Castos vs Simplecast
Castos and Simplecast are both podcast & audio tools aimed at creators and small businesses. Simplecast costs less, from $15/mo versus $19/mo for Castos.
Podcast hosting with private feeds and a WordPress plugin
Podcast hosting with IAB-certified analytics and AdsWizz monetization
| Pricing | Paid · $19 | Paid · $15 |
| Starting price | $19/mo | $15/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web |
| Country | US · 2017 | US · 2013 |
| 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 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).
Castos vs Simplecast 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
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
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
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
Castos vs Simplecast: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Castos or Simplecast?
Simplecast starts at $15/mo and Castos at $19/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Castos and Simplecast have a free plan?
Castos has no free plan, a 14-day free trial. Simplecast has no free plan, a 14-day free trial.