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How Much Does It Cost to Start a Podcast in 2026?

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Podcast in 2026?

Short answer: anywhere from zero dollars to about the price of a used car. Longer answer: it depends on how many people are talking, whether you want video, and how much you care about sounding good on day one. Here are the real numbers, split into what you pay once and what you pay every month.

The free version
You can record on your phone, edit in a free app like Audacity or GarageBand, and publish through a free host. Cost: $0. It works for testing an idea. It will also sound like a phone, and listeners notice audio quality before they notice anything else.

The starter setup: $500 to $900
This is where most new shows should land. You get a proper microphone, headphones, and something to plug it all into, and you will not outgrow it in six months.

  • Shure MV7+, from $299.00, For one person set up you can use a USB MIC straight into your computer
  • Shure Podcast Bundle, from $688.99, with a Shure MV7+ mic, SRH840A headphones, a boom arm, and an MVX2U interface

The serious setup: $1,000 to $2,000
This is broadcast-style sound: the microphones you see on the big video podcasts, and a mixer that handles multiple hosts, sound effects, and call-ins.

The full studio: $8,000 and up
Businesses, schools, and agencies building a dedicated room are in a different bracket. Our 6-Person Podcast & Video Studio Bundle is $7,999.00 and the 4-Camera PTZ Podcast Studio Bundle is $9,500.00.

The monthly costs
Gear is the part everyone budgets for. These are the parts people forget:

  • Hosting: free to roughly $20 a month for most new shows. Our favorites - BuzzSprout
  • Remote recording, if your guests are not in the room: roughly $15 to $25 a month. Our favorites- Riverside
  • Editing: free if you do it yourself, more if you pay for software or an editor. Our favorites -  Audacity and GarageBand (both free), Descript (paid)
  • One-time extras: cover art and intro music.

So what should you spend?
If you are not sure the show will last, start in the $500 to $900 range. It is enough to sound like you mean it, and you will not need to replace it when the show grows. If the podcast is part of your business, treat it like any other piece of infrastructure and buy the setup you will still be using in three years.

Not sure which bucket you are in? Browse our complete podcast bundles or call us at (833) 776-3227 and we will help you spec it out.

Next article Podcast Setup for Two People: What You Actually Need for a Co-Hosted Show