Most times, you want to ensure that your podcast is available to the general public as soon as possible. But there is also value in creating exclusive episodes only a selected group of listeners can access. Are you planning to make an exclusive podcast? Then read on as this article will help you know how to create a private podcast.
Can You Make Podcasts Private?
Yes! Certain services permit you to create password-protected podcasting channels or use your company’s Single Sign-On (SSO) to connect to their RSS feed.
What is a Private Podcast?
A private podcast lets you create a distinct, secure RSS feed for every subscriber. It allows you, as the creator, to restrict access to podcast content. In other words, a private podcast isn’t accessible or searchable. Instead, every subscriber receives a unique RSS feed that can be added to their podcast player.
Benefits of Private Podcast
Private podcasts allow you to put bonus content behind a paywall to make money from the shows you’ve worked hard to produce. However, you have the option to keep your content unmonetized if you don’t intend to make money out of it.
Private podcasts are an effective way to thank your listeners for donations, build more connections, and be an excellent resource for businesses and teams to share internal information.
Employers can train their staff using highly secure audio and offer training to their workforce.
How to Make a Private Podcast?
There are five methods to create private content. Which one is the best for you depends on a few variables.
You can review these methods to determine the best delivery option for your specific situation.
1. Use of Podcast Hosting Companies
This is the best option for authors, teams, course creators, and companies. It is also the most cost-effective method.
A few podcast hosting services offer users an integrated, private podcasting feature. If you do not run your podcast on any of them, you’ll need to transfer your content to the podcast hosting platform you select to make use of this feature.
The following are some of the podcast platforms that allow you to make a private podcast:
- Captivate ($19/month) – Captivate’s private podcast feed is accessible for any subscription plan. Beginning at 150 subscribers per individual, subscribers can manage secure invitations and receive show and episode analysis. In addition, subscribers can join the feed using an exclusive URL that opens the default podcast app for safe listening.
- Transistor ($49/month) – Transistor’s private podcast feature allows users access to content that they can stream through the app using a private link or invitation. It’s an excellent alternative for course creation, team training, and member-only podcasts that are only available to subscribers through a membership website. Members with access receive notifications via email or the app when you upload the latest episode.
- Podbean ($9/month) – Podbean’s Premium Sales Services allows you to earn paid subscribers within their app for podcasts. You can choose what audio content you’ll monetize, make each podcast episode private, or archive previous content behind the paywall of the private feed. There are no upfront charges. However, Podbean receives 15% of the revenue. The Podbean patron donation system also lets you raise money directly through its platform.
- Spreaker ($18/month) – Spreaker’s private podcast sharing is available to all users with at least a Broadcaster membership or higher. The service allows you to create an entirely private podcast, distribute restricted access content using the private RSS feed link, or create paywall-related episodes and also includes an embed player that Patreon supports. Podcast listeners can stream episodes via their smartphones and on web devices.
- Libsyn ($20/month) – Libsyns Advanced 400 plan allows users to access premium paywalls and allows listeners to stream private content through your custom Libsyn app or content page. The platform takes care of the bulk of the work but takes 50% of the revenue earned.
2. Create membership on the website
Are you looking to provide additional premium content other than podcasts? This option lets you use your website to offer and take payments for services. It’s an ideal option for podcasters who host on platforms that do not offer private podcasting.
Make sure to offer more paid-for content rather than just private episodes, or else it’s not worth your time and effort.
For example, if your website host is WordPress, you can use a plugin to pull the episodes out of your feed and show them on your website. Then, you can make your content behind a paywall with one of these plugins that allow you to create membership tiers and make payments more manageable.
Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly are platforms that offer built-in membership and e-commerce options based on your plan.
3. Use of Third-Party Platform
The third-party apps offer and distribute safe content. They are suitable for both businesses and large corporations. They also cost more than other options, and they’re not specifically designed for payments.
- Storyboard – Storyboard offers a free phone app ( for both iPhone and Android) that is specifically designed for businesses who wish to share company-wide communications via the use of a podcast player that only employees can access. The free plan allows you to invite 100 listeners to the feed by sharing a private URL for the podcast.
- uStudio – The uStudio lets companies send secure audio and video files to the staff to communicate 500% more efficiently than text messages or email. uStudio offers desktop applications, stats, SSO, and the ability to upload your internal podcast to thousands of private listeners.
4. Set up a Donation or Crowdsourcing Page
Patreon is a well-known membership site with regular monthly donations in exchange for private shows and other bonus content. About 2 percent of your viewers will be Patrons, and Patreon will receive 2.9 percent of every transaction more than $3.00.
Whereas, by creating an account on the Pod Fan page, you will have access to a stunning website that allows you to accept donations as well as members-only feeds. Podfan does not take any portion of your profits. The only cost you pay is $0.30 for each member you have and Stripe transaction fees.
5. Join Podcasting Networks
Podcasting companies do most of the work selling premium podcast episodes; however, it comes with an expense for the creator.
Although the company is responsible for most logistics, the network is responsible for an enormous portion of the sales, making it hard to earn any significant revenue.
This strategy can be effective if you have many users (most major platforms require more than 50,000 downloads per month).
It is possible to join a group if you are a little popular; however, keep in mind that networks can cause you to lose some control over your creativity.
What are the platforms that offer private podcast hosting?
Captivate, Transistor, Podbean, uStudio, Spreaker, Storyboard, Patreon, and Supporting cast are options for a famous private podcast hosting service.
What famous platforms don’t allow private podcasts?
You cannot have a private podcast on Spotify, Google Play, iHeartRadio, Acast, DoublePod, amongst others.
What are the best podcast hosting platforms?
Captivate, Transistor, Podbean, Resonate, and Buzzsprout are considered the best podcast hosting platforms. However, Buzzsprout is the only platform that does not offer a private podcast.
You can learn more about Buzzsprout and podcasting in our previous article.
Conclusion
Private podcasting and its providing platforms have many benefits and disadvantages. However, the features that matter to some podcasters may not matter to you. If you know the goals you’d like to accomplish using your private content, you’ll be able to discover a method of delivery to get you there.
