Best Podcast Hosting in 2026? I Compared 5 Platforms (Honest Review)

I spent the last few weeks testing the biggest podcast hosting platforms to see which one is actually best for new and growing podcasters in 2026. In this video, I compare Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Podbean, Riverside, and Spotify for Creators against RSS.com, breaking down the pros, cons, hidden limitations, and pricing gotchas of each one. If you're trying to start a podcast in 2026 or thinking about switching hosts, this is the only comparison video you need. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: How podcast hosting has changed 01:30 RSS.com vs Buzzsprout 10:45 RSS.com vs Libsyn 20:30 RSS.com vs Podbean 31:15 RSS.com vs Riverside 40:00 RSS.com vs Spotify for Creators 50:00 What to look for in a podcast host 53:00 Final recommendation 🎙️ WHAT I COVER - The real cost of "free" podcast hosting plans - Why hourly upload limits and storage caps matter more than you think - Hidden gotchas with Spotify for Creators and the walled garden problem - Why feature bloat hurts podcasters (Riverside, Podbean) - Confusing pricing models (Libsyn, Buzzsprout add-ons) - Podcasting 2.0 features and why they matter in 2026 - Monetization thresholds compared across all platforms 🚀 START YOUR PODCAST FOR FREE RSS.com offers a truly free plan with unlimited episodes, unlimited audio, automatic distribution to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, basic analytics, and a free podcast website. No credit card required, no episode deletion after 90 days, no hourly upload caps. 👉 Get started: https://rss.com 📊 PLATFORMS COMPARED IN THIS VIDEO - Buzzsprout - Libsyn - Podbean - Riverside - Spotify for Creators - RSS.com 🤔 WHO SHOULD WATCH THIS - New podcasters trying to pick their first hosting platform - Existing podcasters considering a switch - Anyone frustrated with hourly limits, storage caps, or surprise pricing - Creators who want to monetize without giving up 50% to the platform 👋 ABOUT ME I'm Joe Casabona, podcast and systems coach, evangelist at RSS.com, and a podcaster of 15+ years. I've helped hundreds of podcasters launch and grow their shows, and I know firsthand how the wrong hosting platform can become a constant point of friction. 💬 Got questions about any of the platforms in this video? Drop them in the comments and I'll answer. #PodcastHosting #StartAPodcast #Podcasting2026 #Buzzsprout #Libsyn #Podbean #Riverside #SpotifyForCreators #RSScom #PodcastTips