Acast vs RSS.com

Acast is a podcast hosting and monetization company founded in Stockholm, Sweden, and listed on Nasdaq First North. Its core job is to host shows, distribute them to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and every other directory, and then turn listens into revenue through one of the largest podcast advertising marketplaces in the world.

The free Starter plan covers hosting and distribution. Paid tiers (Essential, Pro and Video) add multiple shows, unlimited episodes, team management, a publishing API and video publishing to Apple Podcasts. Acast inserts dynamic ads sold by its own sales teams and programmatic partners into back catalog episodes, so older episodes keep earning. Acast+ lets creators sell premium subscriptions with bonus or ad-free episodes, and sponsorship tools connect shows with brands directly.

Acast fits independent and network podcasters for whom advertising is the business model and who want access to advertisers they could not reach alone. The trade-off is a revenue share on ads and less control over which ads appear. Transistor is a better choice for companies running private or branded shows, Buzzsprout is simpler for hobbyists, and Spotify for Creators offers free hosting tied closely to Spotify. For shows with real audiences that want to be paid, Acast remains one of the strongest options.

RSS.com is a podcast hosting platform launched in 2018 by co-founders Alberto Betella and Ben Richardson, operated by RSS America, LLC. Its core job: host your audio or video episodes, generate the RSS feed and push the show to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube and other directories.

Every account gets unlimited episodes and storage, a free podcast website with an embeddable player, IAB-certified cross-platform analytics, episode scheduling and Podcasting 2.0 tags for chapters, soundbites and transcripts. Monetisation runs through RSS.com's PAID programmatic ads (pre, mid and post-roll), Apple Podcasts subscriptions, a donation button and Value 4 Value. The Free plan covers one show; Plus adds AI transcripts and ads, Pro raises the limit to 10 shows with unlimited team members, and Max adds video podcasts and API access.

RSS.com suits independent creators who want a real free tier and simple pricing, and small networks that need several shows in one account. It is lighter on private podcasting and enterprise features than Transistor, Buzzsprout has more polished guides and episode-level marketing tools, and Captivate offers stronger built-in growth and CTA features. Spotify for Creators is cheaper (free) but ties you closer to one platform.

Buying tip: the Free plan really is free with no expiry, but you must add a credit card before uploading a second episode. Annual billing cuts 25% off every paid tier, paid plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee, and podcasters moving from another host can get three free months on any paid plan.