How to Podcast On a Budget

Introduction

Podcasting has become popular year after year. The increase in general interest means it’s easier now for anyone with the interest and determination to create their own show. This is why I’m writing this story about wats to podcast on a budget. After all you wouldn’t want to spend more money than needed, especially if you’re starting out. Why invest money in something you’re not sure will make it past episode 5 or 10?

I have actually written a number of stories on Medium.com about my own experiences in podcasting. I even created a Medium Publication about it. You can check them out at Podcast Clubhouse. There are also stories written by other great writers with experience and knowledge of podcasting as well.

However I also recognize that I have put most of my articles behind a paywall. This is to help me earn some modest money for my writing. That’s why I decided to write this story. This is going to be a free story so that people who are starting out can also get access to some of my writing that I paywall. I do however encourage people who can afford it to consider signing up to Medium and pay a $5/month membership. The money goes towards supporting writers on the platform. You’ll also get access to thousands of articles covering a wide variety of topics.

In this article, I’m going to give you some free or cheap options you can consider when starting on your podcasting journey. This is a story that is here to prove that you can podcast on a budget. Please note I will include links to Medium articles that can provide you with more detailed information. Please also note that links to my stories will be “Friend Links.” That means you will be able to see a free version of the same article I paywalled! If you think what I wrote is meaningful, please share and subscribe!

Podcast On A Budget: Equipment

It’s pretty tempting to look up equipment and think to yourself “wow! it’s super expensive to do a podcast!” In some ways it can be, but it’s not true that you can’t make a decent quality podcast with inexpensive equipment. You absolutely can.

The most important thing you need is a microphone, headphones, and a camera if you are doing a video podcast. If you’re doing audio only, you’re saving yourself a lot of time and work later. While you can research down a rabbit hole for microphones. In truth? You can technically record with your smartphone. But if you prefer to get an actual microphone, there are plenty out there that are $40 or less! Just check out the features.

Ideally dynamic mics are best as they will reduce the background noise that can get picked up in the background. However the cheapest options are condenser mics. They are okay, but you’ll have to put more effort into reducing the background noise. You’d have to find a very quiet area to record in. If that’s not an option you’ll need to put more effort into soundproofing your recording area. A pretty good solution is using a gaming headset that has a mic. You can find decent ones for $40 or less. The mics should be adjustable so you can record your voice closer and reduce the background noise.

Headphones are also useful for the editing process as you will be able to hear your audio better. Also in the case you’re using remote recording with guests or a co-host? Using headphones or earbuds will also reduce audio bleed from monitor or separate speakers you’re using with your PC or laptop.

If you’re planning a video podcast, you can easily use your smartphone as the camera. Webcams that can be purchased for cheap can be useful here too. Just remember that you’re recording a podcast and not a network tv show. As long as the picture is decent, your audience will forgive you if the video isn’t 4K HD video.

If you’re interested, I write in more detail about what I use for podcasting on my shows! You can read it here!

Podcast On a Budget: Editing

There is definitely a lot of free options out there for editing. Two excellent examples are Audacity and Garageband. Audacity is ideal for Windows operating systems. Garageband is commonly available for Apple devices. Considering these are popular free editing software options, there are plenty of tutorials available to learn how to use the tools.

Podcast On a Budget: Hosting

It’s not too surprising that if you’re new to podcasting, you don’t want to spend money on hosting. At least not unless you can justify it or need to do so. A popular option is of Spotify For Creators. I have actually written an article on Medium about reasons why this isn’t the best option. At least not in my personal opinion.

Well if I don’t personally recommend Spotify, what would I suggest? There’s two choices. One is Red Circle, which is what I personally use with my podcasts now. Another option is a newer one in that they previously didn’t have a free tier, but in November/December 2025 they finally created one. That is RSS.com. It’s a pretty solid podcast hosting provider and they are IAB compliant. This is particularly useful if your longer term ambition is getting sponsors and monetizing your podcast. IAB compliance on the stats does help with that.

What I like about them is that unlike Spotify, you definitely own your content. You don’t have to deal with a provider possibly blocking or removing your episodes. Many podcasters hosting their shows on Spotify have reported issues of getting copyright strikes and other violations. It’s similar to YouTube in that respect. I also appreciate that with Red Circle or RSS.com, you have the option of upgrading to paid plans to get more features. It personally gives me more reassurance that just because I use a free plan it’s less shady than other companies that might offer free plans.

Truthfully most hosts do not offer free plans. And if they do, they’re not a free plan like what you’re thinking. You’re thinking you can host as many episodes as you want. What they’re doing is they let you test out features, but ultimately expect you to get paid because you can’t post more X number of episodes.

You can also podcast on Substack for free, but I don’t personally recommend it despite the fact I have done a podcast on there before. It’s mainly because Substack isn’t a real podcast host like Acast, Red Circle, Podbean, etc. are. They can distribute your show via RSS feeds. However they lack the features of other providers. Their analytics is somewhat questionable. I would only use Substack as a host if your podcast happens to be an audio companion/supplement to a newsletter you’re doing on Substack.

If you enjoy this, be sure to check out the Podcasts category to find other podcasting related posts!