Whether you’re podcasting as a hobby or as a marketing effort for your business, it sure would be nice to make a little something from your efforts. Thankfully, many podcast hosting and distribution platforms offer monetization features so you can make extra money while publishing your show.
But while there are dozens of podcast platforms offering monetization services, very few offer truly profitable options. How do you choose the right platform(s) for your show, and which ones offer the highest amount of revenue?
We’ve already done the legwork for you by collecting the best podcast platforms for monetization. We’ve also collected their requirements, fees, and unique features so you can make informed decisions about reaching your revenue goals.
But First:
- Understanding the Types of Podcast Monetization Models
- Comparing the Best Podcast Platforms for Monetization
- Acast: Best for Sponsorships
- RedCircle: Best for Customizable Ads
- Captivate: Best for DAX Ads
- Spotify for Creators: Best for Subscription Revenue
- Buzzsprout: Best for Impression Pricing
- Megaphone: Best for Networks
- Additional Tips for Monetizing Your Podcast
- Choosing the Right Monetization Platforms
- The Bottom Line on Podcast Platforms for Monetization
Understanding the Types of Podcast Monetization Models
There are three different ways to monetize your podcast.
The first is through advertisements, where businesses place targeted ads on your show. These could be predetermined breaks you insert yourself, or automatically inserted via Dynamic Ad Insertion tools from your hosting platform
Next up is sponsorships, which happen when businesses pay to have you spotlight their product or service. Unlike advertisements (which roll out in the background), sponsorships usually require the podcaster to read a script, advertise a promo code, and/or encourage listeners to perform a specific action.
The last major option is subscriptions, which is where audience members agree to pay a monthly fee to access content. This could be ‘bonus’ content, ad-free listening, or a premium show that’s only available to members.
Wondering which option(s) are right for you?
We’ve compared all three in the comparison chart below:
| Monetization Method | Accessibility | Profit Opportunity | Scalability | Pros | Cons |
| Advertisements | 🟢 High (open to most podcasters via ad networks) | 🔴 Low ($15 to $30 CPM) | 🟢 High (scales with audience growth) | Simple to implement, scalable with audience | Requires many listens/downloads for significant revenue |
| Sponsorships | 🔴 Low (requires pitching, niche, and audience size) | 🟡 Moderate ($25 to $40 CPM) | 🟡 Moderate (depends on niche and network) | Potential for higher earnings with niche relevance | Time-consuming to manage relationships, difficult to score deals |
| Subscriptions | 🟡 Moderate (requires audience willing to pay) | 🟢 High ($4.67 to $10 per listener, 2-10% of audience) | 🟡 Moderate (Depends on audience growth and value offering) | Consistent revenue, authentic community engagement | Harder to scale, dependent on audience growth |
Short story long: advertisements are probably the most accessible monetization option for newer podcasters. If you’re just getting started, it’s one of the best first avenues to consider.
However, sponsorships make sense if you have the audience (and confidence) to ask for them. If you have a strong niche, good network, and fairly thick skin, you could even attempt this as a newer podcaster.
Of course, subscriptions can work for audiences of any size — it all boils down to how dedicated your listeners are. It may be worthwhile to ask them directly by setting up a poll to gauge interest in subscription content.
Most podcasters mix and match these three monetization options to make their shows as profitable as possible.
Curious how much this could net for your podcast?
Let’s look closer at the numbers below.
How Much Can I Make from Podcasting?
Making money from your podcast depends on the size of your audience, how loyal your listeners are, and how much you charge for sponsorships.
That said, here are some rough numbers worth considering:
- Advertisements: $15 to $30 per 1,000 listeners for 60 seconds
- Sponsorships: $25 to $40 per 1,000 listeners for 60 seconds
- Subscriptions: $4.67 to $10 per listener (not counting the percentage cut from the provider)
You also have to consider:
- Genre. Studies show that podcasts covering lighthearted topics such as comedy, culture, and sports enjoy the lion’s share of podcast ad revenue (~41% for the three topics represented here).
- Niche. The more niche your podcast is, the more profitable you’re likely to be. This is especially true of less sought-after topics like retail, CPG, and pharmaceuticals.
- Time. Unsurprisingly, the more time you spend working on your podcast, the more likely you are to make it profitable. Studies show that spending 3.9 hours on marketing and 8.2 hours on production per week is more likely to result in +100% growth.
Again, profitable podcasts don’t happen by accident, and they certainly don’t generate significant revenue overnight. If you’re looking to maximize the profitability of your show, you’re going to need to spend time focusing on marketing first.
Comparing the Best Podcast Platforms for Monetization
How do the best podcast monetization platforms stack up?
Let’s take a closer look in this handy comparison chart:
| Platform | Type | Pricing | Advertisements | Sponsorships | Subscriptions | Fees |
| Acast | Hosting & Distribution | ~$14.99 per month | ✔️ | ✔️(Influencer plan required) | ✔️ | 15% |
| RedCircle | Hosting & Distribution | ~$29.99 per month | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 30% – 50% |
| Captivate | Hosting & Distribution | ~$17 per month | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 5 – 12% |
| Spotify for Creators | Hosting & Distribution | Free | ✔️ (with eligibility) | ❌ | ✔️ (with eligibility) | 50% |
| Buzzsprout | Hosting & Distribution | ~$12 per month | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | 15% |
| Megaphone | Hosting & Distribution | Custom quote (starts ~$99 per month) | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | 50% |
Acast: Best for Sponsorships
- Type: Hosting and Distribution
- Pricing: Starts at $14.99 per month for all monetization tools
- Monetization Options: Advertising, Sponsorship, Subscription
Acast is a podcast host, distribution, and monetization platform designed to connect podcasters to brands, advertisers, and other media professionals. There are more than 3,300 brands on its advertising roster, although its biggest claim to fame is curating sponsorship opportunities for podcasters.
Just keep in mind that Acast requires a minimum of 2,000 listeners per month to qualify for the ad network. You also have to worry about expensive plans. You might also feel forced to upgrade before you’re ready because there’s no way to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities without upgrading to the Influencer plan ($25 per month without paying annually).
Monetization Features of Acast
- Acast’s advertising marketplace (dynamic ads)
- Access to sponsorship opportunities
- Subscriptions and listener support (Acast+)
- Insert ads with pre-roll, post-roll, and mid-roll markers
Acast Fees and Requirements
Fees
- 15% cut of subscription payments
- Transaction fees for subscriptions (1.4% + a fixed fee of $1.80 SEK for European bank cards and 2.9% + a fixed fee of $1.80 SEK for non-European bank cards)
Requirements
- $100 USD minimum threshold for payout
- Must have more than 2,000 listeners per month to apply for ads
- Shows with baked-in ads are not eligible for sponsorships
- Some locations are not eligible for payouts (Crimea, Cuba, Donbas, Iran, Luhansk, North Korea, Russia, Syria)
RedCircle: Best for Customizable Ads
- Type: Hosting and Distribution
- Pricing: Starts at $29.99 per month for all monetization tools
- Monetization Options: Advertising; Subscription; Sponsorships (Host-Read Ads)
Like Acast, RedCircle is a podcast hosting and distribution platform that offers all three podcast monetization options. Its unique claim to fame is customizable, dynamic ads, which allow you to pick and choose specific categories to include in your ad rolls.
Just keep in mind that RedCircle takes a significant cut of programmatic ad revenue (a full 50% of every dollar earned). Its other fees, unfortunately, aren’t easy to find. If you’re curious about the specific numbers, you should contact the sales team for a custom quote.
Monetization Features of RedCircle
- User donations
- Instant payouts
- Cross-promotion marketplace
- Subscriptions for exclusive content
- Host-reads and programmatic ads (via the RedCircle Ad Platform)
RedCircle Fees and Requirements
Fees
- RedCircle takes a percentage of all compensation from agreements, contracts, engagements, and introductions (exact numbers not revealed online)
- 30% cut of sponsorships (host-read ads)
- 50% cut of programmatic ad revenue
Requirements
- The RedCircle Advertising Platform (RAP) requires a minimum of 500 downloads per week (~2,000 downloads per month) to join
- Many monetization features require upgrades (instant payouts, full ad customization, cross-promotion marketplace)
- It may take 7 to 10 days for funds to be deposited without instant payout
- Programmatic revenue is paid monthly, and sponsorships (host-read ads) are paid incrementally
- Instant payouts require a Stripe Express Account
Captivate: Best for DAX Ads
- Type: Hosting and Distribution
- Pricing: Starts at $17 per month for all monetization features
- Monetization Options: Advertisements, Sponsorships, Subscriptions
Captivate is an affordable podcast host/distributor offering all three monetization options on every plan. It also comes with unique baked-in features such as the DAX ad marketplace, a built-in ad painter in the editor, and the ability to sell direct sponsorships (rather than receive inbound leads from other platforms).
Compared to many other podcasting platforms, Captivate is relatively cost-effective. Just keep in mind the fees are high, and unlike other platforms, there’s no way to get direct sponsorship opportunities delivered to your inbox.
💡Related: Captivate Podcast Hosting: Grow Your Audience with Ease
Monetization Features of Captivate
- Affiliate program (25% recurring payout for the lifetime of every referred podcaster)
- Audio Monetization & Insertion Engine (AMIE)
- Exclusive and early-access content
- Ad painter (within editor)
- Sell direct sponsorships
- DAX Ad Marketplace
- Podcast network tools
- Custom memberships
- Listener tips
Captivate Fees and Requirements
Fees
- Memberships
- 12% Captivate revenue share
- 2.9% plus $0.30 in Stripe fees per transaction
- Withdrawal fees
- 0.25% plus $0.30 to Stripe
- Listener tips
- 5% Captivate revenue share
- 2.9% plus $0.30 in Stripe fees per transaction
Requirements
- Monetization requires Stripe
- You can only have a max of three (3) ads/inserts per slot
- Affiliate program pays via PayPal (not Stripe) within the first 10 days of the month
Spotify for Creators: Best for Subscription Revenue
- Type: Hosting and Distributing
- Pricing: Free
- Monetization Options: Advertisements; Subscriptions
Spotify for Creators is one of the most recognizable platforms for streaming audio and video podcasts. You can upload your podcasts without paying a dime, then distribute your show to up to eight external platforms.
The upside is, Spotify for Creators is free. The downside is, it takes a pretty steep cut of your ad revenue. You also have to consider its strict advertising requirements — you may have to jump through hoops to monetize your podcast.
💡Related: Spotify for Creators: Unlock Your Podcast’s Potential
Monetization Features of Spotify for Creators
- Subscriptions (also integrates with third-party platforms)
- Spotify Partner Program (premium video revenue)
Spotify for Creators Fees and Requirements
Fees
- Spotify takes a 50% cut of ad revenue
- Earnings subject to transactional fees
Requirements
- For the Spotify Partner Program
- Be located in a participating country (Australia, Canada, US, UK)
- Be streamed 10,000 hours on Spotify in 30 days
- Be streamed by 2,000 unique Spotify users in 30 days
- Publish a minimum of 12 episodes that are hosted and uploaded on Spotify for Creators
- For subscriptions
- Publish a minimum of two (2) episodes that are hosted and uploaded on Spotify for Creators
- Be streamed by 100+ unique Spotify listeners in 60 days
Buzzsprout: Best for Impression Pricing
- Type: Hosting and Distribution
- Pricing: Starts at $12 per month for all monetization tools
- Monetization Options: Subscriptions; Advertisements
Buzzsprout is one of the most popular podcast hosting sites, offering entry-level pricing for small and growing shows. In exchange for meeting its eligibility requirements, you’re paid $200 for every 1,000 podcast impressions (very different from most platforms’ metrics for downloads and listens).
But Buzzsprout’s ad network requirements are fairly steep compared to other platforms. Plus, unlike Acast, there are no sponsorship programs available directly in-app. You’ll have to go hunting for these yourself, which isn’t ideal if you’re particularly interested in host-read monetization.
💡Related: Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting: Simplify Your Podcasting Journey
Monetization Features of Buzzsprout
- Recurring support and premium content (subscriptions)
- Dynamic content
- Affiliate program (receive $20 for every recommended account)
Buzzsprout Fees and Requirements
Fees
- 15% flat fee for listener subscriptions
- Podcasters earn $0.02 USD per impression
Requirements
- Eligibility for Buzzsprout Ads:
- At least five episodes that are 23 minutes long
- Hosted on Buzzsprout on a paid plan
- Must reach 1,000 downloads in 30 days
- Cash-outs require PayPal
Megaphone: Best for Networks
- Type: Hosting and Distribution
- Pricing: Requires a custom quote for all monetization tools
- Monetization Options: Advertisements
Last but not least is Megaphone, the enterprise arm of Spotify for Creators. This allows you to create networks of shows and monetize your podcast(s) with direct sales, partnerships, and ad opportunities.
But as you can probably guess, Megaphone was specifically designed for mega brands — which means its pricing is much higher than other platforms on this list. The base plan starts at $99 per month, while access to all monetization and sponsorship opportunities requires a custom quote.
Monetization Features of Megaphone
- Access to the Spotify Audience Network
- Live chat support (Monday through Friday from 4 AM to 9 PM EST)
- Paid subscriptions from premium RSS feeds
- Also acts as a distribution platform
- Dynamic ad insertion
- Streaming ad Insertion
Megapone Fees and Requirements
Fees
- Late payments incur 1.5% extra cost
- Takes 50% of ad revenue made
Requirements
- May be exclusive to shows with at least 20,000 downloads per episode
- Pricing requires custom quote
- Must be approved to join Spotify Audience Network
- Must speak with a representative to see if eligible for Spotify Partner Program
Additional Tips for Monetizing Your Podcast
Sponsorships, ads, and subscriber donations are only three pieces of the revenue puzzle.
If you’re serious about maximizing your podcast income, you might also want to consider the following avenues:
- Think about approaching other shows in your niche and asking if they’d be interested in a cross-promotional partnership. Some hosts will be happy to pay you for a shoutout or mention your show on their platform, which may boost listenership (and therefore monetization opportunities).
- Don’t forget about merchandise. If you’re popular enough, selling merch won’t hurt. You could easily net a cool $20 from a t-shirt, or try custom options like mugs, hats, and vinyl stickers.
- When you have a large enough audience, consider live events. These allow you to charge much higher ticket prices, sometimes to the tune of $150 or more. Plus, you can build genuine relationships with fans, one of the reasons why businesses need a podcast in the first place.
Choosing the Right Monetization Platforms
Getting analysis paralysis?
Here are five questions to ask while choosing the right monetization platform:
- What are your revenue goals? If you want the greatest possible revenue, look for variety first and foremost. But keep in mind that migrations are free. There’s no shame in starting with a more limited platform and migrating later when you’re ready for more.
- How large is your audience? Audiences with fewer than 1,000 monthly viewers might find it more difficult to qualify for all monetization opportunities, such as sponsorships and high-ticket subscriptions. If you’re just getting started, ad platforms might be a good launching point. If you command a larger audience, you can probably be a little pickier.
- How much are you comfortable sharing? Most podcast monetization platforms keep a cut of your subscription, ad, or sponsorship revenue. For this reason, you should decide how much of a cut is too much for your podcast, then avoid high-cost platforms skimming too much off the top.
- What’s your current budget? Some advertising platforms charge surprisingly steep costs for hosting and distribution, and if you’re not making much revenue, it could get expensive to maintain your subscription. Be sure to consider the platform’s upfront costs and decide if it makes sense for your budget.
- How big will your podcast get? If you’re putting in the work to grow your podcast to 10,000+ listeners, you might want to think ahead by investing in a scalable platform. This can save you the hassle of having to migrate later and provide growth opportunities right from the get-go.
The Bottom Line on Podcast Platforms for Monetization
So, how do you find the best podcast monetization platform for your podcast? Sorting the good from the great mostly depends on what you’re looking for.
But if you’re just looking for a few good leads, you might want to consider Spotify for Creators as a total beginner, Buzzsprout for medium-sized shows, and Acast for larger or growing shows.
Of course, your podcast monetization platform will only perform as well as your podcast content. If you don’t invest in creating quality audio and video, you likely won’t see the returns you’ve been planning for all this time.
Want to make sure your show stays profitable?
Here are a few guides to point you in the right direction: