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Podcasting · head to head

Podomatic vs SmartNews

Podomatic logo

Podomatic

Podcasting

Simple podcast creation and hosting

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SmartNews logo

SmartNews

News

Local news and breaking news from top sources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Podomatic free plan caps storage at 500MB and bandwidth at 15GB per month, which Podomatic equates to roughly 300 listens; SmartNews no specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Podomatic covers Podcast hosting, SmartNews covers Machine learning curation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podomatic and SmartNews actually diverge.

Attributes where Podomatic and SmartNews differ
AttributePodomaticSmartNews
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWebIos, Android
CategoryPodcastingNews
Founded20052012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Podomatic

  • Podcast hosting
  • Distribution
  • Built-in recording
  • Audio editing
  • Podcast website
  • RSS feed
  • Podcast platforms
  • Social media

Only in SmartNews

  • Machine learning curation
  • Smart Mode
  • Local news
  • Breaking alerts
  • Offline reading
  • Social sharing
  • News publishers
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Podomatic

  • Hosting and publishing a podcast with a ready made listener pagenot SmartNews
  • Starting a podcast on a free tier before paying for bandwidthnot SmartNews
  • Serving audio downloads to a growing audience on metered bandwidth plansnot SmartNews

SmartNews

  • Daily newsnot Podomatic
  • Local newsnot Podomatic
  • Breaking newsnot Podomatic
  • Quick readingnot Podomatic

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Podomatic

  • Free plan caps storage at 500MB and bandwidth at 15GB per month, which Podomatic equates to roughly 300 listens
  • Pro Plus at $9.99 per month caps storage at 3GB and bandwidth at 200GB per month
  • Pro Platinum at $24.99 per month still caps bandwidth at 500GB per month
  • Unlimited storage and bandwidth require the $49.99 per month Broadcaster plan
  • Billing is metered on listener bandwidth, so a popular episode consumes the monthly allowance regardless of how few files are stored

SmartNews

  • No specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • Requires visiting separate product page for pricing details
  • Subscription service model described but not detailed with costs

Pricing, plan by plan

Podomatic

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Podcast hosting
    • Basic distribution
    • Audio player

SmartNews

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Trending news
    • Local news
    • Smart Mode reading

Which should you pick?

Choose Podomatic if

  • You need podcast hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want distribution.
Podomatic review

Choose SmartNews if

  • You need machine learning curation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want smart mode.
SmartNews review

Questions people ask

Is Podomatic or SmartNews better?
Neither clearly leads. Podomatic starts at Free and SmartNews at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podomatic or SmartNews?
Podomatic starts at Free and SmartNews at Free.
Does Podomatic or SmartNews run on more platforms?
Podomatic runs on Web. SmartNews runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use Podomatic for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Podomatic best used for?
Podomatic is most often used for hosting and publishing a podcast with a ready made listener page, starting a podcast on a free tier before paying for bandwidth, serving audio downloads to a growing audience on metered bandwidth plans. Of those, hosting and publishing a podcast with a ready made listener page and starting a podcast on a free tier before paying for bandwidth are not what SmartNews is typically brought in for.
What can Podomatic do that SmartNews cannot?
Podomatic covers Podcast hosting, Distribution, Built-in recording, Audio editing. SmartNews covers Machine learning curation, Smart Mode, Local news, Breaking alerts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Podomatic: What does Podomatic's free plan include?

The free plan includes 500 MB storage (up to 6 hours of recording), first 20 episodes, and 15 GB bandwidth per month. Source: https://www.podomatic.com

Source
SmartNews: How much does SmartNews cost?

SmartNews does not publish specific subscription pricing on its main website. The vendor offers SmartNews+, described as a subscription service aggregating paid business news and coupons, but cost details must be found on the dedicated SmartNews+ product page.

Source
Podomatic: How much do Podomatic's PRO plans cost?

Podomatic mentions PRO plans starting at $9.99 but does not publish specific pricing tiers or features for paid plans on their main website. Source: https://www.podomatic.com

Source
SmartNews: Does SmartNews offer a free tier?

SmartNews provides free access to curated news content. For additional business news and coupons, the vendor offers SmartNews+ as a paid subscription service. Pricing and trial details for SmartNews+ are available on the dedicated subscription product page.

Source
Podomatic: Can I use Podomatic free forever?

Yes, Podomatic emphasizes free podcast hosting forever, though paid premium options exist for expanded capacity at undisclosed rates. Source: https://www.podomatic.com

Source
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