Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout hosts a podcast, submits it to the directories and reports back with statistics that are actually readable, which is the reason it keeps being the recommendation for a first show. Upload time is the meter rather than episode count, and the plans are sold as hours a year. One tier up, the same episode is published as video to Apple, Spotify and YouTube from the same upload. Anybody who wants a subscription paywall around episodes will need something else beside it.

A free plan exists and is offered repeatedly on the page, though what it includes sits behind an accordion rather than on the card. Audio is $15 a month billed annually for up to 72 hours of upload a year, with unlimited episodes, directory listing, advanced statistics and the podcast website. Audio plus Video is $25 and publishes the same episode as 1080p video to Apple, Spotify and YouTube. A multi-podcast tier follows.

Somebody starting a podcast who wants hosting, distribution and statistics settled in an afternoon and never thought about again. The hours-a-year meter suits a show that publishes unevenly. Anybody wanting to put episodes behind a paywall will need a membership tool beside this, because subscription access is not what Buzzsprout sells.