Your first host does not have to be your forever host—but picking badly makes episode 1 harder than it needs to be. Use this checklist like a shopping list: if an offer is vague on these points, ask before you pay.
Storage and upload limits (will you fit?)
Rough math: minutes per month × file size per minute. A 30-minute mono speech episode might be ~15–25 MB as MP3. Add headroom for bonus episodes. If you outgrow the plan mid-season, upgrades are fine—surprise shutdowns are not.
RSS URL and “can I leave later?”
Ask: Does my feed URL stay the same if I rename the show? If I cancel, can I redirect the old feed to a new host? Beginners underestimate this—your feed URL is how every subscriber is wired to you.
Analytics you can actually use
Big lifetime download numbers feel good; episodes trending up or down over the last 28 days teaches you something. Prefer hosts that explain how they count plays. Stats should not make playback stutter.
Team and workflow
Solo today does not mean solo forever. If someone else uploads or checks stats, you want separate logins (or roles), not one shared password. Check how many shows and seats are included.
Reliability and support
Look for a status page, docs you understand, and reasonable response times. If you are in the EU, ask about data processing and GDPR if that matters to your organization.
Beginner shortcut
If you just want to ship: pick a host with clear limits, visible RSS, and a path to upgrade. You can refine everything else after your first three episodes are real.