How much does it actually cost to produce a podcast?
DIY tools, AI editing, or full-service production. Here's what you get at every price tier, and why the cheapest option is almost never the cheapest outcome.
A podcast costs between $50 and $2,000 per month using DIY tools or outsourced editing, or $2,100 to $6,500 per month with a full-service agency like Resonate Recordings. AI podcast tools run $50 to $500 per month but can't replace strategy, host development, or audience growth.
Trusted at every scale, from solo hosts to Fortune 500
The companies behind shows we have produced.
Three ways to produce a podcast. Only one of them is accountable for it working.
The question every brand asks before their first call is how much a podcast costs. The honest answer: it depends on what you want the podcast to actually do for your business. Below is what you get at each tier, not just what it costs.
per month. Covers recording software, hosting, and either your own time or a freelance editor. No strategy, host development, or growth management included.
per month. Handles filler-word removal, show notes, and social clips well. Cannot replace strategy, host development, or audience growth.
per month. Strategy, show concept, host development, production, launch, distribution, and ongoing growth management, all owned by one team.
AI is a real production tool. It isn't a strategy team.
AI tools are useful for specific production tasks. They aren't a substitute for the decisions that determine whether a show actually grows.
What AI Tools Do Well
Removing filler words, generating show notes, creating social clips, and automating publishing. A podcast built entirely on AI production tools can sound genuinely polished.
What AI Tools Don't Replace
Strategy, host development, audience positioning, and growth management. A polished-sounding show without a strategic foundation still won't grow an audience on its own.
Where AI Fits Best
As a production efficiency add-on inside a full-service engagement, handling repetitive tasks so a human team can focus on strategy, not as a replacement for that team.
The DIY-to-Full-Service Upgrade
Starting DIY and upgrading later is possible, but a show built without a strategy foundation often needs a full repositioning first, meaning new cover art, a revised concept, and a relaunch. That means paying for the strategy work twice.
The scope behind the $2,100 to $6,500 range. One team, every piece.
The price difference between a cheap editing service and a full-service agency reflects the scope of work. The outcome difference reflects whether anyone is accountable for the show performing, not just being produced.
Strategy & Launch
Show concept, format, host development, and a launch plan built around a specific business outcome, not just a recording schedule.
Learn moreAudio Production
Professional editing, mixing, and mastering for every episode, from degree-trained engineers rather than a rotating freelance pool.
Learn moreVideo Production
Full video editing and YouTube-ready cuts, included in the full-service scope rather than priced as a separate add-on.
Learn morePodcast Management
A dedicated producer manages the show week to week, the ongoing accountability a DIY or AI-only setup doesn't provide.
Learn morePodcast Marketing
Show notes, audiograms, and social assets built from every episode, part of the growth management most cheaper tiers leave out.
Learn moreDistribution & Growth
Publishing across every major platform plus ongoing growth management, the accountability piece that separates production from a real program.
Learn more9 to 18 months, with the first real inflection around month 9 to 12.
Most B2B podcasts see meaningful business outcomes between 9 and 18 months of consistent publishing. The timeline shortens with a strong launch and consistent cadence, and lengthens if the strategy foundation is weak or the show publishes inconsistently. ROI in podcasting compounds, which means brands that stay patient and invest consistently outperform the ones treating it as a short campaign.
Get Your Exact Number →A show built without a solid strategy foundation often needs a full repositioning before it can grow. That means paying for the strategy work twice — new cover art, a revised concept, and a relaunch campaign. It's possible to start DIY and upgrade later. It's rarely cheaper.
Common questions about podcast production pricing.
Everything you need to know before you compare quotes.
Get Your Exact Number →How much does it cost to start a podcast?+
Are AI podcast tools worth it instead of an agency?+
What is the difference between a cheap podcast service and a full-service agency?+
How long until a podcast produces business results?+
Can I start DIY and upgrade to full-service later?+
What does Resonate Recordings charge for podcast production?+
Why do B2B podcasts often cost more than consumer podcasts?+
What is included in a full-service podcast production engagement?+
Read Lindsay's complete cost analysis.
This page summarizes the pricing tiers. The full blog post covers the reasoning behind every number, real client scenarios, and a deeper look at where AI tools fit into a modern production budget.
Read the Full Cost Breakdown →Stop guessing at the number.
Get the one that applies to your show.
Book a thirty-minute strategy call. We'll walk through your scope, timeline, and the real investment before you commit to anything.
No commitment. Thirty minutes. A real number for your specific situation.