How much does it cost to start a podcast?

You can launch a podcast for under £150. The only essentials are a USB microphone (£60–£150), free recording software like Audacity or GarageBand, and a podcast host — Spotify for Podcasters is free, while paid hosts such as Buzzsprout or Transistor cost roughly £9–£19 per month. Everything else, from cover art in Canva to submitting your feed to Apple and Spotify, is free.

What equipment do I need to start a podcast?

For your first episode you only need three things: a USB microphone (the Samson Q2U or Audio-Technica ATR2100x are popular beginner picks), a pair of closed-back headphones to monitor your audio, and a laptop or computer to record on. You don't need a mixer, an audio interface, or a soundproofed studio to sound professional — a quiet, soft-furnished room does most of the work.

How long does it take to start a podcast?

Most first-time podcasters can go from idea to published episode in one to two weeks working part-time. Planning your concept and artwork takes a few hours, recording your first episode takes an hour or two, and editing a beginner episode typically takes two to four hours. The one-time setup of choosing a host and submitting to directories adds a couple more hours.

Do I need a website to start a podcast?

No — you don't need a website to launch. Your podcast host generates an RSS feed and usually a basic listing page for you, which is enough to be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and every other app. A website helps later for SEO, email capture, and detailed show notes, but it isn't a barrier to getting your first episode live.

How do I get my podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify?

You submit the RSS feed from your podcast host to each directory once. In Apple Podcasts Connect and Spotify for Podcasters you paste your feed URL, verify ownership, and wait for approval — usually a few hours to a couple of days. After that, every new episode you publish appears on both platforms automatically, with no need to re-submit.

Free tool · Beginner podcasters

How to start a podcast: a 9-step launch checklist

You can start a podcast in nine steps and launch for under £150. This free interactive checklist walks you through every stage — from nailing your concept to promoting episode one — with a beginner tip and a rough time and cost estimate for each. Tick off steps as you complete them; your progress saves automatically in your browser.

Your launch progress

0 of 9 steps done

Step 10 · optional, but very tempting

Or… just hire us.

Steps 1–9 are genuinely doable. They’re also your evenings, your weekends, and one very dark night learning what a de-esser is. Step 10 is simpler: you send one email, and all of that quietly becomes our problem instead.

Skip to step 10No mic gain was harmed in the making of this shortcut.

Starting a podcast: FAQs

The questions every first-time podcaster asks before they hit record.

How much does it cost to start a podcast?: You can launch a podcast for under £150. The only essentials are a USB microphone (£60–£150), free recording software like Audacity or GarageBand, and a podcast host — Spotify for Podcasters is free, while paid hosts such as Buzzsprout or Transistor cost roughly £9–£19 per month. Everything else, from cover art in Canva to submitting your feed to Apple and Spotify, is free.
What equipment do I need to start a podcast?: For your first episode you only need three things: a USB microphone (the Samson Q2U or Audio-Technica ATR2100x are popular beginner picks), a pair of closed-back headphones to monitor your audio, and a laptop or computer to record on. You don't need a mixer, an audio interface, or a soundproofed studio to sound professional — a quiet, soft-furnished room does most of the work.
How long does it take to start a podcast?: Most first-time podcasters can go from idea to published episode in one to two weeks working part-time. Planning your concept and artwork takes a few hours, recording your first episode takes an hour or two, and editing a beginner episode typically takes two to four hours. The one-time setup of choosing a host and submitting to directories adds a couple more hours.
Do I need a website to start a podcast?: No — you don't need a website to launch. Your podcast host generates an RSS feed and usually a basic listing page for you, which is enough to be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and every other app. A website helps later for SEO, email capture, and detailed show notes, but it isn't a barrier to getting your first episode live.
How do I get my podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify?: You submit the RSS feed from your podcast host to each directory once. In Apple Podcasts Connect and Spotify for Podcasters you paste your feed URL, verify ownership, and wait for approval — usually a few hours to a couple of days. After that, every new episode you publish appears on both platforms automatically, with no need to re-submit.

Launched your show? The next challenge is keeping it consistent.

Editing, show notes, and promotion are what quietly eat a podcaster's week. Selected Frequencies is a full-service editing and production studio — we handle any show end to end, so you can focus on the ideas, not the timeline.

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