If you're leaving Buzzsprout, pick the podcast host that matches the job your show does for your business: reaching listeners, earning from episodes, or keeping a team and private feeds in order. The hosts below are unranked, and the questions that settle it are analytics, support and how easily your back catalogue moves across.
Who this podcast host list is for
Business podcasters and marketing teams who publish a show to win clients, build authority or train staff, and who want a host that gets each episode out to the listening apps without fuss. If you're a hobbyist, most of these will still work, but I've written this for the person whose podcast has to earn its place in the marketing plan.
Buzzsprout sits in the podcast hosting category. The eleven alternatives here come from the same category, and I've described each one only by what its own website says it does. I haven't run your show on them, so treat this as a shortlist to trial, not a ranking.
Three jobs a business podcast host can do
Most hosts cover the basics of storing audio and sending it out. Where they differ is the job they lean into, and that's the quickest way to cut eleven names down to two or three.
Getting episodes everywhere. If clean publishing and reach matter most, look at Fireside, Pinecast, Podomatic, RSS.com, Simplecast and Spotify for Creators. Their own descriptions centre on hosting, publishing or running a show.
Earning from the show. Acast, Libsyn and Podbean all put monetisation front and centre. That matters if you'd like the show to bring in income of its own, not only leads for your business.
Teams, private feeds and support. Blubrry points to phone support, and Castos to private podcasting, which is handy for an internal training show or a members-only feed that sits next to your public one.
Podcast hosts side by side
Here's the short version, in no particular order. The type column uses each vendor's own description of itself, so it tells you where the company puts its effort.
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Acast | Podcast monetisation platform | Shows that want advertiser income |
| Blubrry | Podcast hosting platform | Hosting, stats and a show website with phone support |
| Castos | Podcast hosting platform | Private podcasting and built-in analytics |
| Fireside | Podcast hosting platform | Reliable hosting with clear analytics and personal support |
| Libsyn | Podcast hosting platform | Hosting, distribution and detailed stats |
| Pinecast | Podcast hosting | Straightforward podcast hosting |
| Podbean | Podcast hosting and monetising | Creating, promoting and monetising a show |
| Podomatic | Podcast publishing platform | Recording and publishing from desktop or mobile |
| RSS.com | Podcast hosting platform | Unlimited episodes, an RSS feed and analytics |
| Simplecast | Podcast hosting and analytics | One-click publishing to the big listening apps |
| Spotify for Creators | Audio and video podcasting platform | Publishing on Spotify's own creator platform |
Eleven Buzzsprout alternatives, A to Z
Listed alphabetically, one line each, so you can see the fit at a glance.
Acast
Best for: Business shows that want to earn from advertising, since the platform says it connects creators with premium advertisers.
Blubrry
Best for: Podcasters who want hosting, statistics, distribution and a show website in one place, with phone support when something breaks.
Castos
Best for: Companies that want private podcasting alongside public shows, with monetisation and analytics built in.
Fireside
Best for: Hosts of a growing show who want reliable hosting, clear analytics and personal support.
Libsyn
Best for: Marketing teams that want hosting, distribution and monetisation together, with detailed stats to report back on.
Pinecast
Best for: Anyone after plain podcast hosting; check its site for the features your show needs.
Podbean
Best for: Creators who want tools to make, promote and monetise a podcast from a single account.
Podomatic
Best for: Owners who record and publish on the move, as it works on desktop or any mobile device.
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RSS.com
Best for: New business shows that want unlimited episodes, an RSS feed and analytics, plus tools to grow.
Simplecast
Best for: Teams that want one-click publishing to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, with distribution and analytics in one platform.
Spotify for Creators
Best for: Video podcasters who want to publish audio and video on Spotify's own free creator platform.
Transcripts and show notes are worth checking
One feature that rarely makes a host's homepage is help with transcripts. It should. The W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative explains that the main purpose of a transcript is to give the information to people who can't get it from the audio or video. For a business show, that's clients who are deaf or hard of hearing, and plenty of people who'd rather skim a page than press play.
So when you trial a host, check whether you can add a transcript to each episode and whether the show notes page is easy to edit. A host that makes this awkward will slow down every episode you publish, and a transcript on your own site gives readers something to find and quote long after the episode goes out.
Questions to ask before you move a back catalogue
- Will the host import your existing episodes and keep your feed working, so current subscribers don't lose you?
- Which stats will you see, and can you export them for a monthly report?
- Can more than one person in your team log in, and can you control who publishes?
- Is support by email, chat or phone, and how quickly do they answer?
- If you want income from the show, does the host find advertisers for you or leave that to you?
- Can you run a private feed for staff or members as well as a public show?
None of those is a deal-breaker on its own. Together they'll tell you more than any homepage, and the answers are usually one support email away.
My advice if you're leaving Buzzsprout
Decide which of the three jobs matters most, pick two hosts from that group, and publish a test episode on each before you move a single back episode. Look at the stats screen you'll be reporting from, send support a question, and see how transcripts and show notes work. The host that makes your weekly routine shorter is the right one for a business show, because your time is what a podcast eats.
If you also need help on the production side, my guides to podcast recording software and editing tools for podcasts cover what sits before the host in your workflow.
Do you make podcast hosting software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What should a business look for in a Buzzsprout alternative?
Start with the job: reaching listeners, earning from the show, or running private feeds for a team. Then check the analytics you'll report on, the support you'll get and how easily your existing episodes move across.
Can I move my podcast without losing subscribers?
Most hosts offer a way to bring episodes across, and some mention migration help on their own sites. Before you switch, ask the new host how it handles your feed so listeners keep getting new episodes, and don't delete anything from your old host until the move is confirmed.
Do these podcast hosts help with transcripts?
Some make it obvious and some don't. Check during a trial whether you can add a transcript to each episode. The W3C points out that transcripts give the content to people who can't get it from the audio, so they're worth the extra step.
Is there a free option?
A few hosts describe a free starting point on their own sites, but plans change, so check each vendor's page for what's included before you commit. Don't assume a free option comes with the analytics or support a business show needs.
Should a business podcast carry ads?
It depends on why you publish. If the show exists to win clients, ads can pull attention away from your own offer. If it's a media product in its own right, a host that brings in advertisers can make sense.
