Softwr

Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

Acast vs Discovery+

Acast logo

Acast

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Enterprise podcast hosting and advertising

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Discovery+ logo

Discovery+

Media & Entertainment

Unscripted content at your fingertips

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Acast the free Starter tier is limited to 1 show and 5 episodes; unlimited episodes require making the show available in Acast's advertising marketplace; Discovery+ standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month
  • They diverge on capability: Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Discovery+ covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acast and Discovery+ actually diverge.

Attributes where Acast and Discovery+ differ
AttributeAcastDiscovery+
Starting priceOn request$4.99/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
CategoryPodcast & Audio PublishingMedia & Entertainment
Founded20142020

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Acast

  • Enterprise hosting
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Sponsorship platform
  • Analytics
  • Monetization
  • API access
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks

Only in Discovery+

  • Streaming
  • Unscripted content
  • Reality TV
  • Originals
  • Downloads
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Acast

  • Hosting and distributing a podcast to all major listening appsnot Discovery+
  • Monetising episodes through the Acast advertising marketplace and sponsorshipsnot Discovery+
  • Publishing video podcast episodes alongside audionot Discovery+

Discovery+

  • Unscripted streamingnot Acast
  • Reality TV watchingnot Acast

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Acast

  • The free Starter tier is limited to 1 show and 5 episodes; unlimited episodes require making the show available in Acast's advertising marketplace
  • Multiple shows require the paid Influencer plan at $14.99 per month billed annually or $25 per month billed monthly
  • Team management, prioritised support and the Publishing API require the Pro plan at $29.99 per month billed annually or $40 per month monthly
  • Publishing video episodes to Apple Podcasts requires the Video plan at $39.99 per month billed annually or $50 per month monthly
  • The Video plan includes only 10,000 monthly video views
  • A payment card is required to sign up even for the free tier
  • The Creator Network tier is quote only with no published price

Discovery+

  • Standard plan starts at 5.99 USD per month but includes ads; an ad-free tier costs 9.99 USD per month

Pricing, plan by plan

Acast

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Dynamic ad insertion
    • Sponsorship marketplace

Discovery+

$4.99/month
  • Standard$4.99/month
    • HD
    • Ad-supported
  • Premium$8.99/month
    • 4K
    • Ad-free

Which should you pick?

Choose Acast if

  • You need enterprise hosting.
  • You also want dynamic ad insertion.
Acast review

Choose Discovery+ if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want unscripted content.
Discovery+ review

Questions people ask

Is Acast or Discovery+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Acast starts at On request and Discovery+ at $4.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acast or Discovery+?
Acast starts at On request and Discovery+ at $4.99/month.
Does Acast or Discovery+ run on more platforms?
Acast runs on Web. Discovery+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
What is Acast best used for?
Acast is most often used for hosting and distributing a podcast to all major listening apps, monetising episodes through the acast advertising marketplace and sponsorships, publishing video podcast episodes alongside audio. Of those, hosting and distributing a podcast to all major listening apps and monetising episodes through the acast advertising marketplace and sponsorships are not what Discovery+ is typically brought in for.
What can Acast do that Discovery+ cannot?
Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Dynamic ad insertion, Sponsorship platform, Analytics. Discovery+ covers Streaming, Unscripted content, Reality TV, Originals. Both handle Web support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Acast

More on Discovery+

Keep looking

Other head to heads