If you're starting a podcast in 2026 or thinking about switching hosts, this episode offers a real-world look at what each platform does well, and where they may fall short.

In Part 2: I'm comparing four of the most talked-about podcast hosts for independent creators: Captivate, Buzzsprout, Transistor, and RSS.com.

In This Episode

• Why Captivate remains one of the strongest growth-focused podcast hosting platforms
• The AI assistant feature that almost kept me on Captivate
• Customer support experiences and billing challenges
• Captivate pricing, download limits, and podcast network options
• Transistor's user-friendly interface and podcast website features
• Buzzsprout's strengths for solo creators and mobile podcasters
• Buzzsprout's podcast education resources and active community
• Audio vs. video podcast hosting costs
• Free podcast hosting options that still allow you to own your content
• RSS.com features including unlimited podcasts, AI transcripts, and monetization

Hosting Platforms Covered

Captivate

• Unlimited podcasts and episodes
• Strong marketing and growth tools
• AI-powered podcast assistant
• Podcast network support
• Monetization options
• Download-based pricing structure

Transistor

• Clean and intuitive interface
• Podcast websites and podcast networks
• Advanced analytics
• Dynamic ad insertion (higher-tier plans)
• Unlimited podcast hosting

Buzzsprout

• Beginner-friendly podcast hosting
• Mobile app support
• Video podcast publishing
• Strong educational resources
• Active creator community
• Transparent pricing

RSS.com

• Free podcast hosting option
• Unlimited podcasts and episodes
• AI-generated transcripts
• Podcast websites
• Listener donations and monetization
• Podcast network support
• Independent creator-friendly approach

Key Takeaway

The best podcast hosting platform isn't necessarily the one with the most features; it's the one that fits your workflow, budget, and goals.

Other Resources Mentioned

• Adobe Podcast
• Descript
• Riverside

Connect

Follow the show on Instagram: @krpodlab

Visit: krpodlab.com