Castos vs Libsyn
Castos and Libsyn are both podcast & audio tools aimed at creators and small businesses. Libsyn costs less, from $8/mo versus $19/mo for Castos.
Podcast hosting with private feeds and a WordPress plugin
Veteran podcast host with IAB stats, video and ad monetization
| Pricing | Paid · $19 | Paid · $8 |
| Starting price | $19/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web |
| Country | US · 2017 | US · 2004 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Castos if
Businesses and creators who need private or members-only podcasts, or WordPress publishers who want hosting tied to their site.
- Private podcasting is included on every plan, not an add-on
- No download caps or per-show fees
- Deep WordPress integration through a well-used plugin
Look elsewhere if: Hobbyists who want free hosting or podcasters focused only on public shows on a budget (Spotify for Creators, Buzzsprout).
Choose Libsyn if
Established podcasters and small networks that want proven hosting, IAB stats and access to ad revenue.
- Two decades of reliable hosting and feed stability
- IAB-verified stats that advertisers trust
- Built-in access to a large podcast ad marketplace
Look elsewhere if: Beginners who want a free start or unlimited uploads at a flat price (Buzzsprout, Captivate, Transistor).
Castos vs Libsyn pricing
Castos
- Essentials$19/moUnlimited shows and downloads, 100 private subscribers
- Growth$49/mo250 private subscribers, YouTube republishing; $490/yr
- Pro$99/mo500 private subscribers, video hosting, 10 team members
- PremiumFrom $499/moSSO, unlimited team, custom contracts; from $4,990/yr
Libsyn
- $8 Plan$8/moBare-essentials tier; limits shown at signup
- Basic$12/mo3 hrs audio/month, basic IAB stats, YouTube video
- Advanced$25/mo10 hrs audio/month, advanced IAB stats, Spotify video
- Max$150/mo55 hrs audio/month, social calendar, advanced stats
- ProfessionalCustomDynamic ad insertion, API, network RSS feed
Castos · Key features
- Unlimited podcasts, episodes and downloads on every plan
- Private and hybrid feeds with revocable per-listener access
- Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin to publish from WordPress
- YouTube republishing and video podcast hosting on higher tiers
- IAB-compliant analytics for listens, apps, locations and followers
- Dynamic ad insertion, Castos Ads and sponsor Campaigns on old episodes
Cons
- No free plan, unlike Spotify for Creators
- Private subscriber caps rise only with plan or $50 per 500 add-on
- Video hosting requires the $99 Pro plan
Libsyn · Key features
- Audio and video podcast hosting with RSS feed management
- IAB-certified download statistics on every plan
- One-click distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and 20+ apps
- Video publishing to YouTube and Spotify on higher tiers
- Customizable podcast website and embeddable player
- Automatic podcast ads, PodRoll and host-read ad marketplace
Cons
- Upload-hour limits feel restrictive next to unlimited hosts
- No permanent free plan
- Dashboard is less intuitive than Buzzsprout or Captivate
Castos vs Libsyn: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Castos or Libsyn?
Libsyn starts at $8/mo and Castos at $19/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Castos and Libsyn have a free plan?
Castos has no free plan, a 14-day free trial. Libsyn has no free plan, a 30-day free trial.