Podcast vs. Vodcast: Which Is Right for You?

Both podcasts and vodcasts have taken off in a big way in the last couple of years, but not everyone knows the difference, so here it is:

Podcast: This is audio-only content you listen to on platforms like Spotify. It’s sort of like a radio show but with total creative freedom. The word is a portmanteau (a cobbling together) of iPod and broadcast because, at the time, you needed an iPod (or similar) to listen to the audio episodes.

Vodcast: Vodcasts are podcasts but with a video element. This might be a full-on YouTube video or just a simple video of the host recording the podcast. There’s a lot of discussion about when a vodcast just becomes a video!

The critical thing to remember is that a vodcast stays a podcast, in essence, with the traditional structure of a long-form discussion (or interviewing or telling a story…), but it’s designed to work with or without video. This makes it different from a regular video, where visuals would be essential to understanding what you’re hearing.

Both of these are great options, but one might better suit your needs, so let’s examine some details to help you decide.

Podcasts started in the early 2000s, and as we mentioned, you needed an iPod or equivalent to access them. The explosion of smartphones, as well as apps and other platforms that could host them, in the 2010s, made podcasts accessible to a lot more people.

They’re now mainstream, and all sorts of creatives, including celebrities, comedians, and even journalists, are diving into the space. Some rack up millions of listeners, which can be excellent for brand-building and audience engagement.

When the 2010s saw the rise of YouTube stars and a shift to video over audio, some saw the opportunity to combine the idea of podcast audio with visual storytelling.

Podcasts give you lots of creative freedom and some unique advantages.

Without visuals, podcasts make your audience focus on the words, the emotion in your voice, and your message. It’s stripping it down to the essentials, which can be a really effective way to tell a story, educate, or have in-depth conversations. You can listen to podcasts while driving, doing housework, working out, or on a walk… they’re very versatile.

One significant benefit of podcasting is that you don’t need much equipment, just a good microphone, a quiet space, and audio-editing software. You can get going immediately without setting up lights, sort out your background, or fiddle around with a camera. Also, audio files are smaller than video, so you’ll need less data storage.

If you’re more into writing and speaking and don’t feel much like being in front of a camera, then a podcast is a great place to start.

As we’ve mentioned, podcasts can be listened to while doing just about anything, which makes them very appealing for people who don’t have time to sit down and watch something or devote their whole attention to it.

Podcasts do seem to reach very niche audiences. It’s harder to talk about more specialist topics when you need to show some of what you’re talking about – so you can dive deeply into whatever you like with a podcast without worrying that you need to find a bunch of imagery, too.

In a vodcast, your personality can come across a lot more because you have body language, facial expressions, and even how you present your surroundings regarding what you wear, how the set is dressed, and even your editing style! Video can create a better connection with your audience, and with the success of things like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, it’s clear that people love visual content.

Video clips can go viral very quickly, and with vodcasts, you have a visual element, so there’s a chance that it might be repurposed into other shareable content and become the next big thing.

Not that you can’t monetize a podcast, but with vodcasts, extra things can be done, like sponsored clothing, showing a product, or even doing a live demo during the vodcast.

One of the most significant advantages of podcasts is that they can be cross-posted onto other platforms. You can upload full episodes to YouTube, do clip highlights on Instagram and TikTok, etc. You can keep repurposing the same content, which hopefully means more reach and engagement.

If you’re still deciding which you’d prefer to do, here are some questions to ask yourself about whether to choose a podcast or a video podcast.

TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are all hugely popular at the moment, and this has blended into podcasting and vodcasting, too, with some creators experimenting with bite-sized episodes (up to 15 minutes long) rather than an hour.

Live interaction is also widespread, so many podcasters and vodcasters try live streams so their audiences can ask questions in real time and sometimes even shape the episode’s direction.

With the shift to vodcasting, an increasing number of people are using YouTube to consume it. Plenty of creators who started out with audio-only podcasts are now producing video versions to increase their reach, and YouTube’s algorithm makes it easier for those types of content to be found and engaged with.

We’ve mentioned this several times, but niche content is popular in pod/vodcasting. Does that make it no longer niche? We don’t know, but we do know that people are looking for content that speaks to them and their quirky interests.

No matter which route (podcast or vodcast) you take, getting started is half the battle, so here are some quick tools and tips to check out to get you rolling.

And you know what else you’ll need? A branded vodcast opening sequence! Check out these opener templates from Envato to get the ball rolling: