Audio or video podcast: which should I do?
Choose audio if you want the simplest setup and your audience listens on the go. Choose video if your audience watches on video platforms or you want stronger social clips. Edison Research found 57% of Americans 12+ have both listened to and watched a podcast, so many shows record video and publish both.
What does the data say?
In Edison Research's The Infinite Dial 2026, 57% of Americans 12 and older have both listened to and watched a podcast, and YouTube was the most-used podcast service among U.S. weekly podcast consumers 13+ in Q4 2025 (32%), ahead of Spotify (25%) and Apple (20%).
Audio: pros and trade-offs
- Simplest to record: microphones and a quiet room.
- Easy for guests: no camera or lighting worries.
- Fewer clip options, since social feeds favor video.
Video: pros and trade-offs
- Reaches people on video platforms.
- Gives you vertical clips with faces and expressions.
- Needs cameras, lighting and a more involved edit.
Can I do both?
Yes. Record on camera, then publish full episodes to YouTube and Spotify, and clips to Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Stimulate includes a video edit in every package, so one session produces both versions plus clips.
What does each format need in the session?
For audio, each person needs a decent microphone, headphones and a quiet room with soft surfaces. For video, add a camera at eye level, light facing you rather than behind you and a tidy background. On remote recordings, a stable wired internet connection helps both formats. A live producer can run a tech check before the session starts, so problems with sound or framing get fixed before the conversation begins.
How do clips differ between formats?
Video gives you vertical clips with faces, reactions and captions, which suit short-video feeds. Audio-only shows can still share clips as audiograms: a waveform, captions and episode art. Both work best when each clip makes one complete point in under a minute and points viewers to the full episode.
What this costs at Stimulate
See our pricing page for current prices, or book a free discovery call.
Sources
- Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026: https://www.edisonresearch.com/the-infinite-dial-2026/
- Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026 presentation (PDF): https://www.edisonresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-Infinite-Dial-2026-Presentation.pdf
Frequently asked questions
Is video harder to edit?
Yes, which is why it is included in our post-production.
Do I need a studio for video?
No. Remote video recording works well, and we coordinate studios anywhere if you want one.
Can I add video later?
Yes. Start recording on camera and decide when to publish full video.
Next steps
See packages and pricing, or book a free 30-minute discovery call and we'll map out what your show needs.
Related: Video Podcast Production · Podcast Clips · Compare