Softwr
Podbean logo

Podbean

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

As of 30 August 2026, Podbean has a free plan and paid plans start at $17/month. Podbean is a comprehensive podcast hosting platform offering unlimited hosting, powerful monetization tools, live streaming capabilities, and an integrated podc. Softwr lists it under Podcasting. Podbean is made by Podbean Tech, launched in 2006, available on Web, iOS, Android.

Overview

What Podbean does

Podbean is a comprehensive podcast hosting platform offering unlimited hosting, powerful monetization tools, live streaming capabilities, and an integrated podcast app. Features include premium content sales, Patron program, and advertising marketplace. Ideal for creators looking to build sustainable podcast businesses.

What people use it for

  • Hosting and distributing a podcast with an RSS feed and player
  • Running multiple shows or a private internal podcast

The honest half

Where it falls short

Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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

Cross-shopped

What people choose instead of Podbean

Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.

Pricing

What Podbean costs

Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.

Unlimited Audio

$17 /mo

  • 1 podcast
  • 1GB uploads/month
  • Unlimited storage

Unlimited Plus

$39 /mo

  • 2 podcasts
  • 10GB uploads/month
  • 3TB monthly bandwidth

Network

$99 /mo

  • Unlimited podcasts
  • 40GB uploads/month
  • Up to 50 team members

Business

$129 /mo

  • Unlimited private podcasts
  • 2 public podcasts
  • 40GB uploads/month
  • Unlimited team

Capabilities

Features

  • Unlimited hosting

  • Built-in monetization

  • Live streaming

  • Video podcasting

  • Podcast app

  • Premium content

  • Apple Podcasts

    Integration with Apple Podcasts

  • Spotify

    Integration with Spotify

  • Amazon Music

    Integration with Amazon Music

  • Social media

    Integration with Social media

  • Payment processors

    Integration with Payment processors

  • SSL encryption

    SSL encryption security feature

Answered, with sources

Questions people ask

Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.

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
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
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

Behind it

Who makes Podbean

Company
Podbean Tech
Based in
Newark, DE
Share

Keep looking

Where to go from Podbean

Best Podcasting software for

Compare Podbean with

Other Podcasting software

  • The most popular podcast app on Android

    Free, then $2.99/one-time11 researched notes
  • The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

    Free plan9 researched notes
  • Simple and powerful podcast hosting made easy

    Free, then $15/mo11 researched notes
  • The podcast host built for professional broadcasters

    Free, then $19/mo10 researched notes
  • AI-powered podcast editing and recording

    From $22.99/mo5 researched notes
  • Free podcast hosting with sponsorship opportunities

    Free plan13 researched notes
  • Audio hosting and distribution platform

    Free plan10 researched notes
  • Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

    Free, then €17/mo12 researched notes
  • Podcast hosting with community features

    From $20/mo9 researched notes
  • Premium podcast subscriptions made simple

    Free plan5 researched notes
  • Enterprise podcast hosting and monetization

    From $99/mo13 researched notes
  • Membership platform for creators

    Free plan10 researched notes
  • Professional podcast hosting from Germany

    From €12/mo12 researched notes
  • Simple podcast creation and hosting

    Free plan12 researched notes
  • Create a professional podcast website in minutes

    Free, then $12/mo13 researched notes
  • Industry-standard podcast measurement and analytics

    Free plan10 researched notes
  • Automatically repurpose podcast content across platforms

    Free, then $35/mo7 researched notes
  • Free podcast hosting with sponsorship opportunities

    Free plan13 researched notes

Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for Podbean, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.

More on Podbean

Best Podcasting software alternatives

Simple and powerful podcast hosting made easy

subscription

Audio hosting and distribution platform

freemium

AI-powered podcast editing and recording

subscription

Automated audio mastering and loudness processing

freemium

Enterprise podcast hosting and advertising

freemium

The podcast maker that does the hard work for you

subscription

Podcast hosting with advanced analytics and tools

subscription

Compare Podbean with alternatives