The Best Podcast Services Guide in 2022

There’s no denying that podcasting is plenty of work.

From editing the audio and writing the show notes to booking guests and figuring out the technical aspects of publication, it can feel overwhelming to manage it all yourself. 

That’s why it’s often best to delegate certain tasks to save time—and your sanity.

As a company that provides done-for-you podcast services for busy professionals, we’ve met with hundreds of new podcasters that have illustrated many different needs. 

Some only want basic help with hosting and recording set up so they can run their shows efficiently, while others simply want to record the content and hand it off to someone else for production. 

And then there’s everyone in between.

Over the years that we’ve spent directly helping podcasters get their shows launched (often pointing people to other podcast services and support options when they are a better fit for that person’s needs) it has become clear to us that a resource outlining the different podcast services and solutions out there might be useful.

So in this guide, we’re going to share the best options we’ve seen in the industry for acquiring podcast help.

We’ll break down low-cost solutions that may require more input from you, mid-range options that will take more off your plate, and higher-cost services that leave you free to focus only on your biggest impact activity: creating content.

Whether you prefer DIY or don’t want to think about anything but recording shows, the information below will help you find the perfect solution to fit your needs and budget.

What Options Are Available For Podcast Help? 

In a nutshell, there are three options out there to help you get your podcast up and running and keep your episodes on track:

1. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Solutions. With budget-friendly do-it-yourself options, you’ll get SOME help from outside sources, but you’re essentially making your podcast happen on your own. These include things like software, courses, and coaches that allow you to handle the heavy lifting but offer guidance to make sure you’re on the right track.
2. Done-For-You (DFY) Services. As the name implies, these services have developed done-for-you systems to handle podcast setup, audio editing, show notes writing, publishing services, etc. Of course, how many tasks they take on will vary with pricing and the organization.
3. Podcast Managers. A podcast manager is in charge of planning, running, managing, and implementing your show. Essentially, this is someone (or multiple people) you hire as the point person for making your podcast happen and ensuring everything runs smoothly for your releases.

Now, there are plenty of choices out there that fit into each category, but for this guide, we’ve narrowed it down to the tools and services we recommend.

And to make it as simple as possible, the options outlined below are generally laid out in order from lowest cost/highest time investment to highest cost/lowest time investment.

Let’s take it from the top!

DIY Solutions

If you’re working with a tight budget–or if you just like figuring things out on your own—here are some of the podcasting tools that we recommend:

Software

Typically best for hobby podcasters who have time to invest in learning and want to keep their costs low, there are some awesome software systems that allow you to record easily, do simple editing, and create ready-to-release audio for your podcast.

Here’s what we recommend:

Hosting – Hands down, the best podcast hosting service we’ve used is Libsyn. It has numerous options for pricing and plans, and it is the hosting service we recommend for all of our new clients. 

Recording/Editing Audio – Audacity is a great (free) software for recording episodes when only one person is talking. You can also use it for basic and even some advanced editing. It’s a simple tool, and it works for both Mac and PC users. We’re also a fan of using Garageband which comes standard on Macs.

Recording Calls – The easiest (also free for most podcasting uses) way we’ve found to record interviews is Zoom – a platform many of us are familiar with these days. You simply email your guest a link that opens up on their computer (Mac or PC) and you have a phone call through your internet connection. Once the call is complete, you get an audio file of your conversation.

Transcriptions – For turning your audio into transcripts quickly and relatively cheaply, we recommend Rev at $1.50 per minute of audio. They have great turnaround times and solid accuracy. Just make sure to check for brackets if there are any areas of unclear speech or uncertain spelling.

Podcast Website Creation – We generally recommend using the website for your business or the project the podcast is associated with and using WordPress whenever possible.

A wildly versatile WordPress Theme with 100’s of pre-built layouts, plugins and tools (and the theme we use for our own site) is Divi from Elegant Themes.  But if you’re looking to create a simple stand-alone site for your podcast that’s as easy as possible, Podcast Websites offers a drag-and-drop interface to help you get a site rolling for your show. This also works as a hosting solution, as they offer unlimited podcast hosting.

Courses

If you have the time and want to learn the nuts and bolts of the technical side of podcasting, we’ve seen two really great courses out there that will help guide you on your podcasting journey. 

They’ll not only teach you how to do it yourself but also how to do it in the most effective way.

We recommend Podcast Host Academy if you’re looking to learn how to go about starting a podcast from scratch, what makes a podcast compelling, advice on technology and equipment, or general advice on how to make the most impact with your show. They have many different courses for whatever level of education you’re hoping to get.

Pat Flynn’s Power-Up Podcasting is another great option that’s a one-time purchase. It’s a bigger upfront investment, but you can access it forever after that. This course focuses on how to launch a successful podcast to grow your online brand.

Coaching

Want more personalized guidance for your podcast?

Sometimes it makes sense to hire a single person with experience running a podcast similar to the one you want to create. 

If you’re looking to master the craft and technical aspects of podcasting yourself, hiring a podcast coach instead of a service could be an amazing option for you.

An incredible coach who’s been around since the early days of podcasting, and one of the original podcast educators is Dave Jackson from School of Podcasting. He offers one-off and ongoing coaching options.

Another great coach is Jodey Smith with an impressive track record and great interactive style.

DFY Solutions

If you’re someone who doesn’t have time to invest in learning all the aspects of podcasting on your own, it probably makes the most sense for you to look into working with a podcast production service. 

Below, you’ll find our recommendations broken down by pricing:

Cost-Effective

These options are a little more hands-on and will likely require you to review things yourself, but they’re great if you’re more invested in saving money than time.

Resonate Recordings offers multiple packages, but their cheapest is $69/episode. That includes mixing and mastering, ID3 tagging, adding intros, outros, and sponsors, removing background noise, uploading to your host, etc. There are also pre-pay options that will save you a bit as well.

We Edit Podcasts offers different ways you can mix and match services. You can hire them just to edit your audio, take care of your audio and show notes, handle audio and transcription, etc. They offer customized plans that can fit most budgets. 

Mid-range

Services in this tier offer more nuts and bolts help, but will still require management and reviewing from you.

Castos Productions hosts one of the top podcasting blogs, but their main focus is podcast editing and publishing. All of their packages include show note writing and ID3 tagging, but their higher range packages offer even more.

Another reputable podcast production team is over at Pro Podcast Solutions who have similar packages to Castos.

High-End

These turnkey managed solutions are a bit more expensive, but they help with strategy, planning, AND technical aspects (setup & ongoing). 

They tend to be more dependable, proactively alert you of industry changes and strategic opportunities, are more tailored to ensuring your show gets results, and don’t require as much oversight. 

Think of it as hiring a podcasting department for your company at a fraction of the cost. 

Cashflow Podcasting guides industry professionals through their podcasting journey. We help you get your podcast outlined, created, and launched in 6-8 weeks. We set up your show, coach and guide you, and produce your podcast completely for you. You’ll also get the benefit of time-tested launch and marketing strategies that are proven to work. 

*Disclaimer – We are the ones that created this guide!*

Audience Ops focuses on the ‘content engine’ concept of podcasting as a done-for-you service and operates similarly to releasing blog content but in podcast form.

Agency

This solution is more set up to work with corporate teams and larger company departments. A top option is Sweetfish Media, which is a B2B podcasting service.

Another option is Come Alive Creative which focuses more generally on marketing professionals and entrepreneurs.

If you’re not quite on the corporate level but are still interested in hiring an agency, we’d recommend reaching out to a company similar to yours that has a podcast to see who they work with.

Podcast Manager

Podcast managers are perfect for people who just want to focus on being the host of the podcast, but also have custom needs for their show and a highly specific vision for their editorial or publishing process.

They are also ideal if there are multiple decision-makers involved in creating the podcast, like if your podcast is for a department or organization where many opinions need to be weighed.

This solution is tailored toward companies and organizations doing a podcast, but hobby podcasters will still see benefits from this as well.

That said, there are two types of managers you can hire:

Contractors 

Contractors are generally paid hourly and can range from affordable to expensive.

If you’re looking to hire a contractor, we recommend Freeeup as a simple way to search for pre-vetted and trained contractors. It’s fast and easy to get started, but you’ll have less ability to be highly selective. 

For more reach and possibilities, try Upwork. They have a massive job-posting system for finding contractors, but you’ll need to be super specific with what you want and filter out unqualified parties.

Team Members

Hiring or assigning an internal team member(s) is likely to be expensive, though you can always hire them as part-time employees as your budget allows.

The idea here is to hire someone as part of your organization whose job it is to manage, run and produce the podcast. The main perk here is that they can be in charge of the whole podcast project. They can even be the host if needed.

To find and hire a team member, your best bet is to create a job listing and post it to job boards just like you would for any other position within your company.

Pro Tip: 

Whatever solution you decide is right for you, we strongly recommend that you make sure there’s a quality review process of some kind to review your completed show and episodes before they publish. 

You’d be surprised how many services and providers don’t have a quality review process. Don’t fall into that trap!

Ensuring whoever you hire has their Quality Assurance figured out will help you avoid releasing episodes with massive, unnoticed issues. 

Other Podcast Services / Support Options

Podcast Guest Interview Booking:

This can go two different ways. Either you want to get booked as an expert on a series of other podcasts, or you want a systematic way of having interview guests booked for your own show. 

Interview Valet is the go-to premium option in this space. They’re not cheap but they do really great work, and you get what you pay for.

Another great option is Interview Connections which boasts some big names in the online marketing and entrepreneurship space.

Closing Notes On Podcast Services

We know there are MANY services, softwares, coaches, etc. out there besides the ones we recommended above, and there are more popping up daily. 

The podcasting landscape is always changing, so if we didn’t mention something in this guide, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.

It just means we can’t personally vouch for it—at least not yet.

As we mentioned before, all the companies, tools, and resources listed are solutions we’ve used, vetted, or reviewed to ensure we’re only sending people to the most reliable and reputable options.

Please note that some of the links in this guide are affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.

Please know that we have experience and a relationship with these companies, which is why we recommend them to you because they are helpful, useful and the best options out there. 

We do NOT promote these services as a significant revenue source as affiliate earnings account for less than 2% of our revenue. We encourage you to only purchase these products if you feel they are the right fit for you and your business.

Our goal with this guide is to weed out all the fluff and give you the top options based on your needs and situation, so we regularly update this resource to keep it relevant and helpful.

With all the solutions out there, we know there’s a fit for you and your podcast.

We hope this guide will be the start of you finding that perfect fit!