How to start a podcast on your phone (iPhone or Android)

Phone microphones are designed for voice and are good enough for a podcast if you use them well. Many shows started this way. The room and the distance from the microphone matter far more than the device.

Start on your phone, publish a few episodes, and only buy gear when you know what you want to improve.

• iPhone: the built-in Voice Memos app records good quality audio. See how to record a podcast on iPhone.
• Android: use the built-in recorder app, or any voice recorder that saves in a high quality format.
• Either: open a browser-based recorder like Hilite in your phone's browser.

Turn on airplane mode or do not disturb so calls and notifications do not interrupt.

Hold or prop the phone 15 to 20 centimetres from your mouth, slightly to the side so your breath does not hit the microphone directly. Record in a small, soft room: a bedroom or a closet full of clothes is ideal.

Keep the phone still. Handling noise is the most common problem in phone recordings. A cheap phone stand or a stack of books works. A clip-on microphone that plugs into your phone is a good first upgrade.

You can trim simple recordings on the phone itself, but it is much easier to upload the file and edit by transcript. See how to edit voice memos into a podcast and how to turn a voice memo into a podcast.

Enhancement removes background noise and room echo so a phone recording sounds closer to a studio one.

After five or ten episodes you will know what bothers you most about your sound. Upgrade to fix that one thing:

• Echo or room sound: record in a softer room before buying anything
• Distant or thin voice: a clip-on lavalier or a small USB-C microphone for your phone
• Handling noise: a tripod or phone stand
• Background noise: a dynamic microphone, which picks up less of the room

Most phone podcasters only need one of these. See budget podcast recording equipment for specific options.

To appear on Spotify and Apple Podcasts you need a host that creates an RSS feed. Some are free to start. Hilite publishes to Spotify, Apple and other apps from the browser, including on a phone. See how to start a podcast on Spotify.