Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head
Podbean vs Apple Podcasts Connect
Podbean
Podcast & Audio Publishing
All-in-one podcast hosting with built-in monetization
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Apple Podcasts Connect
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Manage and distribute your podcast on Apple Podcasts
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Podbean upload allowance is monthly rather than cumulative, at 1 GB on the entry plan, so a heavy recording month is capped even with unlimited total storage; Apple Podcasts Connect requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- They diverge on capability: Podbean covers Unlimited hosting, Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Podbean and Apple Podcasts Connect actually diverge.
| Attribute | Podbean | Apple Podcasts Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web, Ios, Macos |
| Founded | 2006 | 1976 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcast & Audio Publishing).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Podbean
- Unlimited hosting
- Built-in monetization
- Live streaming
- Video podcasting
- Podcast app
- Premium content
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Only in Apple Podcasts Connect
- Podcast submission
- Episode management
- Analytics
- Subscription monetization
- Show optimization
- Multi-show management
- RSS feeds
- Hosting platforms
Both cover
- Privacy controls
- Web support
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Podbean
- Hosting and distributing a podcast with an RSS feed and playernot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Running multiple shows or a private internal podcastnot Apple Podcasts Connect
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Submitting a new podcast to Apple Podcastsnot Podbean
- Claiming an existing show so it is registered to your accountnot Podbean
- Reviewing Apple Podcasts listener trends and analyticsnot Podbean
- Managing show artwork and metadatanot Podbean
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Podbean
- Upload allowance is monthly rather than cumulative, at 1 GB on the entry plan, so a heavy recording month is capped even with unlimited total storage
- The Network plan at $99 a month meters bandwidth at 3 TB while cheaper plans are unmetered, so the middle tier is the only one with a bandwidth ceiling
- Advanced analytics are excluded from every plan below Business
- Private podcasting and live chat support are Business only
- Team members are capped at 50 on Network despite being described as unlimited
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- Only reports listening that happens inside Apple Podcasts, so it is not a whole-audience view
- Does not host audio; the show still needs a hosting provider elsewhere
Pricing, plan by plan
Podbean
Free- BasicFree
- 5 hours total storage
- 100 GB bandwidth
- Basic analytics
- Unlimited Audio$9/month
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Advanced analytics
- Unlimited Plus$29/month
- All audio features
- Video podcasting
- Live streaming
- Business$99/month
- All features
- Team management
- Enterprise security
Apple Podcasts Connect
Free- FreeFree
- Podcast submission
- Analytics dashboard
- Episode management
- Subscriptions Program$19.99/year
- Premium subscriptions
- Paid content
- Subscriber management
Which should you pick?
Choose Podbean if
- You need unlimited hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want built-in monetization.
Choose Apple Podcasts Connect if
- You need podcast submission.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Macos.
- You also want episode management.
Questions people ask
- Is Podbean or Apple Podcasts Connect better?
- Neither clearly leads. Podbean starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Podbean or Apple Podcasts Connect?
- Podbean starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free.
- Does Podbean or Apple Podcasts Connect run on more platforms?
- Podbean runs on Web, Ios, Android. Apple Podcasts Connect runs on Web, Ios, Macos.
- Can I use Podbean for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Podbean best used for?
- Podbean is most often used for hosting and distributing a podcast with an rss feed and player, running multiple shows or a private internal podcast. Of those, hosting and distributing a podcast with an rss feed and player and running multiple shows or a private internal podcast are not what Apple Podcasts Connect is typically brought in for.
- What can Podbean do that Apple Podcasts Connect cannot?
- Podbean covers Unlimited hosting, Built-in monetization, Live streaming, Video podcasting. Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission, Episode management, Analytics, Subscription monetization. Both handle Privacy controls, Web support, Ios support.