The Best Podcast Tools for Creating a Top-Quality Show

Key Takeaways

• You don’t need much to start a podcast, but the best podcast tools make it easier.
• For gear, start with a quality mic like the Samson Q2U and closed-back headphones.
• Use tools like Riverside to record, edit, transcribe, and repurpose your podcast—all in one place.

Want to start a podcast but feel overwhelmed by all the tools out there?

Don’t stress. In the 15+ years I’ve been creating podcasts, I’ve tested out a lot of gear and software. Let me show you some of my favorite options—and help you understand what you really need to get started.

Let’s do this!

The best free and paid podcast tools for 2025

Let’s start with a little secret. You don’t need a lot of gear to create a great-sounding podcast. The most basic setup might include just:

• A microphone
• Recording software
• Editing tools
• A podcast hosting platform

That said, the right tools can make your life as a podcaster so much easier, and help you grow faster. From planning and marketing to live streaming and transcription, there’s a solution to make every part of podcast creation faster, easier, and more fun. And with the rise of AI podcasting tools, what used to take hours now takes minutes.

Here’s a quick look at my top picks in each category before we dive in:

Best podcast equipment

You can start a podcast with a fully-equipped recording studio, but if you have no budget, even just a laptop will do. But the tools I really recommend you don’t go without are a microphone and headphones. If you’re recording in-person guests, you may also want an audio mixer. 

A couple of favorites in my setup include acoustic panels to soundproof my studio and an arm to hold my mic. 

Here are my favorite picks:

Podcasting microphones

Sure, you can record with your computer’s built-in mic. But a dedicated microphone makes a huge difference. You can get a quality one for an affordable price these days. My favorite podcasting microphones include:

• Samson Q2U ($70): A reliable USB/XLR hybrid mic that’s perfect for beginners. It delivers solid audio quality, is easy to use, and works well whether you're recording solo or with guests.
• Shure MV7 ($299): Designed for podcasters, this hybrid USB/XLR mic delivers broadcast-quality sound. The easy-control touch panel to make quick sound adjustments is a plus.
• Earthworks Ethos ($359): A premium XLR condenser microphone designed for professionals seeking exceptional vocal detail and top-tier audio quality.

Check out our list of the best podcast microphones for more options.

Microphone arms

Better microphone placement means better sound. A mic arm lets you position your mic close to your mouth and at the best angle, reducing unwanted noise. Here are my favorites:

• Rode PSA1 Arm ($139.99): This highly adjustable professional boom arm is a staple for desk-mounted mics.
• Elgato Low-Profile Arm ($100): A sleek and discreet under-the-monitor mic arm designed to stay out of the camera frame.

See our microphone arm guide for more picks.

Podcasting headphones

Headphones aren’t essential. But, once you try them, you’ll probably never go back to podcasting without them. They let you hear exactly what your mic picks up in real time. This means you can catch and fix background noise, echo, or volume issues on the spot. They also help you hear your guests clearly without asking them to repeat themselves.

My favorite picks:

• Beyer-Dynamic DT 770 Pro ($160): My go-to headphones for editing. They provide a lot of audio detail, so I don’t miss a thing!
• Sony MDR7506 ($100): While budget-friendly, they are reliable and provide a real-life representation of the sound.

Get more of our top picks in our podcast headphones guide.

Audio Mixers

If you’re recording a podcast with remote guests, you probably won’t need an audio mixer. But for in-person recording, a mixer lets you plug in more than one microphone. As you become more of an audiophile, you can also use it for fine-tuning your sound.

Here are my favorite options:

• Sound Devices MixPre-3 ($950): Expensive but durable and portable, this is my favorite professional-grade audio mixer for field recording.
• Focusrite Vocaster Two ($249.99): A USB audio interface designed just for podcasters to accommodate two mics. The Bluetooth and TRRS connectivity makes it easy to integrate external audio sources.

Acoustic Panels

If you want to record high-quality audio at home, acoustic panels are an inexpensive and easy-to-install soundproofing solution. I use GIK Acoustic Panels ($54/panel) in my studio. They come in lots of different colors, so you can match your brand and style.

Best podcast recording tools

If you want to record a pro-sounding podcast, start with dedicated podcast recording software. It’ll deliver far better results than a phone app. Plus features like multi-track recording, local recording, automatic transcriptions, and dedicated tools make editing and sharing seamless.

Here are my favorite recording tools:

• Riverside ($0-$24/month): My favorite recording software for remote interviews and co-hosted shows. With Riverside, you get up to 4K video and 48 kHz audio without worrying about your internet connection. Everything records straight from your device while uploading to the cloud progressively. You get separate tracks for up to 10 guests so you can skip crosstalk. Other extras include a teleprompter, producer-friendly mode, and the option to livestream your show.
• ‍Audio Hijack ($83): This audio-only Mac app allows you to capture audio from any application, device, or system output. You can apply effects in real time and stream live.

Best podcast editing tools

Once you’re done recording, it’s time to edit your podcast. I record my podcasts with Riverside, so I start my editing there too, to be efficient. I use:

• Riverside: If you want fast, efficient podcast editing, Riverside is your best bet. You can use the text-based editor to quickly cut out any awkward moments (it’s much faster than waveform editing!) It also has lots of AI tools to help you create show notes, clean up your audio automatically, generate your voice from text, and more.
• Ferrite App (free): I do a lot of my audio podcast editing using the Apple pencil paired with this app. This combo allows me to edit multiple podcasts each week straight from my iPad. 
• Final Cut Pro: If I want to move to more complex and advanced editing, I use Final Cut Pro to polish video podcasts. It’s professional-grade video editing software with a steeper learning curve, but once you learn the ropes, it’s great for detailed editing. 

Check out other top podcast editing tools in our full guide.

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Best podcast hosting platforms

You can’t have a podcast without a host. These platforms store your podcast’s audio and video files and distribute them to various podcast directories, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Here are my favorite podcast hosting options:

• Transistor.fm ($19-$99/month): Transistor has some unique features. I love that you can manage multiple shows from one account without additional charges, embed transcripts in your RSS feed, and publish to Apple Podcasts automatically.
• Spotify for Creators w/ Video (free): Spotify offers unlimited audio and video podcasts for free, comprehensive distribution to major platforms, and additional perks like analytics and monetization opportunities. Spotify also integrates with Riverside, so you can record, edit, and distribute your podcast all in one place.
• Apple Podcasts Subscriptions ($19.99/year + commission): This program lets podcasters offer premium, subscriber-only content directly through the Apple Podcasts app. Once you’ve built an audience, this is one of the easiest ways to monetize your content.

Get more options in our list of best podcast hosting platforms.

Best podcast planning tools

Brainstorming ideas, analyzing data, and planning out podcast episodes is essential for producing high-quality episodes consistently. 

• Apple Notes (free): When I’m planning a podcast, I always use this to pull together notes and references. It’s simple and just works.
• Notion (0$-$20/month): Notion is great for serving as a content hub, especially if you’re collaborating with a team. You can use it as a database to monitor each episode’s progress, manage guest information, plan content, and even track analytics and feedback. 

Best podcast marketing tools

If you want to be a podcaster, you’ll need an audience. There are so many ways to promote a podcast, but I like to use the following tools:

• Riverside Magic Clips (free): Turning the highlights of your video podcast into short, shareable clips is a great way to tease and promote it on social media. With Riverside’s Magic Clips you can create your best clips in seconds. I repurpose these into Instagram Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts. It’s so easy!
• Mailchimp ($0-492/month): I use Mailchimp’s RSS-to-Email feature to automatically send an email update to my subscribers whenever a new episode is published. It’s a smart way to promote my podcast without lifting a finger.

Best AI podcast tools

AI-powered tools can help you create a professional podcast in a fraction of the time and can boost production quality. They are changing the game for podcasters, so make sure you don’t get left behind.

Here are some of the AI podcasting tools I use:

• Riverside: Let AI create a polished episode from your recording, or use AI tools to help you create your own. You’ll find AI tools to cut filler words, remove silences, enhance your audio, create transcriptions, show notes, and more.
• Bear ($5/month): If you’re looking for an upgrade over Apple Notes, Bear Notes has integrated AI features. I use it to brainstorm ideas, and keep everything organized across projects. 

For more, check out our full list of the best AI podcasting tools.

Best podcast analytics tools

Podcast analytics help you understand what draws people to your show so you can continue to improve and grow over time. 

• Podstatus ($5-$20/month): I rely on Podstatus to track aggregated rankings, reviews, and other real-time insights into how my show is doing across various platforms and countries.

Best live podcast tools

Live podcasting is a great way to engage your audience and have some fun while you’re at it. 

But you’ll need a few tools to run a smooth live stream. I like to use:

• Elgato StreamDeck ($149.99): A customizable control pad I use to streamline my live streaming workflow. With it I can launch recording software, open scripts, mute microphones, and trigger sound effects—all from one interface.
• BlackMagic ATEM Mini Pro: A must for multi-camera productions. You can connect up to four HDMI sources (cameras, computers, gaming consoles) and switch between them live. You can also stream directly to your favorite platforms, do your audio mixing, and more. I love that I can integrate this tool with my Riverside studio to create dynamic, multi-cam recordings.
• Riverside: You can go live directly to YouTube, LinkedIn, or X while recording in high quality. Features like Producer Mode, live call-ins, and the Media Board make it super easy to manage a polished live show. 

Best podcast transcription tools

Transcription makes life a lot easier for podcasters. A good transcript can be used to create captions, subtitles, show notes, or repurposed into social posts and blog posts. Thanks to AI, it’s never been easier to get high-quality transcripts. 

Here are a few tools I like to use:

• Riverside: Riverside automatically creates a high-quality transcript as soon as you stop recording. You can download it, use it to create captions, and even edit your video with text-based editing. It’s up to 99% accurate and it even differentiates speakers automatically.
• Transcriptionist (free): This simple Mac and iOS-based transcription app is a handy tool for converting audio to text. It’s fast and works well for basic transcriptions on the go.

Best all-in-one podcasting tool: Riverside

If you want to pick a single tool that has everything you need to launch your podcast, make it Riverside.

Riverside is an all-in-one podcasting software that’s affordable and easy to use. You can record, edit, share, and live stream—all in one place. If you’re a beginner, try the free plan: it’s packed with features, and it’s a great place to start.

The platform is browser-based, so there’s nothing to install. Just send your guest a link and hit record. And with the mobile apps for iOS and Android, you can capture high-quality content anywhere.

Key features:

• High-quality audio and video: Record in up to 4K video and 48 kHz audio. 
• Local recordings: Everything is captured directly on your and your participants’ devices, for flawless quality even with slow internet connections.
• Separate audio and video tracks for each participant: Edit audio and video separately and in detail with individual tracks.
• Up to 9 guests: Host up to 9 guests at a time and easily invite them with a simple link.
• Text-based editor: Trim your recordings lickety-split just by deleting words from your transcript.
• Automated podcast transcription: Create an up to 99% accurate transcript in 100+ languages for easy captions, subtitles, and repurposing.
• Live streaming: Livestream directly from the platform to multiple social media channels, and use built-in tools like live call-ins for maximum engagement.
• Producer Mode: Let your producer control settings behind the scenes so you can focus on your show.
• Media Board: Seamlessly add in live sound effects for a better live show and faster post-production.
• Social media clips: Use Magic Clips to instantly create clips you can use on social media to promote your show.
• Seamless distribution: Connect to Spotify for Podcasters to distribute your show straight from Riverside.

Give it a go for free! Start podcasting effortlessly with Riverside.‍

FAQs on podcasting tools

How can I start a podcast with no audience?

Don’t stress,most successful podcasters started from zero. Plan your podcast carefully, and research your niche and target audience. Then build your brand around the value you bring to the table. 

Once you start recording, focus on producing quality content, publishing consistently, and use analytics to double down on what’s working. For a deeper dive and more tips, see our guide on how to start a podcast with no audience.

What platform do most podcasters use?

According to the most recent data, the top podcast hosting platforms by new episodes are Spotify for Creators, Spreaker, Buzzsprout, and Podbean. When it comes to recording tools, podcasters tend to have a very mixed bag of favorites. In a 2024 survey by The Podcast Host, respondents chose Audacity, Adobe Audition, Garageband, and Riverside as the most popular picks for recording.

What is the best podcast platform for beginners?

If you’re new to podcasting, you’ll want a podcast platform that is easy to use, affordable, and makes your show look and sound polished from day one. Riverside is my top pick in this space because even its free plan provides everything you need to record, edit, and promote your show. The platform is designed to make podcasting easier and faster so you can focus on creating high-quality content and building your audience from the ground up.