How to Start a Podcast for Free

TL;DR: You don’t need money to start a podcast. Sign up for free hosting (Spotify for Creators or Substack), record on your phone, polish audio with Auphonic, design cover art on Canva, then publish. That’s it.

This article is for those who have played with the idea of starting a podcast. But are not sure if podcasting is for them. They don’t have much money to invest in a podcast right now, or they don’t want to invest too much if, down the road, they realize it’s not for them. Does this sound familiar? I was that person.

Back in 2019, I got the urge to start a podcast. I am a vivid podcast consumer, but the podcasts I listen to are all interview-based, and people usually share their stories. That was the podcast I had in mind. Back then, I was looking for someone to start it with me because I didn’t want to host the podcast alone. Fast forward to 2022, the urge to start a podcast was getting stronger. And during my maternity leave, I stopped ignoring it and began researching how to start a podcast.

I didn’t have much to invest in the podcast; in fact, I didn’t invest anything in the beginning, because I realized I had everything I needed to start my podcast. And you probably do too. Today, I am sharing how to start a podcast for free! This post is a step-by-step guide for beginners.

Want a step-by-step plan to launch your podcast? The V.O.I.C.E. Method Podcast Launch Course has you covered.

5 Ways to Start a Podcast for Free

When I started my podcast, Spotify for Creators was called Anchor. Around 2023, Anchor and Spotify joined together to create Spotify for Podcasters, and now it is Spotify for Creators because Spotify is in competition with YouTube over video content. One thing that has stayed consistent is that hosting your podcast with Spotify is free.

When I was researching starting a podcast back in 2022, Anchor kept coming up in my search results. It could be due to their great SEO, or it might have been because that was the most popular hosting site for podcasts, but whatever the reason – it kept coming up, and that’s the hosting site I decided to use.

Another free hosting service for podcasts is Substack. Substack isn’t just a podcast hosting service; that’s just part of what they do. Their leading service is email newsletters or email lists. You can email your list, send exclusive content to your paid subscribers, send notes to the Substack community, and host your podcast.

One of the advantages of hosting your podcast on Substack is that you can create your email list on one platform. I currently use Substack for my podcast email list and send exclusive content to my paid subscribers, like behind-the-scenes content and ad-free podcast episodes.

Step Two: Record Using Your Phone or Laptop, No Equipment Needed

You don’t need to invest in recording equipment to start your podcast. All smartphones come with a voice memo app or a voice recorder app where you can record your podcast episodes straight on your phone. If you have a MacBook, it comes with the Garage Band app, where you can record and edit without buying any software. No MacBook, no problem. Sign up for a free Riverside.fm account and record and edit directly on their website. When recording solo episodes, podcasters suggest recording in your closet because it reduces echo.

If you are hosting an interview-style podcast, like mine, you can record on Google Meet for free. You can also sign up for a free Zoom account – which offers 40 minutes of usage.

When I started my podcast, Anchor offered a recording option right on their app – all I had to do was send the link to my guests right before our recording session, and they would join through the link. It sounded like a phone call. I would use my work headphones at the time to record. It didn’t provide the best quality sound, but since I wasn’t sure how long I would be podcasting for, I didn’t invest in an actual podcast microphone.

Overwhelmed already? You don’t have to figure this out solo. I help women launch their podcast step-by-step, free tools included. See Podcast Coaching & Launch Support ?

Step Three: Polish Your Audio Recording with Auphonic

Auphonic is an AI sound engineering software company that polishes your audio recordings by leveling the volume, reducing background noise, and making the audio sound crisp!

After uploading your audio file, you’ll select the options you’d like Auphonic to fix. I usually have it keep music, speech, and remove everything else. And once it finishes processing your recording, you’ll be able to hear the difference between the audio you uploaded and the audio they produced.

One of my clients had a recording where she hit the desk a few times and someone opened the door where she was recording. However, Auphonic was able to remove all of those background noises. It was like magic!

A few things to keep in mind: Auphonic offers two free hours of audio production a month with a free account. If you need more than two hours, you’ll need to pay. And with the free two hours they offer, there is a jingle they add at the beginning and end of the recording.

Step Four: Create Your Podcast Cover Art on Canva

Canva has thousands of templates for podcast cover art. And the best part is that the templates are in the correct size format for the podcast hosting sites. Think of the podcast cover art as like an album cover. The podcast cover art is the graphic that people will see when they land on your podcast. You can change it for each episode, but you don’t have to. For example, for each episode, all I do is add the guest’s picture and their name.

This is my podcast cover art.

This is the cover art for Steph Wharton’s episode. I added the guests’ picture and their names.

Create a free account on Canva to create your podcast cover art. If you want to invest later in the pro account, you can, but for starting your podcast, start with the free account.

Not sure if you’re cut out for interview-style episodes? Take the free quiz to find out what’s really holding you back from starting.

Step Five: Publish and Market Your Podcast

Next, you’re going to upload your podcast cover art and edited episode to Spotify for Creators or Substack, whichever you decide to host with, and you’ll schedule your episode. Make sure to write your shownotes for the episode and give it a title!

Then you will market your podcast! Share your podcast on your social media accounts, email list, and text friends and family with the link so they can share with your network too! Build momentum around the launch of your podcast!

Need more ideas on how to market your podcast? I’ve compiled a list of 30 different ways; you can find it here.

How Do I Start Podcasting for Free Without Losing Momentum?

The number one reason people ask how do I start a podcast for free and then never publish? Overthinking the setup. If you’re wondering how to start podcasting for free the smart way, the goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency.

Here’s how to keep momentum once you start a podcast free:

Record two to three episodes before you launch so you’re not starting from zero content
Set a realistic publishing schedule you can actually keep (weekly or biweekly, not daily)
Use the free tools in this guide instead of shopping around for “better” free options, that search alone eats weeks
Get your episode live on Spotify for Creators or Substack first, both distribute to Apple Podcasts and other apps automatically

If you get three episodes in and realize you want a real strategy behind your launch, not just a free setup, that’s exactly what my 1:1 Podcast Launch Strategy is built for.

FAQs: How to Start a Podcast for Free

What’s the difference between free and paid podcast hosting?

Free hosting covers unlimited episodes and distribution to every major app. Paid plans mainly add advanced analytics, monetization tools, and team collaboration features you likely won’t need until you’re a few months in.

Can I actually make money from a podcast I started for free?

Yes. The hosting platform you use doesn’t affect your ability to monetize through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or digital products later on.

About the Author & Podcast Coach

Heidy De La Cruz is a podcast coach, host, and creator of the V.O.I.C.E. Method. Her podcast The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants is a 2-time award winner recognized by the Women in Podcasting Awards and Women Who Podcast. It ranks in the top 5% of podcasts globally, #1 on GoodPods for Immigration, and holds #1 keyword rankings on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

After launching her first podcast in 2022, she saw how many women had powerful stories, business ideas, and something worth saying but felt completely stuck by the tech, the moving parts, and the lack of a clear starting point.

Now she helps aspiring podcasters go from idea to live show with clear, hands-on support that makes launching feel doable instead of overwhelming.

Explore her services: 1:1 Podcast Launch Strategy, The V.O.I.C.E. Method Podcast Launch Course, and Podcast Editing and Production Services.

Conclusion on How to Start a Podcast for Free

I recently shared on Instagram the costs of producing my podcast, but when I launched, I didn’t invest right away. My first investment was a microphone, and that was about a year into the production of my podcast.

Stop overthinking! Start your podcast, for free! Invest later! People need to hear your message and voice! Do you want feedback on your podcast? Schedule a consultation call with me!

Also, don’t do this podcasting journey alone. Sign up for my podcast coaching email list and get weekly podcasting tips straight to your inbox!

With Love, Heidy

Key Takeaways

You can start a podcast with $0, free hosting, free recording tools, and free design software cover everything you need at launch
Spotify for Creators and Substack both offer free podcast hosting with no episode limits
Your phone or laptop is enough to record, no microphone required to get started
Auphonic and Canva handle audio polish and cover art for free
Invest in gear later, once you know podcasting is the right fit for you