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Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

Podbean vs Zencastr

Podbean logo

Podbean

Podcast & Audio Publishing

All-in-one podcast hosting with built-in monetization

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zencastr logo

Zencastr

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Free podcast recording in your browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Zencastr the pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: Podbean covers Unlimited hosting, Zencastr covers Browser-based recording.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podbean and Zencastr actually diverge.

Attributes where Podbean and Zencastr differ
AttributePodbeanZencastr
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20062015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Zencastr

  • Browser-based recording
  • Separate tracks
  • Automatic postproduction
  • Video recording
  • Lossless audio
  • Cloud storage
  • Dropbox
  • Google Drive

Both cover

  • Privacy controls
  • Web 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 Zencastr
  • Running multiple shows or a private internal podcastnot Zencastr

Zencastr

  • Recording remote podcast interviews with separate local tracks per guestnot Podbean
  • Recording video podcasts in the browser without guest software installsnot Podbean
  • Publishing recorded episodes and clips from one workspacenot 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

Zencastr

  • The pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • The free tier caps a session at 6 participants
  • The free tier caps video streaming quality at 1080p
  • The free tier is limited to 5 podcast shows and 4 seats

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

Zencastr

Free
  • HobbyistFree
    • 8 hours/month audio
    • MP3 quality
    • Up to 2 guests
  • Professional$20/month
    • Unlimited recording
    • WAV lossless quality
    • Video recording

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.
Podbean review

Choose Zencastr if

  • You need browser-based recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want separate tracks.
Zencastr review

Questions people ask

Is Podbean or Zencastr better?
Neither clearly leads. Podbean starts at Free and Zencastr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podbean or Zencastr?
Podbean starts at Free and Zencastr at Free.
Does Podbean or Zencastr run on more platforms?
Podbean runs on Web, Ios, Android. Zencastr runs on Web.
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 Zencastr is typically brought in for.
What can Podbean do that Zencastr cannot?
Podbean covers Unlimited hosting, Built-in monetization, Live streaming, Video podcasting. Zencastr covers Browser-based recording, Separate tracks, Automatic postproduction, Video recording. Both handle Privacy controls, Web support.
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