Software · head to head
Castos vs Libsyn
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Castos transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro; Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
- They diverge on capability: Castos covers Unlimited hosting, Libsyn covers Reliable hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Castos and Libsyn actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Castos
- Unlimited hosting
- WordPress integration
- Distribution
- Analytics
- Monetization
- Email marketing
- WordPress
- All podcast platforms
Only in Libsyn
- Reliable hosting
- Advanced analytics
- Monetization platform
- Distribution network
- Custom website
- Ad insertion
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Both cover
- Content protection
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Castos
- Podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloadsnot Libsyn
- Private and subscriber-only podcastsnot Libsyn
- Automatic transcription of episodesnot Libsyn
- Republishing episodes to YouTubenot Libsyn
- WordPress-integrated podcast publishingnot Libsyn
Libsyn
- Hosting podcast audio and distributing it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTubenot Castos
- Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Castos
- Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot Castos
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Libsyn
- Basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
- Advanced IAB verified stats require the $25 per month Advanced plan; Basic gets basic stats only
- Spotify video distribution requires the Advanced or Max plan
- Dynamic ad insertion sits on Professional and Enterprise plans that are quoted by sales with no published rate
- The top published tier, Max at $150 per month, still caps audio uploads at 55 hours per month
Pricing, plan by plan
Castos
$13/month- Podcaster$13/month
- Unlimited hosting
- Automatic distribution
- Basic analytics
- Professional$29/month
- All Podcaster features
- Advanced analytics
- Email marketing
Libsyn
$5/month- Classic 50$5/month
- 50 MB monthly storage
- Basic statistics
- Podcast page
- Classic 150$15/month
- 150 MB monthly storage
- Advanced statistics
- Custom website
- Advanced 400$20/month
- 400 MB monthly storage
- Premium analytics
- Multiple shows
- Advanced 800$40/month
- 800 MB monthly storage
- Full analytics suite
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Castos if
- You need unlimited hosting.
- You work on Web, Wordpress.
- You also want wordpress integration.
Choose Libsyn if
- You need reliable hosting.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want advanced analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is Castos or Libsyn better?
- Neither clearly leads. Castos starts at $13/month and Libsyn at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Castos or Libsyn?
- Castos starts at $13/month and Libsyn at $5/month.
- Does Castos or Libsyn run on more platforms?
- Castos runs on Web, Wordpress. Libsyn runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is Castos best used for?
- Castos is most often used for podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloads, private and subscriber-only podcasts, automatic transcription of episodes, republishing episodes to youtube. Of those, podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloads and private and subscriber-only podcasts are not what Libsyn is typically brought in for.
- What can Castos do that Libsyn cannot?
- Castos covers Unlimited hosting, WordPress integration, Distribution, Analytics. Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Both handle Content protection, Web support.