Buzzsprout
Up until a couple of years ago, Buzzsprout was something of an also-ran, but has seen major growth since 2018 and is now arguably the world’s biggest podcast host.
They share a lot of user-interface DNA with Libsyn, Podbean and similar companies that arose in the early 2000s, but since 2020 have been leading the charge in adoption of standards like the Podcast Index’s podcast
namespace.
The company’s vast educational resources, predictable pricing (including a free tier) and their somewhat silly name position Buzzsprout as a solid service for the hobbyist looking to flex their muscles. Podcasters looking to host their own website will likely want something more flexible than the out-of-the-box solution, but for all their positioning as a casual service for beginners, it has features and support for those ready to take their podcast more seriously, including IAB-certified analytics, dynamic content insertion, transcription, and an attractive embeddable player.
- Price: $12.00 per month
- Ease-of-use:
- Transcripts: Yes
- Feed locking: Yes
- Receive Bitcoin from listeners: Yes
- Create soundbite clips from episodes: Yes
Mark’s thoughts
2 weeks, 5 days agoI’ve been using and recommending Captivate to clients for six months, and while I would prefer they remove some features and keep their energies focused, my recommendation stands.
For people just starting out, who want to hit the ground running and don’t want to have to overthink their website strategy or how to be listed in every directory, Captivate is a great place to start your journey.
I’d like the websites to be more attractive and/or customisable – maybe with a bit of CSS – so that those who manage podcasts on others’ behalf can make them look prettier. But they present podcasters with the bare bones of what they need to get going, at an unbeatable price.