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You’re not alone if you spend hours listening to a podcast. In fact, an estimated 62 million people listen to a podcast every week. A podcast is a series of spoken-word audio episodes that are all focused on a particular topic or theme.
If you run a podcast, you probably host it through one of many platforms, including SoundCloud or iTunes. These sites are a great way to build an audience. However, creating a WordPress site devoted to your podcast will attract a larger audience, yield higher search engine traffic and supplement your podcast with additional content.
WordPress offers many podcast plugins that all allow you to embed your podcast directly into your website. These plugins can professionalize your podcast, save you time and expand your brand. However, since the WordPress community has created so many plugins, it can be difficult to make the best choice for your unique needs.
What are the Benefits of Using a WordPress Podcast Plugin?
There are many reasons to add a podcast plugin to your WordPress site. A WordPress podcast plugin will expand the reach of your podcast and grow your brand.
Better SEO
Most plugins contain SEO features that improve the discovery of your podcast on search engines, as well as in the Apple Podcasts directory.
Audience growth
Many plugins have tools that enable you to set up subscriptions or share your podcast via social media icons which have proven to be a valuable outlet for growing your audience.
Audience exposure
Embedding a podcast plugin on your WordPress site will allow you to share in-depth details about yourself and your podcast.
What to Look for in the Best WordPress Podcast Plugins
With so many available WordPress podcast plugins, users often find it challenging to find the right plugin for their needs. Consider the following features when searching for the perfect podcast plugin!
Factor #1: Security
There are never any guarantees, but you’ll want to choose a WordPress podcast plugin that is secure. Make sure you only select high-quality plugins before you install them. Look for plugins that are sold by reputable marketplaces like CodeCanyon, the WordPress Plugin Repository or any other third-party stores that you trust.
Factor #2: Reviews
Every experience with a podcast plugin will be different, so reading plugin reviews might bring to light new features that you may not have considered before.
Factor #3: Functionality
The functionality of a WordPress podcast plugin is essential to understand when you are choosing which one to use. Look for plugins that can manage podcast episodes, automatically upload episodes to iTunes, easily share affiliate links, track podcast downloads, allow for subscriptions, and offer analytical data for your insight.
Factor #4: Price for value
Many WordPress podcast plugins are free to use while others are more expensive. If you are just starting out, a free option is going to be enough to suit your needs. If you are looking for more advanced features such as custom color palettes or access to the plugin’s code, a paid option will be a much better fit.
Factor #5: Size of plugin
Every plugin adds a bit of complexity to your site, so it’s essential to install well-developed plugins from a reputable source. You’ll always want to have the fastest plugins possible while also having access to the features that you want most.
The Best WordPress Podcast Plugins
Publishing your podcast on your WordPress blog is a great way to promote and share your show. Below, we’ve examined the five best WordPress podcasting plugins to help you decide which plugin is the best choice for you.
We recommend Seriously Simple Podcasting because it’s one of the best WordPress podcast plugins due to its simplicity. The short configuration process allows for a quick setup so you can focus on recording your podcast.
The biggest positive about the Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin is that you can run multiple podcasts from the same site, and each will have its own unique RSS feed, too. It’s also a free plugin that is packed with unique features, making it perfect for people just starting out in the world of podcasting.
One major drawback is that the plugin does not have a link with a “Subscribe!” CTA below the audio player. Even so, Seriously Simple Podcasting is best for beginners just starting their podcasts.
The plugin is almost completely free to use. The only cost associated with using Seriously Simple Podcasting is if you choose to host your audio files with a dedicated podcast hosting provider.
We love the PowerPress podcast plugin because it offers both a beginner and an advanced mode. With the simple mode, you can publish your podcast episode by following 3 easy steps. Once you know how the plugin works, you can switch to the advanced mode if you want to use the rest of the features.
One of the plugin’s best features is an integrated HTML5 media player, which makes it possible for your visitors to listen to your show directly from your site. PowerPress also supports the ability to embed media from sites like YouTube. It also comes with SEO settings that will help to increase your podcast’s discoverability on Google SERPs and the iTunes directory.
A minor con of PowerPress is that you have to pay for advanced statistics, including country demographics and traffic sources. The PowerPress WordPress plugin is best for beginner podcasters and power users as it has two modes.
There is a free version of PowerPress, but you can also sign up for a monthly subscription if you want access to advanced statistics and episode downloads. Subscriptions start at $5 per month.
Fusebox is easily one of our top podcast plugins because it offers unique design features. It’s also packed with an array of features intended to help enhance your podcast.
What sets the Fusebox WordPress podcast plug apart from the others is its design customization. Other WordPress podcast plugins lack beautiful design options, but Fusebox gives you a color palette for your audio track bar, making your podcast feel like a native part of your website.
A major con is that there are no statistics available. This is not ideal if you want to track the success of your podcasts.
Fusebox is best for more advanced podcasters due to its cost and advanced features.
Fusebox does have a free version, but to unlock the best features, you have to pay $15.83 per month, but it’s billed annually. However, there is a special going on right now that gives you two months of Fusebox for free!
Simple Podcast Press is for existing podcasters who want to use a plugin to embed a beautiful player into their website posts and pages. It also comes with the ability to publish episodes to your WordPress site automatically.
A major plus of Simple Podcast Press is that it is optimized for mobile devices. In addition, the Simple Podcast Press plugin comes with subscribe buttons and custom calls to action, which can be used as anchor text for any links, products or affiliate links on your site.
A major drawback of this plugin is that it is not free, making it not a poor choice for those just starting out with their podcast and their website. This plugin is best for people with an established iTunes or SoundCloud podcast who are looking to showcase it on their website.
A single site license is available for $67. A yearly subscription is required if you want additional updates and customer support.
We have loads of love for the Podlove Podcast Publisher as it comes bundled with a subscription feature and a detailed analytics engine created explicitly for WordPress.
If you’re experienced and have some basic coding knowledge, you’ll appreciate the fact that the best feature of Podlove is its custom templating system. This feature enables you to access every piece of code related to your podcast data so that you can modify the appearance and overall user experience to your heart’s content.
It’s not for beginners. If you don’t know code and have no desire to customize your podcast, this plugin is not for you. Podlove Podcast Publisher is best suited for podcasters who don’t mind delving into code to customize their experience.
Its free plan allows for up to 2 hours of podcasting per month and hosting for 90 days. The cheapest plan after the free plan includes indefinite hosting for $12 per month.
There is a Podcast Plugin for Everyone
Above, we listed five quality plugins that are all great options for integrating your podcast into your WordPress website. While they all have similar features, they also have unique features that cater to both beginners and experienced podcasters alike.
Since there is no end in sight for podcasting, it’s nice to know that WordPress has you covered. However, each of the plugins above will serve you in a slightly different way, so be mindful of which one you opt for. Make a list of the features you hope to get out of the podcast plugin and then download the best choice for your needs!
