Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about PoddyHost
Billing
You can cancel from Billing > Manage your subscription. Cancelling prevents future renewals but your plan remains active until the end of the current billing period and your published episodes stay live. Refunds are handled case-by-case — for billing errors, duplicate charges, or clear service failures, email hello@poddyhost.com with your account email and transaction ID so we can investigate. Refunds (if approved) are issued to the original payment method; settlement times depend on the payment processor.
If a subscription payment fails, your paid access remains available during a five-day grace period while you update your payment method. If payment is not recovered by the deadline, the account moves to Free-level limits and is marked suspended; an eligible lifetime or partner Starter entitlement may still apply. Use the billing area to update payment details or contact support with your account email and invoice information.
We accept major credit and debit cards processed securely via Stripe. Stripe is our primary and standard payment method for all new subscriptions. PayPal and other legacy gateways are not currently available for new subscribers. For billing questions or help with a payment, email hello@poddyhost.com with your account email and any transaction ID.
General
No. PoddyHost turns your source material into narration using natural-sounding AI voices. You do not need a microphone, studio, or recording experience.
Most episodes complete within a few minutes from topic selection to a finished audio file, but actual times vary with workload and episode length. Small episodes often finish in 2–10 minutes; during high demand or when many jobs are queued (for example, Auto Mode batches) processing can take longer. We automatically retry jobs that hit a temporary snag so most complete without you noticing. You can monitor status in your podcast dashboard — if something looks stuck, contact support with the post URL and your account email so we can investigate.
PoddyHost creates a standards-compliant RSS feed and submits it to Podcast Index for open-catalog coverage. For Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music, PoddyHost provides guided submission steps; you complete each directory's approval flow and save the approved listening URL. You can also save a YouTube Music listing URL if that service discovers your show. Directory approval and indexing times are controlled by each platform and are not guaranteed.
Manual audio uploads (recording your own voice) are not currently available. Custom voice cloning is a Pro feature that our team sets up for you rather than a self-service tool; contact hello@poddyhost.com with your account email to start. Starter and Pro unlock the full library of 50+ voices across 10 languages, while Free includes a selection of English voices.
Your published episodes remain live. Downgrades (and cancellations) typically take effect at the end of your current billing period, and the new plan's content limits apply once the downgrade goes into effect. You won't lose published episodes, but you may be prevented from creating new episodes if the lower plan's monthly limits are exceeded.
Auto Mode is our hands-free publishing feature: once enabled, PoddyHost automatically writes, narrates, and publishes new episodes on the schedule you choose — daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly (weekly is the default). You can optionally connect a source — an article URL, RSS/blog feed, or pasted text — so every Auto Mode episode stays grounded in that material instead of a freely generated topic. You can enable/disable Auto Mode and change its cadence anytime from your podcast dashboard, subject to your plan's posts-per-month limit.
Our team replies within one business day. For payment or account-suspension issues please include your account email and any relevant transaction IDs to help us resolve things faster.
You can chat or talk with Riley, our AI support assistant, any time using the chat button available on every page of the site — she can answer most account and product questions instantly. For anything she can't resolve, email hello@poddyhost.com or call +1 (978) 643-8662. We reply to email within one business day — for billing or account issues please include your account email and any transaction IDs to help us resolve things faster.
Most episodes finish within a few minutes, but longer scripts, queue demand, or a temporarily unavailable narration service can add time. PoddyHost retries temporary failures and checks the audio before publishing; it does not switch podcast narration to an alternate provider. Check the episode status in your dashboard, and send the episode URL and account email to hello@poddyhost.com if it remains stuck or fails.
You choose a narrator for each podcast when creating it and can change that narrator later in the podcast settings. New episodes use the saved narrator; already-published audio does not change. Free includes selected English voices, while Starter and Pro unlock the full multilingual narrator library.
Yes — you can download your episode audio (MP3) from the episode's page in PoddyHost or from your dashboard. Each published episode includes an audio file URL (also included in the episode's RSS ), which you can click to download or right-click to Save As. If you need large exports or bulk copies of your audio files, contact hello@poddyhost.com with your account email and the podcast/post URLs and we can help provide packaged files.
Yes. If you have an active AuthorPass membership on SelfPublishing.pro that includes the PoddyHost benefit, you can link it from your PoddyHost dashboard to activate Starter-level access at no extra charge. The benefit is checked automatically; if your AuthorPass membership lapses, Starter access will be revoked and your account will revert to the Free plan.
Yes. When you create a new podcast, PoddyHost automatically generates an AI cover image based on your podcast title and topic. You can regenerate it from your podcast settings, up to 3 covers per 24 hours (the automatic cover counts as the first), or upload your own cover art at any time to replace it.
The keyword tool automatically generates a pool of relevant SEO topic ideas for your podcast based on its subject. When you create a new episode without specifying a topic, PoddyHost draws from this pool so you never run out of ideas. Keyword tools are available on Starter and Pro plans; Free plan users can create episodes manually. The pool refreshes each month up to your plan's episode limit.
Yes. From your podcast dashboard, open the podcast settings and choose Delete Podcast. You will be asked to confirm before anything is removed. Deleting a podcast permanently removes the blog and all its episodes — this cannot be undone. Your published RSS feed and any directory listings (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.) will stop updating once the blog is deleted.
Yes. Choose the Google option on the sign-in page and authorize PoddyHost with your Google account. If the Google email matches an existing account, the sign-in flow uses that account; there is no separate Google-linking control in profile settings.
Yes — both Starter and Pro plans offer annual billing at a discounted rate. Starter is $90/year (vs. $108/year on monthly billing) and Pro is $390/year (vs. $468/year on monthly billing). On the Pricing page, use the Monthly/Annual toggle to see annual rates before subscribing. If you would like to switch billing cycles on an existing subscription, contact hello@poddyhost.com with your account email and we can advise on the best path.
Every podcast you create on PoddyHost has a public page at poddyhost.com/podcasts/your-podcast-slug where anyone can browse your episodes and listen without an account. Your podcast also has an RSS feed URL (linked from the podcast page) that subscribers can add to any podcast app. Once you submit to directories like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, listeners can find and follow you there too. Share your podcast page URL or RSS link directly with your audience to get listeners right away.
Yes. When setting up a new podcast, click 'Preview Cover Art' to see an AI-generated cover before you save; you get up to 3 preview attempts per session. You can accept it, try again, or skip it and upload your own image. After your podcast is created, you can regenerate the cover from your podcast settings, up to 3 covers per 24 hours including the one made at creation.
PoddyHost supports narrator voices in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. You choose a narrator for each podcast when creating it and can change that narrator later in podcast settings; new episodes use the saved narrator. Starter and Pro unlock the full multilingual narrator library, while Free includes selected English voices.
Yes. On Billing > Plans, eligible affiliate coupon codes give 10% off the first invoice and are limited to one use per customer. If you do not apply an affiliate coupon there, secure checkout may also accept other supported promotion codes; eligibility and discount terms depend on the code. Contact hello@poddyhost.com if a valid code is not accepted.
Our Privacy Policy is at poddyhost.com/privacy and our Terms of Service are at poddyhost.com/terms. Both pages summarise how we handle your data and account, and reference the Archieboy Holdings master policies. Email hello@poddyhost.com with any questions.
Visit poddyhost.com/stacksocial, create a free account (or sign in), then enter your promo code in the redemption form. Your account will be instantly upgraded to the Starter plan for life — no monthly charge, no expiry. If you have trouble, email hello@poddyhost.com with your account email and the code.
Yes — PoddyHost has an affiliate program where you can earn commissions by referring new subscribers. Visit the Affiliates page (linked in the site navigation) for details on commission rates, how to get your referral link, and payment terms. For questions about your affiliate account or earnings, contact hello@poddyhost.com with your account email.
Published episodes cannot be directly edited — the title, description, and audio are fixed once an episode goes live. To correct an episode, delete it from your episode manager and create a new one with the updated details. The deleted episode will be removed from your public podcast page and RSS feed. If you need help with a specific case, email hello@poddyhost.com with your account email and the episode URL.
Yes — PoddyHost sends a small set of helpful lifecycle emails to guide you through creating your first podcast, adding your first episode, submitting to directories, and more. These emails are sent only to confirmed accounts and are designed to help you get the most out of the platform. You can always reach us at hello@poddyhost.com if you have questions.
Yes. In your podcast settings you can add a product description, a call-to-action (CTA), a target URL, and an ad script. PoddyHost weaves a short sponsor read into your episodes automatically. You can also click 'Generate Ad Script' in the dashboard to get a suggested script based on your product and CTA. This feature is available on all plans.
Go to Billing > Plans in your account and click the Manage button for your active subscription. This opens Stripe's secure billing portal where you can update your card, view past invoices, and manage billing details. Changes take effect immediately and apply to your next renewal.
Yes. The built-in audio player on every podcast and episode page supports playback speeds from 0.5× to 2×. Use the Settings button on the player to choose your preferred speed. The player also has 10-second skip-back and skip-forward buttons for easy navigation.
Yes. You can edit your podcast's name, description, narrator voice, and other settings at any time from the podcast settings in your dashboard. Changes apply to new episodes you generate after saving; existing published episodes keep their original audio. You can also update or regenerate the cover art from the same settings page.
Pro lists priority narration among its features, but today every episode joins one shared narration queue and is processed in the order it was scheduled or requested, whatever your plan. Most episodes still finish within a few minutes, though busy periods such as large Auto Mode batches can add time. Pro's main advantages are up to 10 podcasts, 30 episodes per podcast each month, and custom voice cloning.
Yes — visit poddyhost.com/podcast-planning-consultation and fill in a short form covering your podcast stage, main goal, budget, and timeline. We will review your details and follow up by email with a suggested path, whether that is a free test show, Auto Mode, distribution setup, or a more hands-on launch plan.
Yes — visit poddyhost.com/reviews to read what other podcasters say about PoddyHost. If you are a customer and would like to share your experience, you can submit a review from that page. We may also send a short review request email once you have had time to use the platform. Your feedback helps us improve and helps others decide if PoddyHost is right for them.
Yes. Paste a URL, an RSS/blog feed, or your own text into the preview tool on your dashboard, and PoddyHost will generate a private, roughly 60-90 second narrated preview grounded only in that source — nothing is published or made public. A preview usually takes four to five minutes, and every unexpired preview is listed under "Your Private Previews" on your dashboard, so if the page stops waiting you can find and play it there instead of starting a new one. You can create up to 5 previews per day, and each expires after 7 days.
Yes. From your dashboard, click "Copy Player" next to any podcast to get an iframe embed code showing your latest 5 episodes with a working audio player. Paste it into any page on your own site, and listens through the embed are included in your analytics.
Yes. When creating a podcast — or any time afterward from your podcast settings — you can choose an Apple Podcasts / Spotify category (like Technology, Business, or Health & Fitness). This category is included in your RSS feed and helps directories list and categorize your show correctly. If you don't choose one, PoddyHost defaults to Technology.
AI narration can occasionally contain a rough segment or background hiss. PoddyHost checks audio for pacing, long silences, raised background noise, and intelligibility, then retries or repairs flagged segments when possible. Automated checks are not perfect, so email hello@poddyhost.com with the episode URL if you notice a problem.
Yes. Look for the "Ask Riley" chat button on any page — you can type or talk to Riley, our AI support assistant, for instant help with account, billing, and product questions. If your question needs a human, Riley can point you to email (hello@poddyhost.com) or phone (+1 (978) 643-8662) support.
Yes — our free Book to Podcast tool at poddyhost.com/book-to-podcast turns a passage you have the rights to publish into a short narrated episode. You'll set up a free account if you don't have one, and your private preview expires after seven days unless you continue. Once you create your show, PoddyHost hosts the audio and RSS feed and helps you submit to directories like any other podcast.
Yes — our free Feed Checker at poddyhost.com/podcast-feed-check reviews any public RSS feed for common submission blockers, like unreachable audio files, missing artwork, or invalid categories, and gives plain-language fixes. No account is needed to run a check; sign in if you want to save reports and compare them over time.
Each podcast blog has a Launch Checklist, reachable from the "Launch checklist" button on your posts page or dashboard, that walks you through publishing your first episode, submitting to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music, and saving/verifying your listing links once you're live. It reflects your current directory status, so it's a good first stop before telling listeners your show exists.
You can connect a public article or page, an RSS/blog feed, or paste at least a few paragraphs of text. PoddyHost uses that material to ground private previews and generated episodes; feeds can refresh, while pasted material remains the show's reference source. Only submit material you own or have permission to adapt and publish.
The Analytics tab shows the last 30 days of estimated listeners, feed downloads, web starts, 30-second listens, completions, listening clients, and sponsor-link clicks. Listener and device requests are deduplicated daily, and known crawler traffic is excluded from human-listener totals. These figures describe measured activity and do not guarantee audience size or sales.
Pricing
Free includes 1 podcast, 3 episodes per calendar month, and 6 English voices. Starter ($9/month or $90/year) includes 1 podcast, 30 episodes per calendar month, Auto Mode, individual scheduling, keyword tools, and the full narrator library. Pro ($39/month or $390/year) includes up to 10 podcasts, 30 episodes per podcast per calendar month, keyword clustering, priority narration, and custom voice cloning. Plan data also lists batch scheduling and paid extra podcasts, but no self-service path is currently exposed for either, so contact support before relying on them.
No — you can start on the Free plan without a credit card. You only add a payment method if/when you choose to upgrade to a paid plan (Starter or Pro). Visit Billing > Plans to compare features and upgrade anytime.
If you reach your plan's monthly episode limit, you cannot create another episode until the next calendar month. Upgrading can raise the applicable limit, and Auto Mode pauses when the allowance is exhausted. Deleting an episode does not restore the slot because monthly usage is retained separately.
No — scheduling is disabled on the Free plan. Free accounts can create up to the Free plan's monthly posts (see Pricing) but must upgrade to Starter or Pro to use scheduled publishing and Auto Mode.
Custom voice cloning is available as a Pro feature. To get started, upgrade to Pro (if not already on it) and contact hello@poddyhost.com with your account email. Custom narrators are set up by our team rather than through a self-service tool, so we will explain the voice-sample process and expected timing for your request.
Yes — you can upgrade or downgrade at any time from Billing > Plans in your account. Downgrades and cancellations typically take effect at the end of your current billing period so your existing paid time remains active; upgrades may start immediately and route you through the checkout flow. For questions about prorations or specific billing amounts, check Billing > Plans or contact hello@poddyhost.com with your account email and any invoice IDs.
