17 Free Tools Every Podcaster Should Be Using

Recording and promoting a podcast used to mean paying for pricey equipment, software, and marketing before you knew if anyone would even listen. But today, there are dozens of tools to help you streamline the entire process and make better content – all without spending a penny!

Below, we’re sharing 17 free podcasting tools, recommended by seasoned podcasters and content creators. From recording to hosting, use this guide to produce a professional-sounding show, even on a tight budget.

Free tools vs paid tools

You might think free tools aren’t as good as their premium counterparts, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, most amateur podcasters can produce professional shows using completely free tools, or at the very least, the free, entry-level versions of paid tools.

Free tools let you test your ideas, start building an audience, and refine your process without financial pressure. This is great if your show is in its early days, or is likely to evolve or pivot – you won’t have wasted a load of money on the wrong kit.

Sure, paid plans might give you access to more features, but they aren’t necessary for getting started. As long as you have a decent microphone and headphones, the free tools recommended below can help you handle recording, editing, hosting, and promotion.

Free recording and editing tools

Great audio starts with clean recordings. These free recording and editing tools capture your voice, remove unwanted noise, and let you edit mistakes easily.

Audacity

Audacity has been around for over 25 years, and its longevity is a testament to its quality and ease of use. It’s an open-source editor that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and offers multi-track recording and editing, as well as a broad selection of audio effects and plugins.

You can record multiple guests on separate tracks and adjust each individually, making it ideal for interview-style podcasts. Plus, it has a huge online community that provides tutorials and plugins to help you make the most of the software.

Why podcasters love it:

• Completely free forever: Audacity’s biggest selling point is that there are no paid tiers (and never will be), as it’s maintained by volunteers.
• Multi-track editing: Record on different tracks and apply effects separately – great for interviews!
• Flexibility: There’s a huge library of plugins for things like noise reduction, equalisation, and reverb.
• Lightweight and efficient: At around just 16MB, Audacity is super lightweight compared to other editing programs, so it runs smoothly on older computers.
• Community support: A massive selection of online tutorials makes it user-friendly and good for beginners.

GarageBand (Mac/iOS only)

Most people who’ve owned a Mac are familiar with GarageBand. And because it’s designed for musicians, it makes a fantastic free recording software for podcasters. With multi-track recording and a user-friendly interface, it’s the perfect tool for beginner podcasters.

Record directly within the program, and drag and drop audio elements for super easy editing. And because it integrates seamlessly with macOS and iOS, you can start editing on your laptop and finish on your iPhone – perfect for on-the-go editing. Plus, its library of built-in loops and instruments means you can also create your own sound effects and podcast theme music from one place!

Why podcasters love it:

• Seamless Apple integration: Share projects across devices via iCloud for easy on-the-go editing.
• Professional quality: GarageBand’s audio engine delivers high-quality recordings without the studio price tag.
• Built-in sound library: Loops and virtual instruments make it easy to add sound effects to your podcast, or even create your own jingle.
• Beginner-friendly: The drag-and-drop interface is super easy to use, making it ideal for beginner podcasters.

Auphonic

Cleaning up audio can take hours, especially if you’re new to EQ and compression or don’t have a well-treated recording space. Auphonic automates audio improvement using AI, making the process virtually effortless.

Just upload your raw recording, choose a few settings, and Auphonic will handle things like levelling, noise reduction, and loudness correction. It can even cut out filler words, trim silence, and remove coughs, plus there’s an option to generate transcripts, chapters, and show notes to publish directly to hosting platforms!

Auphonic’s free plan gives you 2 hours of use per month, which is usually enough to edit one or two podcast episodes, depending on the length.

Why podcasters love it:

• Instant improvement: Balance levels, reduce noise, and remove reverb automatically.
• AI editing: Save time by having AI cut out filler words and silences.
• Automatic transcripts and show notes: Save hours when publishing.
• Direct uploads: Send files straight to popular hosting platforms.

Teleprompter Pro

If you script parts of your show or want to record video episodes, consider using a free teleprompter app like Teleprompter Pro. The app’s free plan lets you create unlimited scripts, record videos directly in the app, and sync your scripts across multiple devices. You can even adjust the font, colour, and width of the text on screen, and use remote control features to start and stop the scrolling hands-free.

Why podcasters love it:

• Unlimited scripts and video recording: Plan as many episodes as you like and edit your scripts in-app.
• Cloud sync: Access your scripts on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
• Fully customisable: Adjust the font size, colour, and scroll speed to aid readability.
• Remote control support: Use a clicker or another device for hands-free scrolling.

Free remote recording and collaboration tools

Interviewing guests and co-hosts around the world is easy if you choose the right remote recording software. The following programs offer free plans that let you bring multiple people into your virtual studio and record everyone on separate tracks.

Zencastr

Zencastr is an all-in-one hub for podcasters, combining remote recording, editing, and analytics in one place. It can produce separate tracks for each participant and even offers built-in monetisation and advertising features, making it ideal for creators looking to scale their podcast as quickly as possible.

The program’s free tier is perfect for new podcasters, offering unlimited audio and video recording, audio uploads, audio hosting, and separate recording tracks. While paid tiers offer more advanced features that centre around video and promotion, Zencastr’s free plan includes everything you need in terms of audio and hosting.

Why podcasters love it:

• All-in-one platform: Record, host, and monetise your show from the same dashboard.
• Separate tracks: Independently record up to 10 participants per session.

Spreaker

Spreaker Studio is a lightweight, all-in-one platform powered by iHeartRadio. It can integrate with lots of other tools to create a central hub for recording, editing, publishing, and monetisation. You can even insert ads in specific spots and monetise your show right from the first episode, which is ideal for those starting a podcast as a side hustle.

Why podcasters love it:

• Built-in monetisation: Make money from day one by inserting ads into your podcast and managing their placements.
• Auto-uploads: Automatically publish your podcast to iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
• All-in-one hub: Record, edit, and publish your podcast from one place.

Zoom

Sometimes the simplest solutions are best, especially when it comes to recording guests remotely. Most people already have Zoom installed on their devices, so it remains popular and easy to use for guest interviews.

Many podcast hosts can even integrate Zoom calls directly into their editing software or hosting platforms, making it the quickest and most straightforward way to record and publish your episodes.

Why podcasters love them:

• Universally familiar: Almost everyone knows how to use Zoom, which can remove technical barriers.
• Recording capability: Record calls natively to preserve sound and video quality.
• Integrations: Many hosting platforms let you upload your Zoom recordings with one click.

Free hosting and distribution tools

Once your episode is ready, it’s time to get publishing! Hosting platforms store your files, generate the RSS feed, and distribute your show to directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Spotify for Creators (Podcasters)

Spotify for Creators offers unlimited audio and video hosting, automatic distribution to major apps, episode-level analytics, and listener interaction tools. Its wealth of features and ease of use make it one of the most popular hosting and distribution platforms for podcasters. Plus, you can upload an episode, enter details, and publish without dealing with RSS feeds manually, which can be a tedious task if you’re posting regularly.

Why podcasters love it:

• Unlimited hosting: No caps on audio or video uploads.
• Automatic distribution: Publish episodes to Apple, Google, Spotify, and more with a single upload.
• In-depth analytics dashboard: See retention and demographic data.
• Listener interactions: Engage with your audience by enabling comments and Q&A.

RSS.com

RSS.com offers unlimited uploads, a free website, automatic transcripts, and scheduling. You get a professional-looking site with your show notes, so it’s great for creators who want to build a brand around their podcast. The platform’s scheduling tools help you set release dates in advance, which is perfect for batch recording. Plus, it can distribute your RSS feed to all major directories.

Why podcasters love it:

• Unlimited uploads: No storage caps.
• Free website: RSS.com’s biggest selling point is its free website – automatically create a site for your podcast, tailored to your branding.
• Automatic transcripts: Built-in transcripts help improve your podcast’s accessibility and discoverability on search engines.
• Scheduling: Record your content in advance and schedule uploads for a later date.

Free music, sound and design tools

Music, sound effects and design can take your show from amateur to professional, but it’s important to only use properly-licensed files to avoid legal trouble. These tools help you find and download music, sound effects, and graphics that are cleared for commercial use – all for free!

YouTube Audio Library

YouTube’s official Audio Library offers a huge selection of tracks and sound effects that you can use for free on your podcast. Sort by genre or mood, or use the search function to find the perfect sounds for your episode.

Why podcasters love it:

• Huge catalogue: Thousands of free songs and sound effects.
• Easy filtering and search: Sort by genre, mood, length, instrument, or search for specific sounds.
• Free and properly licensed: Safe to use on your podcast without worrying about legalities.

FreeSound.org

FreeSound.org is a community-driven library of sound effects and music under various licences. When using FreeSound, be sure to use filters to find sounds that are cleared for use on podcasts (some may be free to use as long as you credit the creator). And if you fancy contributing back to the community, you can even upload your own sounds!

Why podcasters love it:

• Unique sounds: Huge range of sounds covering everything from footsteps to retro gaming bleeps.
• Community support: Tagging and comments help you choose high-quality files.
• Flexible licensing: Many sounds are free for commercial use with attribution.

Pixabay and Mixkit

Pixabay Music and Mixkit offer high-quality stock music that’s licensed for commercial use, so you can download tracks that fit your show’s vibe without worrying about copyright.

Why podcasters love them:

• Royalty-free sounds: Use the music anywhere without attribution.
• Varied styles: Choose from cinematic, ambient, upbeat music, and more.

Canva, Photopea, and Unsplash

Your cover art is the first impression new listeners see. Free design tools like Canva, Photopea, and Unsplash can help you create professional artwork without spending a penny.

Why podcasters love them:

• Canva: Free graphic design tool with thousands of customisable templates, including podcast covers. The platform offers drag-and-drop editing and tons of cool features that make it super easy to create professional graphics, even without design experience.
• Photopea: A browser-based Photoshop alternative, Photopea is free to use with ads and offers a professional-grade editing environment for high-quality designs.
• Unsplash: Browse and download thousands of high-resolution stock photos to use in your podcast cover art.

Free transcription tools

Transcribing your podcast episodes helps with accessibility, SEO, and repurposing content. These free or freemium services can convert audio to text quickly.

Otter.ai

Otter.ai generates live transcriptions and integrates with Zoom and Google Meet. It even has speaker identification, making it ideal for remote podcast interviews. Otter.ai’s free plan offers a monthly limit of 300 minutes per user, and a 30-minute limit per conversation.

Why podcasters love it:

• Real-time transcription: See the transcript while you record.
• Speaker labelling: Automatically differentiates between guests.
• Searchable transcripts: Find quotes quickly.

Descript

Descript combines transcription and text-based audio editing. Simply upload your audio, and Descript will transcribe it and let you edit the audio like a document – any changes you make will reflect in the sound file! Descript’s free plan includes 60 minutes’ worth of audio per month and 100 one-time AI credits to explore other cool features.

Why podcasters love it:

• Text-based editing: Delete words in the transcript to cut them from the audio.
• AI tools (paid): Enhance audio and remove filler words with advanced tools.