How Much Does It Cost to Start a Podcast in 2026
Starting a podcast in 2026 can cost as little as £100–£350 if you keep it simple and edit yourself. Most people aiming for consistent quality spend around £500–£2,000 upfront. Ongoing costs are usually £0–£20/month for basic hosting and tools, or £20–£150/month if you add paid software and services.
Reviewed by Jack Freegard, Managing Director at TYX – 07 February 2026
At our podcasting Studios in London, we work with creators and brands to plan, record, and finish podcasts that meet real-world deadlines and quality expectations. The budgets below reflect what we see in practice, from first-time setups to podcast studio production
If you’re building this as your own podcast for a brand or business, you’ll probably spend more, sooner. Not because you need fancy gear, but because you’ll want a smoother workflow and fewer “fix it later” moments in post production.
The quick answer
If you want best audio quality, put your first money into your recording environment and a repeatable setup. That’s what protects audio quality and sound quality week after week.
What you actually pay for
Essentials most podcasts need
Skip notes:
- You can skip the pop filter if your mic technique is consistently good, but most people find it’s an easy win for sound quality.
- You can skip paid editing software at the start if free software does what you need.
- You can skip paid podcast hosting only if a free tier won’t block your release schedule or limit your audio files too quickly.
Optional upgrades that depend on your format
Cost by budget level, with example picks
Hobbyist setup
Who it’s for: You’re starting your podcasting journey, you want to get something out there, and you’re not trying to build a complicated machine on day one.
What you get: A basic setup that can still sound great if your recording space is sensible and your equipment setup is consistent.
Example mic picks people commonly buy:
If you’re struggling with echo, don’t rush to buy new podcast microphones. Fix the room first. A little room control often improves audio quality more than swapping gear.
Amateur setup
Who it’s for: You want to start a podcast and keep it going. You care about production quality, but you don’t want the process to eat your life.
What you get: Cleaner raw audio, fewer retakes, and more predictable post production.
Typical one-off spend:
Typical monthly spend:
Example mid-range mic picks:
If your editing keeps expanding, you’ll feel it fast. That’s when paying for editing tools or editing services starts to make sense. It’s less about “fancy offers” and more about getting your time back.
Professional setup
Who it’s for: You’re building a show that’s meant to perform, and you want professional quality audio every time. It might be for a business, a brand, or a bigger creator project.
What you get: Stable high quality audio, faster turnaround, and a setup that supports video podcasts without your podcast episode workflow collapsing.
Typical one-off spend:
Typical monthly spend:
Pro mic people often use:
Just don’t fall into the trap of thinking one mic guarantees professional quality audio. If the recording environment is noisy, the “pro” result won’t show up.
Video podcasts: what they really add
Video podcasts can be brilliant for growth, but they usually add more time than people expect. You’ll manage bigger video files, longer edits, and more decisions.
Minimum viable video kit:
If video helps you reach potential listeners on social media platforms, it can be worth it. If it doesn’t, start audio-first, build consistency, and add video later when you’re ready.
Software options and typical pricing
Software is where monthly costs sneak in, especially once you add remote interviews, faster turnarounds, and a more polished feel.
AI-powered tools can speed up clip suggestions, transcription, and summaries. They work best when your raw audio is already clean. If your audio files are noisy or inconsistent, you’ll spend more time fixing problems than enjoying the “automation.”
Podcast hosting and distribution
Podcast hosting is where your audio files live and how you get into podcast directories and podcast platforms via RSS. In other words, your hosting site is the part that makes your show actually show up.
Typical hosting cost in 2026:
- Many paid hosts sit around £5–£20 per month.
- Some options position themselves as free, usually with trade-offs in features, limits, or ecosystem lock-in.
Distribution checklist:
- Publish through your host and distribute to key podcast directories
- Make sure apple podcasts is included, because lots of podcast listeners still use it
- Keep your podcast description, episode title, and cover art consistent across listening platforms
If you want your podcast’s visibility to grow, don’t treat this as admin you do once. It’s part of podcast production.
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What does it cost per episode?
This is the number that keeps you honest. It’s also the easiest way to answer much does it cost without getting lost.
Formula:
Monthly fixed costs + variable per-episode costs, divided by how many episodes you publish that month.
Worked examples:
If you’re trying to record high quality content weekly, your biggest lever is usually post production time. Either you spend it, or you pay for it.
How do podcast owners get paid?
There’s no single path, but these are the common routes in the podcast world.
If you’re early, services and leads often break even faster than ads. Ads usually need scale.
Can you start a podcast for free?
Yes. Free usually means you use a phone or laptop you already own, free tools, and a free tier for hosting with limits. It’s a good way to test your podcast’s niche and see if you enjoy the work.
The moment you care about speed, consistency, or a smoother workflow, paid hosting and paid help start to earn their keep.
The budgeting rule most new podcasters miss
Costs usually rise because the workflow gets more complex, not because you bought one good mic. A basic setup can be enough to start a podcast, but if you publish frequently, editing and post production become the real time and money sink. Hosting is usually a small monthly line item, while outsourcing editing services can quickly become the biggest recurring cost.
Small upgrades like a pop filter and closed-back headphones often pay for themselves because they reduce fixes and re-records. And if you want podcast success, treat distribution and metadata as part of the work, since clear titles, descriptions, and submissions to podcast directories improve podcast’s visibility.
5 tips to budget and reduce costs in 2026
- Use what you’ve got first. If you can record audio in a quiet room, you’re already ahead.
- Buy second-hand for safe items. Arms, stands, and accessories can cut cost to start without affecting quality.
- Fix the room before upgrading gear. Reducing background noise improves sound quality faster than most gear swaps.
- Standardise your workflow. Templates for show notes and consistent episode title rules reduce post production time.
- Add video only when it supports your goals. If video doesn’t help distribution, it becomes expensive effort.
TYX Podcasting Studios in London
At TYX Podcasting Studios in London, we understand what goes into making a great podcast. We’ve got bookable studio spaces in London that are set up for podcast recording, whether you’re doing a solo show, a two-person chat, or remote interviews. From planning and recording through to post production, our team’s here to help you get consistent, release-ready audio and a workflow you can actually keep up with.
Get in touch to book a session and get your next episode sounding the way you want it to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Much does it cost depends on your setup and whether you DIY post production, but most guides put the range from about $100 to $5,000. Use that as a starting point, then price your own podcast based on your workflow.
Yes, you can start a podcast with free recording software, free tools, and a free hosting site tier, but limits can bite as your podcasting journey grows.
You need a quiet recording space, a mic, headphones, and recording software to record audio cleanly, then export audio files for editing and upload.
Yes, a hosting site is what stores your audio files and feeds them to podcast directories and podcast platforms so podcast listeners can find you.
How much podcasting costs monthly often comes down to podcast hosting and any paid tools, plus optional add-ons like transcription or dynamic ad insertion.
Focus on episode title clarity, a strong podcast description, and consistent publishing, then promote clips and behind the scenes content on social media accounts where your audience already spends time.
Common routes include sponsorships, subscriptions with exclusive content, merchandise sales, and live events, but most shows only break even once they consistently reach enough listeners.
Only if video supports your goals and you can keep it sustainable, otherwise start audio-first and add video later once your podcasting dreams are backed by a repeatable workflow.
How to Start a Podcast in 2026: Full Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to create a podcast in 2026 with a practical, step-by-step system for planning, recording, hosting, editing, and launching across audio and video.
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