You can learn how to start a podcast for free this week, and your listeners won't be able to tell you spent nothing.
I say that with some confidence. Podcast Magazine featured me in its "40 Over 40 in Podcasting" list, and I've produced around 300 episodes for clients.
Some of those shows had real budgets. Some had none at all.
The ones with no budget weren't the ones that failed. The ones that failed were the ones that never kept going.
Starting a podcast for free means recording, editing, designing and publishing your show with tools that cost nothing. That usually means the phone or laptop you already own, free editing software, a free design app and a free hosting plan. It covers everything you need for a real show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Why I'd Start With $0 If I Were Starting Today
Most beginners assume the first step is buying something. A microphone, a course, a hosting plan.
It isn't. The first step is finding out whether you enjoy making episodes, and whether you'll keep making them.
That's something no gear can tell you. Only recording can.
My wife's Hindi recipe podcast crossed 3.1 million downloads and reached the Apple Podcasts Top 10. People assume a show like that must have started with a big budget.
What made the difference wasn't equipment. It was publishing week after week, for people who wanted exactly what she was making.
So if money is the thing holding you back, let's take it off the table completely.
What "free" really costs you
Free tools do cost you something. Just not money.
They cost you a bit more time, because you'll learn some things by trial and error. They come with limits, like upload caps on free hosting plans. And some of them want you to use their app for everything.
None of that stops you from launching. It just means you should know the trade-offs before you pick.
The good news is that the time cost shrinks fast. Your first edit might take three hours. By episode five, the same edit usually takes under one, because you've learned where everything is.
How to Start a Podcast for Free in 7 Steps
To start a podcast for free, record on your phone or laptop and edit in Audacity. Make your cover art in Canva, then upload to a free hosting plan. Finally, submit your show to Spotify and Apple Podcasts, which cost nothing to join.
Here is the full $0 sequence, in order:
- Decide who your show is for and what it's about
- Record with the phone or laptop you already own
- Edit with free podcast recording software
- Design your cover art with a free tool
- Upload to a free podcast hosting plan
- Submit your show to Spotify and Apple Podcasts
- Tell people about it, using channels that cost nothing
Each step below shows the free option I'd pick, and where its limits are.
Step 1: Decide who your show is for
This step is free, and it's the one most beginners rush. Before you record, write down one sentence about the person you're talking to.
Something like "A new mum in her thirties who wants 20-minute dinners she can cook with a baby on one hip." That sentence will shape every episode, title and description you write.
A show made for everyone ends up made for no one. A show made for one clear person finds its listeners faster.
Step 2: Record with what you already own
Your phone's microphone is good enough for a first episode. So is the one built into most laptops, if you sit close to it.
The trick is the room, not the device. Record in a small room full of soft things, like a bedroom or a closet full of clothes. Soft surfaces absorb echo, and echo is what makes a free setup sound cheap.
Hold your phone about a hand's width from your mouth, and switch on airplane mode first. My guide to how to record a podcast on your phone walks through the full setup.
If you own wired earphones with a built-in mic, try those too. The mic sits closer to your mouth, which often sounds cleaner than the phone itself.
Free Podcast Recording Software That Beginners Can Actually Use
The best free podcast recording software for most beginners is Audacity. It records, edits and exports your episode, and it runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. It has never cost anything, and it's still maintained today.
Audacity can do everything a beginner needs:
- Record your voice directly from a mic or laptop
- Cut out mistakes, long pauses and false starts
- Reduce steady background noise, like a fan or air conditioner
- Even out the volume, so you're not too quiet in some places
- Export your finished episode as an MP3
It isn't the prettiest program you'll ever use. The first hour feels confusing, and that's normal.
Watch one short beginner tutorial and edit one test recording. After that, the buttons start to make sense.
Free options if you only have a phone
If you don't have a computer, you can still edit. Most phone voice recorder apps let you trim the start and end of a recording.
Many podcast hosting apps also let you upload straight from your phone. For a simple solo show, that can be enough.
When you do move to a computer, Audacity takes over from the phone apps without costing anything extra.
Step 3: Keep editing simple
Your first episodes don't need heavy editing. Cut the obvious mistakes, trim the long silences and make sure the volume is steady.
That's it. I've watched beginners spend five hours editing a 20-minute episode, burn out and quit. Aim for under an hour per episode at the start.
Step 4: Free Podcast Cover Art With Canva
Your cover art is the square image people see in Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It's the first thing a stranger judges your show by, often in less than a second.
Canva has a free plan with podcast cover templates. Pick one, change the text to your show name and swap the colours to suit your topic.
A few rules keep free artwork looking professional:
- Make it square, at 3000 x 3000 pixels
- Use your show name in big, bold letters that can be read on a phone screen
- Stick to two or three colours
- Avoid tiny text, since it disappears when the image is shrunk down
Before you decide, shrink your design to the size of a thumbnail on your phone. If you can still read the name, it works.
Step 5: Free Podcast Hosting for Your Episodes
A podcast host is the service that stores your audio files and sends your episodes out to apps like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It does this through an RSS feed. That's a simple web address listing your episodes, so the apps know when a new one arrives.
You need a host. You don't need to pay for one to start.
Here are the free podcast hosting options most beginners choose from:
- Spotify for Creators: free, with no upload limit. It sends your show to Spotify and can also give you an RSS feed for other apps.
- Acast: has a free starter plan and is widely used by independent shows.
- Buzzsprout: its free plan lets you upload 2 hours a month, but episodes are removed after 90 days. That makes it a good place to test, not a long-term home.
If you're in India, Hubhopper is also popular with Indian podcasters and worth a look.
Which free host should you pick?
If your goal is to spend nothing for as long as possible, a free plan with no time limit makes the most sense. Spotify for Creators or Acast's starter plan both fit.
If you expect to pay for hosting within a few months, starting on Buzzsprout can save you a move later. Its paid plans start around $12 (₹1,000) a month.
Moving hosts later is possible. It just takes an afternoon and a bit of care, so it's easier to choose well now. My full comparison of the best podcast host goes deeper on this.
Step 6: Get on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for Free
Getting your show onto Spotify and Apple Podcasts costs nothing. Both are free to join, and both pull your episodes in automatically once your show is listed.
For Spotify, if you host with Spotify for Creators, your show goes onto Spotify by default. If you host elsewhere, you submit your RSS feed to Spotify once, and it takes a few minutes.
For Apple Podcasts, you sign in to Apple Podcasts Connect with a free Apple Account and submit your RSS feed. Approval can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Once you're approved, you never submit again. Each new episode shows up on its own.
Step 7: Promote your show for free
You don't need an ad budget to find your first listeners. You need to tell the people who already know you, and then show up where your listener spends time.
Here are free ways to start:
- Share each episode with friends, family and colleagues who fit your listener
- Post a short clip or quote on the one social platform you already use
- Answer questions in online groups where your listener hangs out, and mention your show only when it helps
- Ask two or three people who enjoyed an episode to leave a rating
How to Start a Podcast With No Money: What to Skip
When you start a podcast with no money, the hardest part is ignoring everyone telling you to spend it. Here's what you can safely skip for your first ten episodes:
- A microphone: your phone or laptop is fine in a quiet, soft room
- A paid editor: Audacity handles everything a beginner needs
- A website: your hosting plan usually gives you a free episode page
- A logo designer: a Canva template is enough for now
- Intro music: a spoken intro works perfectly well to start
- A paid course: free guides and trial and error will get you through your first episodes
Each of these can come later, once you know you'll keep going.
Start a Podcast on a Budget: Where Your First Dollars Should Go
Once you've published five or ten episodes and you want to improve, spend in this order. Each step gives you the biggest jump in quality for the least money.
- A USB microphone: around $60 to $80 (₹5,000 to ₹6,700). My recommended mic, the Samson Q2U, plugs straight into a laptop and sounds warm and clear.
- Paid hosting: around $12 (₹1,000) a month, for no upload limits and better stats.
- Headphones: a basic closed-back pair, so you can hear yourself while you record.
If you want the full breakdown of what each option costs, I covered it in how much it costs to start a podcast.
Free vs Budget Podcast Setup: A Straight Comparison
Here's how a $0 setup compares to a small-budget one for a beginner.
| $0 setup | Budget setup (about $100, ₹8,400) | |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Phone or laptop mic | USB mic like the Samson Q2U |
| Editing | Audacity | Audacity |
| Artwork | Canva free template | Canva free template |
| Hosting | Free plan with limits | Paid plan with no limits |
| Sound quality | Fine in a quiet, soft room | Fuller and warmer |
| Best for | Your first 5 to 10 episodes | Once you know you'll keep going |
Notice how little changes. Editing and artwork stay free in both. The microphone and hosting are the only real upgrades.
Troubleshooting: "My Free Setup Sounds Cheap"
If your free recording sounds amateur, one of these is usually the cause. All of them can be fixed without spending anything.
Echo. Your voice is bouncing off hard walls. Move to a room with soft things, or record in a closet full of clothes.
You're too far from the mic. Bring your phone or laptop closer, about a hand's width from your mouth.
Background hum. Switch off fans, air conditioners and anything that buzzes. Record at a quieter time of day.
Uneven volume. Use Audacity's "Normalize" or "Loudness Normalization" effect. It evens out your volume in one click.
Too much editing. Over-edited audio sounds choppy and unnatural. Keep a few small pauses, because real conversation has them.
A Simple Weekly Routine for a $0 Podcast
A free setup works best with a fixed routine. When every step has a day, you stop deciding and start doing.
Here's a weekly rhythm that fits around a full-time job:
- Monday evening: pick next week's topic and write five bullet points
- Wednesday evening: record the episode in one take, with small pauses where you stumble
- Thursday evening: edit in Audacity for under an hour, then export the MP3
- Friday morning: upload to your free host and schedule it to go live
- Saturday: share it with one group, one friend and one social post
That's about three to four hours a week, or roughly four TV episodes' worth of time.
The routine matters more than any tool in this post. A show that publishes every Friday for six months will beat a show with better gear that publishes whenever it feels ready.
If one week goes badly, don't skip. Publish a shorter episode instead. Consistency is what your listeners notice, not whether episode 14 was your best one.
Mistakes That Stop Free Podcasts Before They Start
The biggest risk with a free podcast isn't sound quality. It's quitting early.
These are the habits I see sink free shows most often:
- Recording three episodes, then waiting for "better gear" before recording a fourth
- Spending weeks on artwork before recording a single episode
- Publishing whenever inspiration strikes, instead of on a set day
- Picking a free host with a 90-day limit and forgetting episodes will disappear
- Comparing episode one to a show with 500 episodes behind it
Here's the thing. Your first episodes are supposed to be your worst ones. That's what makes the later ones better.
Before You Spend Anything, Learn the Basics
If you're not ready to spend money yet, that's completely fine. The fundamentals are free too.
My free 10-Day Podcasting eCourse sends you one short lesson a day by email. It covers the basics, your listener, your tools and your launch, in the order you'll actually need them.
It's built for exactly the person reading this: someone who wants to start properly, without spending first.
Listen to the Podcast Episode
In this episode I show you how to start a podcast on Spotify without spending anything. Not on the app, not on hosting and not on a microphone.
I start by clearing up how a show actually gets onto Spotify, because Spotify doesn't store your episodes the way YouTube stores videos. Then I walk through the free podcast hosts and what each free plan limits. I also share which one to pick if you want to stay free for as long as possible.
I cover recording on your phone, editing in Audacity and making cover art in Canva. Then there's the one-time step that puts your show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. And I explain what really stops free shows, which has nothing to do with gear.
What I cover in this episode:
- How a podcast gets onto Spotify, and what a podcast host does
- The free hosting options, including Spotify for Creators, Acast and Buzzsprout
- Why the room matters more than the microphone
- Free editing with Audacity and free cover art with Canva
- How to submit your RSS feed to Spotify and Apple Podcasts once
- Why publishing on a set day matters more than any tool
Three tools I recommend for podcasters:
- Buzzsprout for hosting, with a free plan to test on
- Audacity for free recording and editing
- Samson Q2U, my recommended microphone for your first upgrade
Getting your show listed and ready for launch is Day 6 of my 7-Day Podcast Launch Challenge. It takes you from idea to a live show on Spotify in seven days.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions I get most often from people who want to start a podcast without spending money.
Can you really start a podcast for free?
Yes. You can record on your phone or laptop, edit in Audacity, make artwork in Canva and host on a free plan. Listing your show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts is also free, so the whole setup can cost $0.
What is the best free podcast hosting?
Spotify for Creators and Acast's starter plan are both free with no time limit on your episodes. Buzzsprout also has a free plan, but it limits uploads to 2 hours a month and removes episodes after 90 days. Pick based on how long you plan to stay free.
What is the best free podcast recording software?
Audacity is the best free option for most beginners. It records, edits and exports episodes on Windows, Mac and Linux. It also includes free noise reduction and volume tools.
How do I start a podcast with no money and no equipment?
Use your phone's built-in microphone and voice recorder app. Record in a small room with soft furnishings, about a hand's width from the phone. Then upload the file to a free hosting plan and submit your show to Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Does it cost money to put a podcast on Spotify?
No. Listing a podcast on Spotify is free. If you host with Spotify for Creators, your show goes onto Spotify automatically, and hosting there is also free.
Does it cost money to be on Apple Podcasts?
No. You submit your show through Apple Podcasts Connect with a free Apple Account. Apple doesn't charge to list a podcast, and new episodes appear automatically once you're approved.
Can a free podcast make money?
Yes. A free setup doesn't limit how you earn, since affiliate links, sponsors and your own products all work on a free-hosted show. Some free hosts also offer their own ways to earn.
How much does it cost to upgrade from a free podcast setup?
A sensible first upgrade is a USB microphone, around $60 to $80 (₹5,000 to ₹6,700). Paid hosting usually starts around $12 (₹1,000) a month. Most beginners don't need anything else for their first year.
Will a free podcast sound unprofessional?
Not if you record in the right room. A phone in a quiet, soft room sounds better than an expensive mic in an echoey one. Most listeners notice echo and background noise long before they notice which microphone you used.
How long does it take to start a podcast for free?
You can record, edit and publish your first episode in a weekend. Apple Podcasts approval can take a few hours to a few days. Planning your show and listener first adds an evening or two, and it's time well spent.
Your $0 Podcast Starts With One Recording
Money was never the thing standing between you and your first episode. It only felt that way because every guide started with a shopping list.
You now have a setup that costs nothing: your phone, Audacity, Canva, a free host and two free directories.
So what's stopping you from recording episode one this weekend?
Resources that I recommend
Here are some of the resources that I recommended in this episode and the ones that I recommend in Podcasting.
- Ubersuggest – The Keyword research tool that I recommend
Below are the tools that I recommend for podcasting —
- Buzzsprout – Podcast hosting
- Behringer Audio Interface – You will need an audio interface if you are using an XLR microphone. This is my recommended audio interface.
- Behringer Audio Interface (budget option) – A lower-cost alternative if you're just starting out and want to keep costs down.
- Zencastr – Zencastr is the easiest option to record interviews, both audio-only and audio+video. This is a must for an interview podcast.
- Audacity – This is the best and most feature-rich free audio editing software. It gives you a lot of options while editing your interviews.
- Samson Q2U – My recommended microphone
- Audio Technica ATR-2110x – My recommended alternative microphone
- TidyCal – My recommended calendar and booking solutions
Thank you for joining in
I hope you enjoyed the information that I shared in this episode.
Do subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform in order to stay updated with the latest episodes that I release.
The Podcasting University is available on almost all podcasting platforms. The link to the prominent ones are mentioned below –
Planning to start a podcast?
Then you might want to join my "7-Day Podcast Launch Challenge".
Disclaimer: Some of these links above are affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from the links above, I will earn a small commission from your purchase at no extra cost to you. Also, The Podcasting University is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
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