Free podcast hosting
2 of the 10 tracked hosts have a free plan: RSS.com Free (Unlimited episodes and downloads; no expiration); Acast Starter (5 episodes (unlimited if the show joins Acast's ad marketplace); not ranked because the calculator does not count episodes).
Last checked 2026-10-18 on the official pages.
| Free plan | Podcasts | Downloads / month | Upload hours / month | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSS.com Free | 1 | no cap stated | no cap stated | Unlimited episodes and downloads; no expiration |
| Acast Starter | 1 | no cap stated | no cap stated | 5 episodes (unlimited if the show joins Acast's ad marketplace); not ranked because the calculator does not count episodes |
Visit RSS.com (official site) ↗
Free trials (no free plan)
- Buzzsprout: free plan to try it, no credit card (limits not listed on the pricing page, so not ranked)
- Captivate: 30-day free trial
- Transistor: 14-day free trial
- Podbean: free account to start
- Castos: 14-day free trial
- Simplecast: 14-day free trial, no credit card
- Fireside: no free trial stated on the pricing page
- Riverside: 14-day free trial
Total = plan price + any paid extra podcasts. Download and upload caps are the plan limits each host states; 'no cap stated' means the pricing page sets none (most call it unlimited or unmetered); Fireside and Podbean Network cap bandwidth in GB/TB, which is shown but not converted to downloads. Upload hours are audio hours (video uses more storage). 'Video podcast' = the host lists video podcast hosting on that plan. monthly price = no annual price is published as a number, so the monthly price is used. Ties are broken by name. Affiliate status is never used.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free podcast hosting?
2 of the 10 tracked hosts have a free plan: RSS.com Free (Unlimited episodes and downloads; no expiration); Acast Starter (5 episodes (unlimited if the show joins Acast's ad marketplace); not ranked because the calculator does not count episodes).
Do Buzzsprout, Captivate or Transistor have a free plan?
No free plan: Buzzsprout, Captivate, Transistor, Podbean, Castos, Simplecast, Fireside, Riverside. Most offer a free trial instead (listed above).