Happy Valley

Castos vs Spreaker

Castos and Spreaker are both podcast & audio tools aimed at creators and small businesses. Castos costs less, from $19/mo versus $20/mo for Spreaker. Only Spreaker has a free plan.

Castos

Podcast hosting with private feeds and a WordPress plugin

Spreaker

iHeartMedia podcast hosting with built-in ad and listener monetisation

PricingPaid · $19Freemium · $20
Starting price$19/mo$20/mo
Free planNoYes
Free trial14 days—
Built forCreators, Small businesses, EnterpriseCreators, Small businesses, Enterprise
Platformsweb, ios, androidweb, ios, android
CountryUS · 2017US
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 Spreaker if

Independent podcasters and small networks that want free hosting with built-in ad and listener monetisation from the start.

  • Monetisation is available even on the free plan
  • Backed by iHeartMedia's audio advertising demand
  • Fixed monthly prices with no hidden fees

Look elsewhere if: Beginners wanting the simplest workflow or shows seeking premium sponsorship sales (Buzzsprout, Acast, Transistor).

Castos vs Spreaker 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

Spreaker

  • Free Speech$01 podcast, unlimited episodes, ads, 6 months of stats
  • Broadcaster$20/moUnlimited podcasts, subscriptions, 0% Supporters Club fee
  • Anchorman$50/moFull stats, custom player colours, unlimited collaborators
  • Publisher$250/moAd Campaign Manager, sell your own ads, 24 months of stats

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

Spreaker · Key features

  • Unlimited episodes and automatic distribution to major podcast apps
  • Programmatic ad monetisation through iHeartMedia's ad network
  • Supporters Club for monthly listener payments
  • Private podcasts and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions on paid plans
  • Ad Campaign Manager to sell and traffic your own ads on Publisher
  • Customizable RSS feeds and embeddable web player

Cons

  • Free plan keeps statistics for only six months
  • Interface and editor feel dated next to newer hosts
  • No annual billing discount listed

Castos vs Spreaker: FAQ

Which is cheaper, Castos or Spreaker?

Castos starts at $19/mo and Spreaker at $20/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.

Do Castos and Spreaker have a free plan?

Castos has no free plan, a 14-day free trial. Spreaker has a free plan.

Not sure yet?