Recommended gear
The podcast starter stack
Tried-and-true gear and software for sounding great and growing your show, without overspending.
Disclosure: some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the free tools free.
Podcast hosting
Where your RSS feed lives and episodes get distributed to Apple, Spotify and the rest.
Buzzsprout
The easiest start for new shows, with clear stats and a free tier to try it.
Check it out →Captivate
Built for growth: private podcasts, monetization tools and solid analytics.
Check it out →Transistor
Unlimited shows on one plan, a good fit for networks and companies.
Check it out →
Recording & editing
Record remote guests in studio quality and edit like a doc.
Riverside
Local recording for every guest, so a weak connection doesn't ruin the audio.
Check it out →Descript
Edit audio and video by editing the transcript. It also exports timestamps for our chapter tool.
Check it out →
Microphones
A dynamic mic close to your mouth beats an expensive condenser in an untreated room.
Samson Q2U
A USB/XLR dynamic mic at a budget price. The classic first podcast mic.
Check it out →Shure MV7+
USB and XLR, with built-in processing. Plug in and sound like a pro.
Check it out →RØDE PodMic USB
Broadcast-style sound with a solid build that will last.
Check it out →
Headphones
Closed-back headphones for monitoring without bleed into the mic.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
A studio standard: comfortable for long sessions, and honest sound.
Check it out →Sony MDR-7506
The workhorse of radio and podcast studios for decades.
Check it out →