Softwr

Podcasting · head to head

Podbean vs Podcast.co

Podbean logo

Podbean

Podcasting

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Podcast.co logo

Podcast.co

Podcasting

Professional podcast hosting and distribution

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Podbean has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Podcast.co limited advanced podcast customization compared to enterprise solutions
  • They diverge on capability: Podbean covers Built-in monetization, Podcast.co covers Podcast websites.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podbean and Podcast.co actually diverge.

Attributes where Podbean and Podcast.co differ
AttributePodbeanPodcast.co
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20062017

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).

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

  • Built-in monetization
  • Live streaming
  • Video podcasting
  • Podcast app
  • Premium content
  • Amazon Music
  • Payment processors
  • Privacy controls

Only in Podcast.co

  • Podcast websites
  • Distribution
  • Advanced analytics
  • Team collaboration
  • Google Podcasts
  • YouTube
  • GDPR compliant
  • UK data centers

Both cover

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Social media
  • SSL encryption
  • 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 Podcast.co
  • Running multiple shows or a private internal podcastnot Podcast.co

Podcast.co

  • Podcast hostingnot Podbean
  • Corporate podcastingnot Podbean
  • Network hostingnot 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

Podcast.co

  • Limited advanced podcast customization compared to enterprise solutions
  • Transcription service costs extra at $20/month for only 10 hours
  • Download limits vary by plan; Lite tier caps at 15,000 monthly downloads

Pricing, plan by plan

Podbean

Free
  • Unlimited Audio$17/month
    • 1 podcast
    • 1GB uploads/month
    • Unlimited storage
  • Unlimited Plus$39/month
    • 2 podcasts
    • 10GB uploads/month
    • 3TB monthly bandwidth
  • Network$99/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • 40GB uploads/month
    • Up to 50 team members
  • Business$129/month
    • Unlimited private podcasts
    • 2 public podcasts
    • 40GB uploads/month

Podcast.co

$19/month
  • Lite$19/month
    • 1 user
    • 15,000 monthly downloads
    • Basic podcast pages
  • Growth$49/month
    • 5 users
    • 75,000 monthly downloads
    • Advanced podcast pages
  • Premium$99/month
    • Unlimited users
    • 200,000 monthly downloads
    • Advanced podcast pages

Which should you pick?

Choose Podbean if

  • You need built-in monetization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live streaming.
Podbean review

Choose Podcast.co if

  • You need podcast websites.
  • You also want distribution.
Podcast.co review

Questions people ask

Is Podbean or Podcast.co better?
Neither clearly leads. Podbean starts at Free and Podcast.co at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podbean or Podcast.co?
Podbean has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Podbean and $19/month for Podcast.co.
Does Podbean or Podcast.co run on more platforms?
Podbean runs on Web, Ios, Android. Podcast.co runs on Web.
Can I use Podbean for free?
Yes. Podbean has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podcast.co starts at $19/month.
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 Podcast.co is typically brought in for.
What can Podbean do that Podcast.co cannot?
Podbean covers Built-in monetization, Live streaming, Video podcasting, Podcast app. Podcast.co covers Podcast websites, Distribution, Advanced analytics, Team collaboration. Both handle Unlimited hosting, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Social media.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Podbean: How much does Podbean cost?

Podbean offers plans starting at $17/month for Unlimited Audio, $39/month for Unlimited Plus, $99/month for Network, and $129/month for Business. Annual billing is available at approximately 20-29% discounts.

Source
Podcast.co: How many podcasts can I host?

All Podcast.co plans allow unlimited podcasts and unlimited episodes. You can create and manage multiple shows under one account, with the Growth and Premium plans offering team collaboration for managing different podcasts.

Source
Podbean: Does Podbean have a free version?

Yes, Podbean offers a free account. However, the website notes that paid plans cannot be downgraded back to the free plan once you upgrade.

Source
Podcast.co: Which platforms does Podcast.co distribute to?

Podcast.co provides one-click distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other major podcast directories. The platform also offers scheduled publishing and custom episode artwork.

Source
Podbean: What are the monthly upload limits on Podbean plans?

Unlimited Audio allows 1GB uploads/month, Unlimited Plus allows 10GB uploads/month, and both Network and Business plans allow 40GB uploads/month.

Source
Podcast.co: What analytics are included?

All plans include audience data showing most popular episodes, listener locations, and top-performing platforms. Growth and Premium plans include more advanced analytics with team insights and subscriber tracking for private podcasts.

Source
Podcast.co: Is transcription included?

Audio transcription is available as an add-on service at $20 per month for 10 hours of audio transcription. This helps repurpose podcast content into blog posts and social media snippets.

Source
Podcast.co: Can I monetize my podcast?

Growth and Premium plans support private podcasting with invite-only episodes for paying subscribers. Podcast.co integrates with billing systems to deliver exclusive content to the right subscribers.

Source
Podcast.co: Is there a free trial?

Podcast.co offers a 14-day free trial with no hidden fees, allowing you to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Podbean

More on Podcast.co

Keep looking

Other head to heads