What is a podcast hosting platform?
How podcast hosting works, what it costs, and how to pick the right platform for a public show or a private one.
This guide is made by Hiro, and Hiro is one of the platforms in it. Prices were checked in November 2026 on each company's own site. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Short answer: a podcast hosting platform is the service that stores your episode files and creates your show's RSS feed. Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other apps read that feed to show your episodes. You upload once to your host, and every app updates on its own.
How podcast hosting works
- You upload an episode to your host, usually as an MP3.
- The host adds it to your RSS feed. The feed is a web address that lists your show's title, cover art and episodes.
- You submit that feed once to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and the other apps.
- Each app checks your feed and shows new episodes to listeners automatically.
- The host counts downloads so you can see how the show is doing.
Apple Podcasts and Spotify are where people listen. Your host is where the show lives.
Public hosting vs private hosting
| Public podcast | Private podcast | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can listen | Anyone | Only people you give access to |
| Where it's listed | Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directories | Not listed. Each listener gets their own private link |
| How it earns | Ads, sponsors, selling your services | Charging for access, a course or members' perk, or a free show in exchange for an email |
| Good for | Building a big audience | Courses, coaching programs, paid shows, team training, audiobooks |
| Can you remove a listener? | No | Yes, switch off their feed |
Most hosting platforms are built for public shows. A smaller group is built for private shows, where every listener gets their own feed and you decide who keeps access.
What a good podcast host gives you
- Enough upload space for how often you publish
- A reliable RSS feed and easy submission to Apple Podcasts and Spotify
- Download stats you can trust
- A simple show website or episode pages
- A way to leave: a 301 redirect of your feed if you ever move
- For private shows: one feed per listener, a way to remove access, and a way to take payment
- For courses: episodes that unlock over time (drip) and access that can expire
What does podcast hosting cost?
Several hosts have a free plan, including Spotify for Creators, Buzzsprout, Podbean and RSS.com. Free plans come with limits. Buzzsprout's free plan, for example, keeps each episode for 90 days.
Most paid plans for public shows start between $12 and $19 a month. Private podcast hosts start at about $14 a month and usually go up with the number of listeners or shows.
Our shortlist
| If you want to... | Start with | From |
|---|---|---|
| Start for free | Spotify for Creators | Free |
| Grow a public show, simply | Buzzsprout | $15/mo, billed yearly |
| Run several shows on one plan | Transistor | $19/mo |
| Sell a private podcast or audio course | Hiro | $57/mo, or $67 lifetime offer |
| Run a private show for your team | Castos | $19/mo |
How to switch podcast hosts without losing listeners
- Sign up with the new host and import your show using your current RSS feed address.
- Check that the episodes, cover art and show details came across.
- In your old host, set a 301 redirect to your new feed address.
- Keep the old account open for a few weeks so every app picks up the move.
Apple Podcasts and Spotify follow the redirect, so your subscribers move with you.
Where Hiro fits
Hiro is a podcast hosting platform built for private podcasts and audio courses. Coaches, course creators and authors use it to sell shows, run audio courses and give away free shows that grow their email list. You can also make a show public and send it to Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Every listener gets their own private feed, and you can switch it off
- Listeners hear your show in the Hiro app on iPhone and Android, or in the podcast app they already use
- Sales pages and checkout built in. Hiro takes no cut of your sales (card fees still apply)
- Episodes that unlock over time, access that expires, and email automations
- Hiro can turn a book, PDF or document into episodes for you
Plans start at $57 a month. Right now there is also a lifetime plan for $67, paid once, with 3 private podcasts and 5 GB of storage.
See the Hiro lifetime planQuestions people ask
Do I need a podcast hosting platform?
Yes, if you want your show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or other apps. Those apps don't take uploads for RSS podcasts. They read the feed your host creates.
What's the difference between a podcast host and a podcast app?
A host stores your episodes and publishes your feed. An app, like Apple Podcasts or Spotify, is where people listen.
Can I make my podcast private?
Yes. A private podcast host gives each listener their own feed link. The show is not listed in directories, and you can remove anyone's access.
Can I switch podcast hosts later?
Yes. Import your show into the new host, then set a 301 redirect on your old feed. Apple Podcasts and Spotify follow the redirect, so you keep your subscribers.
Can I sell a podcast?
Yes. A private podcast host with payments lets you charge for access, once or monthly. Hiro, for example, has sales pages and checkout built in and takes no cut of your sales.