Free vs paid podcast hosting: with so many free options available, you may wonder why anyone would pay.
Here’s the truth. Not all free podcast hosting is created equal. Some free hosts pile on restrictions and take cuts of your revenue. Others, like RSS.com’s Free Local & Niche plan, give you unlimited episodes and unlimited storage without the typical catches.
Let’s explore why RSS.com’s free plan is different from other free options, what limitations you’ll find with hosts like Spotify for Creators, and when it makes sense to upgrade to a paid plan.
Is Free Podcast Hosting Really Free?
It’s important to understand how platforms offering “free” services make money to cover their expenses.
Here’s where RSS.com is different. Our Free Local & Niche plan gives you unlimited episodes, unlimited storage, and the tools to grow your podcast without revenue sharing or hidden fees.
We built it specifically for podcasters focused on local communities, neighborhood stories, niche topics, and specialized audiences.
However, if you’re considering other free services like Spotify for Creators, you should understand the pitfalls and limitations, especially if:
- You are creating your podcast for your brand or business.
- You plan on turning your podcast into a business at some point.
- You plan on actively podcasting, gaining a fan base, and then monetizing your show to make money.
With options to create, distribute and monetize a podcast, it’s easy to see why so many new podcasters choose Spotify for Creators to start their show.
But is Spotify for Creators really free, and what limitations will you run into?
Unlike other free options, RSS.com’s Free Local & Niche plan doesn’t limit your episodes, delete your content after a certain period, or force you into revenue-sharing agreements. You get unlimited audio storage, automatic distribution to all major podcast apps, episode scheduling, transcripts, and a free podcast website.
Are You Starting a Podcast to Make Money?
In digging into the fine print, you’ll find that Spotify’s monetization philosophy is that “we should all make money together, rather than profiting off each other’s needs.”
What does that mean in practice? If you want to use Spotify’s sponsorship marketplace to connect with advertisers, they’ll not only take 30%, but they will also charge you additional processing and cashout fees.
Here’s the catch: as your show grows and you start earning real money through their marketplace, those cash out fees add up fast.
RSS.com works differently.
With our Free Local & Niche plan, you can find your own sponsors, negotiate your own rates, and keep 100% of what you earn.
Want to do host-read ads? Go for it. The revenue is all yours.
Then, if you want access to programmatic advertising through our PAID network, that’s available as an upgrade with our All in One plan for $11.99/month (annually). You’ll pay the same predictable monthly fee whether you have 100 downloads or 100,000. No surprise cash out fees that cut into your earnings.
The bottom line? With RSS.com, you’re in control of your monetization strategy from day one. We’re not taking a cut unless you choose to use our programmatic ad tools.
Top Reasons to Avoid Free Podcast Hosting Services Like Spotify for Creators
- Limited Episode Length – Do you ever want to cut an episode short because the file size will be larger than what your free host allows? We don’t think you should have to do that!
- You Don’t Actually Own Your Content – Be sure to read the fine print if you sign up for a free service.
- It’s Difficult to Move Your Show – If you outgrow some free services, oftentimes they make it very difficult to redirect your content to another host.
- Monetization Limitations – Some free services will put restrictions on your monetization efforts.
- Spotify for Creators owns your RSS feed by default. Spotify has a vested interest in keeping you on Spotify which is why they disable your RSS feed by default.
- Customer support is close to non-existent for many free hosting providers. Replies to customer questions and complaints often take days. There are many users who are unhappy and frustrated because of their lack of real customer support.
- You could have your show deleted at any time, and for no reason. We recently learned about a podcast being deleted by Spotify without warning – eliminating years of work in an instant. Sadly, this is not the only podcast to end up on the chopping block without advance notice. Many Reddit users complain about their shows being deleted too and having no recourse when it happens.
How RSS.com’s Free Local & Niche Plan Is Different
RSS.com doesn’t operate like typical free podcast hosts. Here’s what you get without paying a cent:
- Unlimited episodes and storage. Upload as many episodes as you want, as long as you want. We don’t delete your episodes after 90 days or cap your storage at 5 hours like other free hosts.
- Full content ownership. You own your podcast. Period.
- Easy migration. Your RSS feed belongs to you. If you decide to move to another host, we make it simple. We don’t hold your content hostage.
- Monetization on your terms. Find your own sponsors, use listener funding through donation buttons, offer affiliate links in your show notes via CodeADX, or try Value for Value payments.
- Real customer support. Even on the free plan, you get actual support from real people who care about your show’s success.
Our FLAN plan was built for local and niche podcasts. Whether you’re covering neighborhood news, local sports, community events, or specialized hobbies, our free plan gives you the tools to reach your targeted audience.
The Hidden Costs of Podcast Hosting with Spotify for Creators
- If you choose to allow Spotify for Creators to distribute your show to the major podcast directories, it will “block your access to additional Apple stats in podcastsconnect.apple.com.” Not cool, right? Also, you’ll find that the email listed in your feed for iTunes Owner is not the email that you used to set up your Spotify for Creators account.”
- Spotify for Creators also limits your podcast categories to just one, whereas other hosts allow you to add up to three giving you more opportunities to be found on Apple Podcasts.
- Also, because many podcasters choose to have Anchor distribute their podcasts on their behalf, they lose access to most analytics – sure, Spotify for Creators does give you an analytics dashboard, but details you’re looking for and need might not be accessible.
- Spotify for Creators can shut down without warning. Because they are a free service, they could simply decide to shut everything down and take your content offline.
- Spotify for Creators has recently changed the format of an RSS feed making it harder to redirect your show to another host, or to submit your show to podcast directories yourself. If you outgrow Spotify for Creators, it can be difficult to leave and transfer your content to another host.
- Spotify for Creators is “designed to be automated,” but that translates into having “little control over a number of features that may turn away professional podcasters,” says Resonate Recordings.
Why Upgrading to a Paid Plan Makes Sense
RSS.com’s Free Local & Niche plan gives you everything you need to launch and grow a podcast. However, some creators choose to upgrade to unlock additional features. Here’s what you get with RSS.com’s paid plans:
- Automatic and guided distribution of your podcast to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and other major podcast directories.
- Free AI-powered episode transcripts that you can use to promote your show.
- The ability to convert your audio episodes into videos and upload to YouTube directly from your dashboard.
- Detailed podcast analytics to help you understand your audience.
- Free website for your podcast.
- The ability to host multiple shows from the same account.
- Extremely easy to use – new shows can be up and running in around 5 minutes.
- Monetization options including sponsorship opportunities, Apple Podcast Subscriptions integration, and programmatic advertising through our PAID network.
- Removal of your email address from your public RSS feed to protect your privacy and prevent unwanted email spam.
- The ability to add collaborators (Admins and Analysts) to enhance how you manage your show.
- World-class customer support
- Inclusion in our podcast Community section for additional discoverability of your show.
Note: Many of these features are already included in our free plan, including a podcast website, analytics, automatic distribution, and privacy protection.
And if you decide for any reason that RSS.com isn’t the right fit, we won’t hold your episodes hostage! We make it easy to redirect your podcast from RSS.com to another host if that’s what you decide to do so.
RSS.com vs Spotify for Creators
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy and Security | Enhanced privacy and security features to protect your content and data. | Standard privacy and security features. Want proof? See this recent article. |
| Control Over Your Content | You maintain full full control over your content. | Your podcast can be deleted without prior notice. Want proof? See this thread and check out this article. |
| Monetization Options | Multiple monetization options including Sponsorship opportunities and Podcasting 2.0 Value4Value. (Programmatic Ads and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions available for paid plans) | Limited monetization options only through ads. |
| AI Features | Convert your audio episodes into engaging videos using our PodViz technology. (Paid users can automatically distribute these videos to YouTube and enjoy free episode transcripts) | No transcripts or YouTube integration. |
| Value | Competitive pricing for advanced features and dedicated support. | Free, but with limited features and support compared to paid services. |
| Customer Support | Dedicated customer support with quick response times. | On January 2nd, 2025 Spotify discontinued their Listener Support program. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 4.9 Rating on Trustpilot | 4.5 Rating on Trustpilot |
The bottom line: RSS.com’s Free Local & Niche plan gives you the freedom to grow without Spotify’s limitations, and our paid plans offer features that truly support your podcast’s growth.
Ready to Switch?
We make it easy to migrate your show from Spotify for Creators to RSS.com. Start with our Free Local & Niche plan to get unlimited episodes, storage, and distribution without restrictions.
If you need advanced features, upgrade to our All in One plan for $11.99/month (annual) and get access to programmatic advertising and more.
Free vs Paid Podcast Hosting – Which is Best
The best choice depends on your podcasting goals and the host you choose.
If you’re focused on local news, community stories, neighborhood businesses, niche hobbies, or specialized topics, RSS.com’s Free Local & Niche plan gives you unlimited episodes and storage without the typical free hosting restrictions. You can podcast for free without worrying about content deletion, revenue sharing, or losing control of your show.
Other free platforms like Spotify for Creators come with serious limitations. They take cuts of your revenue, limit your control, and can delete your content without warning.
If you need advanced features like programmatic advertising or managing multiple shows, RSS.com’s paid plans start at just $11.99/month (annually). You get professional tools without the predatory practices common with other free hosts.
What are you waiting for? Start your podcast for free with RSS.com’s Free Local & Niche plan, or upgrade to unlock even more features. Experience for yourself why our worldwide community of podcasters love our service!
