Episode 3

Should You Use a Free or Paid Podcast Host?

It's one of the more popular questions when first getting started - should you use a free or paid podcast host? Both have their reasons, and it's not as simple as "well, free is free", as I share in this episode.

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Transcript
Danny:

You're listening to One Minute Podcast Tips. I'm your host, Danny Brown, and each episode helps you be a better podcaster. Find all the latest episodes at oneminutepodcasttips.com or free wherever you get podcasts. And now this week's episode.

Danny:

When it comes to podcast hosting, there are two options: free or paid. Yes, you can self-host on your own website, but that's a bit more technical and a different conversation for a different time. So should you choose free or paid? Well, to be honest, that's the wrong question. It's not about should you use a free host or a paid podcast host. It's what the host offers based on what you need for your podcast.

Danny:

While free is always attractive, and there's nothing wrong with free podcast hosts, paid hosts usually are paid for a reason: better customer service, more features, more support, a more involved team, which, as you grow with your podcast, you're going to find you need more of. Not to mention free is attractive when you start because you don't know if podcasting is going to be for you, and you don't want to outlay loads of money upfront and then find out podcasting isn't for you, which is where free becomes attractive.

Danny:

But then you have paid podcast hosts like Captivate, who give you all the tools you need for one single price. Now, I'm biased - I work at Captivate, but I was a happy customer of Captivate before that and I can attest they really do have podcasters' interests at heart. So again, it doesn't come down to if it's free or paid. Make a list of the features you want from a podcast host and then see which meets your needs best. Until next time, happy podcasting.

Danny:

Thanks for listening. If you're enjoying One Minute Podcast Tips, be sure to leave a five star rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and help others find the show too. Until next time, happy podcasting.

About the Podcast

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One Minute Podcast Tips
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About your host

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Danny Brown

Danny Brown is the host of One Minute Podcast Tips, the show that helps you be a better podcaster in just a minute a week. He's also hosted, and co-hosted, several other podcasts - if you called him a serial podcaster, you wouldn't be wrong! He's been in the podcasting space for over 10 years, and has the scars to prove it.

He's the Head of Podcaster Support and Experience at Captivate.fm, the world's only growth-oriented podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetization platform for the serious indie podcaster.

He lives in beautiful Muskoka, Ontario, Canada with his wife and two kids, where he spends winters in front of a cozy fire and summers by the lake. Well, when he finds time away from podcasting, of course...

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