It is essential for people who love or even need podcasting to find the best platform to trust. Your content is something that you take seriously, and discovering that the website you’re using isn’t what it’s assured to be can be super disappointing. There is a multitude of online sites that provide space for your podcasts, and Podbean is one of these platforms. But with the presence of many notorious websites online, it is imperative to find out if Podbean is, indeed, what it says it is. Is it worth your time, content, and money?
This article aims to delve into what Podbean is, what it can offer, and how to use it if you ever find it worth your dime.
What is Podbean?
With more than 250,000 podcasts already under its belt, Podbean is a podcast hosting website that’s based in Wilmington, Delaware. Launched in 2006, users collectively attest to its user-friendly interface and its capacity to provide all the implements that any podcaster needs.
Podbean’s main feature is its ability to host various podcasts. Thus, you merely have to upload your podcast into the site and allow potential listeners to discover it there. The great thing about Podbean is that it doesn’t discriminate podcast beginners from experienced ones. You can expect to be listened to by a multitude of listeners even if you’re just starting out on your podcast career.
Once Podbean becomes your hosting site, you can share your uploaded Podbean podcasts to Google or iTunes and still be assured that all these posts and shares get linked back to your original Podbean post. Hence, you are assured that the credit goes to you, irrespective of which site it goes to. Beginners need to know that you can use Podbean to collect more followers, especially since the platform offers various features that permit you to grow your network, monetize your content, and even develop your website via Podbean.
If you are looking to start your own podcast or looking for reviews for platforms like Anchor, we have articles that can help you out.
How to Make a Podbean Account
You cannot upload any content into Podbean without creating an account first. To do this, follow the steps provided below:
- Provide your email address and your desired password.
- Alternately, you can sign up to Podbean using your Facebook or Google account.
- Enter your preferred Podbean site URL name. Note that each Podbean user needs to have a unique site URL name, which will appear like this: (unique name).podbean.com.
- Check the “I am not a robot” message once it appears. Podbean may ask you to provide the CAPTCHA characters that will appear.
- Click the green Create Account button.
- You will also be asked to enter your personal details, including your complete name, email, nickname, and payment method.
Subscription Plans
After creating your Podbean account, you will be asked to choose your desired subscription plan. Podbean offers four (4) subscription plans that you can look into.
Basic
Podbean’s basic plan is the default free one you get once you sign up for a Podbean account. This plan provides you with the following:
- Five hours of total storage space
- 100 GB bandwidth per month
- Podbean mobile app
- Embeddable players
- A podcast site
- RSS feed
- iTunes support
Note that the Basic Plan is preferable for beginners who are still getting the hang of podcasting via Podbean. Nevertheless, it would be best if you remembered that the promotion of your podcasts won’t be part of this plan. If you find that the platform is good enough for you, you can always upgrade to a paid plan later.
Unlimited Audio
For the Unlimited Audio Plan, you are required to pay US$9 per month. You get to have the following features:
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Podbean mobile app
- Embeddable players
- Podcast site
- RSS feed & iTunes support
- Ad marketplace
- Premium sales
This plan provides you with the capability to promote your podcasts via the site’s marketplace. You also get unlimited storage and bandwidth.
Unlimited Plus
You can also opt for the Unlimited Plus, which costs US$29 each month. It offers you the following capabilities:
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Podbean mobile app
- Embeddable players
- Podcast site
- RSS feed
- iTunes support
- Ad marketplace
- Premium sales
- Patron program
- PodAds dynamic ad insertion
Aside from unlimited bandwidth and storage plus ad marketplace promotion, you also get a patron program and PodAds dynamic insertion.
Business
You can subscribe to a Business Plan, as well, which costs US$99 per month. You get to have the following benefits:
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Podbean mobile app
- Embeddable players
- Podcast site
- RSS feed
- iTunes support
- Ad marketplace
- Premium sales
- Patron program
- PodAds dynamic ad insertion
- Multiple admins
- Live chat support
The Business Plan is an excellent option for podcasters who already have a considerable number of followers. Through this plan, you and your team can simultaneously enter and manage your account.
Accepted Payment Methods
Podbean Plans can be paid using the following:
- Bank Account
- Credit or Debit Card
- PayPal
- Stripe
Podbean Features
The platform has varied features that you can use. Below is a discussion of the different elements that you can avail of, depending on the subscription plan you choose.
Unlimited Storage
Podcasting requires you to upload your content into your channel. You get to store your content online with your site URL, allowing followers to visit you there and listen to what you have to say. Podbean automatically gives you five hours of total storage capacity once you create your Podbean account. However, you can opt to obtain unlimited storage space when you upgrade to a premium membership.
Unlimited Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to how fast data gets transferred. In a sense, this measurement decides how fast your podcasts get transferred from your channel to your listener. Hence, a bigger bandwidth capacity provides your listener with faster transfers, permitting no lagging. Your default and free subscription merely provide you with 100 GB bandwidth per month. You cannot exceed that provision unless you decide to pay for a premium Podbean subscription. Paid membership will permit you unlimited bandwidth.
Podbean Mobile App
You can access Podbean via your browser. Also, you can access it via a dedicated mobile app. Mobile apps are much better, especially when you tend to use your phone more than your computer. You can log into your Podbean account and get instant notifications or publish various content wherever and whenever you want.
Embeddable Players
You get embeddable players, as well. Thus, Podbean is as user-friendly as it can get since you won’t have a hard time publishing content that’s usually done through voiceovers. In short, you won’t need to use separate applications to create your content before publishing it online. Podbean anticipates this need and provides you with built-in players that you can use.
Podcast Site
Podbean doesn’t merely offer you space to publish your podcasts. It also provides you with a unique site URL, allowing potential followers and listeners to find you easily. What’s more, you get to choose your URL name, as well. Think of it as your mini website where you can place your content without worrying about locating them after.
RSS Feed
It is always best to allow your followers to get regular updates from you. Podcasters become even more effective when their listeners and followers receive real-time notifications, especially about your newly published materials. Podbean gives its subscribers that capability.
iTunes Support
Of course, not all listeners use their computer or android device to listen to you. A lot of subscribers are Apple users, as well. Podbean is compatible with iTunes, so your listeners can easily follow your content via their Apple device.
Ad Marketplace
Beginners need to know that ad promotions are essential, especially when you want more followers to find you. Podbean provides premium subscribers with ad space. Thus, you get to promote your Podbean site URL and even permit potential listeners regular snippets of your podcasts.
Premium Sales
Of course, the great thing about opting for a paid membership is benefiting Podbean premium sales capability. When you obtain a premium membership, you also get the chance to earn from your podcasts, depending on the number of visits you get. Podbean acquires part of those earnings, but you get the bulk of it.
Patron Program
Also, Podbean permits podcasters to earn extra money by offering them a patron program. Fans and followers can send their favorite podcasters with pledges each month. It’s a crowdfunding capability that lets podcasters earn more money by receiving voluntary donations from avid listeners.
PodAds Dynamic Ads Insertion
Aside from the benefit of the ads marketplace, Podbean provides subscribers with dynamic and random ad insertion. Potential fans and followers get to see your ads when browsing the platform, especially when the content they’re looking for is in line with the topics you decide to publish.
Multiple Admins
Lower level plans merely permit one user for each account. However, Podbean’s Business Plan allows the subscriber to add other users to his account. For instance, if you opt for a Business Plan and plan to have your whole team use your single Podbean account, you will be allowed to do that. By doing so, you and your team can simultaneously maintain your account and publish content whenever and wherever.
Live Chat Support
Podbean offers subscribers live chat support. You can chat with customer service for emergency queries concerning your Podbean account. You can also send them an email, although phone calls aren’t available.
Money-Back Guarantee
Seven days is provided to all new subscribers when they can cancel their subscription and have their money back if they find the platform lacking. Although it isn’t clearly stated via the platform, the Podbean Terms of Use mentions it.
It should be noted, though, that subscribers do not get compensation of any kind for site URL crashes or downtime.
Site Customization
Having a unique and rare site design can contribute to follower increase. Podbean allows subscribers to customize their site or channel. The platform offers various themes that you can use. Also, these designs are user-friendly and completely responsive. This customization is essential, mainly because many Podbean followers and listeners visit the site via their mobile devices.
Below are several other things that you can easily modify at your site or channel:
- Header image
- Background image
- Theme color
- Font color
- Link color
- Title color
- Font size
- Font style
- Podcast player location
- Audio player color
- Video player color
Integration to Other Platforms
Podbean also allows your content to be searchable online. Using various browsers like Google, Bing, you are assured that potential visitors and listeners can discover your podcasts. You can even share your content to third-party apps and social media sites, allowing you to increase your fanbase and earn more.
Podbean vs Other Podcasting Platforms
It is, of course, essential to look into the other podcasting platforms available online.
Anchor
Similar to Podbean, Anchor also allows podcasters to publish, monetize, and distribute their content freely. Subscribers get to use the creation tools provided by Anchor as well. Unlike Podbean, however, Anchor offers a completely free subscription. Podcasters do not have to pay any premium membership fee and take advantage of the platform’s open space.
Anchor also offers site or channel analytics, permitting you to check your content’s popularity by giving you regular updates on which of your podcasts go trending. You get to earn money from your visitors without having to spend a dime on the site. Nevertheless, Anchor is merely open to podcasters within the United States, although the site mentions a plan to expand soon.
To create an Anchor account, new members can use their Google, Apple, Facebook, or Twitter account. Podbean does not provide the capability to use your Apple or Twitter account for new members on their site.
Simplecast
Launched in 2013, Simplecast is another hosting platform like Podbean. New members are provided with a free 14-day trial period. After that lapses, you get to choose a subscription plan that’s right for you. A Basic Plan requires a fee of US$15 per month or US$13.50 if you opt to pre-pay it each year. An Essential Plan is US$35 per month or US$31.50 when pre-paid per year. A Growth Plan is priced at US$85 monthly or US$76.50 for a yearly prepayment.
Nevertheless, it would help if you were careful about their user or listener download limit. A Basic subscriber is allowed 20,000 downloads; an Essential subscriber is permitted 50,000 downloads, and a Growth subscriber is provided with 125,000 downloads. This limit means, then, that your listeners or followers may only download your content based on the limit you are provided with. This can be a significant downside, mostly because it can affect the number of followers—and earnings—for you.
However, Simplecast provides you with the capacity to analyze the popularity of your content. Then, you can find more sponsors and advertisers who are willing to collaborate with you, allowing you to increase earnings that way.
Buzzsprout
If you still want to find another hosting platform, you can also check out Buzzsprout. Buzzsprout provides an easy membership procedure. It also permits you to transfer your content from one hosting site to their platform. Like Podbean, you also get to customize your channel and even have chapter markers to find each topic more convenient for your followers. The platform has a huge fanbase, as well. You get to be part of the directory, and potential followers may quickly find you based on the topics you have.
As regards membership, Buzzsprout requires you to pay a fee per podcast. Three (3) hours of podcasting per month costs US$12 each month. Six (6) hours per month costs you US$18 each month. Twelve hours per month requires a fee of US$24 each month. Unlike Podbean, Buzzsprout’s fees are somewhat exorbitant. If you are a podcast beginner, it might help you choose other platforms like Podbean that offer free or necessary subscriptions that do not cost too much.
Others
As stated, there is a multitude of podcast hosting platforms that are available all over the web. A lot of these sites provide free and basic hosting like Podbean, as well. You can check out the following:
Captivate
Captivate offers a seven-day trial period for your chosen plan. It provides analytics capability, unlimited publishing, multiple users, and automatic site URL.
Transistor
You can check out Transistor, as well. It provides new members with a 14-day trial period. It also has many features that are not unlike those offered by Podbean.
Castos
Castos is another hosting platform that has many positive reviews. The platform allows Youtube and Audiogram integration. It also provides podcast transcription capability. The platform even offers editing services for your podcasts.
Resonate
Resonate is also another popular hosting site. Like most, it offers new subscribers a 14-day trial time. With Resonate, podcasters get to publish their content easily. You can use the one-click publish feature that’s provided. Like on Podbean, you can use an embedded player, as well.
