Head-to-head comparison

PRX vs RSS.com

Two of the hosting tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.

Public radio's distribution and hosting cooperative

Best for: Public radio stations and documentary podcasters distributing to broadcast and on-demand.

Genuinely free podcast hosting that monetizes through ads and premium upgrades.

Best for: Free-tier hosting

At a glance

Field
PRX
RSS.com
Best for
Public radio stations and documentary podcasters distributing to broadcast and on-demand.
Free-tier hosting
Price tier
Freemiumverify
Freemiumverify
Platforms
Web
WebiOSAndroid
Audience
Solo creators
Solo creatorsSmall teams

The honest trade-offs

PRX

Pros

  • Mission-aligned nonprofit operator
  • Dovetail handles hosting, DAI and analytics
  • Home to Radiotopia and major narrative shows

Watch-outs

  • Less self-serve than commercial hosts
  • Wrong fit for chat or business shows
  • Pricing depends on org type and arrangement

RSS.com

Pros

  • Free tier with unlimited episodes, no time limit
  • Auto-distribution to major directories
  • AI transcription included

Watch-outs

  • Monetization shallower than Acast
  • Interface less polished than rivals
  • Premium upsells throughout the UI

Which one should you pick?

Pick PRX if

You’re building around public radio stations and documentary podcasters distributing to broadcast and on-demand.. PRX is a nonprofit that distributes US public radio and hosts a lot of the editorial-leaning podcast world via its Dovetail platform. Radiotopia lives here.

Pick RSS.com if

You’re building around free-tier hosting. RSS.com is one of the few hosts whose free tier is actually usable as a permanent home — unlimited episodes and no time limit beats Buzzsprout's 90-day window outright.

Also worth comparing

Or see all PRX alternatives.

Frequently asked

What does PRX do better than RSS.com?

PRX's standout is "Mission-aligned nonprofit operator". RSS.com doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Free tier with unlimited episodes, no time limit" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick PRX; if the second does, pick RSS.com.

What are the trade-offs?

PRX: less self-serve than commercial hosts. RSS.com: monetization shallower than acast. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.

Do they support the same platforms?

RSS.com works on iOS, Android where PRX doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.

Can I use PRX and RSS.com together?

Both are hosting tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using PRX for one show or episode type and RSS.com for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.