Acast vs Simplecast
Acast and Simplecast are both podcast & audio tools. Acast is aimed at creators and enterprise, while Simplecast is aimed at creators and small businesses. Simplecast costs less, from $15/mo versus $25/mo for Acast. Only Acast has a free plan.
Hosting with built-in ad marketplace
Podcast hosting with IAB-certified analytics and AdsWizz monetization
| Pricing | Freemium · $25 | Paid · $15 |
| Starting price | $25/mo | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | — | 14 days |
| Built for | Creators, Enterprise | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web | web |
| Country | SE · 2014 | US · 2013 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Acast if
Podcasters seeking ad revenue at scale.
- Strong monetization network
- Free starter plan
- Large advertiser reach
Look elsewhere if: Private or internal podcasts (Transistor).
Choose Simplecast if
Growing podcasts and networks that want IAB-certified analytics and a path to ad revenue through SiriusXM's AdsWizz.
- Certified analytics that advertisers and networks trust
- Direct path to programmatic ad revenue through AdsWizz
- Unlimited storage, no per-hour upload limits
Look elsewhere if: Hobby podcasters or beginners on a tight budget (Buzzsprout, Transistor, Captivate).
Acast vs Simplecast pricing
Acast
- Starter$01 show, 5 episodes; ad monetization included
- Essential$25/mo$14.99/mo billed annually; multiple shows, unlimited episodes
- Pro$40/mo$29.99/mo billed annually; team management, publishing API
- Video$50/mo$39.99/mo billed annually; video to Apple Podcasts, 10k views/mo
Simplecast
- Basic$15/mo$13.50/mo prepaid annually; 20K downloads/mo, 2 seats
- Essential$35/mo$31.50/mo prepaid annually; 50K downloads/mo, 4 seats
- ProfessionalCustomDynamic ad insertion, AdsWizz marketplace, ad-free feeds
- EnterpriseCustomAPI, white-label RSS, high bitrate audio, success manager
Acast · Key features
- Free hosting and distribution
- Ad marketplace and dynamic insertion
- Acast+ subscriptions
- Analytics
- Sponsorship opportunities
- Podcast website
Cons
- Revenue share on ads
- Less control over ads
- Advanced features paid
Simplecast · Key features
- Unlimited audio storage and uploads on every plan
- Multiple shows under one account with per-show team permissions
- IAB Tech Lab certified download and listener analytics
- Location, app, browser and unique listener reports on Essential
- Automatic show website with themes and custom domain
- Embeddable episode and show players with drop-off analytics
Cons
- Download caps make costs rise quickly as a show grows
- Dynamic ad insertion requires a sales-led plan
- Only two team seats on the Basic plan
Acast vs Simplecast: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Acast or Simplecast?
Simplecast starts at $15/mo and Acast at $25/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Acast and Simplecast have a free plan?
Acast has a free plan. Simplecast has no free plan, a 14-day free trial.
Which is better for small businesses, Acast or Simplecast?
Simplecast lists small businesses as a core audience, while Acast is aimed more at creators and enterprise.