While it’s true that you can create a basic podcast episode using something as simple as an app on your smartphone, your audience will appreciate a more sophisticated approach.

Luckily, there are lots of great tools to help take your podcast to the next level. There are tools to help you edit your audio, share episodes on social media, and troubleshoot your RSS feed.

Here are 13 of the best podcasting tools to help you improve your podcast:

1. Notion: Note taking and collaboration

Notion gives you an online, collaborative workspace that unites your tasks and notes in one place. Now you know that your entire team has one central location to brainstorm episode topics, draft your scripts, and jot down notes during interviews.

2. Calendly: Scheduling with co-hosts and guests

Use Calendly to schedule podcast interviews, with no need to engage in back-and-forth emails with your co-hosts and guests. Just setup a calendar with your availability and share it with your guests to find a perfect time to record. It also uses time zone detection so that you can easily coordinate with guests in other time zones.

3. Ringr: Record the best audio quality for online interviews

Sometimes scheduling will prevent you and your guests from being in the same location when it comes time to record the podcast. With Ringr you can record an interview with anyone on Earth, and the audio will sound like you're in the same room.
When it's time to record your podcast, each participant connects to Ringr using their phone or computer. Once you've finished recording, Ringr will automatically synchronize the tracks of each person to give you the highest quality recording possible.

4. Acoustic Panels: Improved recording quality

Maintaining excellent sound quality is of the utmost importance when you are podcasting. However, recording podcasts out of your home office or recording studio can be difficult if there are problems with the room’s acoustics.

You can avoid annoying echoes and unwanted reverb by installing these wedges in your recording space. Your listeners will thank you!

5. Facebook Live & Periscope: Broadcast your recording sessions live

Lots of podcasters connect with their audience with live broadcasting sessions. It allows your most enthusiastic fans to listen to your podcast as you're recording it—even parts you might edit out later. Some podcasts will make this a special perk for Patreon supporters, but it's also a good way to reach new listeners.

The two best tools are Facebook Live and Periscope. If you have larger following on Facebook, then use Facebook Live, if your listeners are on Twitter then consider using Periscope. Once listeners are tuning in you can ask them questions during your recording process to get feedback as you're recording.

6. Audacity: The best podcast editing tool 

Audacity is a popular, open-source audio application that runs on Windows, Macs and Linux systems. It can record audio feeds from your microphone or mixing board, but you can also import audio files like the ones produced by Ringr.

It the preferred audio editing software for most podcasters because it offers pro level tools and is completely free. If you're just starting out, you can check out our Audacity Tutorial that includes the most common techniques for podcasters.

7. SpeakPipe: Record listener comments to use during your podcast

Engaging your audience, and getting feedback from your listeners, should be one of your highest priorities. One tool you can use to record your audience is SpeakPipe.
Your listeners record a voice message on your website using SpeakPipe. They can also leave you their contact information so you can contact them if you want to follow up on their comments. You can also solicit your listeners for questions that you can answer during your podcast.

8. Google Voice Typing: Transcribe your podcast for show notes and blog posts

After you've recorded and edited your podcast, you'll want to transcribe the audio for show notes and blog posts. Since Google doesn't transcribe your audio (yet), you'll want to have a blog post to accompany each episode. This way new listeners can find you through Google and start listening to the show.

One cheap way to do this is to use Google Voice Typing. Just open a Google Docs document, click Tools > Voice Typing. Now click the microphone, and start playing back your episode in Audacity. Google Voice Typing will start transcribing your episode in real time. Once the transcription has finished, you can make any corrections before putting together show notes and a blog post.

If you'd like a more hands-off approach, check out Transcribe. They are a U.S. based team that will transcribe your entire podcast for really reasonable prices.

9. Buffer & Edgar: Spead the word on social media

Frequent social media posts can let your listeners know about upcoming events and help them spread the word about episodes they loved.

Buffer makes it much easier to post frequent social media updates; just fill up your queue each week to keep posting new content. They even have a free plan for you to get started.

Edgar is a bit more expensive, but it comes with some extra features. You can load in thousands of pieces of content and Edgar will keep sharing content automatically. Load in all of your episodes to get your older content in front of your new fans!

10. Podbase & Feed Validator: Troubleshoot your RSS feed

Whether you're building your RSS feed yourself, or if your podcast hosting service generates it for you automatically, these are great tools to have in your podcasting toolkit. With Podba.se and Feed Validator you can quickly spot RSS feed issues that could get your podcast kicked out of iTunes or worse.

Feed Validator is our favorite tool, but Podba.se is a simpler tool for podcasters that might be building their feed themselves.

11. Campaign Monitor: Keep in touch with your podcast listeners

Convert ordinary listeners into die-hard fans with customized email campaigns for marketing and outreach. Just add an email signup form to your website to collect your listeners' information. Over 200,000 businesses use Campaign Monitor, and we've used it for the past 11 years to build Buzzsprout.

One feature that is useful for podcasters is the ability to A/B test email subject lines. Write a few different titles for a recent episode and see which title your listeners click on more. Then you can edit your podcast episode name to the catchier title.

12. Coffee: A podcaster's best friend 

If you're not worn out after brainstorming ideas, writing a script, recording an episode, and editing your podcast to perfection, then you're ahead for 99% of podcasters.

For the rest of us, there's coffee to help us through the process. Having a fresh pot of coffee on hand can help keep you focused when you're working on a schedule to publish each episode.

When it comes to communicating about something you’re passionate about, there’s nothing like the ease and convenience of podcasting. Each of these podcasting tools will help you take your podcast to the next level. That way you can start booking even better podcast guests and better connecting with your podcast audience.

13.  Pexels & Canva: Create some awesome podcast artwork

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but that doesn't stop people from judging podcasts by their cover art. That's why you'll want to create some awesome podcast artwork for your show.
You can start with Pexels to search for beautiful royalty free images. Then you can use Canva to edit that picture, add your podcast title, and create some unique podcast artwork.

Do you know a tool that we missed with this list? Let us know in the comments below!