Acast vs Simplecast

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.

Simplecast is a podcast hosting and analytics platform founded in 2013 and acquired by SiriusXM in June 2020, which paired it with its ad-tech unit AdsWizz. Now branded Simplecast by AdsWizz, it serves both independent shows and large networks: publishing episodes, distributing them to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and other apps, and measuring listening with IAB Tech Lab certified analytics.

Every plan includes unlimited storage, multiple shows per account, a show website with custom domain, embeddable players and HTTPS feeds. Pricing follows monthly downloads: Basic costs $15 per month for 20,000 downloads and two seats, Essential $35 for 50,000 downloads and four seats with location, unique listener and app analytics. Professional and Enterprise are quoted and add dynamic ad insertion, ad-free feeds, programmatic demand through the AdsWizz marketplace, API access and white-label feeds. All plans start with a 14-day trial without a card.

Simplecast suits growing shows and networks that need trustworthy numbers and plan to sell ads. Hobby podcasters get more for less elsewhere. Transistor offers unlimited shows on flat download tiers, Buzzsprout is friendlier for beginners, Captivate leans into marketing tools, and Acast is the main rival for ad-sold networks.

Buying tip: estimate monthly downloads before choosing, because download caps rather than features drive the price, and confirm overage terms. If programmatic revenue is the goal, ask sales about Professional early, since dynamic ad insertion is not in the self-serve plans.