Blubrry vs. Simplecast Review

Podcasting has exploded in popularity over the last decade, and with that growth comes an abundance of hosting platforms vying for your attention. Two names that frequently pop up in the conversation are Blubrry and Simplecast. Both have earned reputations as reliable options for podcasters, but they cater to slightly different needs and audiences. Whether you’re a hobbyist dipping your toes into the podcasting world or a seasoned creator looking to scale your show, choosing the right platform can make all the difference. In this review, we’ll pit Blubrry against Simplecast, breaking down their features, pricing, ease of use, analytics, and more to help you decide which one deserves your subscription.

Blubrry vs. Simplecast Review

Blubrry: The WordPress Warrior

Blubrry has been around since 2005, making it one of the OG podcast hosting services. Founded by podcasters for podcasters, it’s deeply entrenched in the podcasting community and is particularly known for its integration with WordPress via the PowerPress plugin. Blubrry prides itself on offering a straightforward hosting solution with robust analytics and flexible plans that scale with your needs. It’s a favorite among creators who already run WordPress websites or want a hosting service that seamlessly ties into their existing online presence.

Simplecast: The Analytics Ace

Simplecast, on the other hand, positions itself as a modern, user-friendly platform with a strong emphasis on analytics and audience insights. Launched later than Blubrry, it’s built a loyal following by focusing on simplicity, unlimited storage, and tools to help podcasters grow their audience. Simplecast appeals to creators who value clean design, detailed data, and a hassle-free experience, regardless of whether they’re running a solo show or managing a network of podcasts.

Both platforms have their strengths, but they approach podcast hosting from different angles. Let’s break it down step by step.

Pricing: Cost vs. Value

Pricing is often the first thing podcasters consider when choosing a host. Let’s see how Blubrry and Simplecast stack up.

Blubrry Pricing

Blubrry operates on a tiered pricing model based on monthly storage limits. As of March 22, 2025, here’s a snapshot of their plans:

Standard Plan ($12/month): 100 MB of monthly storage.
Advanced Plans: Scale up to $20/month for 250 MB, $40/month for 500 MB, $80/month for 1,000 MB, and so on.
Professional Hosting: Custom pricing for enterprise-level needs, offering unlimited storage and advanced features (you’ll need to contact sales for a quote).

Blubrry’s pricing is tied to how much you upload each month, not how much you store long-term. For example, a 60-minute episode at 128kbps (a common bitrate for spoken-word podcasts) is roughly 60 MB. That means the $12 plan supports about 1.5 hours of uploads per month, while the $20 plan gets you just over 4 hours. If you exceed your limit, you can buy extra storage at $1 per 25 MB, which adds flexibility but could nickel-and-dime you if you’re not careful.

One perk? Every plan includes unlimited bandwidth and a free WordPress site via PowerPress, which is a big plus if you don’t already have a website.

Simplecast Pricing

Simplecast takes a different approach, offering flat-rate plans with unlimited storage and uploads. Here’s how their pricing looks in 2025:

Basic Plan ($15/month): Unlimited storage, basic analytics, and support for one show with two team members.
Essential Plan ($35/month): Adds advanced analytics, multiple shows, and more team seats.
Growth Plan ($85/month): Geared toward networks or high-growth podcasts, with premium analytics and additional features.

Simplecast’s pricing is straightforward: you pay for features, not storage. The $15 plan is a steal if you’re just starting out and don’t need detailed analytics. However, if you want deeper insights—like listener locations or episode comparisons—you’ll need to jump to $35/month. Unlike Blubrry, there’s no risk of hitting a storage cap, which makes budgeting easier.

Pricing Verdict

Blubrry is cheaper at the entry level ($12 vs. $15), but its storage-based model can become restrictive or costly if you produce a lot of content. Simplecast’s unlimited storage gives it an edge for prolific creators, though its higher-tier plans are pricier than Blubrry’s mid-range options. If you’re on a tight budget and upload sparingly, Blubrry wins. If you want predictable costs and room to grow, Simplecast takes the lead.

Features: What You Get for Your Money

Features are where these platforms start to diverge. Let’s compare what they offer.

Blubrry Features

PowerPress Integration: Blubrry’s standout feature is its PowerPress plugin, which lets you manage your podcast directly from WordPress. Upload episodes, customize players, and tweak RSS feeds without leaving your site.
Free Website: Every plan includes a basic WordPress site or landing page, saving you hosting costs if you don’t already have a web presence.
Players and Distribution: Blubrry provides embeddable players and distributes your show to major platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Storage Limits: As noted, you’re capped monthly, but bandwidth is unlimited, so downloads won’t cost extra.
Support: 7-day-a-week support via email, phone, or documentation, plus a concierge service for setup help.

Blubrry keeps things lean and functional. It’s not loaded with flashy extras, but it covers the essentials well, especially for WordPress users.

Simplecast Features

Unlimited Storage and Uploads: No caps here—upload as much as you want, whenever you want.
Audience Insights: Simplecast’s analytics are a big draw, especially on higher tiers. Track listener locations, devices, apps, and retention rates.
Recast Tool: Create shareable audio clips for social media, a handy feature for promotion.
Team Collaboration: Add team members to manage your show (two on the Basic plan, more on higher tiers).
Customizable Website: Every plan includes a podcast website you can tweak to match your brand, with optional custom domains.
Distribution: Like Blubrry, Simplecast pushes your show to all major directories.

Simplecast leans into modern podcasting needs—think social sharing and data-driven growth—while keeping the interface clean and intuitive.

Features Verdict

Blubrry excels for WordPress enthusiasts and those who want a no-frills hosting experience with a free site included. Simplecast shines with its unlimited storage, collaboration tools, and promotional features like Recast. If you’re tied to WordPress, Blubrry’s your pick. If you want flexibility and growth-focused tools, Simplecast pulls ahead.

Ease of Use: Getting Started and Beyond

A hosting platform can have all the features in the world, but if it’s a pain to use, it’s not worth your time. How do Blubrry and Simplecast compare?

Blubrry Usability

Blubrry’s dashboard is functional but dated. It’s not hard to navigate once you get the hang of it, but the design feels like it’s stuck in the early 2010s. Uploading episodes is straightforward, and PowerPress makes publishing a breeze if you’re on WordPress. For non-WordPress users, though, the interface can feel clunky, with features buried in menus that take some digging to find. The learning curve isn’t steep, but it’s there.

Support is a strong point—Blubrry offers multiple channels to get help, which is great for beginners. The free WordPress site is a nice touch, though it’s basic and may require extra tweaking to look polished.

Simplecast Usability

Simplecast nails the user experience. Its dashboard is sleek, modern, and intuitive, with everything laid out logically. Uploading an episode feels effortless, and the onboarding process walks you through setup without overwhelming you. The website builder is simple yet effective, letting you create a professional-looking page in minutes.

While Simplecast’s support is email-only (no phone option), their team is responsive, and the platform’s simplicity means you’ll rarely need help. It’s designed with the user in mind, making it ideal for beginners and pros alike.

Usability Verdict

Simplecast wins hands down for ease of use. Its polished interface and streamlined workflow outshine Blubrry’s more utilitarian approach. Blubrry isn’t difficult, but it’s less inviting, especially if you’re not a WordPress devotee.

Analytics: Understanding Your Audience

Analytics can make or break your podcast’s growth. Let’s see how these platforms measure up.

Blubrry Analytics

Blubrry offers “Professional Stats” on all plans, even the $12 tier. You get detailed breakdowns of downloads, listener locations, devices, and platforms (e.g., how many people listened on Spotify vs. Apple Podcasts). It’s IAB-compliant, meaning it’s trusted for ad deals, which is a bonus for monetizing your show. The data is robust, but the presentation isn’t as visually appealing as some competitors—think spreadsheets over sleek charts.

Simplecast Analytics

Simplecast’s analytics vary by plan. The Basic $15 plan gives you total downloads and basic trends, but you’ll need the $35 Essential plan for the good stuff: listener locations (down to the city), device and app breakdowns, retention data, and unique listener counts. The Growth plan ($85) adds even more granularity. The interface is gorgeous—think colorful graphs and digestible insights—which makes it easier to spot trends and act on them.

Analytics Verdict

Blubrry offers more data out of the gate for less money, which is a win for budget-conscious podcasters who need detailed stats. Simplecast’s analytics are more polished and comprehensive on higher plans, but you’ll pay for the privilege. If raw data matters most, Blubrry’s your pick. If presentation and advanced insights drive you, Simplecast is worth the upgrade.

Scalability: Growing Your Show

What happens when your podcast takes off? Can these platforms keep up?

Blubrry Scalability

Blubrry scales via its storage tiers. As your output grows, you can jump to a higher plan or buy extra storage. The Professional Hosting option is built for networks or high-volume creators, though pricing isn’t transparent—you’ll need to negotiate with sales. PowerPress supports multiple RSS feeds, which is handy if you’re running several shows on one WordPress site. It’s a solid choice for growth, but the storage limits could become a bottleneck.

Simplecast Scalability

Simplecast is built for growth from the start. Unlimited storage means you’ll never hit a cap, and higher plans support multiple shows and team members. The Essential and Growth plans cater to podcasters expanding their brand or managing a network, with analytics to match. It’s a seamless transition as your audience grows—no need to worry about outpacing your plan.

Scalability Verdict

Simplecast has the edge here. Its unlimited model and multi-show support make it more future-proof than Blubrry’s storage-based tiers. Blubrry can scale, but it’s less elegant and potentially more expensive long-term.

Who Should Choose Blubrry?

Blubrry is best for:

WordPress Users: If your podcast lives on a WordPress site, PowerPress integration is a game-changer.
Budget-Conscious Creators: The $12 plan with solid analytics is hard to beat for small shows.
Data-Driven Podcasters: Professional stats on every plan appeal to those who need numbers without frills.

It’s not ideal if you hate storage limits or want a modern, flashy interface.

Who Should Choose Simplecast?

Simplecast is best for:

Beginners: The intuitive design and unlimited storage make it a stress-free starting point.
Growth-Focused Creators: Advanced analytics and promotional tools help you build an audience.
Teams or Networks: Collaboration features and multi-show support suit bigger operations.

It’s less appealing if you’re on a tight budget or don’t need fancy analytics.

Final Thoughts: Blubrry vs. Simplecast

So, which is better—Blubrry or Simplecast? It depends on your priorities.

Blubrry is a dependable, no-nonsense platform with deep WordPress roots and affordable entry-level pricing. It’s a great fit for solo podcasters or small teams who want solid hosting and analytics without breaking the bank, especially if they’re already in the WordPress ecosystem. But its storage limits and dated design might frustrate creators with bigger ambitions.

Simplecast, meanwhile, offers a modern, scalable solution with unlimited storage and top-tier analytics (on higher plans). It’s perfect for podcasters who value ease of use, growth potential, and a polished experience, though it comes at a slightly higher cost and locks some features behind pricier tiers.

If I had to pick, I’d lean toward Simplecast for its flexibility and forward-thinking approach—especially in 2025, when podcasting is more competitive than ever. But Blubrry’s WordPress synergy and budget-friendly stats make it a strong contender for the right user. Try their free trials (Blubrry offers a month with a coupon, Simplecast gives 14 days) and see which vibe suits you best. Your podcast deserves a home that matches your vision—happy hosting!