How Much Does
Podbean Cost in 2026?
Podbean's pricing model is unusual: upload-capped + unmetered bandwidth (most plans). Unlimited Audio at $12/mo annual gives you 1GB upload (16 hours of audio) with unlimited downloads. For shows with unpredictable spike traffic, this model can be more predictable than download-based pricing. Unlimited Plus at $29/mo annual adds video podcasting support — unique in this comparison.
No direct affiliate route on this product. Use alternatives and comparisons to keep researching.
Prices in USD, verified from the United States. Regional pricing may vary.
Plans & Pricing
Unlimited Audio
$12/mo billed annually
- podcasts 1
- upload 1GB/mo (~16 hrs)
- aiCredits 600
Unlimited Plus
$29/mo billed annually
- podcasts 2
- upload 10GB/mo (~160 hrs)
- aiCredits 2400
- audioVideo true
Network
$79/mo billed annually
- podcasts Unlimited
- upload 40GB/mo (~660 hrs)
- aiCredits 6000
- bandwidth 3TB/mo
- teamMembers 50
Business
$99/mo billed annually
- podcasts Unlimited private + 2 public
- upload 40GB/mo (~660 hrs)
- aiCredits 6000
- bandwidth Unmetered
- privateMembers 100
- sso true
- soc2 true
From the StackScored blog
Features
Our Verdict
Podbean's upload-capped + unmetered bandwidth model is a different pricing philosophy. Instead of charging for downloads, they charge for uploads (which track roughly linearly with episode count × duration). This means a viral episode that generates 100k extra downloads doesn't cost you more — you're already paying for the upload. For shows with unpredictable audiences, this provides cost certainty that download-based competitors don't. Unlimited Audio at $12/mo annual ($17 monthly) gives you 1GB/mo upload — approximately 16 hours of audio at 160kbps. That's plenty for a weekly 30-minute show or a twice-weekly 20-minute show. Unlimited Plus at $29/mo annual doubles podcasts (1 → 2) and upload (1GB → 10GB, ~160 hours) and adds video podcasting. Network at $79/mo annual is the multi-show tier — unlimited podcasts, 40GB upload (~660 hours), 3TB monthly bandwidth, 50 team members. Business at $99/mo annual adds SSO + SOC 2 + 100 private members — appropriate for corporate internal podcasts or regulated industries. AI credits scale across plans — useful for transcription, episode titles, social media clips. Where Podbean wins: unmetered bandwidth (no viral-episode surprises), video podcasting at Plus tier, AI features included. Where it loses: upload caps are confusing — podcasters think in hours, not gigabytes. A 60-minute MP3 at 192kbps is ~60MB, so Unlimited Audio's 1GB = 16 hours. Many users misread and overestimate. The older UI also shows relative to Transistor/Captivate.
Pros
- Unmetered bandwidth eliminates viral-episode pricing surprises
- Video podcast support at Plus tier ($29/mo annual) — unique in this comparison
- AI credits (600-6000) included — transcription + titles + social clips without extra cost
- Business tier at $99/mo annual with SSO + SOC 2 is genuinely enterprise-grade
- Ads marketplace at $1 CPM gives monetization path even for small shows
Cons
- Upload caps in GB confuse users thinking in hours — 1GB = ~16 hrs of audio
- UI feels older than Transistor or Captivate — less polished modern experience
- Unlimited Audio's 1-podcast limit forces $29/mo Plus upgrade for 2-show creators
- Pricing model (upload caps + bandwidth) is less common than download-based — harder to compare vs competitors
Affiliate link — you pay the same price
Compare Podbean with
Compare with Competitors
See how Podbean pricing stacks up against other podcast hosting products.
Building Your Business Stack?
Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does Podbean cost per month?
- Podbean plans start at $17/mo. They offer 4 plans total.
- Does Podbean offer a free trial?
- Yes, Podbean offers a free trial for 7 days. No credit card is typically required to start.
- Does Podbean have a free plan?
- Yes, Podbean offers a free plan. See the feature comparison above for what's included and the limits.
- Is Podbean worth the price?
- With a score of 8.3/10 and plans from $17/mo, Podbean delivers strong value for the price.
- What are cheaper alternatives to Podbean?
- Cheaper podcast hosting alternatives include Buzzsprout ($0/mo), Libsyn ($5/mo). See all options on our [Podcast Hosting pricing comparison](/pricing/podcast-hosting/) page.
- Does Podbean offer discounts?
- Yes. Podbean saves you up to 29% when you choose annual billing — the Unlimited Audio plan drops from $17/mo to $12/mo with an annual commitment.