What podcast tools cost in 2026: entry prices for 16 hosts, 9 recording and editing tools and 8 transcription services
Real list prices from 32 podcast tools, checked October 2026. The median host costs $19 a month, half of the 16 hosts have a free plan, and a full starter setup can cost $0.
We checked the list prices of 32 podcast tools for this report: 16 hosting platforms, 9 recording and editing tools and 8 transcription services ( Descript appears in two tables). Every price is the cheapest plan you can pay for by the month, taken from each company's own pricing page between 13 and 28 October 2026. These are the same prices our hosting, recording software and transcription comparisons show.
The short answer
- Hosting: the median paid entry plan is $19 a month across 15 paid hosts. 8 of the 16 hosts have a free plan: Acast, beehiiv, Buzzsprout, Podbean, RedCircle, RSS.com, Spotify for Creators and Spreaker. The cheapest paid plans are Blubrry ($7), Libsyn ($8) and Fireside ($9).
- Recording and editing: the median paid entry plan is $35 a month across 7 paid tools. Free options: Audacity, Descript's free plan, CleanFeed's free plan, Zencastr's free plan and Pro Tools Intro.
- Transcription: the median paid entry plan is $22 a month across 8 services. VideoText ($14.99), Otter ($16.99) and TurboScribe ($20, unlimited) are the cheapest paid plans. TurboScribe, Otter, Rev, VideoText and Descript also have free plans.
- A full starter setup can cost $0: Spotify for Creators or RSS.com's free plan for hosting, Audacity or Zencastr for recording, and TurboScribe's free plan for transcripts.
- A typical paid setup costs about $60 to $80 a month: a $19 host, Descript ($24) or Riverside ($35), and a $20 transcription plan.
Podcast hosting: entry prices per month
| Host | Free plan | Cheapest paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| Blubrry | No | $7 (Standard 1.5) |
| Libsyn | No | $8 |
| Fireside | No | $9 (Starter) |
| Simplecast | No | $15 (Basic) |
| Ausha | No | $17 (Launch) |
| Podbean | Yes | $17 (Unlimited Audio) |
| Buzzsprout | Yes | $18 (Audio) |
| Captivate | No | $19 (Personal) |
| Castos | No | $19 (Essentials) |
| Transistor | No | $19 (Starter) |
| RedCircle | Yes | $19.99 (Growth) |
| RSS.com | Yes | $19.99 (Plus) |
| Spreaker | Yes | $20 (Broadcaster) |
| Acast | Yes | $25 (Essential) |
| beehiiv | Yes | $59 (Lite; a newsletter platform that also hosts podcasts) |
| Spotify for Creators | Yes | Free only |
Full comparison: best podcast hosting platforms.
Recording and editing: entry prices per month
| Tool | Free plan | Cheapest paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| Hindenburg | No | $12 (Standard) |
| Adobe Audition | No | $22.99 (single app) |
| Descript | Yes | $24 (Hobbyist) |
| Riverside | No | $35 (Pro) |
| CleanFeed | Yes | $36 (Pro) |
| Alitu | No | $38 (Standard) |
| Pro Tools | Yes (Intro) | $99 (Artist) |
| Audacity | Yes | Free only |
| Zencastr | Yes | Free; Enterprise on request |
Full comparison: best podcast recording software.
Transcription: entry prices per month
| Service | Free plan | Cheapest paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| VideoText | Yes | $14.99 (Pro) |
| Otter | Yes | $16.99 (Pro) |
| Happy Scribe | No | $17 (Basic) |
| TurboScribe | Yes | $20 (Unlimited) |
| Descript | Yes | $24 (Hobbyist) |
| Sonix | No | $25 (Core) |
| Rev | Yes | $29.99 (Essentials) |
| Trint | No | $90 (Team) |
Full comparison: best podcast transcription services.
How we counted
- Entry price is the cheapest plan you can pay for monthly, from each company's own pricing page, checked between 13 and 28 October 2026. Annual-only plans are shown as their monthly equivalent. Taxes, overage fees and add-ons are left out.
- "Free plan" means a plan that never expires, not a trial.
- Medians use paid plans only. Analytics and advertising tools are left out because most of them quote prices only on request.
- Prices change. If you spot one that has moved, tell us through the company's listing and we will update this report.