The 9 best audio podcast platforms
Audio podcast platforms offer the necessary infrastructure to store and distribute episodes of your content. Just like the AI tools for podcasting, these platforms are very useful, as while some of these platforms offer hosting plans, others offer audio editing features and filters without the need to use extra software.
There are several platforms dedicated to audio podcasts. However, not all of them are prepared to handle such large files being uploaded. Here at AppTuts, we tested several tools with this goal and managed to find some that surprised us in a positive way. Among them, we can mention:
Using any of these platforms, especially Buzzsprout, you can get good hosting along with easy-to-use features. Any of these sites will provide perfect distribution of your work across the most important platforms in the segment. So that you can make a good choice, in this article we will present the 9 best platforms for audio podcasts.
And if you’re starting out in the world of podcasts, you need to know these 10 steps to start your podcast from scratch. Also, find out what to have in a podcast setup to make yours much more beautiful.
Why use audio podcast platforms?
Because they were developed precisely for podcasts, platforms like Buzzsprout eliminate concerns related to storage space, upload, and playback speed. Additionally, they provide a special link known as an RSS feed, so you can share your podcast on different platforms, such as Spotify, for example.
Another difference you have when using audio podcast platforms is that they offer many features. Examples of this are analytics tools and the ability to monetize your program. Did you know that there are many ways to make your content profitable? Here at AppTuts we already teach you 12 ways to make money podcasting.
Now, without further ado, let’s go to our list of the 9 best audio podcast platforms.
1. Buzzsprout
Of course, our selection of the best audio podcast platforms couldn’t begin any differently than by mentioning Buzzsprout. In addition to having a clean and intuitive interface, the site allows you to edit your files directly from the application without having to download another app to do so. You can earn money through the platform, whether with premium content or even getting paid with Buzzsprout ads. This is because it allows you to link advertisements for products and other podcasts in your episode.
To know if you’re really going the right way, it offers statistics on the performance of your programs, such as the number of downloads and the most popular episodes. You can also find out which apps your audience is using to listen to your podcast and where in the world you are reaching with your content. Another important quality is the platform’s transcription feature. It can be used to transcribe your episodes, making them more accessible on search engines and for people with hearing impairments.
Buzzsprout has a podcast directory so your work is listed everywhere. Additionally, it offers monitoring tools so that your listeners can support your program. A very interesting point about this platform is that it provides free learning materials for those who are taking their first steps in this world of podcasts. In this regard, it offers guides, tutorials, courses, and podcasts in the sector, in addition to the platform’s own community so you can have the support you need.
Also worth mentioning is the tool’s Magic Mastering feature, which uses advanced technology to automatically enhance audio files. After that, it optimizes them so they can match industry best practices, whether it’s spoken word or music-heavy production. By being certified by The Podcast Standards Project, Buzzsprout is able to offer its subscribers the certainty that it is within the standards and practices that improve the open podcast system for listeners and creators.
Advantages
- Listener statistics are available on all plans;
- Allows you to schedule podcasts;
- It has the option of brand customization;
- It has integrations with popular podcast directories;
- Offers dynamic content features.
Points to improve
- There are download limits;
- You need to pay extra to have the Magic Mastering feature.
Pricing
- Plan 1: $12 (per month)
- Plan 2: $18 (per month)
- Plan 3: $24 (per month)
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2. Podcastle
Podcastle, another of the audio podcast platforms is a platform that was created with the goal of making the lives of content creators easier. Therefore, it allows its users to edit podcasts using AI. With its impeccable export feature and studio-grade recording quality, it offers the perfect material to impress your audience.
Additionally, Podcastle allows you to convert live speech or audio files to text within seconds. If you want to generate your voice using AI, simply type what you want your digital voice to say and generate the corresponding audio. You can also use the platform to make recordings without sophisticated equipment, but without compromising the quality of your program.
With Podcastle’s Audio Editor, improving content becomes a task of just a few clicks. If voices vary in tone, the AI can level them, softening the loudest ones and amplifying the quietest ones. As a result, it offers an excellent listening experience for its listeners, without discomfort caused by abrupt audio changes. If the recording is carried out in unfavorable environments, Podcastle takes care of removing the noise for you.
And of course, it’s possible to create new voices based on a variety of factors. Among them are genders, nationalities, ages, and emotions. This functionality allows you to bring to life humanized voices that suit the different types of podcasts you create. This not only diversifies your content but also saves money by minimizing the need for additional hires and re-recording costs if content needs to be edited.
Advantages
- Allows you to split the audio file into as many parts as you want;
- It has smooth and professional-sounding transitions;
- You can speed up or slow down your audio;
- Offers royalty-free music and sound effects;
- It has voice cloning with AI.
Points to improve
- Limited recording hours;
- Does not offer priority customer support on the Storyteller plan.
Pricing
Monthly
- Storyteller: $$14.99 (per month)
- Pro: $$22.99 (per month)
Yearly
- Storyteller: $$11.99 (per month)
- Pro: $$23.99 (per month)
Visit the Podcastle website now!
Take the opportunity to discover the 12 best podcast microphones.
3. Descript
Descript is a tool where you can write, record, transcribe, and share your podcasts in just one place. By using the AI this platform offers, you can, even without any previous experience, edit your audio. To do this, all you need to do is change something in the text that you want changed in the episode’s speech. Furthermore, with it you can remove vices of the language, which can help reduce the length of your podcast, making it more dynamic.
Descript can also be an excellent option for anyone who is just starting out in this world and doesn’t yet have a sophisticated microphone. This is because, with a few clicks, it is possible to remove noise and use speech enhancement features and even sound effects. With this tool, you can export your podcast recording to Descript’s built-in shareable pages and publish it to several popular podcast hosting destinations. All this with personalized access control and analysis.
With Descript‘s Audio Joiner tool, you can combine any type of audio file. It is also possible to split sound files into multiple tracks. The platform provides a voice recorder so you can record your audio and transcribe the content quickly. Now, if your intention is to create an animation with sound waves for your podcast, the site also offers tools for that. With Descript, you can generate a clone of your voice using artificial intelligence.
If you are shy and don’t want your voice to appear on the podcast, or simply want to create a character that is different from you, Descript has a large list of voices for you to choose which one to use. Then, just enter the text you want the voice to say and the tune will be perfect. And to make everything even more personalized, you can choose the method that best suits your preferences when creating your composition. Whether recording audio, uploading a pre-recorded file, or copying and pasting text from another document, the platform will make good use of this material.
Advantages
- It has an ultra-realistic voice cloning tool;
- Removes noise from your audio;
- Automatic transcription can translate podcasts into more than 23 languages;
- It has a step-by-step guide in its support system;
- The free plan includes everything you need to record.
Points to improve
- Transcription hours are limited;
- It is not a browser-based platform.
Pricing
- Creator: $12 per month.
- Pro: $24 per month.
4. Riverside
Continuing with our list of the best audio podcast platforms is Riverside. This tool uses artificial intelligence technology to simplify the process of creating each episode. With features such as session transcription and content editing in an integrated virtual studio, this platform is capable of raising the level of podcast production, offering everything you need in just one place to enhance your work and stand out from the competition.
Not having a computer is no longer an obstacle to recording your podcast. After all, Riverside has apps for recording and editing podcasts for Android and iOS. Therefore, all you need is a smartphone to create a podcast. Furthermore, you don’t need to give up advertising on social media to attract your audience. With Riverside, you can broadcast your content live to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and LinkedIn, so you can reach your audience wherever they are.
With the use of Riverside, the fear of losing recorded content due to computer failures is also a thing of the past. The platform automatically uploads your videos and audio to the cloud to ensure their security. So, when you complete your recording, you can download files in a matter of seconds. In the download aspect, it is possible to download separate audio and video tracks for each participant, providing more control in post-production.
Riverside developers designed the platform’s AI to record the user and their guests locally, minimizing the impacts of poor or unstable internet connections. This way, you don’t have to worry about interrupted audio recordings in if your (or a guest’s) internet goes down, for instance. Regarding post-production, it becomes more agile with a text-based editor, where you can search the transcription, and locate and cut the necessary parts.
Advantages
- Allows you to separate audio from video:
- Supports more than 100 languages;
- It is possible to add your logo to your podcast;
- It has a text-based audio editor;
- Identifies the best moments from your podcast for you to use in cuts.
Points to improve
- Platform integrations are limited;
- Separate audio and video tracks have limited hours per month.
Pricing
Monthly
- Standard: $19
- Pro: $29
Yearly
- Standard: $15 (monthly)
- Pro: $24 (monthly)
5. Spotify
Continuing with our list of the best audio podcast platforms, we present Spotify, where you have unlimited hosting for your podcast. Furthermore, you can take advantage of the platform to distribute your work across all social media platforms and take care of the entire editing process. You will also have engagement statistics from your listeners, as the platform provides polling and question box features for Spotify’s millions of users.
By opting for this platform, you don’t have to worry about the size of your audience to start monetizing. Even if you’re just starting out and your audience is small, Spotify offers several forms of monetization, such as ads and subscriptions. Just choose where you want to place the ad or set a monthly subscription price and the platform will do the rest.
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6. Google Podcasts
Google Podcast is one of the most relevant audio podcast platforms and already has the main names in the sector hosted there. Therefore, this is a good tool for you to consider using. Using this tool, you can include a cover image for your program, describe the episode, and add a link to your podcast’s home page.
Using Google Podcast, you can check the details of each episode to find out when the audience starts or stops listening to the podcast. You can also learn which devices your audience uses and understand how your content is discovered on Google Search. This information can be important so that you know what changes need to be made to further retain your listeners and reach new ones, with a good description, using keywords.
7. Adobe Podcast
Certainly, Adobe Podcast is indispensable on our list of the best audio podcast platforms. It not only stands out for its usefulness in this task but also occupies a prominent place among the most popular networks aimed at improving audio for this content format. Many content producers are taking advantage of AI technology to enrich the sound quality of their videos, eliminating unwanted echoes and noise, thanks to the intuitive nature of this platform.
The AI in Adobe Podcast lets you easily edit your audio through transcriptions, thanks to the speech-to-text technology available in Adobe Premiere Pro. Plus, it offers guidance on how to improve your microphone settings through an easy to understand user interface. The tool also makes it possible to record content in collaboration with other people just by sharing a link.
8. iHeartRadio
iHeartRadio offers the Spreaker program to make your podcast creation process as simple as possible. Through it, you can upload all your episodes so that they can be distributed to your listeners in just a few clicks. The distribution feature of the tool automatically distributes your content to all major audio platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
You can also make money from your podcast when using iHeartRadio. With Ad Exchange, any podcast of any size can start making money. You choose exactly where you want the ads to be placed and the tool will fill the space with one of its advertising partners.
9. Cleanvoice AI
Finishing our list of the best audio podcast platforms, we present Cleanvoice AI, so that your podcast recording has impeccable audio. It also eliminates filler words that can detract from your content. This tool also removes long pauses, stutters, tongue clicks, and lip smacks, improving audio quality and keeping your listeners engaged.
If you need to soften any accents for improved audio clarity, this AI makes it possible. Additionally, Cleanvoice AI is capable of generating transcripts of your podcast in just a few clicks. As a result, you save the effort and inconvenience of having to manually transcribe your episodes.
How to make an audio podcast?
To make an audio podcast you need to define the topic, target audience, format, and frequency of episodes. Afterwards, it is important to purchase equipment, such as a good microphone and headphones; in some cases, mixers and other equipment. The recording must be carried out in a quiet place for audio quality. You will also need good audio editing software.
What are the biggest audio platforms?
The most well-known audio platforms include Spotify, which has a large music library and podcasts; Apple Music, from Apple, which has full integration with its devices; SoundCloud, which is popular among independent artists; and Amazon Music, which is part of the Amazon ecosystem. These platforms dominate a large part of the audio streaming market due to their quality and variety of content.
What is the best platform for podcasting?
The main platforms for podcasting are Buzzsprout, Podcastle, Descript, and Riverside. Buzzsprout is intuitive with excellent distribution tools. Podcastle converts text to audio, Descript lets you edit audio as text, and Riverside offers high-quality online recording, ideal for long-distance interviews. All of them facilitate and optimize podcast production.
Where do I put my podcasts?
The best place to put your podcasts is on Buzzsprout. This platform stands out for its distribution tools that allow content creators to reach a large audience on various podcast directories. Additionally, Buzzsprout offers advanced features like detailed statistics, monetization support, and integrations with leading audio platforms.
Where are podcasts posted?
For posting podcasts, an excellent choice is Podcastle. This platform offers a series of tools and integrations that facilitate the production and distribution of episodes. However, it’s important to mention that Buzzsprout is also a popular option among podcasters due to its user-friendly interface and great distribution tools.
