8 Best WordPress Podcasting Plugins Compared (Expert pick)

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Best WordPress Podcast Plugins
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Did you know that in America alone, 67 million people listen to podcasts on a monthly basis? Would you also believe when I say this number was half of what it is now in 2013? Clearly, it is a spectacular growth in terms of user base. Additionally, podcast advertising revenues grew by as much as 70% each year between 2015 and 2017.

With those numbers, it would be safe to say that podcasting is a massive growth industry right now in terms of both audience and revenue.

But if you’re thinking of creating a podcast, you will need a website to help promote it. As is usually the case, WordPress is a great option to make a podcast website – but you’re going to need the right WordPress podcast plugin for a list of things, like:

  • Publishing your podcast feeds
  • Creating a user-friendly player
  • Viewing the download statistics

To help you out, I have looked into some of the best WordPress podcast plugins in this post.

Best WordPress Podcast Plugins For 2020

1. Podcast Player

Podcast player plugin takes your podcast feed, loads all the episodes in a neat player & allows the user to play the episode from the webpage itself.

There is a free version, and then there is a paid version of this plugin. The below video clearly shows how this plugin looks and feels like:

Subscribe on YouTube

Download plugin

2. Buzzsprout Podcasting

Buzzsprout Podcasting
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Buzzsprout is another standalone podcast hosting service. Like Libsyn, the Buzzsprout team created the Buzzsprout Podcasting plugin to make it easy for WordPress users to integrate podcast episodes into their site.

Buzzsprout helps you:

  • Upload and optimize your podcast episodes
  • Publish compliant RSS feeds
  • Create web players
  • View stats for all your podcast episodes

The Buzzsprout Podcasting plugin also helps you easily embed your podcast episodes into WordPress posts or pages.

While Buzzsprout does offer a limited free plan, you’ll need one of the paid plans starting at $12 per month if you’re serious about podcasting.

3. Simple Podcast Press

Simple Podcast Press
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Simple Podcast Press is a plugin that you can either use by itself or in combination with other podcast plugins.

That is, while you can use it as a standalone plugin, it also integrates with:

  • Blubrry PowerPress
  • Smart Podcast Player

While Simple Podcast Press does include a stylish and functional podcast player (pictured above), it also includes a bunch of separate functionalities like:

  • Automatic publishing from your podcast feed
  • Clickable timestamps in show notes – these will even integrate with Smart Podcast Player and Blubrry PowerPress
  • iTunes review showcase
  • Click-to-tweet functionality for show notes
  • Collapsible transcripts
  • Podcast playlists

Simple Podcast Press costs $67 for a single site license and one year of support/updates.

4. Blubrry PowerPress

Blubrry PowerPress
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Blubrry PowerPress is the most popular WordPress podcast plugin available at WordPress.org. Beyond raw popularity, it also has great reviews – it has maintained a 5-star rating over 130 reviews.

Blubrry PowerPress is packed with lots of helpful functionality, but here are some of the most important features:

  • Automatically imports podcast feed from BuzzSprout, SoundCloud, LibSyn, PodBean, Squarespace or other services
  • Creates iTunes compliant podcast feeds
  • Subscribes page shortcode to help you get more subscribers
  • Has built-in social share buttons
  • Has built-in “show notes” link to provide listeners with more information
  • Visitors can change playback speed or skip forward/backward

Best of all, the Blubrry PowerPress plugin is free. Blubrry makes its money by selling access to advanced statistics and/or dedicated podcast hosting. Both subscriptions are helpful, but not required to use the plugin.

If you want to see Blubrry PowerPress in action, you can check out the popular WordPress podcast, Matt Report.

5. Smart Podcast Player

Smart Podcast Player
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If you’re a blogger, you’ve probably heard about Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income website, as well as its associated podcast.

Smart Podcast Player is Pat’s own creation that he uses to manage the actual Smart Passive Income podcast. And, if you’re willing to pay, you can get it for your own podcast.

Here are some things that are unique about Smart Podcast Player:

  • It includes an email capture feature built into the player
  • Visitors can skip forward or backward by chunks just like on most smartphone podcast players
  • Visitors can also change the speed of your podcast
  • You can display unlimited podcast episodes, including pagination and search
  • It includes built-in social sharing buttons to help boost your social shares
  • The player follows responsive design principles and looks great on mobile devices

Additionally, Smart Podcast Player has the best out-of-the-box design of any option on this list.

The only potential downside of Smart Podcast Player is that it uses SaaS-style monthly billing. That means you’ll need to pay to continue to use the plugin.

Smart Podcast Player costs $96 per year or $12 per month.

6. Seriously Simple Podcasting

Seriously Simple Podcasting
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After Blubrry PowerPress, Seriously Simple Podcasting is the second most popular podcast plugin at WordPress.org. Like Blubrry PowerPress, it boasts a 5-star rating across 130 reviews.

While Blubrry PowerPress comes packed with a boatload of features, Seriously Simple Podcasting is, as its name suggests, more focused on creating a simple way for you to share your podcasts.

Here are some of its notable features:

  • Integrated podcast hosting via Seriously Simple Hosting
  • Free basic stats add-on
  • Option to use any post type for your podcasts
  • RSS feed supports iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and more
  • Shortcodes and widgets for displaying episode lists and single episodes
  • Support for both video and audio podcasts

What about the downside of Seriously Simple Podcasting,you may ask. Here it is. It uses the native WordPress media player on your own website, which isn’t a very good experience for visitors.

If you’re mostly concerned with syndicating your podcast to other sources, Seriously Simple Podcasting is a good option. But if you plan to have a lot of people listening via your website, Blubrry PowerPress’ player is much nicer.

7. Podlove Podcast Publisher

Podlove Podcast Publisher
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Podlove Podcast Publisher is another plugin that helps you with:

  • Managing your podcast feeds
  • Showcasing your podcast episodes with a web player

While the included Podlove Web Player isn’t quite as stylish as Smart Podcast Player or Blubrry PowerPress, it is definitely more functional than Seriously Simple Podcasting. It also offers chapter support, which is helpful if your podcast has distinct “sections.”

Another thing nice about it is you can view the download statistics right inside your WordPress dashboard.

Finally, Podlove Podcast Publisher includes a helpful template system that lets you easily customize how the plugin displays your podcasts.

8. Libsyn Podcasting Plugin

Libsyn Podcasting Plugin
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Libsyn is one of the most well-known podcast hosting services. To help make it easier for users of their platform, Libsyn created the Libsyn Podcasting Plugin.

While the plugin is still technically in beta, it seems to have good reviews thus far.

With the plugin, you can upload media files directly to Libsyn via your WordPress dashboard, and you can also generate episode drafts and schedule posts.

If you’re already using Libsyn, this plugin is a good option to connect your podcast to your WordPress site. Just remember that it is still technically in public beta so there’s a chance of some bugs.

Which WordPress Podcast Plugin Should You Choose?

If you’re looking for a free solution, your best options are either Blubrry PowerPress or Seriously Simple Podcast. Blubrry PowerPress is more popular, offers a better player, and has more functionality. But Seriously Simple Podcasting is good if you just want something lightweight that can help you manage and publish your feeds.

As for premium options, Smart Podcast Player offers the best podcast player design of any plugin on this list. And Simple Podcast Press offers both a stellar standalone system as well as the option to integrate with some both Smart Podcast Player and Blubrry PowerPress.

If you’re planning to use a dedicated podcast hosting platform (or already are), then the Libsyn and Buzzsprout plugins offer helpful integrations with WordPress.

And finally, if you’re using something like SoundCloud to manage your podcast, you can use the built-in WordPress oEmbed functionality to easily embed the SoundCloud player into your posts without the need for a plugin:

If there is a better WordPress podcast plugin you know about or want to share your experience of using one of the plugins mentioned above, please feel free to connect with us using the comment section below.

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Authored By
A Blogger, Author and a speaker! Harsh Agrawal is recognized as a leader in digital marketing and FinTech space. Fountainhead of ShoutMeLoud, and a Speaker at ASW, Hero Mindmine, Inorbit, IBM, India blockchain summit. Also, an award-winning blogger.

14 thoughts on “8 Best WordPress Podcasting Plugins Compared (Expert pick)”

  1. lovendra shekhawat

    Hey Harsh,

    Thank you so much for sharing this great list of podcast plugins.literally liked your post. it is gives me lot of information about podcast plugins.

    Respect for sharing this wonderful knowledge with us

  2. SUVAM SWAIN

    Good day, Harsh!

    You are one of my favourite Blogger and I really appreciate all the value you put into the world!

  3. Freddy G. Cabrera

    These are great plugins to help with a podcast show, Harsh!

    I really like the podcast player from Pat Flynn. He got really good at podcasts. I remember when I first started following Pat, he was not doing podcast shows. The growth of podcasts is amazing and I have to dabble in it soon myself.

    One podcast tool and service that I would add here is podbean.com. I’ve used them before and they have a free plan for those getting started with podcasting. I would also recommend them.

    Thanks for sharing this helpful list!

    Cheers! 😀

  4. Bloggersneed

    I know podcasts would be a part of blogging and several would adopt this podcasting culture neglecting the writing part. So two things one is video marketing and second one is audio marketing are what will bloggers concentrate more on. Mark my words it will happen.

  5. zeb

    An excellent round up of best word press podcast plugin.

    I have decided to add up Podlove to my blog. i haven’t tried it yet but i trust the information provided by you.

    Thanks for sharing.

  6. Sushil Kumar

    Hello Dear Harsh,

    Thanks for sharing this great list of podcast plugins. i really like your post. it is gives me lot of information about podcast plugins.

    thanks again dear for sharing this wonderful knowledge with us

    Sushil Kumar

  7. Kapil Garg

    Thanks Harsh for this Podcast Plugins. This will really help me in my website. Thanks a lot. Cheers !!!

  8. Jack

    Hi Harsh, thanks for sharing this informative article. You have listed some of the best WordPress podcast plugins in this article

  9. Shrinidhi Katti

    Hi Harsh,

    Great list of podcast plugins.

    Thank you for sharing.
    Shrinidhi

  10. Pankaj Rawat

    Greetings Harsh,

    It’s an extraordinary rundown of podcasting module for WordPress. I like the shrewd podcast layer.

    As of recently, I’m not utilizing podcasting on my blog and not chose when to begin. So at whatever point I begin, I will pick the Smart podcast layer. It looks superior to others.

    Much obliged to you for sharing the rundown of these valuable modules

  11. Vishwajeet Kumar

    Hello Harsh,

    Thanks for Providing some great lists of podcast plugins. Few days ago I do not have any interest in podcast but soon I realize the benefits of it. Many Pro bloggers are using podcast to convey their message and connect with their readers. I thought I will soon give it a try and this list will help me a lot.

    Thanks again for sharing these lists. Have a great day 🙂
    Vishwajeet

  12. Anvesh

    Hey,
    I am big fan of your #ShoutersChat & Harsh Sir. Thanks for giving a platform to other bloggers to share their own thoughts & opinions.
    Thanks.

  13. Ashutosh singh

    Hi Harsh,

    It’s a great list of podcasting plugin for wordpress. I like the smart podcast layer.
    Until now, I’m not using podcasting on my blog and not decided when to start. So whenever I start, I will choose the Smart podcast layer. It looks better than others.

    Thank you for sharing the list of these useful plugins
    Ashutosh Singh

  14. Mary Ethan

    It’s really good to know about some great podcast plugins. I’m using “Blubrry PowerPress” plugin for simple pod-casting and it’s really working good for me but now i’m going to upgrade it and by reading your useful guide i think “Smart Podcast Player” will be great choice for me. What do you think?

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