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Entertainment · head to head

Castbox vs DistroKid

Castbox logo

Castbox

Entertainment

Podcast & radio app for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DistroKid logo

DistroKid

Music

Flat annual subscription music distribution where artists keep 100% of streaming royalties

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Castbox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Castbox app frequently crashes, requiring users to reload it to continue listening; DistroKid if the annual fee is not paid, DistroKid can pull releases from stores, and only releases with the separate Leave a Legacy add-on are protected from that.
  • They diverge on capability: Castbox covers Podcast app, DistroKid covers Unlimited uploads.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castbox and DistroKid actually diverge.

Attributes where Castbox and DistroKid differ
AttributeCastboxDistroKid
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Radio, AudiobooksWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryEntertainmentMusic
Founded2016Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Castbox

  • Podcast app
  • Radio
  • Discovery
  • Offline listening
  • Sync
  • Smart devices
  • Podcast services
  • Account security

Only in DistroKid

  • Unlimited uploads
  • 0% royalty commission on streaming
  • Scheduled release dates
  • Leave a Legacy
  • Songwriter splits
  • YouTube Content ID

What people use each for

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

Castbox

  • Podcast listeningnot DistroKid
  • Radio streamingnot DistroKid

DistroKid

  • A working artist releasing multiple singles a year who wants to keep 100% of streaming royalties above a flat annual feenot Castbox
  • A songwriter needing automated collaborator splits handled at the point of releasenot Castbox
  • A small label managing several artists under one account using a Label tiernot Castbox
  • An artist who wants their catalogue to survive a lapsed subscription and pays for Leave a Legacy on key releasesnot Castbox

Where each one falls short

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

Castbox

  • App frequently crashes, requiring users to reload it to continue listening
  • Approximately half of saved podcasts do not automatically refresh or send notifications for new episodes
  • Free version displays unskippable minute-long ads that sometimes play as blank screens
  • Interface is described as cluttered with excessive focus on mainstream podcast recommendations
  • Tracking requirements for certain features like background playback limit privacy

DistroKid

  • If the annual fee is not paid, DistroKid can pull releases from stores, and only releases with the separate Leave a Legacy add-on are protected from that.
  • The 0% royalty claim applies to streaming stores only; social platform monetisation through TikTok, Instagram and YouTube is charged at a 20% commission.
  • Publishing administration, if used, carries its own 20% commission on top of the base subscription.
  • Extra artist profiles beyond the one included per plan cost an additional $14.99 a year each, which adds up for artists running side projects.
  • Customer support is primarily self-serve and ticket-based rather than a dedicated account manager, which some artists moving from CD Baby’s more service-heavy model find thin.

Pricing, plan by plan

Castbox

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50+ million podcasts
    • On-demand radio
    • Audiobooks
  • Premium$undefined/custom
    • Ad-free listening
    • Advanced features
    • Contact for pricing

DistroKid

On request
  • Musician$24.99/year
    • Unlimited uploads, 0% royalty commission on streaming stores
    • No custom release scheduling
  • Musician Plus$44.99/year
    • Scheduled release dates, daily stats
    • Custom label name, multiple artist names
  • Ultimate$89.99/year
    • Everything in Musician Plus
    • Higher-tier support and additional artist management features
  • Label plans$undefined/year
    • Label 5, Label 10 and Label 25 tiers for multiple managed artists

Which should you pick?

Choose Castbox if

  • You need podcast app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Radio, Audiobooks.
  • You also want radio.
Castbox review

Choose DistroKid if

  • You need unlimited uploads.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want 0% royalty commission on streaming.
DistroKid review

Questions people ask

Is Castbox or DistroKid better?
Neither clearly leads. Castbox starts at Free and DistroKid at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castbox or DistroKid?
Castbox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Castbox and On request for DistroKid.
Does Castbox or DistroKid run on more platforms?
Castbox runs on iOS, Android, Web, Radio, Audiobooks. DistroKid runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Castbox for free?
Yes. Castbox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DistroKid starts at On request.
What is Castbox best used for?
Castbox is most often used for podcast listening, radio streaming. Of those, podcast listening and radio streaming are not what DistroKid is typically brought in for.
What can Castbox do that DistroKid cannot?
Castbox covers Podcast app, Radio, Discovery, Offline listening. DistroKid covers Unlimited uploads, 0% royalty commission on streaming, Scheduled release dates, Leave a Legacy.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Castbox: Is Castbox free and does it have paid tiers?

Castbox offers a free version with ads and limited features. A premium subscription is available but details on pricing were not disclosed on the main site. Free tier includes access to 50+ million podcasts, radio programs, and audiobooks.

Source
DistroKid: Does DistroKid really take 0% of royalties?

On core streaming store royalties, yes. It takes 20% on social platform monetisation (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) and 20% on publishing administration if used.

Castbox: What languages and regions does Castbox support?

Castbox supports content in 70 languages from 175 countries, making it one of the most internationally accessible podcast platforms.

Source
DistroKid: What happens if I stop paying?

Your releases can be removed from stores. Leave a Legacy is a per-release add-on that keeps specific releases live regardless of subscription status.

Castbox: Can I search for specific content across all episodes with Castbox?

Yes, Castbox pioneered an in-audio search feature using natural language processing that lets listeners search for keywords and topics across more than 50 million episodes.

Source
DistroKid: Is there a free tier?

No. Every tier is a paid annual subscription; there is no free plan.

Castbox: What tools does Castbox offer for podcasters?

Castbox provides a Creator Studio with robust analytics for creators to measure subscribers, streams, and downloads. However, creators requiring comprehensive editing and production tools may find Castbox limited compared to specialized production software.

Source
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