Compare Podbean and Spreaker on pricing, features, platforms, and ratings — both Podcast Hosting tools, Freemium vs freemium subscription pricing to decide…
At a Glance
Podbean
Spreaker
Primary category
Podcast Hosting
Podcast Hosting
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Freemium
freemium subscription
Starting price
Free (paid plans from $12/month billed annually)
Free (paid plans from EUR20/month)
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Free trial
Not documented
Not documented
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Web
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
Spreaker
Free Speech — EUR0/month Free forever
Broadcaster — EUR20/month Monthly
Anchorman — EUR50/month Monthly
Publisher — EUR250/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
Spreaker
Pros
Generous free-forever plan with unlimited episodes
Backed by iHeartMedia, providing scale and monetization infrastructure
Built-in monetization tools including ads and listener subscriptions
Simple, dashboard-based workflow for publishing and distribution
Scales from individual creators up to professional broadcasters
Cons
Free plan limits hosting to a single podcast
Free plan takes a 20 percent cut of Supporters Club revenue
Higher-tier plans needed for extended statistics history and collaboration
Pricing is listed in euros, which may complicate budgeting for some regions
Top-tier Publisher plan is priced well above typical independent creator budgets
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.
Spreaker
Independent podcast creators — Individual creators use the free plan to publish, distribute, and monetize a podcast with no upfront cost.
Professional broadcasters and media companies — Broadcasters use higher-tier plans for direct ad sales, extended analytics, and team collaboration on shows.
Live radio and streaming shows — Hosts use Spreaker's live broadcasting tools to stream radio-style shows alongside standard podcast episodes.