What is RedCircle
RedCircle is an all-in-one podcast hosting and monetization platform founded in 2018 by former Uber marketing technology leaders Mike Kadin and Jeremy Lermitte. Built with independent creators in mind, it provides unlimited episode storage and downloads on every plan, automatic distribution to major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube, plus robust analytics to track audience growth and engagement.
What sets RedCircle apart is its RedCircle Ad Platform (RAP) — a fully automated marketplace that connects podcasters with brands for both host-read and programmatic ad deals, without creators having to hunt down sponsors themselves. Complementing RAP is a cross-promotion marketplace where podcasters can partner with like-minded shows to swap audience shoutouts, plus dynamic ad insertion technology that lets creators drop ads into any episode at any time — even back-catalog content.
Beyond advertising, RedCircle supports multiple revenue streams including listener donations (via Apple Pay and Google Pay), exclusive subscription content for paying fans, and fast Stripe-powered payouts. Higher-tier plans unlock episode transcriptions, video generation for YouTube, advanced analytics, team seats for collaborators, and custom ad campaign management — making it a credible option for both solo podcasters and growing networks.
Key Features
- Unlimited episode hosting, storage, and downloads on all plans
- Automatic distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube, and more
- RedCircle Ad Platform (RAP): automated host-read and programmatic ad marketplace
- Cross-promotion marketplace to partner with other podcasters for audience swaps
- Dynamic ad insertion to place or swap ads in any episode at any time
- Listener donations and exclusive subscription content with fast Stripe payouts
- Episode transcription and YouTube video generation (paid plans)
Why we like it
- Start for free with truly unlimited hosting and access to the RAP ad marketplace from day one
- All-in-one monetization hub — ads, donations, subscriptions, and cross-promos without juggling third-party tools
- Get paid fast: Stripe-powered payouts arrive in days, not weeks or months
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Genuinely free Core plan with unlimited hosting and basic monetization included
- Multiple monetization streams (ads, donations, subscriptions, cross-promos) in one place
- Fast payouts via Stripe — paid in days, not weeks
- User-friendly dashboard with responsive customer support
Cons
- No in-app recording or audio editing — requires external tools
- RAP takes a significant revenue cut (up to 50% on programmatic ads, 30% on host-read ads)
- No native mobile app; dashboard is browser-only
Who is using RedCircle
Best suited for independent and growth-focused podcasters who want free, unlimited hosting paired with powerful built-in monetization tools and an automated ad marketplace.
- Independent podcasters wanting free, unlimited hosting with built-in monetization
- Creators seeking passive ad revenue without negotiating brand deals manually
- Podcasters looking to grow audiences through cross-promotion swaps
- Multi-show producers or small networks needing team seat access and multi-podcast management
- Brands and agencies running host-read or programmatic podcast ad campaigns at scale
RedCircle Pricing
Freemium
Free Core plan (unlimited hosting + basic monetization); Growth from ~$14.99/mo; Pro from ~$29.99/mo; Enterprise from ~$99.99/mo. Revenue share applies: ~4.5% on donations, ~12% on subscriptions, ~30–50% on ad revenue.
Pricing details may change. Check the official website for the latest information.
What makes RedCircle unique
RedCircle's strongest differentiator is its RedCircle Ad Platform (RAP) — the only fully automated marketplace combining both host-read and programmatic ads in one place. Unlike competitors such as Buzzsprout or Transistor which focus primarily on hosting, RedCircle is built from the ground up around monetization: creators can earn from ads, listener donations, subscriptions, and cross-promotions all within a single dashboard. Its OpenRAP feature even lets podcasters on other hosts tap into RedCircle's ad network via VAST without migrating, a capability unmatched by most rivals.
RedCircle Alternatives
Buzzsprout, Transistor, Libsyn, Spotify for Podcasters (Anchor), Podbean
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