You want to start a podcast without spending money on hosting. That's smart — why pay for something you might abandon after 5 episodes? The good news: there are legitimate free podcast hosting platforms that will host your show, distribute it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories, and give you basic analytics — all without spending a dime.
The bad news: "free" comes with trade-offs. Storage limits, monetization restrictions, feature caps, and branding requirements vary widely. This guide breaks down every real free option so you can choose confidently.
We tested every major free podcast host across these criteria:
Storage: Unlimited episodes | Distribution: Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Google, iHeart, Pandora, and 20+ platforms | Monetization: Yes (Spotify Streaming royalties for eligible shows)
Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) is the most generous free podcast host in terms of storage and distribution. You get unlimited episodes, automatic distribution to virtually every major podcast directory, built-in listener analytics, and the ability to earn money through Spotify's Creator Rewards program (for eligible US-based creators).
It also offers a built-in website, customizable embeddable player, and video podcast hosting for free. The migration tools make switching away easy if you ever want to leave.
✅ Pros: Unlimited episodes, massive distribution, built-in monetization, free website, excellent analytics, easy to use
❌ Cons: Limited customization of your podcast landing page, brand presence is mostly Spotify-branded, no standalone website outside their builder
Storage: 5 hours / 500 MB on free plan | Distribution: Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google, Stitcher, and 20+ platforms | Monetization: Limited on free plan
Podbean offers a genuinely functional free plan with unlimited episodes, automatic distribution, a basic website, embeddable player, and iPhone/Android mobile apps for recording and publishing. The free plan's main constraint is storage: 500 MB (roughly 5 hours of audio) which sounds generous but fills up faster than you'd think at high-quality MP3 bitrates.
Podbean's interface is clean and intuitive. Their mobile app is one of the best for recording and publishing on the go. For a first-time podcaster, it's a solid choice with a reasonable upgrade path when you need more storage.
✅ Pros: Clean interface, mobile app included, good distribution, unlimited episodes even on free plan, built-in website
❌ Cons: 500 MB storage limit (a real constraint), limited monetization on free plan, basic analytics
Storage: 3 hours on free plan (episodes expire after 90 days) | Distribution: Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google, Stitcher | Monetization: Limited
Buzzsprout is one of the most popular podcast hosts, known for its polished interface and excellent customer support. Their free plan gives you 3 hours of storage, but there's a catch: episodes automatically expire and are removed after 90 days. This means the free plan is really only useful as a trial — not as a permanent home for your show.
That said, Buzzsprout's paid plans start at $6/month (after a 30-day free trial), which is competitive. The platform offers excellent monetization options (advertising marketplace, Listener Boost promotion, tip jar) on paid plans.
✅ Pros: Very polished interface, excellent distribution, great analytics, strong monetization features on paid plans, automatic optimization for audio quality
❌ Cons: Free plan episodes expire after 90 days — it's essentially a trial, not a permanent free plan
Storage: 3 hours on free plan | Distribution: Limited (SoundCloud embed/share primarily) | Monetization: SoundCloud Pro ($6/mo for podcast features)
SoundCloud is primarily an audio streaming platform for music, but it can be used for podcast hosting. The free plan gives you 3 hours of storage and the ability to upload and share audio publicly. However, distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories is NOT automatic on the free plan — you need SoundCloud Pro for RSS feed distribution to podcast directories.
SoundCloud's strength is its social audio features and the ability to embed everywhere. But as a podcast hosting platform, it lags behind purpose-built hosts.
✅ Pros: Massive music platform with built-in audience discovery, good embed options, reliable streaming infrastructure
❌ Cons: Not a true podcast host — no automatic Apple/Spotify distribution on free plan, not built for podcast workflows, limited analytics
Storage: No free plan — but 14-day free trial | Distribution: Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google, and 15+ platforms | Monetization: Subscription/paywall features on paid plans
Transistor doesn't offer a permanent free plan, but their 14-day trial is fully functional and lets you explore all features. They're worth mentioning because they're one of the most respected podcast hosts for growing shows. At $19/month for the Starter plan (1 show, 10 hours storage, unlimited episodes), they offer exceptional value with unlimited team members, private podcasts, and a built-in website.
✅ Pros: No episode limits, excellent analytics, private podcasting, team collaboration, great website builder
❌ Cons: No permanent free plan, $19/mo is higher entry point than some alternatives
Storage: 10 episodes / 4 hours on free plan | Distribution: Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google | Monetization: Listener support on all plans
Resonate is a newer player that emphasizes creator-friendly monetization. Their free plan includes 10 episodes and 4 hours of storage, with automatic distribution to major platforms. They differentiate with built-in listener support (like Patreon) on all plans, including free.
✅ Pros: Generous storage for a free plan, built-in monetization on free tier, clean interface
❌ Cons: Newer platform — less established track record, smaller community
| Platform | Storage | Episodes | Auto-Distribution | Monetization | Embeds | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify for Podcasters | Unlimited | Unlimited | 20+ platforms | Yes (Creator Rewards) | Yes | Zero-friction start |
| Podbean | 500 MB (~5 hrs) | Unlimited | 20+ platforms | Limited | Yes | Mobile recording |
| Buzzsprout | 3 hours | Unlimited | Major platforms | Paid plans | Yes | Paid upgrades |
| SoundCloud | 3 hours | Unlimited | No (free plan) | Pro only | Yes | Music/podcast mix |
| Resonate | 4 hours | 10 episodes | Major platforms | Yes (all plans) | Yes | Built-in support |
For most beginners: Start with Spotify for Podcasters. Unlimited episodes, automatic distribution to everywhere, free website, basic monetization, and zero cost. It's the lowest-risk starting point. You can always migrate later if your needs change.
However, there are scenarios where another platform makes more sense:
Free plans are great for starting out, but at some point you'll hit limits. Here's when to consider upgrading:
Switching hosts is easier than you think. Every major host offers import tools. The process:
When switching hosts, your subscriber counts typically reset to zero while Apple/Spotify re-index your new feed. This is normal and temporary. Your podcast rankings and reviews are preserved because they're tied to your Apple Podcast ID, not your hosting provider.
The "best" free podcast host depends on your priorities. If you want the simplest path to publishing everywhere, Spotify for Podcasters is the clear winner. If you want the most storage under a generous free plan, Resonate or Podbean are worth considering.
The important thing: don't let hosting decisions paralyze you. Pick a platform, publish your first episode, and start building an audience. You can always switch hosts later. The worst thing you can do is spend months researching instead of recording.