- How these eight podcast plugins were picked
- Eight plugins for podcasts and audio
- Publishing, playing or importing an episode feed
- Which podcast plugin type for which show
- A perfect score on a plugin not updated for a year
- Getting episodes onto your site
- Plain advice on choosing a podcast plugin
- Frequently asked questions
A WordPress podcast plugin either publishes and manages your show from your own site, or plays episodes you host somewhere else. Others import an existing feed into posts or add subscribe buttons for the podcast apps. Eight plugins follow, in no particular order, with installs and ratings from the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026.
Your website should be the home of your podcast, even if most listeners find you in a podcast app. A podcast plugin decides how much of that work WordPress does: all of it, or just playing episodes on your pages.
Some plugins here publish and manage the podcast itself, some just play episodes, one imports a feed you already have and one adds subscribe buttons. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the plugin's own WordPress.org listing. If you're still at the planning stage, my guide on how to start a podcast walks through the steps before any of this.
How these eight podcast plugins were picked
Every plugin here is listed in the WordPress.org plugin directory, and that listing is where the active installs band, the rating out of 5, the number of ratings, the publisher and the last updated date come from, as of Oct 2026. The list mixes podcast publishers with audio players, a feed importer and a subscribe buttons plugin, because each one covers a different part of running a show. The free plan column says Yes only where the listing itself names a free version or free use. Not stated means it didn't, so read the listing before you install.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTML5 Audio Player | Audio player | Podcast, MP3 and audio players without code | Not stated |
| MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar | Music and podcast player | Playlists and albums for music and podcasts | Not stated |
| Podcast Importer SecondLine | Feed importer | Syncing an existing podcast feed into WordPress | Not stated |
| Podcast Player | Podcast player | Playing a podcast from its feed | Not stated |
| Podcast Subscribe Buttons | Subscribe buttons | Follow buttons for major podcast apps | Yes |
| Podlove Podcast Publisher | Podcast publisher | Publishing with a focus on the listening experience | Not stated |
| PowerPress | Podcast publisher | Publishing and managing one or more podcasts | Not stated |
| Seriously Simple Podcasting | Podcast publisher | Starting a podcast with an onboarding wizard | Not stated |
Eight plugins for podcasts and audio
HTML5 Audio Player
Best for: A lightweight, responsive player for podcasts, MP3s and other audio, set up without writing any code.
MP3 Audio Player by Sonaar
Best for: Music makers and podcasters who want unlimited playlists and albums on posts or WooCommerce products.
Podcast Importer SecondLine
Best for: Bringing a podcast you already host elsewhere into WordPress by syncing its RSS feed into posts automatically.
Podcast Player
Best for: Showing off your podcast on any page by pointing the player at your feed, without moving where the show is hosted.
Podcast Subscribe Buttons
Best for: Adding custom subscribe and follow buttons for the major podcast platforms anywhere on your site, from the editor or a shortcode.
Podlove Podcast Publisher
Best for: Podcasters who want to publish from WordPress with a project that's been running since 2012 and focuses on the listening experience.
PowerPress
Best for: Publishing and managing one show or several from WordPress, from a plugin made by a podcasting company for podcasters.
Seriously Simple Podcasting
Best for: Starting a podcast from scratch with an onboarding wizard and several player options, from the team behind a podcast host.
Publishing, playing or importing an episode feed
A publishing plugin manages the podcast from WordPress itself. A player plugin only puts episodes on your pages, so your show can stay with whatever host you already use. An importer copies an existing feed into posts, which gives every episode its own page on your site, and subscribe buttons point listeners to the apps they already have.
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Which podcast plugin type for which show
- Launching a new show and running it from WordPress: a podcast publishing plugin.
- Already hosted elsewhere and you just want episodes on the site: a podcast player that reads your feed.
- A page for every past episode: a feed importer.
- Music, beats and podcasts together: an audio player with playlists and albums.
- More followers in the podcast apps: a subscribe buttons plugin.
A perfect score on a plugin not updated for a year
Podcast Subscribe Buttons shows a 5.0 rating, but on only 11 ratings, and its last updated date in the WordPress.org plugin directory is October 13, 2025, as of Oct 2026. Every other plugin on this list was updated in 2026, all of them in September or October.
A short, perfect rating and an old update date don't mean the buttons have stopped working. They do mean there's less evidence behind the score, so check the support forum before you install, and look again after big WordPress updates.
Getting episodes onto your site
- Decide where the show is hosted before you choose a plugin, because it changes which kind you need.
- Give each episode a page with show notes, so search engines have words to read, not just audio.
- Add a transcript where you can. It helps people who'd rather read, and these transcription tools for podcasts make it quick.
- Put subscribe links near the player, so new listeners can follow you in the app they already use.
Do you make a WordPress podcast plugin? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Plain advice on choosing a podcast plugin
Let your hosting decide. If your show already lives with a podcast host, a player or importer is all you need, and you avoid running two systems. If you want WordPress to run the show, choose a publishing plugin with a recent update and plenty of ratings, and stick to one.
Running the show on your own? My answer to whether you can host a podcast solo covers what changes when it's just you.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a podcast plugin to host a podcast on WordPress?
Only if you want WordPress to publish and manage the show. If a podcast host already handles it, a player plugin is enough to put episodes on your pages.
What's the difference between a podcast player and a publisher plugin?
A publisher manages the podcast from WordPress. A player only displays and plays episodes, usually from your existing feed.
Can I import my existing podcast into WordPress?
Yes. An importer plugin syncs your podcast's RSS feed into posts or a custom post type, so each episode gets its own page.
Are WordPress podcast plugins free?
One listing here names a free plugin, as of Oct 2026, and the rest don't say either way. Check the free plan column and the listing before you install.
Which podcast plugin has the most active installs?
Three plugins here share the top band of 20,000+ active installs, as of Oct 2026: two podcast publishers and one music and podcast player.
