Detailed Full Review of Buzzsprout: All you need to know (2024)

What is Buzzsprout?

As I mentioned above, the audience for podcasts is huge. And to take advantage of it, you must register with a podcast hosting service adapted, like Buzzsprout.

It's simply an online service that you can use to host and store your podcast episodes.

In addition to hosting episodes, podcasters can also use Buzzsprout's advanced audience analytics features to improve their marketing and monetization efforts.

And you get all of that, and more, at an affordable monthly or annual payment model.

Buzzsprout started operating around 2009, and since then, it has continued to grow.

Over time, I've found that the platform has become more intuitive, with increased ease of use and comprehensive features for all podcasting needs.

Today, Buzzsprout isn't just another podcast hosting platform.

Instead, it has become one of the leaders in this field, with secure hosting, good management of RSS feeds, and seamless integration with social media.

Currently, Buzzsprout has over 100,000 users and its growth is as strong as ever!

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Buzzsprout is definitely a one-stop solution for all podcasting needs.

Who is Buzzsprout for?

Buzzsprout is meant to serve all levels of podcasters, but if you ask me, I think it will be even more appealing to newbies.

The platform's user interface is fairly simple and doesn't have unnecessary bells and whistles to distract you.

Newcomers to the podcasting scene may be confused by jargon such as RSS feed management, ID3 tags, and multiple file formats.

However, with Buzzsprout, any new podcaster can handle all of these aspects without a problem.

Even if you're an experienced podcaster, marketing is something you might need to worry about.

Luckily, Buzzsprout helps you take care of marketing and saves you from having to focus on the details of setting up podcasts.

That way, you can focus on creating content that people will be sure to check out!

Features

While it's true that Buzzsprout makes podcast hosting a breeze, several other features make it one of the best podcast hosting platforms on the market. This section shows some essential Buzzsprout features that you should be aware of before buying its paid plan.

1. Free website included

A simple podcast hosting service is not enough to make a name for itself in the podcasting world.

You also need to have a website where visitors can sample your content. The creators of Buzzsprout have taken care of this point, as they always have.

Starting in 2019, Buzzsprout offers you a completely free website to highlight all your podcast episodes.

By sending your listeners to this dedicated website, you increase your credibility when it comes to podcasting.

Additionally, you can also use it to redirect users to the directories they use most frequently, such as Spotify and Apple Podcast.

However, keep in mind that this free website is just a basic landing page to start working on.

If you want your podcast website to have high-quality customization and features, you'll need to opt for website builders specialized such as WordPress, Wix or Weebly.

If you have created a blog on WordPress, Buzzsprout also offers a dedicated plugin that you can use to integrate podcast episodes.

The plugin also allows you to create specific messages to promote your podcast episodes.

2. Auto-transcription

It's not enough to download podcast episodes and wait for audiences to pour in; you need to make sure your podcasts are found in search engines.

One of the best ways to do this is to transcribe all of your episodes, which increases the chances of being discovered by search engines.

Buzzsprout also takes care of this aspect by offering automatic transcription services.

If you want to transcribe your episodes, the platform sends your files to Temi, an automatic transcription system.

Once the process is complete, you simply receive an email with the full transcript text.

The transcript is editable, and Buzzsprout takes care to display it under your episode description on the website.

Keep in mind that Temi is billed at $0.25/minute, so you can also choose to manually transcribe your episodes if you want to save a few dollars.

You can also read my complete guide to transcription software for more text-to-speech options.

3. Monetization

Whether you are started in podcasting professionally or simply as a hobby, there is nothing wrong with making a little bit of money doing it.

To help you do this, Buzzsprout offers an affiliate marketplace that allows you to connect to appropriate affiliate programs.

To sign up for the affiliate program, go to the “Resources” section of the dashboard, and find the affiliate marketplace option.

Once you sign up, you'll be able to collaborate with brands like Instacart, Allswell, and more.

Once you get the required permissions, Buzzsprout will add the affiliate link directly into the episode notes.

So, regardless of the platform listeners use to access your podcast, the link will always be active, ready to make you money.

4. Statistics based on the dashboard

Now, let's talk a bit about the Buzzsprout dashboard, which is well known to users for its clean, functional, and simple interface.

The dashboard is the central location of the platform from which you can access information on essential parameters such as download volume, listening statistics, and even geographic audience segmentations.

I would also like to mention the layout of the table, which is easy to understand and extremely user-friendly.

The stats are ranked based on the most recent episodes and then the most popular episodes.

Thanks to Buzzsprout's stats, you'll have a complete overview of how your recent episodes are performing.

Simultaneously, the platform's algorithm also calculates the number of listeners for each episode for the first 90 days.

By using the geographic segmentation of listeners option, you can get a complete understanding of where the majority of your listeners come from.

Statistics are also available at the very granular level of individual episodes, allowing you to have a more in-depth view of your performance.

5. Auto-file modification

Automatic file editing is another aspect of Buzzsprout that has garnered praise and criticism.

In this section, I am going to explain how this process works and why it can be useful.

When you upload an audio file to the Buzzsprout platform, the platform immediately converts it to mono MP3.

In addition, you will be given a lower bitrate of 96kbps.

There is a positive side and a negative side to this, I will explain both to you.

For advanced podcasters with experience in audio editing, any changes to the file they've mastered are nothing but blasphemy.

Since professional podcasters generally master their audio on the exact settings that are appropriate for their shows, this is understandable.

Luckily, once you upgrade, the platform allows you to download stereo files up to 192kbps.

Since that's enough for complex podcast episodes with lots of musical accompaniment, professionals don't have to worry.

The problem is that many podcasters are not professionals and have no idea about sound design and editing.

For them, the self-editing process is ideal, as it gets rid of all the problems with mastering the audio.

Plus, the platform even takes care of adding your ID3 tags, so you can download the source record without editing or improving it.

So, seen from this perspective, self-editing is actually a boon for podcasting newbies.

6. Visual snippets

Visual Soundbites is one of Buzzsprout's really useful features.

With this feature, you can select a short audio sample from your podcast episode and create a short video based on that snippet.

The video acts as a trailer, drawing audiences to your podcast and encouraging them to listen to the many hours of audio on offer.

These video trailers work well on social media and are great for quick and easy promotions.

And it's easy to set up: just select the start and end points of the sound extract, customize the illustration and you're done!

Videos are known to get higher click rates, and this feature allows you to take advantage of them.

7. Chapter markers

Chapter markers are one of the standard features of podcasts these days.

These markers essentially allow you to break up longer episodes into “chapters” or segments devoted to specific topics.

Chapter markers are a great way to attract audiences because they give listeners more control over when they want to listen to a particular segment of an episode.

Chapter markers can be added while editing, but Buzzsprout allows you to do so from within the hosting platform itself.

8. Distribution

Social sharing is greatly facilitated by Buzzsprout, as the platform offers sharing tools on all popular social media sites.

You also have the option of generating and copying email links for use in promotional campaigns.

With Buzzsprout, you can create user accounts for multiple team members.

Multiple user accounts are very useful if multiple people are working on episodes, such as a co-host or sound editor.

Next, let's move on to the Buzzsprout distribution section, which is listed as the Directories option.

This section shows all of the popular podcast directories you can tap into, along with comprehensive instructions on how to join each directory.

Remember that while the instructions are fairly detailed, you will have to fill out the forms manually.

And while some platforms may do automatic submissions, you might want to control the process yourself for better distribution.

Customer support

Buzzsprout customer support is very responsive and helpful.

If you have questions or need help, you can email the support team at support@buzzsprout.com and get a response within minutes.

As you can see below, over the past 30 days, they answered around 6,000 emails and helped around 2,500 customers with an average wait time of just 13 minutes.

Plus, you've got tons of free podcasting guides and a highly ranked help section that answers any questions you may have.

In addition to that, they also have a YouTube channel with over 80,000 subscribers where you'll find step-by-step video tutorials.

and a vast community on facebook where you can connect with the Buzzsprout team and like-minded podcasters to grow together.

Nonetheless, there is also a free course that is a step-by-step guide to starting your podcast.

Overall, they have everything you need to create a successful podcast and you'll be really happy if you choose Buzzsprout for podcasting.

Pricing

Finally, I got to the part of the review that is, perhaps, the most important for most people: pricing plans.

Again, Buzzsprout makes it simple: instead of working based on the size of the files you download, you're billed based on the hours of content uploaded.

Here are the different price levels offered by Buzzsprout.

1. Free plan

This level is completely free, but you'll be limited to two hours of audio downloads per month.

Additionally, episodes are only hosted for a period of 90 days, after which they are automatically deleted.

However, you have access to advanced user statistics and you can add an unlimited number of members to your team.

And while the free website that comes with this plan contains ads, you can always upgrade and have them removed.

Overall, this is one of the best plans to get started with a free podcast.

2. $12/month plan

In this package, you get 3 hours of audio download per month. So if you're publishing episodes every week, you'll be able to host 45-minute episodes every week.

In my opinion, that should be more than enough for most people looking to get started.

When you opt for this package, you get all the benefits of the free plan, as well as the advantage of unlimited hosting.

Additionally, if you exceed the content limit, you can choose to download more content at a rate of $4/hour.

3. $18/month plan

Upgrading to this option gives you 6 hours of download capacity per month, plus all the benefits of the previous tier.

At the same time, you can download additional content at a discounted rate of only $3/hour.

4. $24/month plan

The latest level of Buzzsprout's subscription model. Here, you get 12 hours of audio downloads every month.

This plan is ideal for daily messages and professional audio programs.

And if you need more bandwidth, you can get it for only $2/hour.

Here is an overview of prices and features:

How to start using Buzzsprout

The area that new podcasters need the most help with is preparing for their first episode.

And for experienced users, the main headache is migrating from one podcast hosting platform to another.

Buzzsprout takes great care of both aspects and makes the process seamless.

If you're new to this business and want to start a podcast, I suggest starting with the free Buzzsprout plan.

Remember, this plan is not suitable for live shows, as episodes are automatically removed after three months.

However, it is ideal to start working.

Simply click on the sign up button and complete the steps by providing the necessary details.

In case you feel overwhelmed by events, Buzzsprout even provides a step-by-step guide that will help you get the job done.

You'll start by filling in the usual Apple podcast details, such as the title and episode type (episodic or serial).

Once you have recorded your first podcast episode successfully, download the file in the section called “Download a new episode.”

After successfully uploading and setting up your episode details, you'll need to fill in additional metadata like description, air date, and even episode number if you're downloading an episode recording.

Descriptions play a major role in engaging your audience, so be sure to make them engaging.

Once the download is complete, you will need to register on several directories where you can opt for syndication.

To do this, go to the “Directories” tab, from where you can access all the available options.

In the Directories tab, you can choose from options like Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

Then, check your podcast details (which are pre-filled by the system), click submit, and that's it!

If you don't want to release the episode right away, you can leave it as a draft or schedule it to be posted online anytime in the future.

Buzzsprout also offers automatic file editing, but I'll cover that in another section.

How to migrate to Buzzsprout

So it's clear that using Buzzsprout to launch a new podcast is pretty easy.

Now I'm going to walk you through the steps you need to take to migrate an existing podcast to Buzzsprout.

First, sign in to your Buzzsprout account. Then you will be asked if you are a new podcaster or if you already have a podcast.

Select the second option, and you'll be prompted to enter and search for your podcast (by default, the platform searches on iTunes).

If your podcast isn't on iTunes, you can even enter your RSS feed, and the platform automatically imports all of your existing episodes.

I should mention that you will only be able to download two episodes before you have to upgrade to a paid plan if you use the free account.

Besides downloading your episodes, Buzzsprout also takes care of downloading all the artwork and metadata related to your podcast, so you don't have to worry about filling in the details again.

The final step you'll need to take care of is redirecting the RSS feed, which is perhaps the most important step when transferring a podcast.

But here too, Buzzsprout simplifies the process.

Simply copy the new Buzzsprout RSS feed and paste it in place of your current hosting service information. Buzzsprout allows you to skip other popular services like PodBean, Libsyn, and Blubrry.

And that's all there is to do!

However, one caveat is in order: it can take between two weeks and a month to update RSS feeds.

So you should continue to use your old hosting service and keep it active for about one month after the migration.

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the Buzzsprout podcast hosting site that can help you make a decision with ease.

How do I make a payment at Buzzsprout?

You can use your credit card to upgrade from the free plan to the higher Buzzsprout plans.

What are the benefits of hosting Buzzsprout podcasts?

Here are some of the key benefits of Buzzsprout that make it definitely worth considering.

• Free and paid services are available
• User friendly interface
• Import your existing podcast for free
• Automatic episode optimization
• Magic mastering and dynamic content
• Customizable website with a custom domain
• Advanced Statistics and the Predictor Podcast
• Buzzsprout Ads, Sponsors, Affiliates, and Show Link Support to Monetize Your Podcast
• Buzzsprout API

Where does Buzzsprout list my content?

Buzzsprout offers easy podcast submission to all major podcast directories, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Alexa, and more, in order to reach millions of potential listeners.

Buzzsprout vs Podbean, which should you choose?

Podbean and Buzzsprout are both powerful platforms podcast hosting and have a lot to offer. You can choose one of them according to your needs. In both cases, the future of your podcast is assured.

Final Verdict

I can say with confidence that Buzzsprout is one of the best podcast hosting platforms out there.

It makes it easy for beginners to get started and also offers a multitude of advanced tools for professional users.

In addition, the platform gives you the privilege of monetizing your show.

It even offers a affiliate program, through which you can earn Amazon gift cards by referring others to the platform.

The only downside is that Buzzsprout doesn't offer unlimited storage options and the possibilities for customizing the site are limited.

However, this should not be too much of a problem if you already have a website on another platform such as WordPress.

Before leaving, interesting information: currently, smartphone users on platforms such as Android represent nearly 65% podcast listeners in the United States.

With such an audience, any podcast host shouldn't hesitate to jump on the Buzzsprout bandwagon.