Zencastr
Free browser and iOS studio to record, edit and host podcasts
Zencastr is a podcast & audio tool for Creators and Small businesses, offered as freemium. Founded in in .
About Zencastr
Zencastr is a remote podcast and video recording platform started by developer Josh Nielsen in the mid-2010s. It made its name as one of the first browser tools to record each guest locally and upload separate tracks, so a bad connection no longer ruined an interview. Today it positions itself as a full studio that also edits, hosts, publishes and helps monetize a show.
Recording supports up to six participants with 4K video, 48 kHz WAV audio, progressive uploads and automatic cloud backups. Editing is built around a chat-style AI "Producer": you ask it to clean up audio, remove filler words and long pauses, write transcripts, show notes and cover art, or apply templates and intros. Hosting covers unlimited audio and video uploads, distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, analytics, video RSS and social clip scheduling. Pricing now lists one free plan with four seats and five shows plus a custom Enterprise tier; older paid tiers are gone.
Zencastr fits independent podcasters and small media teams who want recording, editing and hosting in one free tool. Riverside is more polished for high-end video productions and larger teams, Descript is the stronger standalone editor, and Podcastle offers a similar all-in-one bundle with voice tools.
The free-for-all model is recent, so check the limits on the live pricing page before you move a back catalog. Its Earn program unlocks ad-based monetization as a show grows and offers payment for helping improve Zencastr's AI, so read those terms before you opt in.
Key features of Zencastr
- 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
- 1080p live streaming to major streaming platforms
- iOS app for recording and managing shows from a phone
Pros and cons
Pros
- 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
- Up to five shows and four team seats without paying
- Saves to Google Drive and Dropbox in addition to Zencastr's cloud
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
- Video editing is less advanced than Descript or Riverside's editor
- Enterprise limits and pricing are only available through sales
Zencastr pricing
Zencastr uses a freemium model.
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free (Vibecastr) | $0 | 6 participants, 4K video, unlimited tracks, hosting and transcripts |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom limits on every feature, sales-led |
Source: zencastr.com · checked on Oct 20, 2026
How Zencastr compares in Podcast & audio
- Rank by votes
- #1 / 16
- Starting price
- $0
- Free alternatives
- 1
0 votes from members
Category median is $18/mo
Free or open-source tools in Podcast & audio
Zencastr ranks #1 of 16 podcast & audio tools by community votes and is not directly comparable on price.
Common use cases
- 1Interview podcasts with remote guests on unreliable connections
- 2Solo creators who want to record, edit and publish without paying
- 3Video podcasts cut into short clips for social channels
- 4Small media teams running up to five shows from one account
- 5Live-streamed shows that are later published as podcast episodes
Best for
Independent podcasters and small creator teams who want free studio-quality recording, AI editing and hosting in one place.
Not ideal for
Professional video productions or teams that need advanced editing and guaranteed support (Riverside, Descript).
Integrations
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- YouTube
Our take
Zencastr is hard to beat on price: the free plan now covers what used to cost $20 to $100 a month. Use it for audio-first interview shows, but keep backups of your masters and read the monetization and AI terms before committing your whole catalog.
FAQ
- What is Zencastr?
- Zencastr is a Podcast & audio tool: Free browser and iOS studio to record, edit and host podcasts.
- How much does Zencastr cost?
- Zencastr uses a Freemium model; see the vendor's pricing page for current plans.
- What does Zencastr integrate with?
- Zencastr integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and more.
- Which platforms does Zencastr support?
- Zencastr is available on web, ios.
- Who is Zencastr for?
- Independent podcasters and small creator teams who want free studio-quality recording, AI editing and hosting in one place.
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