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Acast vs ESPN+

Acast logo

Acast

Software

Enterprise podcast hosting and advertising

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ESPN+ logo

ESPN+

Software

Stream live sports, original shows, and exclusive content

From
$10.99/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; ESPN+ the App Store listing states the ESPN app offers two paid tiers, ESPN Select which includes ESPN+ only, and ESPN Unlimited which includes all ESPN networks and services including ESPN+, without stating the price of either in the visible description.
  • They diverge on capability: Acast covers Enterprise hosting, ESPN+ covers Live sports.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Acast and ESPN+ differ
AttributeAcastESPN+
Starting priceOn request$10.99/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
Founded20142018

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

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 ESPN+

  • Live sports
  • Original shows
  • Exclusive content
  • Replays
  • Analysis
  • 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 ESPN+
  • Monetising episodes through the Acast advertising marketplace and sponsorshipsnot ESPN+
  • Publishing video podcast episodes alongside audionot ESPN+

ESPN+

  • Sports streamingnot Acast
  • Live event 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

ESPN+

  • The App Store listing states the ESPN app offers two paid tiers, ESPN Select which includes ESPN+ only, and ESPN Unlimited which includes all ESPN networks and services including ESPN+, without stating the price of either in the visible description.

Pricing, plan by plan

Acast

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

ESPN+

$10.99/month
  • ESPN+$10.99/month
    • Live sports
    • Exclusive content
    • Original shows
  • Bundle$13.99/month
    • ESPN+
    • Disney+
    • Hulu

Which should you pick?

Choose Acast if

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

Choose ESPN+ if

  • You need live sports.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want original shows.
ESPN+ review

Questions people ask

Is Acast or ESPN+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Acast starts at On request and ESPN+ at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acast or ESPN+?
Acast starts at On request and ESPN+ at $10.99/month.
Does Acast or ESPN+ run on more platforms?
Acast runs on Web. ESPN+ 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 ESPN+ is typically brought in for.
What can Acast do that ESPN+ cannot?
Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Dynamic ad insertion, Sponsorship platform, Analytics. ESPN+ covers Live sports, Original shows, Exclusive content, Replays. Both handle Web support.
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