Looking for WordPress podcast plugins to help you build a website for your show?

Creating a website is an excellent way to expand your podcast’s reach and connect with your audience. And when it comes to building a podcast website, WordPress is a fantastic platform to consider.

To make your WordPress podcast website stand out, a dedicated podcast plugin can be incredibly helpful.

These plugins offer a range of functionality, from allowing you to create and host podcasts directly on your WordPress site to integrating podcasts hosted on dedicated services like Libsyn, Podbean, Spotify for Podcasters, and more.

In this WordPress Wednesday post, we’ll highlight some great WordPress podcast plugins and explain how each one can benefit you.

What Do WordPress Podcast Plugins Do? Why Use One?

Broadly speaking, WordPress podcast plugins fall into two categories:

1. All-in-one podcast plugins – These plugins enable you to host your podcast and its audio files directly on your WordPress site. They provide everything you need to get started.

2. Podcast integration plugins – These plugins allow you to embed and manage a podcast hosted on a third-party podcast hosting service, integrating it seamlessly into your WordPress site.

Let’s break down each type to help you decide which approach is best for your needs.

All-In-One Podcast Plugins

All-in-one podcast plugins handle every aspect of podcasting. You upload your audio files directly through WordPress, where they’ll be hosted. These plugins will also generate the necessary RSS feed to submit your podcast to directories like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

These plugins are ideal if you’re just starting out and want to keep costs low. You won’t need to invest in separate podcast hosting services—everything is managed directly through your WordPress site.

However, as your podcast grows, you might find it beneficial to switch to a dedicated podcast hosting service, which typically offers more optimised audio hosting, detailed analytics, monetisation tools, and other advanced features.

Podcast Integration Plugins

While it’s possible to manage your entire podcast through WordPress, many podcasters prefer using a dedicated podcast hosting service. Popular services include Libsyn, Spotify for Podcasters, Podbean, Blubrry, and more.

A podcast hosting service functions like your website’s hosting service but for your audio files. These platforms create the necessary RSS feed to submit to podcast directories and often come with additional tools for analytics, monetisation, and recording.

With a podcast integration plugin, you can still showcase all of your podcast episodes on your WordPress site while hosting the files elsewhere. Typically, you’ll enter your podcast’s RSS feed in the plugin’s settings, and it will embed a player or automatically create posts for new episodes.

Some plugins even offer features from both categories, acting as both an all-in-one solution or an integration plugin depending on your needs.

8 WordPress Podcast Plugins to Consider

Now that you know the different types of podcast plugins available, let’s explore some top options to help you create or integrate your podcast on your WordPress website.

1. Podcast Player

Podcast Player is a WordPress plugin designed to seamlessly integrate your existing podcast RSS feed with your website.

While it doesn’t offer tools to create the feed or host your podcast files, it works perfectly with a dedicated podcast hosting service. Once your RSS feed is ready, the plugin makes it simple to display your podcast episodes on your WordPress site using an intuitive, user-friendly player.

With the free version, you can embed the podcast player anywhere on your site. For more advanced functionality, such as importing individual episodes as WordPress posts, the Pro version offers additional features.

Key Features of the Podcast Player:

• Subscribe buttons: Easily add subscription options for various platforms to encourage your audience to follow your podcast.
• Episode playlists: Display multiple episodes in a playlist, with complete control over which ones appear.
• Player controls: Include handy controls like skip forward/back, next/previous episode, and more.

The free version provides everything you need to get started with the podcast player. For more advanced features like importing episodes as posts and accessing extra layouts, the Pro version is available for $40 per year or $60 for lifetime updates.

2. Seriously Simple Podcasting

Seriously Simple Podcasting is a WordPress plugin developed by Castos, a popular podcast hosting service. While the plugin offers special integration features for Castos users, you don’t need to use Castos hosting to take full advantage of it.

Two Options for Setting Up Your Podcast:

1. Self-host your podcast: You can host your podcast audio files directly on your WordPress site. The plugin will generate the necessary RSS feeds for submission to podcast directories.
2. Sync with Castos: If you’re using Castos for hosting, you can upload new podcast episodes via your WordPress dashboard, and the plugin will automatically sync them with Castos. This lets you enjoy the benefits of dedicated podcast hosting while managing everything from your WordPress site.

Features for Creating a Listener-Friendly Podcast Website:

• Episode management: Easily manage podcast episodes just like blog posts, adding titles, descriptions, cover images, and more.
• Automatic episode creation: The plugin can automatically create a new episode post whenever you upload a podcast file.
• Podcast player: Display a sleek, user-friendly podcast player so visitors can listen directly from your website.

Additional Official Add-Ons:

• Seriously Simple Stats: Track the number of listens for each episode along with other useful analytics.
• Seriously Simple Transcripts: Add downloadable transcripts to episodes to improve accessibility.
• Seriously Simple Speakers: Add guest or speaker information to your episodes, which is especially useful for guest-heavy podcasts.

The Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin and all its add-ons are completely free. You only need to pay if you choose to use Castos for hosting, though the plugin works perfectly without it.

3. Blubrry PowerPress

Blubrry PowerPress is a widely-used WordPress podcasting plugin that operates similarly to Seriously Simple Podcasting. Developed by Blubrry, a popular podcast hosting service, it offers special integration features for Blubrry users but doesn’t require Blubrry hosting to function.

Two Setup Options for Your Podcast:

1. Self-host your podcast: Host your podcast files directly on your WordPress site. The plugin will generate the necessary RSS feed for submission to podcast directories.
2. Integrate with Blubrry hosting: If you’re using Blubrry for podcast hosting, you can manage everything from your WordPress dashboard, with the plugin syncing your content to the Blubrry platform.

Features for Creating a Full Podcast Website:

• Audio player options: Embed an audio player with various display options.
• Subscribe buttons: Encourage listeners to subscribe to your podcast on multiple platforms.
• Show notes and transcripts: Add detailed show notes and downloadable transcripts to your episodes for better accessibility and listener engagement.

The Blubrry PowerPress plugin is completely free to use. You only need to pay if you choose Blubrry’s podcast hosting service, but using their hosting is optional.

4. MP3 Audio Player

MP3 Audio Player is a versatile plugin that works exceptionally well for podcasts, though it can be used for other audio types too.

One of the standout features of this plugin is its modern and stylish audio player interface. It includes all the essentials that podcasters need:

• Cover photos
• Subscribe buttons
• Show notes
• Transcriptions
• Skip forward/backward buttons
• Playlists for multiple episodes

Embedding Options:

MP3 Audio Player offers multiple ways to embed the player across your site:

• Editor block
• Shortcode
• Elementor widget
• JavaScript API

The plugin also allows you to automatically import podcast content from your podcast RSS feed. With the premium version, you can even import podcast episodes as their own posts or custom post types. Additionally, MP3 Audio Player Pro provides an option to create your own podcast RSS feed, giving you more flexibility.

The free version is sufficient if you just need a simple web player for an existing podcast RSS feed. For more advanced features, the Pro version starts at $49, offering extended functionality like importing episodes as posts and custom feeds.

5. Simple Podcasting

Simple Podcasting, developed by 10up, is a straightforward WordPress podcasting plugin that lets you create and host a podcast directly from your WordPress site. While it’s not as feature-packed as plugins like Seriously Simple Podcasting or Blubrry PowerPress, it covers the essentials for basic podcasting needs.

Key Features:

• Create and manage podcasts: Set up your podcast with all the necessary metadata for submission to podcast directories.
• Multiple podcasts: If needed, you can create multiple separate podcasts from the same WordPress site.
• Episode management: Add new podcast episodes similarly to how you would add blog posts. The plugin includes a simple web player, and the episodes are added to your podcast’s RSS feed for listeners to access via podcast apps.

Customisation:

The plugin is extensible with code, allowing you or a developer to customise the podcast RSS feed to meet your specific requirements.

Player Options:

The default web player is quite basic, so for a richer experience, you might consider pairing Simple Podcasting with a more robust player like the Podcast Player or MP3 Audio Player plugins mentioned earlier. If you’re using WordPress.com, you can also take advantage of the included Podcast Player block.

Simple Podcasting is completely free, making it an easy, no-cost option for basic podcast hosting and management on WordPress.

6. Podcast Importer

Podcast Importer is a WordPress plugin designed to help you integrate your podcast with your WordPress site by importing episodes from an external podcast hosting service.

Key Features:

• Import from RSS Feed: You can input your existing podcast RSS feed (from services like Libsyn, Buzzsprout, Spotify for Podcasters, etc.) and the plugin will automatically import each podcast episode to your WordPress site.
• Custom Post Types: The plugin lets you import episodes as regular blog posts or into a custom post type, keeping your podcast content separate from other site content if needed.
• Automated Syncing: Set a custom sync schedule to automatically import new episodes whenever you publish them on your podcast hosting service.

Podcast Player:

While Podcast Importer doesn’t come with its own podcast player, it supports over 15 podcast hosting services, automatically integrating their players into your imported episodes. This means each episode listing on your site will include a working player from your hosting provider.

Some supported services include:

• Buzzsprout
• Pinecast
• Captivate
• Transistor
• Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor)
• Libsyn
• And more.

Versions:

• Free Version: Import episodes as blog posts.
• Pro Version ($24 for one site): Import to custom post types and access additional features.

Podcast Importer is ideal if you already use a podcast hosting service and want a simple way to sync and display episodes on your WordPress site.

7. Podlove Podcast Publisher

Podlove Podcast Publisher is a comprehensive WordPress plugin designed to help you manage and host your podcast directly from your WordPress site.

Key Features:

• Full Podcast Management: You can create new episodes as easily as publishing a blog post, supporting both audio and video formats. You have the flexibility to host your files on your WordPress hosting or use third-party storage services like Amazon S3.
• Dedicated Episode Pages: Each episode gets its own page on your site, featuring a sleek, user-friendly podcast player that enhances the listener experience.
• RSS Feed Creation: The plugin automatically generates a podcast RSS feed for your show, enabling listeners to subscribe via their preferred podcast apps. You can also distribute your podcast to directories like Apple Podcasts.

Additional Features:

• Podcast Chapters: Enhance your episodes with chapter markers for easy navigation, allowing listeners to jump to specific sections. You can even link directly to specific chapters, making it easier for your audience to engage with the content.
• Advanced Analytics: Track detailed stats for each episode, such as download numbers, the client used to listen, download sources, and the most active days. This can help you optimise your content and release schedule.
• Subscribe Buttons: Add podcast subscription buttons to your site to encourage users to subscribe via their favourite podcast apps.

Pricing:

• Free: Podlove Podcast Publisher is entirely free to use, with no restrictions.
• Optional Donations: If you want to support the development of the plugin, you can contribute via their Open Collective page on a one-time or recurring basis.

Podlove Podcast Publisher is an excellent choice for podcasters who want to maintain full control over their podcast from within WordPress, with the added benefit of advanced analytics and chapter support.

8. Buzzsprout Podcasting

Buzzsprout Podcasting is a WordPress plugin designed specifically for those using Buzzsprout as their podcast hosting service. It offers seamless integration, making it easy to manage and embed your Buzzsprout-hosted podcast episodes directly from your WordPress site.

Key Features:

• Exclusive for Buzzsprout Users: Unlike other podcasting plugins like Seriously Simple Podcasting and Blubrry PowerPress, which work with any podcast hosting service, the Buzzsprout Podcasting plugin is designed exclusively for podcasts hosted on Buzzsprout.
• Easy Episode Embedding: The plugin simplifies embedding Buzzsprout podcast episodes directly into your WordPress posts or pages. You can do this right from your WordPress editor without needing to manually copy and paste the embed code.
• Quick Episode Posting: While the plugin doesn’t automatically create a post for each new podcast episode, it does make it quick and easy to add the podcast player to any post when you’re ready to publish.

Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting:

• Free Plan: Buzzsprout offers a free plan that lets you upload up to two hours of audio per month (with certain limitations, like keeping episodes up for 90 days).
• Affordable Paid Plans: Paid plans start at $12 per month, allowing for longer storage and more upload hours, ideal for growing podcasts.

Pricing:

• Buzzsprout Podcasting Plugin: 100% free to use with your WordPress site.
• Buzzsprout Hosting Plans: Free plan available, with paid plans starting at $12 per month for more advanced features and storage options.

Buzzsprout Podcasting is a simple yet effective plugin for those already using Buzzsprout as their podcast host, offering a streamlined way to integrate and manage your podcast episodes through WordPress.