Castos vs Zencastr
Castos and Zencastr are both podcast & audio tools aimed at creators and small businesses. Only Zencastr has a free plan.
Podcast hosting with private feeds and a WordPress plugin
Free browser and iOS studio to record, edit and host podcasts
| Pricing | Paid · $19 | Freemium |
| Starting price | $19/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 14 days | — |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios |
| Country | US · 2017 | — |
| 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 Zencastr if
Independent podcasters and small creator teams who want free studio-quality recording, AI editing and hosting in one place.
- Free plan covers recording, AI editing and hosting in one place
- Separate local tracks protect quality when a guest's connection drops
- Unlimited track storage, transcription and post-production credits
Look elsewhere if: Professional video productions or teams that need advanced editing and guaranteed support (Riverside, Descript).
Castos vs Zencastr 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
Zencastr
- Free (Vibecastr)$06 participants, 4K video, unlimited tracks, hosting and transcripts
- EnterpriseCustomCustom limits on every feature, sales-led
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
Zencastr · Key features
- Local recording of up to 6 participants with separate audio and video tracks
- 4K video and 48 kHz WAV audio with progressive upload and cloud backup
- Chat-based AI Producer that removes filler words, pauses and background noise
- Automatic transcripts in 10 languages, chapters, titles and show notes
- Podcast hosting with distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube
- Clip export up to 4K and scheduled posting to social platforms
Cons
- Ad monetization and paid AI programs come with terms worth reading
- Pricing has changed several times, so limits may move again
- No Android app listed, only web and iOS
Castos vs Zencastr: FAQ
Do Castos and Zencastr have a free plan?
Castos has no free plan, a 14-day free trial. Zencastr has a free plan.