Free Podcast Hosting: What You Get and What You Don't
Free podcast hosting can be a great way to start, but it's important to understand the tradeoffs.
What Free Usually Means
Limited Features
- Number of episodes
- Storage space
- Monthly bandwidth
- Analytics depth
Ads and Branding
- Platform may insert their own ads
- Add platform branding
- Limit your monetization options
Data and Control
- Less access to listener data
- Less control over your RSS feed
- Limited export options
When Free Makes Sense
- You're testing if podcasting is for you
- You have no budget yet
- Your show is purely a hobby
When to Pay
Consider paid hosting when:
- You need better analytics
- You want a custom domain
- You're ready to monetize
- You need reliable support
The Real Cost of "Free"
Free hosting isn't actually free—you pay in:
- Time spent on limitations
- Lost opportunities from missing features
- Platform lock-in risk
Good hosting costs less than a few coffees per month. If your podcast is worth making, it's worth hosting properly.