Best Podcast Platform for Monetization? 9 Tools To Help You Make More Money

Podcast hosts need a clever way to make money from their episodes, but this can be challenging to do completely on your own. Instead, your podcast hosting platform may be able to pull its weight when it comes to making you a mint from your content creation. If this is the route you decide to go, what is the best podcast platform for monetization? 

We have you covered if you need the best podcast hosting to supplement your income and offset the production costs of running your show. 

Let's get started to see what move you should make next!

What is the Best Podcast Platform for Monetization?

You have your podcast websites up and running, and you have a nice backlog of shows that have taken off with your audience. Now, it's time to see how you can scale your income by doing the same things you are doing right now. As the podcast host, making money is ultimately up to you. 

Which one of these options will be the best podcast platform for monetization for you? 

Podbean: Best Overall Monetization Opportunities

Podbean is absolutely one of the best options for podcast hosting if monetization features are your top priority. The first thing to consider is their Ads Marketplace, where content creators can find new advertising opportunities.

But how does it work, and is it the only way you can make money from their hosting platform? 

Companies can set up an ads campaign (including how much they are willing to pay) and then scan the marketplace for matching podcasts. You get to include ads that are targeted to the types of listeners you have - and you can even turn down offers if you feel they aren't a great match. 

Other monetization tools included on Podbean are:

• Patron and paid content
• Apple Podcasts subscriptions
• Dynamic ad insertion (known as PodAds)

For a more detailed Podbean review, see our complete guide here to determine if it's the right platform for you. 

Castos: Great All-In-One Runner-Up

Castos is another option that made our list of the best podcast software tools to grow your audience and for good reason. Their podcast hosting platform allows you to create your own podcast website, upload to YouTube, and even automatically transcribe your episodes. 

For those who want to make money from their podcast hosting, you won't find as many options as you do with Podbean. That being said, there are still some solid options here. 

Castos allows you to accept payments straight from your audience. They can choose whether they want to make a one-time donation to fund an upcoming project or schedule a recurring donation for podcasts that make it into their regular rotation. 

They also permit dynamic ad insertion with a single-click feature. You don't have to edit your content or find your own sponsors. You can even update old episodes with new ads. 

Buzzsprout: Great For Beginners

Buzzsprout may be one of the more well-known podcast hosting platforms, and it's especially useful for anyone who is serious about monetizing their episodes. Like Castos, they offer listeners the chance to make a recurring donation in exchange for your content. 

They brag that setting up their payment system takes less than two minutes. And once you have some experience, you might be ready to scale your content creation by producing exclusive subscriber content through Buzzsprout. 

Like Podbean, you can also choose to run advertisements on your episode, including the ability to accept or decline offers so you never have to promote something that doesn't resonate with your audience. 

Compare Buzzsprout vs. Podbean in our head-to-head review here. 

Acast

Acast may be another solid pick for the best podcast platform for monetization. They offer the same type of dynamic ad insertion as the other podcast hosting platforms. 

They market their monetization platform as offering "ads with integrity." In other words, content creators won't be expected to sacrifice the quality of their show just to cash in on advertising dollars. You decide where the ad breaks go, and Acast fills the slot. 

However, Acast also presents some unique options for making money. Listeners can sign up for monthly memberships, one-time purchases, or benefits like ad-free listening, early listening, or even extended episodes. 

Spotify for Podcasters

Formerly known as Anchor, Spotify for Podcasters is a great option to get your podcast hosting up and running. This free podcast hosting platform allows you to connect with the millions of listeners who flock to the streaming service every week for episodes of their favorite show. 

Plus, their monetization tools are streamlined and easy to implement. You can choose to use all of their options or just some of them, mixing and matching until you land on the sweet spot for your audience. 

Select from automated ads or fan-supported subscriptions to make more money. All you have to do is tell them where you want them to position the ad or how much you want to charge for a subscription fee. The podcast hosting platform will do the rest of the heavy lifting on your behalf. 

Transistor

If you're looking for the best podcast hosting and you don't want to be exclusive to Spotify, you may want to consider Transistor. Their main draw is the dynamic ad insertion, which functions in much the same way as many podcasts we've already covered here. 

Tell them when you want an ad to be played for your audience, and they make it happen. You can choose between pre-roll, mid-roll (at a point you determine), or post-roll audio files. Then, they include all ads seamlessly for the best listening experience. 

Another great feature is their Dynamic Show Notes, which allows you to easily insert text and links into the text file associated with your episode. This makes it easier for people to click on affiliate links and earn you some great financial rewards. 

Remember that this is a paid podcast hosting platform, but they sync unlimited podcasts to Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. 

Libsyn

Libsyn is another great option for the best podcast hosting platform if you want something low-cost but efficient. As a podcast host, you can keep tabs on your audience engagement and enroll in their ads program when you have 2,000 downloads per episode. This means it might not be right if you are a new podcast. 

If you qualify, then you have some flexibility and freedom when it comes to the ads run. You choose the categories your listeners would be interested in and mark the time slot (before, during, or after your episode) where you want the ad to run. 

That said, you don't get to hand-select which ads run through this podcast-hosting site like many of the other options on this list. 

Captivate

Out of all the major podcast directories, Captivate might offer the most flexibility for each podcast episode that you want to make money from. Instead of dynamic ad insertion, they take a different route to connect you with monetization tools within their podcast network. 

For example, you can offer these paid options for listeners:

• Monthly memberships
• One-time tips 
• Exclusive content
• Early access content

They also have some seriously advanced analytics that allow you to approach brands with your personalized media kit. This living document is updated with your demographics and engagement metrics so they can decide if working with you is right for them. 

RSS.com

RSS.com offers everything you need to run a successful podcast. Their podcast apps are known for having advanced analytics that keep you informed on just how your show is growing. Plus, it handles episode scheduling and distribution to all major podcast players. 

In terms of their monetization options, you can earn three main ways: donations from your dedicated fanbase, dynamic ads, and sponsors. Sponsors allow you to read the ads as the host of the show. They partner with the site Podcorn to connect you with advertisers. 

If you want something that can grow with you over time, then RSS offers you one of the best podcast-hosting platforms around. 

What to Look for in Podcast Hosting to Make More Money

The best podcast hosting platform may not be the most straightforward thing to find. Depending on the features you want it to have and your monthly budget, you might find that some just aren't the right fit for your show. Here are our top tips to find podcast hosting that works for you. 

Expanded Distribution to Reach More People

Where do you want your podcast to be available? Some hosting platforms might only allow one or two options (like Spotify for Podcasters listed above).

Some have expanded distribution to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Samsung, and Amazon Music. 

The more places where your episodes are available, the more downloads you can get -- and the more money you can earn!

Metrics to Monitor Growth

The best podcast hosting platforms give you the analytics to know exactly who listens to your podcasts, when they tune in, and even where they are from.

Some even allow you to export those metrics into a spreadsheet to have them at your fingertips and study them closer. 

Your metrics matter when it comes to monetizing your podcast. Sponsors and advertisers want to pay for ads that will be put in front of their target audience. And you might find that they require a certain download threshold before they permit you to advertise their products or services. 

Without detailed analytics, you may not know when you qualify for these lucrative ad spots.

Monetization Features

Of course, this is the entire reason you're here right now. Expanded distribution and detailed metrics are great to have, but how do you actually start making money from your podcast? There are lots of ways that a platform might offer you an opportunity to earn, but the best podcast hosting options have some variations on the following:

• Monthly subscriptions
• Dynamic ad insertion
• One-time tips or donations
• Sponsorships
• One-time purchases
• Payment for access to exclusive content or early access

Get creative with what you think your audience may want, and plan to use a hosting platform that provides you with the flexibility to grow and even change strategy as your podcast gains traction. 

Affordable Pricing 

Last but not least, you need to ensure that you can earn back what you spend on the hosting platform you decide to use. There are tons of options if you need a free plan, and they tend to start with the very basic framework of what you will need.

However, you may not be happy here in the long term. 

As your podcast grows, you could scale to a paid hosting platform that gives you access to advanced features like hosting unlimited podcasts and tapping into some of these monetization tools. You may want to look for hosting platforms to grow with you before deciding where to start. It could save you a lot of headache in the long run! 

Final Thoughts: Best Podcast Platform for Monetization

Are you ready to start making more money from the episodes you have been investing your time and money into? These top nine podcast hosting platforms pave the way for you to earn a decent living from your shows. 

Be sure to see what features each one offers so that you can lay the groundwork for a successful podcast that will earn more as you grow! 

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