Podbean vs Podlock

Podbean is a podcast hosting and publishing service with tools for distribution, audience statistics, monetization, and private or video podcasts. It supports RSS feeds and distribution to major directories. Its iPhone and Android apps cover recording, publishing, statistics, and listening, and episodes can be automatically shared to Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Tumblr, and WordPress. The Basic Free Plan provides 5 hours or 500MB of storage, 100GB of monthly bandwidth, up to three published episodes per day, a 100MB single-file limit, and up to 20 episodes in its RSS feed. Free hosting supports MP3 and M4A files, includes basic statistics, and does not require a credit card to sign up. Paid plans add options such as audio or video publishing, private podcasts, team access, and AI tools for audio optimization, content assistance, transcripts, and podcast creation. The listed Unlimited Audio plan costs $17 a month when billed yearly. Podbean also offers advanced, IAB-certified analytics and monetization features including an Ads Marketplace, dynamic ad insertion, and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions.

Podlock is a web service for delivering private podcasts to a specified audience. Creators can add, manage and track subscribers. Subscribers can listen in a browser, on a branded listening page or through podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Podlock’s accessible product page does not publish a price or plans. Its terms describe subscriptions billed in advance on monthly or annual cycles, with automatic renewal unless cancelled. Renewal can be stopped through account management or by contacting support. The terms say a free trial may be offered at Podlock’s discretion, without stating its length. Data is stored on Podlock’s servers, which use HTTPS and SSL. The privacy policy says personal data is not sold, traded, rented or otherwise shared without explicit consent, subject to order-processing and legal exceptions. Contact-form submissions are deleted within 30 days.