Hosting, recording and editing
A podcast needs three things, and free tools cover each of them:
| Step | Free options |
|---|---|
| Record | Audacity or GarageBand on your computer |
| Edit | Audacity, GarageBand, Descript |
| Host and publish | Spotify for Creators, RSS.com, RedCircle, Spreaker, Acast, Buzzsprout, Pinecast |
The host stores your audio files and creates the RSS feed. Podcast apps read that feed. Spotify explains that for other platforms you need to submit your show to each service yourself, using your RSS feed.
Free hosting limits compared
These are the free plan limits we found on the official pages:
| Host | Free limit |
|---|---|
| Spotify for Creators | Unlimited free hosting; no numbers stated |
| RSS.com | Unlimited episodes and storage; credit card needed before the second episode, not charged |
| RedCircle Core | Unlimited storage, episodes and downloads; 1 podcast |
| Spreaker Free Speech | Unlimited episodes, one podcast, 6 months of statistics |
| Acast Starter | 1 show, 5 episodes |
| Pinecast | 10 episodes, 48 MB per file, up to 2 podcasts |
| Buzzsprout | 2 hours of uploads a month, episodes hosted for 90 days |
Watch for plans that limit how long episodes stay online. Buzzsprout says it hosts free plan episodes for 90 days.
Making money on a free plan
Free plans differ most on monetization. Spreaker's Free Speech plan lists making money with ads, plus Supporters Club with a 20% fee. Acast's Starter plan lists monetizing with ads. RSS.com's free plan includes listener donations, while ad earnings start with its Plus plan. Buzzsprout lists subscriptions and its ad program among premium features.
Read the terms of the ad program before you join it, so you know who sells the ads and how revenue is split.
Record your first episode for free
- Mic test: check that your microphone works and is loud enough before you start.
- Voice recorder: record a quick test or a short solo episode in the browser.
- Trim audio: cut the silence at the start and end.
- Audio converter: turn a recording into the format your host accepts.
- Extract audio from video: get the audio track from a video interview.
Need intro music? See our list of free music, and check each track's license for podcast use.
Moving hosts later
Your feed is your show. Spotify, for example, has a help article on switching your show's hosting to Spotify for Creators. Keep your own copies of every episode file and your cover art, so a change of host never depends on downloading them back.
We opened each tool's official page on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. "Not stated" means the page does not say it.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I host a podcast for free?
Spotify for Creators offers unlimited free hosting and RSS distribution. RSS.com and RedCircle have free plans with unlimited episodes and storage, and Spreaker's free plan has unlimited episodes for one podcast. Acast, Pinecast and Buzzsprout have free plans with episode or upload limits.
Can I put my podcast on Apple Podcasts with free hosting?
Yes. Spotify for Creators says that when you host with Spotify you can make your show available on other platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. You submit your RSS feed to each service yourself.
Can I earn money on a free podcast hosting plan?
On some. Spreaker's free plan lists making money with ads, and Acast's Starter plan lists monetizing with ads. RSS.com's free plan allows listener donations, while ad earnings start with its Plus plan.
What is the catch with Buzzsprout’s free plan?
Buzzsprout's free plan includes 2 hours of uploads each month, and episodes are hosted for 90 days. It does not include paid add-ons or video distribution.
What free software can I use to record a podcast?
Audacity is free and open source for Windows, macOS and Linux. GarageBand is free on the Mac App Store.