.png?width=157&height=29&name=iZooto-blog-branding%20(1).png "iZooto-blog-branding (1)"){kind=small}
Podcasting has become a popular medium for content creators to voice their opinion. It definitely doesn’t come as a surprise as podcasts currently have 464.7 million listeners globally. Moreover, the revenue generated by the podcast industry is set to reach $4.2 billion by 2024.
Publishers have found great value in incorporating podcasts into their websites. However, creating and publishing podcasts can be a complex process. If you are a WordPress publisher, podcast plugins can help simplify this process. We explore some of the best podcast plugins out there.
Why Should Publishers Use a Podcast Plugin?
Let’s start with why publishers need podcast plugins and how they can use these plugins to optimize their podcasts to reach the most amount of people.
- Typically podcasts are only available on streaming services, these podcast plugins help publishers reach out to a wider audience via their website or social platforms.
- Podcasts can be directly embedded on the website, thus improving engagement and keeping visitors on the site longer.
- You can easily create RSS feeds (Really Simple Syndication) of your podcast content using these plugins.
- Many podcast plugins allow podcasts to be easily shared on social media and other platforms, increasing visibility and attracting new listeners.
- Some of these plugins offer metrics such as listener demographics, playback duration, etc., that can help publishers understand how their podcasts are being consumed.
- Podcast plugins can also help publishers monetize their podcasts through advertising, sponsorships, or other means.
Overall, these plugins can help publishers grow their audience, improve engagement, and generate revenue from their podcasts. We’ve put together a list of the best podcast plugins for publishers on WordPress.
Different Podcast Plugins Compared
PowerPress by Blubrry
PowerPress is a popular and highly-rated podcast plugin for WordPress. It offers a wide range of features that make podcasting easy and accessible for content creators of all levels. With PowerPress, you can easily create a podcast feed, customize the player, and display the latest episodes on your website. It also offers advanced features such as adding transcripts and creating playlists.
PowerPress is a free plugin that comes with some basic features. To access advanced features, you can purchase Blubrry Hosting, starting at $12 per month, and Blubrry Statistics, starting at $5 per month.
Key Features
- SEO-friendly
- Import podcasts from various RSS feed
- Simple and advanced mode for beginners and experts
- Ability to add audio as well as video to your site
- Premium podcasting using Memberpress
Seriously Simple Podcasting
As the name suggests, Seriously Simple Podcasting is a lightweight and user-friendly plugin for creating and publishing podcasts on WordPress. It was acquired by Castos in 2016. Its easy-to-use interface makes creating podcast episodes easy, adding metadata, and publishing your podcast to popular platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Seriously Simple Podcasting is a free-to-use plugin. However, it can be integrated with Castos Podcast hosting starting $19. Castos allows you additional advanced features including monetizing your podcast.
Key Features:
- Multiple RSS feeds for different podcasts on a single site
- Display your podcasts anywhere on the site with shortcodes and widgets
- Can be used with other major podcasting platforms
- Easy interface for beginners
Podlove Podcast Publisher
Podlove is an open-source podcasting platform that offers a free plugin for WordPress. It offers a range of advanced features like customizable podcast players, chapter markers, and the ability to add audio files to posts and pages. It also offers a range of templates that make it easy to customize your podcast website.
Podlove Podcast Publisher is a free plugin. However, if you require additional support from the team, you can pay for premium support.
Key Features:
- Complete access to every piece of code, which makes the template highly customizable
- HTML-5 compatible web player
- An active online community for support
- Compatible with other podcast hosts
Simple Podcast Press
Simple Podcast Press is a premium plugin that offers a range of features to help you create a professional-looking podcast website. It offers customizable podcast players, automatic episode updates, and the ability to display your podcast on popular platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Simple Podcast is a premium plugin starting at $67 for a single site.
Key Features
- Ability to add content to your podcast
- Modify RSS feeds
- Auto-publish episodes on your WordPress site
- Clickable timestamps
- Can instantly replace Blubrry's PowerPress without changing your feed
Libsyn Podcasting Plugin
Libsyn is a popular podcast hosting service offering a WordPress plugin. With the Libsyn plugin, you can easily manage your podcast episodes, publish them to your website, and distribute them to popular podcast directories. It also offers a range of analytics and marketing tools to help you grow your audience. To access all features, you will have to install the premium plugin starting at $5 only.
Key Features
- Create episodes
- Media files stay hosted with Libsyn, so you can save space on WP hosting platforms
- Apple Podcasts optimization tags
- Automated feed/show migrations
- Advanced scheduling
Anchor Podcasting Platform and Plugin
Anchor is a free podcasting platform by Spotify that offers a range of features to help you create, publish, and distribute your podcast. It also offers a free WordPress plugin that makes publishing your podcast to your website easy. Anchor also offers monetization options like sponsorships and listener donations, it is a free plugin.
Key Features
- Allows distribution to all major podcasting apps
- Analytics and engagement insights
- Monetize with subscriptions
- Ability to record ads or insert sponsor-read ads
- Create custom cover art easily
Buzzsprout Podcasting Plugin
Buzzsprout is a popular podcast hosting service that also offers a plugin for WordPress. With the Buzzsprout plugin, you can easily manage your podcast episodes, publish them to your website, and distribute them to popular podcast directories.
The free version of Buzzsprout offers 2 hours of audio uploads per month. They have premium pricing for 3, 6, and 12 hours per month as well, starting at $12 per month
Key Features
- Allows getting listed in various podcast directories
- Add your episodes anywhere on the site using shortcodes
- Automatic audio optimization
- Powerful analytics
- HTML5 player
Spreaker Podcasting Plugin
Spreaker is a podcast hosting service that offers a plugin for WordPress. With the Spreaker plugin, you can easily manage your podcast episodes, publish them to your website, and distribute them to popular podcast directories. It also offers a range of analytics and marketing tools to help you grow your audience.
It comes with a free version offering some basic features including RSS feeds. The paid version starts at $8 per month.
Key Features
- Limitless audio storage space and unlimited episodes.
- Collaboration feature.
- Ability to monetize with ads.
- Option to auto-upload to iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
- Mobile access
Podbean Podcasting Plugin
Podbean is a popular podcast hosting service that also offers a plugin for WordPress. With the Podbean plugin, you can easily manage your podcast episodes, publish them to your website, and distribute them to popular podcast directories. It also offers a range of monetization options, including sponsorships and listener donations.
The basic plan is free with a lot of features. The paid version starts at $9 per month offering a lot more advanced features.
Key Features
- Unlimited audio and video hosting
- Create custom cover art
- Schedule podcasts to be published
- Customizable themes
- Social media auto-sharing
All in all, choosing the best podcast plugin for WordPress can be a daunting task, but a look at the features such as audio and video players, podcast hosting support, etc., ease of use, user-friendly interface, compatibility, customer support, and pricing are some factors to consider when selecting a podcast plugin that best suits your needs and helps you create and manage a successful podcast on your WordPress website.
Looking for different plugins for your website? Check out the best WordPress plugins for you blog.
