So you've decided you want to get booked on podcasts. Smart. It's one of the best ways to build authority and reach engaged audiences. Now you're facing the big question: do you hire a podcast booking agency to do the work for you, or do you handle the outreach yourself?
A huge part of that decision comes down to one thing: cost.
Let's be direct and pull back the curtain on what podcast booking services actually cost in 2025. We'll look at the typical pricing models and then compare them to the DIY approach, so you can make the right call for your budget and your goals.
A Look at Typical Podcast Booking Agency Pricing
Podcast booking agencies are not cheap, and their pricing structures can vary quite a bit. But generally, they fall into a few common models. Here's what you can expect to see out there.
Monthly Retainer Packages
This is the most common model. You pay a set fee each month, and the agency guarantees a certain number of bookings.
- What You Get: Typically includes finding the shows, pitching, scheduling, and basic coordination.
- What It Costs: Prices range widely. You might find starter packages from agencies like Podcast Bookers starting around $700-$900 per month for 2-4 bookings. More established agencies will be in the $1,500 to $2,500 per month range for a similar number of placements.
Premium Full-Service Retainers
For brands or executives who want a high-touch, strategic partner, top-tier agencies offer comprehensive packages.
- What You Get: Everything in the standard retainer, plus deeper strategy, media training, and a focus on landing you on bigger, more influential podcasts.
- What It Costs: This is where the price tag gets serious. Agencies like Lemonpie, who are known for their strategic approach, can charge $4,999+ per month.
Per-Booking Fees
Some freelancers or smaller agencies might charge on a per-booking basis.
- What You Get: You pay only for a confirmed booking.
- What It Costs: This can seem appealing, but the cost per placement is often high to account for the work involved. Expect to pay anywhere from $200 for a placement on a smaller show to over $1,000 for a spot on a more prominent podcast.
What Are You Really Paying For? The Agency Trade-Off
When you hire an agency, you're not just paying for emails. You're paying for two things: their time and their network. A good agency saves you countless hours of research and outreach.
But there's always a trade-off.
- The Pros: You save a massive amount of time and can leverage their existing relationships with hosts.
- The Cons: It's expensive. You also give up a lot of control over the pitch and the message. Critically, the relationship is often built between the agent and the host, not between you and the host.
The DIY Alternative: Professional Results Without the Agency Price Tag
So what if you want the professional results but don't have a $3,000 monthly retainer lying around? Or what if you're a hands-on PR pro or founder who wants to build your own relationships with hosts?
The modern alternative is to use a dedicated podcast PR platform. This is the "do-it-yourself-but-with-superpowers" approach.
For just $49/month, a tool like Podseeker gives you the same core capabilities that a professional agency uses to run their campaigns.
Here’s how the workflow compares:
- Instead of relying on an agency's private list... you get full access to our podcast database of 3M+ shows, complete with verified contacts and audience data.
- Instead of having someone else find shows... you use our advanced podcast search to filter by niche topics, guest status, and audience size to build your own perfect, targeted media list.
- Instead of someone else writing your pitches... you use our integrated tool to craft personalized pitches, send them directly from your own email account, and track every open and follow-up in one place.
Many professional PR firms and booking agents actually use Podseeker to power their own client campaigns because it makes the workflow so efficient.
Conclusion: Which Path is Right for You?
Deciding whether to hire an agency or use a DIY tool comes down to your budget and how much control you want.
- Hiring an agency makes sense if you have a significant budget and want a completely hands-off service.
- Using a DIY platform like Podseeker is the ideal choice for founders, experts, and PR pros who want professional-level results, full control over their message, and a cost-effective way to build their own powerful relationships with podcast hosts.
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