Compare Podbean and Simplecast on pricing, features, platforms, and ratings — both Podcast Hosting tools, Freemium vs subscription pricing to decide which…
At a Glance
Podbean
Simplecast
Primary category
Podcast Hosting
Podcast Hosting
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Freemium
subscription
Starting price
Free (paid plans from $12/month billed annually)
$15/month ($13.50/month billed annually)
Free plan
Yes
Not documented
Free trial
Not documented
Yes
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Web
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Yes
Not documented
Public API
Not documented
Yes
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
Simplecast
Basic — $15/month ($13.50/month annual) monthly or annual
Essential — $35/month ($31.50/month annual) monthly or annual
Professional — Custom contact sales
Enterprise — Custom contact sales
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
Simplecast
Pros
Strong, detailed analytics compared to many entry-level podcast hosts
Backing from SiriusXM and AdsWizz brings monetization opportunities for larger shows
Clean, easy-to-use publishing interface and customizable show website
14-day free trial available on all plans with no credit card required
Recast web player makes it easy to share episode clips for marketing
Cons
No permanent free plan, unlike some competitors aimed at hobbyist podcasters
Advanced analytics such as location and technology data are locked behind the Essential tier and above
Professional and Enterprise pricing is not published and requires contacting sales
Download-based pricing means costs can rise as a show's audience grows
Fewer built-in editing tools compared to platforms that bundle recording and editing
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.
Simplecast
Independent podcasters scaling an audience — Creators use Simplecast's analytics to understand listener geography and platform usage as their show grows beyond a hobby project.
Media companies and publishers — Publishers with multiple shows use Simplecast's Professional and Enterprise tools for monetization, white-labeling, and dedicated support.
Branded and marketing podcasts — Companies running a branded podcast use the customizable show website and Recast player to promote episodes on their own marketing channels.