Podcasts have become increasingly popular in recent years. One of their biggest appeals is undoubtedly the fact that you can listen to them on-the-go, whether you’re going to the store, waiting for a bus, or jogging, podcasts are there to entertain you and keep you updated on your favorite topics.
You can download them to your phone and not only keep up with what interests you, but you can also choose to listen to people who you like.
More and more people are thinking of starting their own podcasts and perhaps even making money from them. And Transistor.fm is currently one of the most popular publishing platforms for podcasts.
It provides you with all of the features you need. You can record podcasts and distribute them across all platforms with the help of this tool. You can make as many as you’d like as well as keep track of your analytics to see how successful your podcast is and take a look at its growth since the time you started.
There are many other tools like Transistor.fm that can help you get your podcast going, in case Transistor maybe runs a little expensive, or you just want to look for other options before committing to one platform.
If that is the case, look no further, as we will now present you with the best alternatives that will help make your podcast the best it can be.
1. bCast
BCast is a platform that allows you to host and distribute your podcast and provides specific analytical data so you can better see how profitable your work is. A great feature of this tool in particular is the ability to get more listeners into your sales funnel with ease, this is achieved through Auto Opt-in.
BCast is going to generate an email address that listeners can message and thus get in on your opt-in offer. Content insertions such as sponsorships or CTAs also become easy when using the platform, as you will be able to plug any kind of audio clip straight into your recording without any unnecessary extra steps.
Bcast comes with a vast array of other handy features like hosting on your own domain, automated transcription, guest notification emails, and adding affiliate links to boost your bottom line.
FEES: AppSumo is currently offering special discounts on all three versions of bCast, the Single version will then cost you only $79, the Double $159, and the Multiple only $237. All these prices refer to one-time purchases.
2. Anchor
Anchor is a tool that can help you immensely if you are an absolute beginner because it has some very accessible and easy to use creation tools that really help you get the hang of things. Using their recording tool, you can capture audio straight from your phone or computer, it also allows you to import audio or video recordings that you already have on any of your devices.
If your podcast co-host is out of town, Anchor gives you the opportunity to record remotely with your friends no matter where they might be. Another neat feature is that the platform has a custom cover art creator which allows you to choose from a vast selection of fonts and photos, to make your cover just as you want it.
FEES: Anchor is as of now completely free, however, if you do decide to use it to make your podcast, you will have to do one of 2 things:
- Have an Anchor logo on your podcast cover art.
- Have an Anchor ad at the end of each video.
NOTE: The platform is still only available in the US.
3. PodBean
Just like Anchor, PodBean can help you get started while minimizing the learning curve. Its interface is simple and intuitive which will in turn make the entire experience of creating and hosting a podcast a lot easier for you.
This platform also provides you with unlimited hosting options, so say goodbye to episode limits or maximum recording times.
If you connect your social media accounts to PodBean you can turn on the Auto Sharing option, meaning that every new podcast you create will automatically be shared across all of your social media accounts.
You can also choose how you wish to monetize your podcasts. If you want to run ads, PodBean is sure to make it a lot easier for you, or maybe you want to connect your account to your Patreon page, with Podbean that is only a click away.
FEES: PodBean does offer a free version, however that version does have a podcasting limit of 5 hours/month. If you decide to opt for one of their other versions the cheapest one will cost you 9$/month, and the most expensive one comes around to 29$/month.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
If you are still unsure what the best option for you is, allow us to give you one final suggestion. While all of the platforms have some great features, bCast offers a one-time purchase, so you’ll only have to deal with expenses once, instead of every month.
It provides you with immaculate analytics to keep track of your growth as well as a user-friendly interface that makes the process of creating a podcast super easy. bCast also has all the premium features you could ever need, for a fraction of the usual price.
So, if you’re looking to try your luck in the world of podcasts, why not use bCast to make a process that could otherwise be quite complicated very easy and spend less time trying to navigate complicated tools and more time creating content that you love.
