Today we tackle the hype around soundcloud.com as a podcasting solution and compare it to some of the other top podcast media solutions that have been around. I apply my criteria, and see who makes it, and share my opinion on why some of them still make me nervous.
Note: For the record you can get a free month at blubrry.com or Libsyn.com using the coupon code sopfree you will see that even though using those codes benefits me financially, those companies don't always finish on top.
Amazon S3Buzzsprout.comPodomatic.comLibsyn.comBlubrry.comPodbean.comSpreaker.comSoundcloud.com
1. Don't mess with my file. What I upload is what I want people to download.2. Give me the ability to have an unlimited back catalog (unlimited storage)3. Don't limit my audience size (unlimited bandwidth)4. Don't control my feed, and make it easy to leave if I choose to do so. I need to be able to put in an iTunes redirect script.5. Give me support.6. Charge me for your service so you can stay in business7. Give me stats so I can see what's working. It would be nice if they were accurate.
This kills the following:
Amazon S3. No stats, and your start cheap, but get really expensive if I get popular. (my last bill was over $40).Podmatic - Limited bandwidth, limited storage, and no way to leave (you hijack my feed)Buzzsprout.com - You change my file, and I have to ask to leave.Spreaker.com - You mess with my ID3 tags, and there is no way to leave.
That leaves:Soundcloud.comLibsyn.comBlubrry.comPodbean.com
I tried to get the hosts to line up in a fashion that we could compare apples to apples. It's not easy. For the most part I chose the price point closest to $20. Here is what I found.
Soundcloud is the cheapest coming in at .0021 per meg (that's almost free)Podbean comes in at .03 per meg of storage (300 megs per month)Libsyn.com comes in at .05 per meg (400 megs per month)Blubrry.com comes in at .08 per meg (250 Megs per month)
Note: If you want stats that provide details of where your downloads are coming from (countries) you need to have the $79 a month plan for 1.5 gigabytes of storage (which is overkill in 99% of the cases). With this in mind, I am taking podbean out of most of this discussion.
For me, I typically...
