Upload hours vs upload size: Buzzsprout vs Podbean
Both hosts meter what you upload rather than what listeners download, but they count it differently. Buzzsprout counts the length of audio (72 hours a year on single-show plans). Podbean counts file size per month (1, 10 or 40 GB). So with Podbean, export bitrate matters: a lower-bitrate MP3 fits more hours into the same gigabytes.
| Buzzsprout | Podbean | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 2 h/month, episodes kept 90 days | Free account (limits unverified) |
| Entry paid (yearly) | Audio $15/mo · 72 h/yr (~6 h/mo) | Unlimited Audio $12/mo · 1 GB/mo (~16 h) |
| With video | Audio + Video $25/mo · 72 h/yr | Unlimited Plus $29/mo · 10 GB/mo |
| Multiple shows | Multi-Podcast from $30/mo · 5 shows · 180 h/yr | Network $79/mo · unlimited · 40 GB · 3 TB bandwidth |
| Over the limit | Keeps publishing; extra hours billed at the plan's hourly rate | Upload cap; Network bandwidth overage $0.03/GB |
| Transcripts | Included on paid plans | Via AI credits (600/mo on entry plan) |
Who fits where
One weekly hour-long episode: both entry plans work, and Podbean is $3/mo cheaper billed yearly. Two hour-long episodes a week (~8.7 h/mo): Buzzsprout's allowance would be exceeded and billed as overage, while Podbean's ~16 h estimate still covers it. If you want unlimited team members and built-in transcripts, Buzzsprout includes both.
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