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Podcasting · head to head

Buzzsprout vs Castos

Buzzsprout logo

Buzzsprout

Podcasting

Simple and powerful podcast hosting made easy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Castos logo

Castos

Podcasting

Simple podcast hosting for WordPress sites

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Buzzsprout upload hours do not roll over monthly; overage fees apply at hourly rates; Castos transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro
  • They diverge on capability: Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Castos covers Unlimited hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buzzsprout and Castos actually diverge.

Attributes where Buzzsprout and Castos differ
AttributeBuzzsproutCastos
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, Wordpress
Founded20092016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).

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 Buzzsprout

  • Audio optimization
  • Automatic distribution
  • Episode transcription
  • Custom podcast website
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Magic Mastering
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

Only in Castos

  • Unlimited hosting
  • WordPress integration
  • Distribution
  • Analytics
  • Monetization
  • Email marketing
  • All podcast platforms
  • Email services

Both cover

  • WordPress
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Buzzsprout

  • Podcast hostingnot Castos
  • Audio and video podcast distributionnot Castos
  • Transcription and show notes generationnot Castos
  • Podcast analytics and monetisationnot Castos

Castos

  • Podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloadsnot Buzzsprout
  • Private and subscriber-only podcastsnot Buzzsprout
  • Automatic transcription of episodesnot Buzzsprout
  • Republishing episodes to YouTubenot Buzzsprout
  • WordPress-integrated podcast publishingnot Buzzsprout

Where each one falls short

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

Buzzsprout

  • Upload hours do not roll over monthly; overage fees apply at hourly rates
  • Free tier limited to 2 hours monthly uploads
  • Video features only on paid tiers, minimum $25/month

Castos

  • Transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro
  • Private podcast subscribers are capped, at 100 on Essentials and 500 on Pro
  • Video hosting and the uptime SLA require the Pro tier at $99 a month
  • SSO and a dedicated account manager are Premium only, from $499 a month
  • Team seats are limited by tier, at 5 on Growth and 10 on Pro

Pricing, plan by plan

Buzzsprout

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours monthly uploads
    • 90-day episode hosting
    • No video distribution
  • Audio Podcast$15/month
    • 72 hours annual uploads
    • Unlimited episodes
    • Single podcast
  • Audio + Video$25/month
    • 72 hours annual uploads
    • Video publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
    • 1080p video quality
  • Multi-Podcast$30/month
    • 180 hours annual uploads
    • 5-10 podcasts
    • Audio, video, or mixed media

Castos

Free
  • Essentials$19/month
    • unlimited podcasts/episodes
    • 10 transcripts/month
  • Growth$49/month
    • advanced analytics
    • 25 transcripts/month
  • Pro$99/month
    • video hosting
    • 100 transcripts/month
  • Premium$499/month
    • unlimited transcripts
    • dedicated account management

Which should you pick?

Choose Buzzsprout if

  • You need audio optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want automatic distribution.
Buzzsprout review

Choose Castos if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Wordpress.
  • You also want wordpress integration.
Castos review

Questions people ask

Is Buzzsprout or Castos better?
Neither clearly leads. Buzzsprout starts at Free and Castos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buzzsprout or Castos?
Buzzsprout starts at Free and Castos at Free.
Does Buzzsprout or Castos run on more platforms?
Buzzsprout runs on Web, Mobile. Castos runs on Web, Wordpress.
Can I use Buzzsprout for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Buzzsprout best used for?
Buzzsprout is most often used for podcast hosting, audio and video podcast distribution, transcription and show notes generation, podcast analytics and monetisation. Of those, podcast hosting and audio and video podcast distribution are not what Castos is typically brought in for.
What can Buzzsprout do that Castos cannot?
Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Automatic distribution, Episode transcription, Custom podcast website. Castos covers Unlimited hosting, WordPress integration, Distribution, Analytics. Both handle WordPress, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Buzzsprout: Does Buzzsprout offer a free tier?

Yes, Buzzsprout's free plan includes 2 hours of monthly uploads with 90-day episode hosting. Video distribution and advanced features require a paid subscription starting at $15/month.

Source
Castos: How much does Castos cost?

Castos plans range from USD 19/month for Essentials to USD 499+/month for Premium, with annual billing offering 2 months free discount.

Source
Buzzsprout: What happens if I exceed my monthly upload limit?

Upload hours do not roll over each month. If you exceed your plan's upload allocation, overage fees apply at hourly rates.

Source
Castos: Is there a free trial for Castos?

Yes, Castos offers a 14-day free trial on the Essentials plan with no credit card required to get started.

Source
Buzzsprout: How many podcasts can I host on different plans?

The Free and Audio Podcast plans support a single podcast. The Multi-Podcast plan at $30/month supports 5-10 podcasts depending on configuration.

Source
Castos: How many transcripts are included per plan?

Essentials includes 10 transcripts/month, Growth includes 25, Pro includes 100, and Premium includes unlimited transcripts.

Source
Buzzsprout: Is video publishing included on all paid plans?

No. Video publishing to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube (1080p) requires the Audio + Video plan at $25/month or higher.

Source
Castos: What are Castos add-ons and how much do they cost?

Add-ons include AI Assistant at USD 10/month and extra private subscribers at USD 50/month per 500 additional subscribers.

Source
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