A Practical Software Directory for Solo Builders
by Daniel Larson
If you're looking for a step by step walkthrough on how to start a podcast right from the ground with no previous experience, then keep reading… Podcasting is the expressional medium with therapeutic value we’ve been missing in our lives for decades. Luckily, popularity has been growing exponentially over the last few years - did you know the number of Americans who are weekly podcast listeners over the last 7 years has tripled? Let alone a 24% increase in the UK from 2018-2019. Although there’s never been a better time to get into podcasting, with all the contradicting and often false information scattered all over the internet, it’s no wonder why so many people often struggle to find a starting point when there’s so many conflicting views on what the best quality equipment is, what launch strategy should be used, and even editing. In fact, it can even create the illusion that starting a podcast is a daunting and time-consuming process.
LEARN MORE →Publishing your show and helping listeners find it
A podcast host stores your finished episodes and supplies the feed that listening apps use to find new releases.
Tools in this category will help you to...
Upload episodes, schedule publication, distribute your show to listening platforms and review audience statistics. Some services also provide a podcast website, private subscriber feeds, video publishing or tools for promoting your programme. Compare the publishing features and allowances with the kind of show you want to maintain. Recording and editing tools are covered under Create → Audio → Podcast Production .
Planning your first show? Read our short planning guide below →
The directory is developing incrementally. We’ll add research and first-hand testing as we carry them out, while keeping straightforward listings useful for discovery.
Buzzsprout provides a dashboard for uploading finished episodes, writing show notes and publishing a podcast to listening apps. Its free plan includes two hours of uploads each month, listener statistics and an embeddable player. Each episode remains available to listeners for 90 days, so ongoing access to a growing back catalogue requires a paid plan. Paid subscriptions add a customisable podcast website, transcripts and other publishing features, with upload allowances that vary by plan. AI writing assistance and audio mastering are optional paid add-ons. Additional upload hours can incur charges, so compare the allowance with your planned episode length and schedule.
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Captivate combines podcast hosting with episode planning, guest management and audience-growth tools. Publish multiple shows from one account and share episodes through listening apps, a podcast website or an embedded player. Guest booking and interview management help organise a regular programme, while listener analytics show how episodes perform. Plans include unlimited podcasts, uploads and audio storage, with pricing based on combined monthly downloads. The Personal plan costs US$19 a month and includes up to 30,000 downloads monthly across your shows. A 30-day free trial is available, with billing starting automatically afterwards unless cancelled. There is no ongoing free plan.
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Castos hosts your finished episodes and helps distribute your show to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other listening apps. Each show gets its own feed, website and listener statistics. Publish from Castos itself or connect a WordPress site using its free Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin. Plans include unlimited podcasts, episodes and downloads. Essentials costs US$19 a month and includes ten episode transcripts monthly. YouTube republishing and video hosting are available on higher plans. A 14-day free trial gives access to the features of your selected plan, with the paid subscription beginning afterwards unless you cancel before the trial ends.
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Libsyn hosts audio and video podcasts, with tools for uploading episodes, managing your show’s feed and sharing releases across listening platforms. An included website and embedded player provide additional ways to present episodes, while analytics help you review listening activity. Its Basic plan costs US$12 a month and includes three hours of new audio uploads monthly. Higher plans increase the upload allowance and add more detailed reporting. Separate video allowances also apply. New customers receive their first 30 days free on a selected plan. Card details are required, with monthly billing beginning after the trial unless you cancel.
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Transistor lets you manage multiple podcasts and invite collaborators under one account. Upload episodes, schedule publication and share each show through its own feed, website and embeddable player. Listener analytics help compare episodes and understand which apps people use. Private shows can also deliver content to selected subscribers. The Starter plan costs US$19 a month, with 20,000 monthly downloads and up to 50 private podcast subscribers. Download, storage and subscriber allowances apply across your account, so allow for every show you plan to run. A 14-day free trial is available before choosing whether to continue with a paid subscription.
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Choose a subject and format that suit your knowledge, audience and available time. A short solo programme, an interview series or practical demonstrations will each involve different preparation. Decide on a realistic publishing schedule and prepare a few episodes before launching. Clear episode titles and descriptions help people understand what they will get from listening.
Your host stores the episode files and creates the podcast feed used by listening apps. Getting listed in those apps may involve an initial submission or approval, after which new episodes appear through the feed. A podcast website gives you a place to share episodes, notes and contact details. Keep your own copies of recordings, artwork and descriptions, and check the process for moving your feed if you change hosts later.
Some plans charge according to new upload hours, while others depend on downloads or storage across your shows. Video, transcripts and private subscriber features may have separate limits or costs. Check what happens to existing episodes when a free period ends or a subscription stops. Once published, share useful episodes through your existing website and audience channels, then use listening trends and feedback to improve the programme over time.