The cheapest AI tool stack for a podcast
Running a podcast takes 3 AI jobs. Pick the cheapest solid tool for each and the whole stack costs about $8/mo — or as little as $0 using the 3 free options. Here's the build, with each tool's honest catch.
A podcast workflow has three AI-shaped jobs: clean and enhance the raw audio, transcribe it accurately for show notes and search, and turn each episode into written promo. Specialised audio tools beat a do-everything app on quality here. This is the cheapest stack, with free tiers where they hold up.
| Job | Cheapest pick | From | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record & clean audio | Deepgram AI Voice & Audio | $0.0043/mo | ElevenLabs |
| Transcribe & take notes | Text Blaze AI Productivity & Meetings | $2.99/mo | Avoma |
| Write show notes & promo | Elephas AI Writing & Content | $4.99/mo | Bertha AI |
| Total to run this stack | ~$8/mo (3/3 jobs free-capable) | ||
The honest catch on each pick
Best for: Developers building real-time voice apps, call analytics, or transcription pipelines via API
Watch out: Non-technical users who need a no-code interface without engineering effort
Has a free tier
Best for: Teams who need consistent, logic-driven response templates shared across members
Watch out: Users who need AI-generated content rather than templated text expansion
Has a free tier
Frequently asked questions
- What AI tools do I need for a podcast?
- record & clean audio (Deepgram), transcribe & take notes (Text Blaze), write show notes & promo (Elephas). That's 3 jobs; you don't need one expensive all-in-one.
- How much does an AI podcast stack cost per month?
- Picking the cheapest paid tool for each job, about $8/mo total. 3 of 3 jobs also have a genuinely free option, so you can start at or near $0.
- Can I build a podcast stack for free?
- Yes — every job here has a free tier, so a fully-free stack is possible (with the usual free-tier limits).