After creating amazing podcast content and perfecting your audio quality, you need somewhere to store those files. Many new podcasters make a critical mistake here: trying to host podcast files on their regular website hosting.
Web Hosting vs. Podcast Hosting: What's the Difference?
When launching your first podcast, what if you uploaded episodes directly to, say, your WordPress site? You might quickly get a warning from your web host about excessive bandwidth usage. In addition, your entire website could crash during a traffic spike, once you have several episodes up.
Regular web hosting isn't designed for podcast files. Most "unlimited" storage plans have fine print excluding media files like podcasts. Even if your host allows it initially, they may penalize you later as your show grows.
Think of it this way: web hosting is built for text and images that visitors occasionally access. Podcast hosting is optimized for large audio files that potentially thousands of people might stream or download simultaneously.
Why Dedicated Podcast Hosting Makes Sense
Specialized RSS Feeds
Podcast directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify don't actually store your audio files. They connect to your RSS feed, which must be properly formatted with specific podcast tags.
Dedicated podcast hosts automatically generate this specialized RSS feed. When you switch to a proper podcast host, e.g. Apple Podcasts, your submission can go from "rejected with errors" to "approved" overnight! The host will correctly format all the technical details you’d normally struggle with.
Valuable Listener Analytics
Perhaps the biggest advantage of podcast-specific hosting is the analytics. You can consider it “flying blind” until you move to a dedicated host. On a dedicated host, you can see:
- How many people actually listened to each episode
- Which episodes kept listeners engaged longest
- What devices and apps your audience used
- Geographic locations of your listeners
- Traffic sources bringing people to your show
This data proves invaluable when approaching potential sponsors. Instead of vague estimates, you can show exactly who was listening and how engaged they were.
Built-in Podcast Websites
Most podcast hosts provide a simple website for your show. While basic, these sites include embedded players, episode lists, and subscription links.
You can use your host's podcast site for several months before creating a custom website. It’s great for starting out, since they’re often professional-looking, requiring zero technical knowledge to maintain.
Even after building a custom site, you can still use the host's embedded players. They often load faster than generic audio players and include one-click subscription options.
Reliable Delivery
When your podcast grows, delivery reliability becomes crucial. A single popular episode can generate thousands of simultaneous downloads.
Web servers can crash when an episode unexpectedly goes viral. A good podcast host, however, handles the traffic surge without issues—their infrastructure is specifically built for these scenarios.
Affordable Options for Every Budget
Quality podcast hosting is surprisingly affordable. Most hosts offer tiered plans based on monthly upload limits:
- Beginner plans ($5-12/month) typically allow 3-5 hours of new content monthly
- Mid-tier plans ($15-25/month) offer 6-12 hours monthly
- Professional plans ($30+/month) provide enough for daily publishing
Free plans exist but usually come with significant limitations. Buzzsprout's free tier, for example, deletes episodes after 90 days—not ideal for building a podcast library. Some are just free trials, not requiring a credit card for the trial period.
You can start with a $12 monthly plan and only upgrade after your show becomes established. For most new podcasters, entry-level paid plans provide everything needed for a professional podcast.
Making the Right Choice
When selecting a podcast host, consider your growth plans. Changing hosts later means updating your RSS feed everywhere, which can disrupt your subscriber base.
Look for hosts that offer:
- Easy migration paths between pricing tiers
- Analytics you understand and find useful
- Distribution to all major podcast directories
- Reliable uptime and support
The small monthly investment in proper podcast hosting pays dividends in reliability, professional features, and growth potential. Don't undermine great content with inadequate hosting.
Key Points
- Regular web hosting is not suitable for podcast files despite "unlimited" storage claims
- Dedicated podcast hosts provide properly formatted RSS feeds for directory submission
- Listener analytics help you understand your audience and attract sponsors
- Built-in podcast websites and players save technical headaches
- Podcast-specific hosting prevents delivery problems when your audience grows
- Affordable plans exist for every budget and content schedule
- Selecting the right host initially prevents migration complications later