Compare Podbean and Seriously Simple Podcasting on pricing, features, platforms, and ratings — both Podcast Hosting tools, Freemium vs Free WordPress plugin;…
At a Glance
Podbean
Seriously Simple Podcasting
Primary category
Podcast Hosting
Podcast Hosting
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Freemium
Free WordPress plugin; optional paid podcast hosting available separately
Starting price
Free (paid plans from $12/month billed annually)
Free (optional Castos hosting from $19/month)
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Free trial
Not documented
Not documented
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Not documented
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Yes
Not documented
Public API
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Podbean
Free — Free N/A
Unlimited Audio — $12/month (annual) or $17/month (monthly) Monthly or annual
Unlimited Plus — $29/month (annual) or $39/month (monthly) Monthly or annual
Network — $79/month (annual) or $99/month (monthly) Monthly or annual
Business — $99/month (annual) or $129/month (monthly) Monthly or annual
Seriously Simple Podcasting
Seriously Simple Podcasting (Plugin) — Free N/A
Seriously Simple Stats (Add-on) — Free N/A
Castos Essentials (Optional Hosting) — $19 per month monthly
Castos Growth (Optional Hosting) — $49 per month monthly
Pros & Cons
Podbean
Pros
Long operating history and financial stability as a bootstrapped, profitable company
Monetization tools (ads, Patron, premium content) built directly into the hosting platform
Unlimited storage and unmetered bandwidth on all paid plans
Competitive entry pricing compared to some hosting rivals
Mobile app supports recording, editing, and publishing from a phone
Cons
Free plan storage and bandwidth limits are restrictive for active shows
Interface and website themes feel dated compared to newer hosting competitors
AI credits are capped per plan and can run out on heavier usage
Advanced monetization features often require reaching a minimum listener threshold
Video podcast hosting allowances are notably smaller than audio allowances
Seriously Simple Podcasting
Pros
Completely free with no required upsell to publish a podcast
Works with any podcast hosting provider, not locked to Castos
Free Seriously Simple Stats analytics add-on available
Cons
Advanced analytics and video hosting require a separate paid Castos subscription
Fewer built-in monetization tools than dedicated podcast hosting platforms
Relies on WordPress hosting performance for media delivery unless paired with external hosting
Less useful for podcasters who do not already run a WordPress site
Use Cases
Podbean
Independent podcast monetization — Solo creators use Podbean to host a show and immediately enable ads, listener subscriptions, and premium content without adding separate tools.
Business and internal podcasting — Companies use Podbean's Business plan with SSO and private podcast feeds to distribute internal communications or branded content to employees or customers.
Multi-show network management — Podcast networks use the Network plan to host multiple shows under a unified branded hub with network-level analytics and team access.
Seriously Simple Podcasting
Launching a New Podcast on WordPress — An independent podcaster using an existing WordPress site to publish episodes and generate a directory-ready RSS feed.
Adding a Podcast to a Business Website — A business or media brand adding a podcast section to its existing WordPress site without migrating to a separate platform.
Hosting-Agnostic RSS Feed Control — A podcaster who wants full control over RSS feed generation while choosing their own media storage or hosting provider.