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Auphonic vs Castro

Auphonic logo

Auphonic

Software

Automated audio mastering and loudness processing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Castro logo

Castro

Software

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Auphonic the free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month; Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support
  • They diverge on capability: Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Castro covers Podcast app.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Auphonic and Castro actually diverge.

Attributes where Auphonic and Castro differ
AttributeAuphonicCastro
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWebiOS, Apple Watch, iPad
Founded20102013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness optimization
  • Noise reduction
  • Audio restoration
  • Intelligent processing
  • API integration
  • Auto-upload
  • Podcast hosts
  • Dropbox

Only in Castro

  • Podcast app
  • Inbox system
  • Triage view
  • Playback
  • Discovery
  • Podcast services
  • Apple services
  • Account security

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audionot Castro
  • Batch processing an archive of recordingsnot Castro
  • Generating transcripts and chapters from an episodenot Castro
  • Producing consistent output across multiple formats from one uploadnot Castro

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Auphonic
  • Listeningnot Auphonic

Where each one falls short

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

Auphonic

  • The free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month
  • Billing is by audio duration with a 3 minute minimum per production, so many short clips cost more than the running time suggests
  • Multilingual speech recognition, automatic chapters and show notes all require a paid plan
  • Watch folders, batch productions and team accounts are paid features
  • Free output carries an Auphonic jingle

Castro

  • iOS/Apple-only, no Android support
  • No unified inbox for managing multiple podcast accounts
  • Recent ownership change (2024) may affect long-term development

Pricing, plan by plan

Auphonic

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours/month processing
    • Basic mastering
    • Download files
  • Personal$10/month
    • 50 hours/month
    • Advanced mastering
    • API access

Castro

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core podcast management
    • Inbox/queue/archive
    • CarPlay support
  • Castro Plus$24.99/year
    • Custom per-podcast settings
    • Trim Silence
    • Enhance Voices

Which should you pick?

Choose Auphonic if

  • You need automatic loudness optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want noise reduction.
Auphonic review

Choose Castro if

  • You need podcast app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad.
  • You also want inbox system.
Castro review

Questions people ask

Is Auphonic or Castro better?
Neither clearly leads. Auphonic starts at Free and Castro at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Auphonic or Castro?
Auphonic starts at Free and Castro at Free.
Does Auphonic or Castro run on more platforms?
Auphonic runs on Web. Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad.
Can I use Auphonic for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Auphonic best used for?
Auphonic is most often used for automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audio, batch processing an archive of recordings, generating transcripts and chapters from an episode, producing consistent output across multiple formats from one upload. Of those, automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audio and batch processing an archive of recordings are not what Castro is typically brought in for.
What can Auphonic do that Castro cannot?
Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Noise reduction, Audio restoration, Intelligent processing. Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Castro: How much does Castro cost?

Castro 3 is free to download with optional Castro Plus subscription at $24.99/year (includes one-week free trial).

Source
Castro: What platforms does Castro support?

Castro is available on iPhone with an Apple Watch app and is expanding to iPad (launched August 4, 2025). There is no Android version.

Source
Castro: What are the key features of Castro Plus premium subscription?

Castro Plus adds custom per-podcast settings including Episode Limit, Trim Silence, Enhance Voices, Mono Mix, Skip Intros, and variable playback speed.

Source
Castro: How does Castro organize podcasts?

Castro uses an inbox/queue/archive split system where the inbox contains notifications of new episodes and the queue serves as an active playlist.

Source
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Related pages

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