Thinking about switching podcast hosts? Maybe your current provider no longer offers the features you need, you’re looking for better support, or your podcast has grown beyond what your current hosting plan can handle.
Whatever the reason, you might be wondering what happens to your episodes, RSS feed, and subscribers when you move to another provider.
It’s a common concern, especially for podcasters who have spent years building their shows and growing their audiences. The idea of moving everything to a new platform can sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be.
Here’s something every podcaster should know: Your podcast belongs to you, not your hosting provider. You should be able to choose the services that work best for your show and move when your needs change.
At Blubrry, we believe podcasters should have that freedom. You can move your podcast to Blubrry from another hosting provider, and if you ever decide to move again, your show isn’t locked into our platform.
Let’s look at what actually happens when you switch podcast hosts and how Blubrry makes the process easier.
1. Your Existing Podcast Episodes Move to Your New Host
One of the first things you’ll need to consider when switching podcast hosts is what happens to all your existing episodes.
If you’ve been podcasting for a while, you probably have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of episodes stored with your current provider. You don’t want to lose that content or spend hours downloading and uploading everything manually.
The good news is that your existing episodes can move with you.
Your episodes, titles, descriptions, publication dates, and other available podcast information can be imported as part of the process.
And if you’re unsure how to get started, our team can help with the migration.
Your podcast content is yours. Switching to Blubrry doesn’t mean starting over or leaving your previous work behind. You bring your existing show with you and continue building on what you’ve already created.
Your Podcast Gets a New RSS Feed, but Your Show Stays Yours
Your RSS feed is one of the most important parts of your podcast. It contains your show’s information and episode details, along with the media links that podcast directories use to make your episodes available to listeners.
When you switch hosting providers, you’ll generally receive a new RSS feed from your new host.
For example, when you move your podcast to Blubrry, we’ll provide a new feed connected to your Blubrry hosting account. Your existing episodes and show information can be imported into that feed.
This doesn’t mean your podcast needs a new identity.
You can keep your podcast name, artwork, website, and the brand you’ve spent time building. The hosting provider changes, but your show remains yours.
At Blubrry, we want podcasters to have control over their shows. Your hosting provider should help distribute your content, not make you feel like you can’t take it somewhere else.
That’s why understanding RSS feed management is important, both when moving to Blubrry and if you ever decide to switch again.
3. Your Old RSS Feed Redirects to Your New One
Once your new RSS feed is ready, the next important step is setting up a redirect from your old feed to your new Blubrry feed.
A 301 redirect tells podcast directories that your podcast has permanently moved to another RSS feed. It’s similar to changing your mailing address. Instead of sending updates to your old address, services are directed to the new one.
This step is important because your existing subscribers and podcast directories still know your show through its previous feed.
A properly configured redirect helps podcast apps recognize the move and continue receiving your new episodes from the updated feed.
When you migrate to Blubrry, our team can help guide you through this part of the process and make sure the necessary steps are handled correctly.
One important reminder: Don’t cancel your old hosting account or remove your old feed before the redirect is in place and your new feed has been checked.
You should also keep in mind that podcast directories may take some time to process the redirect. A little patience and monitoring after the move can help catch any issues early.
With Blubrry, you don’t have to figure out the migration process alone. We help make sure your podcast has a clear path from your previous host to its new home.
4. Your Podcast Subscribers Can Follow You to Blubrry
After building an audience, the last thing you want is to lose your listeners because you changed hosting providers.
Fortunately, switching hosts doesn’t mean asking everyone to subscribe to your podcast all over again.
When your old RSS feed redirects properly to your new Blubrry feed, podcast directories can recognize the change and update their connection to your show.
For most listeners, the transition should happen behind the scenes. They can continue using their usual podcast apps without needing to search for a new show or manually subscribe again.
However, different directories and listening platforms may take different amounts of time to process feed changes. That’s why it’s important to check that your podcast is still appearing correctly after the migration.
At Blubrry, we understand how much work goes into building an audience. Our migration process is designed to help you bring your existing show and subscribers along, so you can focus on producing new episodes instead of worrying about starting from scratch.
Your audience is part of the podcast you’ve built. Changing hosts shouldn’t mean giving that up.
5. What Happens to Your Podcast Statistics?
Another thing podcasters often worry about when switching hosts is their download history and analytics.
Your new hosting provider may have a different dashboard, reporting system, or way of presenting podcast statistics. Historical analytics from your previous provider may not automatically transfer, so it’s a good idea to save your existing reports before making the move.
But switching hosts can also be a good opportunity to take a closer look at how you’re measuring your podcast’s performance.
Blubrry offers IAB Tech Lab-compliant Podcast Statistics to help you understand your audience and track your show’s performance. You can access detailed podcast analytics without having to host your show with Blubrry.
That’s an important distinction. You don’t have to move your podcast hosting just to use Blubrry’s statistics.
If you’re already hosted somewhere else but want better insight into your audience, you can use Blubrry Podcast Statistics independently.
And if you decide to move your hosting to Blubrry, you’ll have the option to manage your hosting and statistics through the same provider.
Before switching, make sure you save your previous analytics reports. That way, you can maintain a record of your podcast’s performance and compare results as you move forward.
6. Your Publishing Workflow Can Improve After Switching
Moving to a new podcast host isn’t just about transferring episodes. It’s also an opportunity to find tools that better fit the way you manage your show.
Maybe your current provider makes publishing more difficult than it needs to be. Perhaps you’re looking for better integrations, more flexible hosting options, or tools that can support multiple productions.
Blubrry offers podcast hosting features designed around the needs of podcasters, whether you’re managing a single show or several productions.
For podcasters who manage multiple shows, Blubrry Pro Hosting offers subaccounts that help organize different podcast productions under one main account.
You also have access to PowerPress, Blubrry’s WordPress plugin, which helps you manage podcast feeds and publish your episodes through your WordPress website.
The point of switching isn’t simply to move your files from one server to another. It’s to find a hosting provider that gives you the tools and support you need.
With Blubrry, you can make that move without giving up ownership of your podcast or the freedom to choose your next step.
7. You Can Keep Podcasting Without Starting Over
Once your episodes are imported, your new RSS feed is ready, and your old feed redirects correctly, you can continue publishing through Blubrry.
Your podcast doesn’t need a new name, a new audience, or a fresh start. You can continue releasing episodes, promoting your show, and growing your audience as you did before.
After your migration, it’s still important to check a few things:
- Make sure your existing episodes are available and play correctly.
- Check that your podcast information and artwork are accurate.
- Confirm that your new RSS feed is working.
- Verify that your old feed redirects to the new one.
- Check that new episodes appear in your usual podcast directories.
- Monitor your statistics and make sure your publishing workflow is working as expected.
And remember, moving to Blubrry doesn’t mean committing to a provider forever.
We want to earn your business by providing the hosting, features, and support your podcast needs. You should never feel like you have to stay with a hosting provider because moving somewhere else is too difficult.
Your podcast is yours. You should always have the freedom to decide where it lives.
Switching to Blubrry Is Easier Than You Think
If you’re considering switching podcast hosts, you don’t have to let the technical side of migration hold you back.
At Blubrry, we make it easier to bring your podcast over from another hosting provider. Our Easy Podcast Migration feature helps import your existing show, and our team is here to help you through the process.
You also get access to podcast hosting plans, IAB Tech Lab-compliant statistics, PowerPress, and tools designed to support your podcast as it grows.
We’ve been helping podcasters since 2005, and we understand that your show is more than just a collection of audio files. It’s your content, your brand, and the audience you’ve worked hard to build.
Your podcast should always be yours. Choose a host that respects that.
Ready to make the move? Let Blubrry help you bring your podcast home.
