This is a post about video podcast vs audio podcast.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on this right now. Some will tell you that if your podcast isn’t on YouTube you’re already behind. Others will say video kills the intimacy that makes podcasting great in the first place. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle and it depends almost entirely on what you’re trying to do with your show.
Let’s break it down properly.
What’s the Difference Between a Video Podcast and an Audio Podcast?
An audio podcast is what most people think of when they think of podcasting: recorded audio uploaded to a hosting platform and distributed via RSS to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the rest. It’s intimate, flexible and relatively simple to produce.
A video podcast is the same thing but filmed. You record yourself (and any guests) on camera, edit the video and publish it to YouTube, Spotify video or both, usually alongside the audio-only version on traditional podcast platforms. The content is the same. The production process is not.
The Benefits of a Video Podcast
There are real, legitimate reasons to add video to your podcast and it’s worth taking them seriously before you decide either way.
Discovery is the big one. YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world and audio podcasts don’t live there in any meaningful way. Video podcasts do, which means an entirely different pool of potential listeners can find you without you doing anything extra beyond uploading.
Filming your episodes also means you automatically have video content to cut into short clips for Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. That’s a significant repurposing advantage that audio-only podcasters have to work harder to replicate. And if you’re building a show where personality and chemistry are central, seeing someone’s face builds trust faster than hearing their voice alone, particularly for interview-based formats.
There’s a monetisation angle too. YouTube’s Partner Programme pays creators based on views, so if your show builds an audience there, that’s an additional revenue stream audio platforms don’t offer in the same way.
READ MORE: How to Start a Podcast on YouTube: The 2026 Strategy
Why Audio-Only Podcasting is Still a Great Choice
Before you rush out and buy a ring light, here’s what the video argument tends to gloss over.
It is significantly more work. Editing audio is already time-consuming. Editing video takes considerably longer, requires different software and a whole additional layer of decisions around cuts, captions, b-roll and visual quality. If you’re already stretched thin producing your show, adding video could be the thing that makes you want to quit altogether.
Your setup matters more too. You can record a great audio podcast in a wardrobe with decent microphone placement. Video is less forgiving. Lighting, background, camera quality and your own comfort on camera all come into play in a way that audio simply doesn’t require.
And audio podcasting is still thriving. Some of the most successful shows in the world are audio only. Crime Junkie, Serial and The Daily have no video presence and continue to grow enormous audiences. In fact, for my fellow bilingual podcasters, one of the top podcasts in the WORLD is non-English language (Não Inviabilize from Brazil – it’s so good!!).
The medium is not dying. A well-produced audio podcast with good SEO on its show notes, a Pinterest strategy and consistent distribution will keep finding new listeners long after an episode is published, without a single frame of footage.
Is Audio King?
Don’t forget, the way a lot of people consumer podcasts is as an accompaniment to their daily lives: on a walk, at the gym, while driving, cooking, cleaning… and that’s something that’s not really possible with a video pod. I mean, unless they have it on and just listen, of course!
On Threads very often I see random people saying “I don’t want to watch your podcast” as if a podcaster was doing a show exclusively for them 😂. It’s amusing but it also gives you an indication that many people don’t care about the video. In fact, I mentioned this tidbit in a previous post before, but a recent study found that only about 8% of podcast consumers watch the video as well as listening.
So if thinking you need video is stopping you from launching your podcast, go without it! Just please start!
READ MORE: How to Start a Podcast for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide for 2026
Video Podcast vs Audio Podcast: How to Choose
Choose video if personality and chemistry are front and centre in your show, you’re comfortable on camera or willing to get there, you have the time and tools to manage the extra production load and YouTube reach is a genuine part of your growth strategy.
Stick with audio if you’re just starting out and want to keep the barrier to entry low, you’re not comfortable on camera, your format doesn’t lend itself to being watched or you simply don’t have the bandwidth to do it well right now. Heavily edited narrative shows, for example, rarely benefit from video.
The worst option is doing video badly. A shaky camera, bad lighting and a cluttered background won’t help you. If you can’t do it in a way you’re proud of yet, don’t do it yet (I’m not saying perfect…that side of the spectrum is also not helpful. Done is definitely better than perfect!).
Can You Start with Audio and Add Video Later?
I have two different takes on this:
- This is the approach I’d recommend for most podcasters starting out. Build your show first. Find your format, develop your voice, get comfortable recording and editing and grow a listener base. Once you have a solid foundation and the time and resources to add video without it compromising everything else, revisit the decision. Video isn’t going anywhere and neither is audio podcasting.
- On the other hand…if you’ve got the capacity for video, DO video! Even if you don’t even post it, at least you can start so you can improve and have all these extra marketing clips to share on socials and promote your show.
The Bottom Line
Video podcast vs audio podcast isn’t really a competition. They serve overlapping but different purposes and the right choice depends on your goals, your bandwidth and your format. Video can genuinely accelerate growth and open up new audiences but only if you can execute it well and sustain it. Audio-only podcasting is not a consolation prize and for many shows it remains the smarter, more sustainable choice. Start with what you can do consistently and well. Everything else can follow.
Thinking about starting a podcast but not sure where to begin? How to Start a Podcast for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide for 2026
Already recording? Here’s how to make your episodes work harder: How to Repurpose Podcast Content and Turn One Episode into a Month of Social Media Posts
And don’t forget, if you’re keen on starting a podcast or already have one but need some help, get in touch so we can have a chat and see if we can work together.
