All-in-One vs Standalone Podcast Hosting
Choosing where to host your podcast is one of the first decisions you will make as a creator. The market splits into two camps: all-in-one platforms that bundle hosting with creation, editing, and distribution tools, and standalone hosting providers that focus exclusively on storing and delivering your audio files.
This comparison covers the real differences in features, pricing, and long-term flexibility so you can pick the approach that fits your show.
What all-in-one platforms include
All-in-one platforms combine multiple podcast production tools under a single subscription. A platform like Jellypod is a good example: it handles everything from AI-powered podcast generation to hosting, RSS management, and website integration.
Typical all-in-one features include:
- Audio creation or recording tools built into the platform
- Hosting and RSS feed management with automatic distribution to directories
- Analytics dashboards showing downloads, listener geography, and episode performance
- Monetization tools like paid subscriptions or dynamic ad insertion
- Website builders or embeddable players
- Social clip generation and promotional tools
The advantage: one login, one bill, one support team. The tradeoff: you are locked into that platform's feature set and pricing.
What standalone hosting covers
Standalone hosts focus exclusively on file storage and RSS distribution. They typically offer:
- Unlimited or high-capacity audio storage
- Reliable RSS feed generation and distribution
- Basic download analytics
- Lower monthly costs (often under $15 per month)
Standalone hosts work best for podcasters who already have a production workflow and want to assemble their own toolchain. You might use separate tools for recording, editing, transcription, and distribution.
Decision factors: which approach fits you
Consider these 4 questions when choosing:
- How much time do you want to spend managing tools? All-in-one platforms reduce setup and integration time. Standalone hosting requires more configuration.
- Do you need specific features? If your workflow requires capabilities like AI generation or voice cloning, an all-in-one platform that includes these is more efficient than integrating multiple services.
- What is your budget? Standalone hosting is cheaper upfront but may cost more when you add tools for editing, transcription, and promotion.
- How important is portability? With standalone hosting, your RSS feed is separate from your production tools. With all-in-one platforms, migration involves moving more than just your feed.
How Jellypod approaches hosting
Jellypod is an all-in-one platform that bundles AI podcast generation with hosting and distribution. This means you can go from source material to published episode without switching between tools.
The hosting layer includes standards-compliant RSS feeds, automatic distribution to major platforms, and analytics. If you decide to migrate later, Jellypod supports 301 redirects so your subscribers and download history transfer to your new host.
Final thoughts
The all-in-one versus standalone decision comes down to workflow complexity and budget. If you want a single platform that handles everything from creation to distribution, all-in-one saves time. If you prefer assembling your own toolchain and have production workflows already in place, standalone hosting keeps costs lower. Either approach works. Choose based on how you want to spend your time.
