes your podcast available on all devices and apps.
Their embedded podcast player works great on all screen sizes with social sharing button forward and backward skip controls, cover art and more.
Buzzsprout can help you make a website and allow you to customize its design and use your own custom domain name.
Their paid plans have bandwidth and storage limits.
Buzzsprout Pricing & Cost
Buzzsprout offers limited free plan for 90 days. Their paid premium plans start at $12 per month for 3 hours upload.
3. Blubrry
Blubrry is one of the best podcast hosting services that offers flexible podcast hosting plans for experienced and new podcasters using WordPress CMS (content management system) for their websites or blogs.
Best Podcast Hosting Services for WordPress Site
Blubrry offers a popular WordPress podcasting plugin, PowerPress, which allows podcasters to manage podcast directly from their WordPress website.
Using Blubrry with Power Press is super-easy to upload your podcast episodes directly to your podcast hosting provider.
You can submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts with a single click.
Blubrry podcast hosting makes your podcast discoverable on Google Home, Assistant, Google Podcast App on Android devices.
They also offer social sharing features, podcast statistics and monetization options within your WordPress dashboard.
Blubrry Podcast Hosting Pricing
Their plans start from $12/month with limited 100MB storage each month.
4. Transistor
Transistor is an easy to use podcast hosting service for WordPress professionals and beginners.
Transistor podcast hosting for WordPress make it super easy to upload your podcast audio content and publish it online.
They offer unlimited podcast hosting plans and podcast analytics. You won’t be charged for upload hours unlike other hosts.
With Transistor’s embed code you can add each episode to your WordPress pages and posts.
Transistor can help you create a website if you don’t have one.
There’s limit on the number of downloads. And you need to upgrade to higher plan as your podcast grows.
Transistor Pricing
Transistor podcast hosting site offers plans starting at $19/month for up to 10,000 downloads each month.
5. Libsyn
Libsyn is another reliable and fast WordPress podcast hosting service provider that helps promote your brand and podcast across different devices, platforms, and apps.
Libsyn was created by podcasters for podcasters and has community of influential podcasters.
They provide different storage limits each month but their bandwidth is unlimited.
Libsyn also offers WordPress integration with Libsyn Publisher Hub plugin, detailed advanced analytics and monetization options.
Libsyn Podcasting Hosting Pricing
Starting from $5 per month with 50MB storage monthly.
6. SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a popular podcast hosting and music platform that lets podcasters embed podcast episode from Soundcloud by placing the RSS feed URL in their WordPress pages and posts.
Soundcloud is free for up to 3 hours of upload for beginners who want to start a podcast business.
Soundcloud premium paid plans give you more bandwidth, storage, distribution options, advanced statistics and monetization.
Soundcloud Pricing
Free plan gives 3 hours of upload limit. Paid plans start from $6 per month.
Which is the Best Podcast Hosting Services?
Many podcast hosting services offer similar plans with features. Some host put limits on upload hours, downloads and storage space.
I recommend PodBean as my overall best podcast hosting service for WordPress. Their plans give you unlimited bandwidth and storage with an easy to use platform. You can promote your podcast across different directory services.
Buzzsprout is my second recommendation as the easiest podcast hosting solution for WordPress beginners who want to start a Podcast.
How to Start a Podcast?
You will need a website and a podcast hosting service to get started with podcasting.
To create a website, you’ll register a domain name and web hosting account.
The domain name will cost you $12 per year and web hosting plans start from $15 per year depending on the web hosting space, bandwidth, and other cpanel options.
Some web hosting companies like BestSoft Central are offering a free domain and huge discount on hosting.
For a complete step by step instructions, check out this guide on how to make a website.
Next, you will need to set up your podcast on WordPress platform. If you’re a beginner, checkout this step by step guide on how to start a podcast.
What Equipment Do You Need for Podcasting?
There are a variety of equipment to record podcast including microphones, mixers, audio interface, shock mounts, windscreen, and more.
I recommend Rode Podcaster which you can plug into your computer with a USB port. Rode Podcaster kit comes with a boom arm and a shock mount.
Samson COIUCW is also a great microphone to record podcasts.
How to Promote Your Podcast?
Many podcast hosting services automatically submit your podcast to top podcast directories and search engines.
You can manually submit your podcast to become discoverable on these platforms.
Since your podcast is published as an RSS feed. Copy the podcast RSS feed URL provided by your podcast hosting site and submit to the following networks and directories.
How to Submit Your Podcast to iTunes or Apple Podcasts
iTunes is the most popular and largest podcast directory in the world. Their users can subscribe to podcasts using their Apple computers,iPhones, iPods and other devices.
To submit your podcast, you need to sign up free with iTunes connect website and sign in using your Apple ID.
After successful logged in, click podcasts connect button to get started with itunes connect.
Enter your podcast RSS feed URL on the next screen and click validate button.
Click on the submit button to continue and iTunes will fetch your podcast information and review your submission.
You’ll receive notification via email once it is approved.
How to Submit Your Podcast to Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts is a great alternative to Apple Podcasts and iTunes.
Google Podcasts showcases trending and popular podcasts and episodes from around the world.
Google Play Music allows podcasters to publish their shows to connect their audience and reach millions of potential listeners on Android.
To submit your podcast, visit Google Play Music website and click the Publish button.
Once you clicked the publish button, it’ll take you to podcast management console, enter your podcast RSS feed URL.
Next, verify ownership via email and submit your podcast feed for review.
Once your podcast is approved by Google play music, it’ll be listed on Google Podcasts.
Promoting Your Podcast on Your Own Website
A WordPress site gives your podcast a ton of options to promote your podcast.
It’ll also help your podcast website or blog to get organic search traffic.
You can integrate email marketing on your WordPress podcast website to get listeners to subscribe to your podcasts via email newsletter.
You can get ton of new listeners and subscribers by running a giveaway contest using RafflePress. Raffle Press is the best WordPress giveaway plugin for podcasting.
RafflePress lets you quickly create viral giveaway contests to get more visitors to your podcast website.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helps you find the best podcast hosting for WordPress and you’ve discovered the best WordPress podcast plugins to launch your podcast.
The best podcast hosting services that have built-in WordPress themes and plugins can help you grow your podcast and increase the size of your audience quickly.
Here is my top pick for Best Podcast Hosting for WordPress:
- PodBean
- Buzzsprout
- Blubrry
- Transistor
- Libsyn
- SoundCloud
A recap, here are the Best WordPress Podcast Plugins:
- Buzzsprout WordPress Podcast Plugin (Free)
- Simple Podcast Press (Paid)
- Blubrry PowerPress (Free)
- Smart Podcast Player (Premium)
- Seriously Simple Podcasting Plugin for WordPress (Free)
- Podlove Podcast Plublisher (Free)
- Libsyn Publisher Hub (Free, Premium/Paid)
- iTunes Podcast Review Manager Plugin for WordPress
- Amazon Polly Plugin for WordPress
- Sermon Manager WordPress Plugin
- Compact WP Audio Player
- Spreaker ShortCode WordPress plugin
- Podcast Player Plugin
- Podcast Importer SecondLine WordPress Plugin
- Podcast Subscribe Buttons plugin
- Anchor Podcast WordPress Plugin
- Featured Podcast Widget
- WavePlayer Audio Player Plugin
- As Heard On Widget
- Cincopa’s WordPress Podcast Player Plugin
- SoundCloud Podcast WordPress Plugin
- PodBean WordPress Plugin
Don’t miss: Best Podcast Hosting
Let me know in the comment below the best podcast hosting sites for WordPress and what is your choice plugins for running a podcast show?
