Are you a content creator looking for a reliable platform to host, distribute, and monetize your podcast? If so, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we take an in-depth look at Spreaker, one of the most popular podcast hosting platforms currently available.
To help you determine whether or not Spreaker is the right podcast host for you, we’ll dive deep into the platform’s features, including the media player, usability, file hosting, podcast distribution, monetization, analytics, and pricing.
Hopefully, by the end of this detailed Spreaker review, you’ll have a better understanding of how it compares to other solutions, and whether or not it’s the best podcast hosting platform for you.
What is Spreaker?
Spreaker is an all-in-one podcasting platform. Created in 2010, the platform offers podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization features.
Today, Spreaker is backed by iHeartMedia, one of the largest media companies in the world. It is also part of Voxnest, a tech company that specializes in offering podcasting solutions.
Spreaker offers all the tools to help creators take their podcasts from ideation to publication from a single dashboard. It also comes with robust audience analytics tools, a customizable media player, and generous file hosting resources.
There’s also an advanced mobile app that lowers the barrier to entry, making it easy for anyone to record, edit, and publish their show from anywhere.
Who is Spreaker Best For?
Spreaker is the perfect platform for podcasters of all skill levels. It has tools for both organizations and individuals who want to create, distribute, and monetize their podcasts without having to cobble multiple tools and apps together.
The platform also has millions of active monthly users, which makes it ideal for audio creators who want to reach and interact with a large community of listeners.
Here are some use cases to help you get a clearer picture of what this podcast hosting provider is capable of:
- Podcasters: Whether you’re a beginner, semi-pro, or professional podcaster, Spreaker allows you to create and grow your podcast, and even go full-time with powerful monetization tools.
- Course Creators: Having a podcast gives you an additional way to connect with your learners and allows you to share your voice and personality.
- Podcast Publishers: If you have a large catalog of podcasts, you can manage and monetize your entire network using a fully customized enterprise podcast platform created by Spreaker.
Features and Functionality of Spreaker
Here’s a review of Spreaker’s key features that make it easy for you to manage your audio content.
Just keep in mind that the features you have access to will depend on your plan (more on that in the Plans and Pricing section).
1. Clean User Interface
Spreaker is user-friendly and convenient. The platform’s interface is simple, modern, and stylish. It covers all the bases for podcast hosts of all skill levels. You’ll be able to take your show from ideation and creation to publication and beyond while managing everything from a single dashboard.
The entire Spreaker website is well-designed to make it easy for visitors to find the information they need. The Spreaker Studio app is easy to navigate and comes with simplistic features for audio creation, editing, and storage. It’s also easy to switch between different podcasts if you manage multiple shows.
Spreaker also has a powerful CMS (content management system) with a centralized dashboard that allows you to easily monitor your content across all your shows.
Here, you can see a clear overview of your:
- Podcast(s)
- Analytics (Statistics)
- Campaigns
- Monetization
- Promotion
- Settings
As you can see from the image of the Spreaker dashboard above, you can easily navigate to the tabs you require for creating and managing your audio content.
Spreaker even has a handy partnership with FreePodcastTrascription.com, and Musixmatch, two popular transcription platforms that allow you to transcribe your podcast audio with just a click. This saves you the hassle of having to look for reliable freelance podcast transcribers on your own.
2. Podcast Recording App
Spreaker Studio is the platform’s recording app and one of the best features that make Spreaker stand out.
The app is free, easy to use, and available for both Android and iOS.
This advanced podcast creation software and mobile app lowers the barrier to entry, simplifying the process of recording, editing, and publishing your audio content from any device.
If you prefer, you can use Spreaker on your browser. The Spreaker desktop app is compatible with Windows 7+ and OSX 10.9+, allowing you to easily work from any device you want.
The entire process is streamlined, which means you can seamlessly switch from desktop to mobile and back again.
Here are some of the most prominent features you get in Spreaker’s Studio App:
Live Podcast Recording
Spreaker’s app has a Live Podcast feature that lets you broadcast your show from anywhere. You can publish your episode either from your home studio or on the go.
While recording your podcast, you can access special control features, such as mic controls, sound effects, and auto-ducking.
Spreaker Studio lets you go live on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or iHeartRadio and you can use the chat feature to engage with your listeners in real-time while you are on air.
Unfortunately, Spreaker doesn’t allow you to live-stream videos, and you cannot include remote guests when using the live broadcasting feature. Also, your episode may be subject to a time limit depending on which subscription plan you’re on.
Podcast Editing Software
In addition to being able to record and live stream from your app, you can edit your show directly within the app.
The built-in podcast editing software on Spreaker gives you access to a full suite of audio editing options, including voice mixing tools with sound effects.
Make as many edits to part or all of your show before you hit the “publish” button. With just a few clicks, you can cut out any parts of the recording you don’t like, or simply adjust the length of your episode.
Another notable feature of Spreaker’s Studio App is the ability to add chapter markers within your episodes. This helps your listeners to easily navigate across your content. Chapter markers can also be used to provide additional information inside your episodes by adding links, text, or images.
Skype Podcast Recording
This Skype integration feature allows you to invite guests to participate in your podcast as a way to boost your content and add depth and professionalism to your episodes.
No tech experience is necessary. You can record guest audio at the click of a button.
Easy Uploads
The Spreaker listening platform is designed to help you grow your audience. Whenever you upload a new episode to Spreaker, it is instantly sent to the listening platform which is similar to SoundCloud.
Listeners can use it to tune into and share their favorite shows across multiple devices, which gives you the opportunity to grow your audience easily.
You can even upload pre-recorded files, and you get ample storage for your audio which means you don’t have to worry about paying an additional fee for extra storage.
3. One-Click Distribution
A podcast hosting platform has two basic functions: to host, and distribute podcasts. Spreaker makes it easy to do both, and you can get your podcast out onto all the major listening platforms quickly. The entire process is automated and stress-free.
Spreaker lets you access a large number of distribution platforms from one place. In addition to its own listening platform, the podcast hosting service also has a huge database of partners, and you can submit your podcast to the world’s top podcast apps with one click. This makes it easier for you to grow your audience.
With one click, you can list your show on the most popular podcast directories, including:
- iHeartRadio
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Google Podcasts
- Amazon Alexa
- Podchaser
- Castbox
- Deezer
- Podcast Addict
Within minutes, your new podcast will be available on all major podcast directories in the platform’s distribution network.
This is a superb feature to have as it ensures that your episodes will be available wherever your audience (and competitors) are. Listeners will be able to easily find your show regardless of which platform they prefer.
4. Flexible Monetization Features
On Spreaker, all creators have an opportunity to earn money from their audio content. The platform provides built-in tools for monetization, and you can choose the best way to monetize your content while offering value to your listeners.
One of the best things about using Spreaker for monetization is that it doesn’t impose limitations or thresholds on audience numbers and other metrics.
You can start monetizing your podcast right away.
Here’s a closer look at the platform’s monetization options:
Ad Revenue-Sharing Program:
With Spreaker, there’s no need to worry about finding ads or sponsors on your own. The platform takes care of everything for you. You can choose the times when you want to insert ads in your episodes for maximum effectiveness. This is easy using Spreaker’s content management system which allows you to choose pre-, mid-, and post-rolls.
Programmatic Advertising:
Spreaker also has advanced monetization features that allow for easy dynamic ad insertion. There’s an integrated programmatic ads marketplace that is filled with thousands of advertisers ready to deliver relevant ads on your show.
You can choose which ads to include in your podcast, to ensure that you only show ads that fit your audience. This is a great feature to have because it helps you to sell your audio inventory and ensure a 100% fill rate.
Whether you are a podcast publisher or an independent podcaster, Spreaker’s stress-free monetization options will help you transform your podcast into a serious moneymaker. In fact, you can even monetize your existing content or “back catalog” using new advertising.
Patreon Podcast Subscriptions:
On Spreaker, you can leverage Patreon podcast subscriptions to publish podcast episodes and series with limited access. This is one more way to monetize your content, even if you are new to the industry.
You should note that the paid subscriptions aren’t an integrated feature of Spreaker. If you want to monetize your listeners in this way, you will have to set up a Patreon account to integrate into your podcasting platform.
Spreaker Prime:
Spreaker Prime is a game-changing solution designed to help serious podcasters grow and monetize their content. The Prime Network is a curated collection of the industry’s leading independent podcasts and networks.
As a Prime user, you’ll work with the leading brands for advertising and sponsorship opportunities across the platform’s entire network.
Spreaker Prime partners include popular names, such as:
- Toyota
- Uber
- British Airways
- Decathlon
- Hilton
- Leroy Merlin
- Tesco
Spreaker automatically inserts ads from these and other advertisers into your downloaded episodes, as well as adding them to on-demand streaming to save you time and effort.
You can apply to become a partner on the Spreaker website and start unlocking your revenue potential.
With that said, it’s important to note that the platform’s Prime option is reserved only for podcasts with over 5,000 monthly downloads.
5. File Hosting: Storage, Bandwidth, and Time Limits
File hosting is an important factor to consider when choosing the best podcasting tools. The reason is that compatible file formats have a huge effect on the overall quality of your audio.
Some podcast hosts work with lossy file formats while others only want maximum quality. Spreaker allows you to upload files with audio recordings in various formats, including:
- .mp3
- .mp4
- .asf
- .FLAC
You can also use 3gp, aac, amr, ra, and ogg, as well as wav, and wma, which are both lossless. There’s no need to compromise on your audio quality when using this platform.
There’s a limit of 300MB for every file uploaded, and the platform’s developers continue to work on adding even more codes and file formats.
- Storage Limits: Spreaker allows you to choose the amount of storage you need for your show, and you can increase the amount of storage with each upgraded plan. You can also upgrade storage space within each plan for an additional fee.
- Bandwidth Limits: All Spreaker plans, including the free plan, come with unlimited bandwidth.
- Time Limits: The free plan has a time limit of 15 minutes per live broadcast session. If you require more time for your live podcast session, you can upgrade to the higher-tier plans.
Unfortunately, Spreaker doesn’t offer video podcast hosting as of yet. If you require this file format, you may have to consider other podcasting tools that are compatible with video podcast hosting.
6. Insightful Listener Analytics
Analytics are important to turn your podcast into a lucrative business. You need to be able to review and analyze the performance of your episodes and series so you can make better business decisions.
Spreaker makes it easy to track audience analytics to better understand what your podcast listeners like and don’t like. Once your podcast is set up, you can see how your show is doing in real-time, which gives you the opportunity to not only provide listeners with relevant content but also beat out competitors for your spot at the top of the rankings.
From likes to demographics, all stats are IAB Tech Lab-certified analytics which ensures that you are getting the most accurate statistics possible.
You’ll get in-depth information on your daily listeners, including streaming numbers and how many likes each episode got. In addition to that, you get a detailed breakdown of listener demographics to show you statistics on where your listeners are tuning in from. This includes GPS and other location information whenever it’s available.
Spreaker also has IP address geocoding lookup where Internet providers assign IP addresses.
By tracking this and other data types, you can make better-informed decisions to reach and connect with your target market.
The best part is that Spreaker’s in-depth analytics are easy to digest, which means even beginners will be able to review their podcast analytics without the need to enlist the help of a pro.
7. Spreaker Integrations
What integrates with Spreaker? The platform has various integrations with software and services designed to help you run a successful podcast.
These include the following:
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- Hindenburg Pro
- Podcastpage
- Auphonic
- Shownotes
Spreaker also has an integrated plugin, Spreaker Short Code, which is a WordPress plugin for your podcast website. This is an easy way to embed an audio player on your website or blog pages so you can showcase your talents to your visitors.
8. Additional Features
Podcast Management
If you already have a network of podcasts and need a better system to manage them, the Spreaker Enterprise plan provides you with a custom platform that allows you to easily manage multiple podcasts associated with your account.
The team-friendly interface allows your entire team to easily collaborate with each other. You can add various roles and permissions within each team and organization. You get powerful collaboration tools that integrate seamlessly with your tech, giving you the ability to optimize your marketing and sales campaigns and create smooth, effective workflows.
As long as you stay within your audio upload and storage limit, you can add as many team collaborators as you want, and assign different levels of access and permissions to each one. This means your entire production team can work together to manage your show on Spreaker.
Social Media Sharing
Spreaker has built-in tools to help you improve your discoverability online. The platform not only provides you with carefully curated lists to promote your episodes to others but it also has integrated social sharing tools that allow you to automatically share your episodes directly to popular social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.
You can connect your social media platforms on your Spreaker CMS and enable the auto-social sharing feature. This handy tool allows you to automate your marketing and promotion processes and ensure that your listeners are the first to hear your new uploads.
Embedded Players
Not all content you offer to your listeners has to be on a dedicated listening platform. You can also embed a media player to share your episodes directly on your website.
This is also a great way to get the word out about your new show. You can use Spreaker’s embeddable audio players to add your podcast to your website, allowing your listeners immediate access to the audio content.
Customizable Podcast Player
Spreaker’s media player is not only embeddable, but it’s also customizable to remove the Spreaker logo and add your own.
You can change colors to make the media player match your own brand. Add a branded background image, and choose whether or not the media player starts automatically whenever you go live.
The player also allows you to include comments, shares, likes, and download buttons. You even have the option to choose how many episodes you link to and users can listen to multiple live, on-demand audio shows.
9. World-Class Customer Support
The Spreaker customer service team is available via email or chat.
Unfortunately, the chat is quite slow, with typical replies taking up to 24 hours. This can be frustrating for users who require instant help when trying to figure out how to create and monetize their podcasts.
On the plus side, when the customer service team does reply, they are friendly and helpful.
The Spreaker website also has a troubleshooting page where you can find answers to many of the commonly asked questions pertaining to the platform. The page has a handy search feature to help you quickly find what you’re looking for.
10. Spreaker Pricing Plans
Spreaker has a range of plans to help you create, publish, and make money with your show, including a free plan that you can sign up for with no credit card required.
Here’s what each plan entails:
- Free Speech: $0/Month: This free forever plan allows you to create one podcast and upload unlimited episodes. You can make money from ads, and auto-upload to iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. It comes with customizable RSS feeds, and you get up to six months of audience statistics. If you want to access additional features and resources (e.g. unlimited hosting, unlimited storage, or automated distribution), you must upgrade to one of the premium plans.
- Broadcaster: $20/Month: This plan has everything in the free plan, as well as the ability to create unlimited podcasts. You also get 12 months of advanced statistics, enhanced private podcasts, Apple podcast subscriptions, and in-app support.
- Anchorman: $50/Month: The Anchorman plan has everything in the Broadcaster plan, plus unlimited collaborators, full statistics, customizable player colors, and team collaboration features.
- Publisher Plan: $250/Month: This plan includes all the features in the Anchorman plan. You also get priority support, an ad campaign manager, and the ability to directly sell and manage your own ads.
Pros and Cons of Spreaker
Spreaker works fairly well for advanced users, but to answer the question of whether or not Spreaker is the best podcasting host for you, we need to consider some of its most prominent benefits and drawbacks.
Here are a few of its major pros and cons to give you a better idea of what the platform can and cannot do.
Pros: What We Like About Spreaker
- User-Friendly Interface: Spreaker’s dashboard is easy to navigate, making it ideal for users of all skill levels.
- One-Stop Shop: Rather than piecing together a bunch of different podcasting services, you can do it all and handle everything from one place, including creating, hosting, distributing, and monetizing your podcast.
- Easy Transfers: If you are already a podcaster looking to make a switch, you can migrate your RSS feed to Spreaker in a few simple clicks.
- Robust Analytics: Spreaker’s partnership with Nielsen for the use of its audience segments offers podcasters on paid plans powerful analytics and insights about their listeners and podcast performance.
- Reliable Monetization: Spreaker’s IAB Tech Lab-certified statistics make it easier for professional podcasters to get reliable industry data for maximum advertising potential. Users can also set up premium content or subscription models for listeners.
- Free Plan Available: Spreaker has a free forever plan, no credit card required, allowing newbies to create and monetize a podcast without upfront costs.
- Podcast on the Go: The Spreaker Studio app makes it easy for you to podcast on the go with no special equipment required, except your phone.
- Customizable RSS Feeds: Spreaker offers multiple customizable RSS feeds which you can set up in just a few clicks.
Cons: What We Don’t Like About Spreaker
- Limited Customer Service: Spreaker’s customer support leaves a whole lot to be desired when it comes to offering timely responses.
- No Video Podcasting Ability: One of the biggest drawbacks of using Spreaker is that it doesn’t offer integrated features for video podcasting.
- Huge Ad Revenue Cut: Spreaker takes a massive 40% of your ad income per impression, which is quite a large percentage.
- No Remote Recording: Spreaker doesn’t have native remote recording capabilities, which means you have to use Google Hangouts or Skype integrations to make it possible.
Spreaker Alternatives
Spreaker is a great software that provides audio creators with reliable hosting at affordable rates. It also comes with easy migrations, increased storage space, unlimited episodes, and various other features.
However, Spreaker is just one of many available podcast hosting solutions. And while the platform has a lot to offer, it also has its downsides, like any other podcast host. For example, Spreaker doesn’t offer video hosting capabilities.
With that said, here are three great podcasting options that make superb alternatives to Spreaker.
Spreaker vs Buzzsprout
A side-by-side comparison of Buzzsprout and Spreaker shows that the two platforms have a lot in common. For example, both are easy to use and offer free plans, as well as low-priced premium plans that are ideal for beginners. Both platforms also come with integrated transcription services for your podcast.
Like Spreaker, Buzzsprout has built-in monetization features, including sponsors and ads. One major difference between the two platforms lies in the affiliate marketplace and the ability to show support links.
Buzzsprout also integrates with Canva, a free graphic design tool to create stunning podcast artwork. Yet another feature unique to Buzzsprout is the magic mastering tool that takes away the need to integrate a third-party audio editing tool.
Compared to Buzzsprout, Spreaker offers fewer features on its basic subscription tier. If you want the core functionality of the platform, you have to upgrade to one of the higher-priced plans. For example, the cheaper plans are constrained by storage and upload limits.
Spreaker vs Podbean
Podbean is the ideal hosting solution for podcast creators who are starting their first podcast. Like its competitor, it has a user-friendly interface and offers basic and advanced features with unlimited storage to host your episodes.
Podbean lets you get your podcast to new audiences through various distribution platforms like Stitcher, iTunes, and TuneIn. You can add your Soundcloud RSS feed to all major social media networks.
One major difference between the two podcast hosting platforms is that Spreaker mainly offers ad campaigns and the ability to sell products with Patreon integration, whereas Podbean has PodAds, an ad marketplace, Patreon pages, and premium podcasts.
Podbean also has significantly more website categories, including Community and Society, Arts and Entertainment, and Computer Technology.
Podbean hosting costs less than Spreaker, and you’ll even get some premium features on the free plan, including IAB Certified Stats for your podcast.
Spreaker vs Castos
Spreaker and Castos both offer free and paid plans. They provide complete podcast hosting solutions, offering a wide range of features and tools to create professional sound.
The biggest difference between Spreaker and Castos lies in each platform’s functionality on the free plan. Spreaker has a free-forever version that allows you to host unlimited episodes and monetize your podcast with ads.
Castos, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a free plan. You can sign up for a free 14-day trial to test out the platform, after which you’ll have to upgrade to one of the premium plans to continue using the service.
Spreaker’s premium plans start from $20/month, which is less costly than Castos’ basic plan at $29/month. However, it’s important to note that Castos offers more in-depth analytics on its most basic paid plan. This feature provides an accurate analysis of your podcast and listeners, making it easier for you to make informed decisions to grow your podcast and revenue.
Final Verdict: Is Spreaker The Best Podcasting Platform For You?
We hope this review of Spreaker has provided you with enough information to determine if it is the right platform for you to host your podcast.
Spreaker is a full-stack audio publishing solution with the tools for every step of your podcasting journey. You can create, edit, distribute, monetize, and analyze your podcast – all from one dashboard.
Switch seamlessly from desktop to mobile, allowing you to publish your podcast from anywhere. The platform even dynamically inserts high-revenue ads into your show, which means you can get started monetizing your podcast from the very first episode.
To help you decide, check out some of our other top picks for podcasting platforms.
FAQ:
Is Spreaker the best platform for podcasting?
Spreaker is a comprehensive podcast hosting solution that offers a stress-free experience for users of all types thanks to its simple dashboard and powerful, yet easy-to-use features. You get live broadcasting, auto-uploads, customizable RSS feeds, analytics, ad revenue-sharing, and private podcasts for a customized place to host your podcast and manage the monetization of your entire podcast network.
Do people make money on Spreaker?
Spreaker is a complete solution for the podcast hosting industry. It comes with built-in tools for monetization, making it easy for podcasters of all levels to make money from their shows. Some of the monetization methods include ads, sponsorships, and premium content or subscriptions. Whether you are a side hustler or a serious podcasting professional, you’ll find the right monetization solution to start making money from day one.
Is Spreaker free to use?
Yes. Spreaker has a plan that is free to use, forever. It requires no credit card to sign up and it provides users with everything they need to get their first podcast online and start monetizing it through ads. If you require advanced features, you can always upgrade to a higher plan later.
What are the best Spreaker alternatives?
Some of the best alternatives to Spreaker that offer reliable podcast hosting, easy distribution, and built-in monetization tools include Buzzsprout, Anchor, Libsyn, and Podbean.
What’s the difference between Buzzsprout and Spreaker?
Both Buzzsprout and Spreaker are affordable, yet feature-rich solutions for hosting your podcast. The main difference between the two lies in the number of advanced features available to you. For example, Spreaker is a flexible platform that caters to different podcasting styles. You can use the Spreaker Studio mobile app to record on the go, add guests to your podcast using Skype integration, or even work with pre-recorded audio.
What tools do I need to start a podcast on Spreaker?
No special equipment is required to start podcasting on Spreaker. You can podcast on the go using only your phone and the Spreaker Studio app which is available for Android and iOS. This allows you to record your episode, add audio effects, and trim your audio. For a more professional result, you might consider connecting a microphone to the Studio desktop app on your computer and using headphones to avoid feedback from your mic channel.
I already have a podcast. Can I transfer to Spreaker?
Yes. It’s very easy to transfer your podcast host to Spreaker. You can migrate your podcast using the Spreaker RSS Feed Importer which has clear and simple instructions to get your podcast on Spreaker in minutes.
Jeff Cobb, Founder of Learning Revolution
Jeff Cobb is an expert in online education and the business of adult lifelong learning. Over the past 20+ years he has built a thriving career based on that expertise – as an entrepreneur, a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Learning Revolution is a place where Jeff curates tips, insights, and resources to help you build a thriving expertise-based business. Learn more about Jeff Cobb here.
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