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Castos vs SoundCloud

Castos logo

Castos

Software

Simple podcast hosting for WordPress sites

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SoundCloud logo

SoundCloud

Software

Discover, stream, and share music

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SoundCloud has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Castos transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro; SoundCloud the free tier plays tracks with ads
  • They diverge on capability: Castos covers Unlimited hosting, SoundCloud covers Audio streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castos and SoundCloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Castos and SoundCloud differ
AttributeCastosSoundCloud
Starting price$13/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, WordpressWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
Founded20162007

Identical on both: 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 SoundCloud

  • Audio streaming
  • Uploads
  • Discovery
  • Sharing
  • Social media
  • DJ software
  • Privacy settings
  • Ios support

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 SoundCloud
  • Private and subscriber-only podcastsnot SoundCloud
  • Automatic transcription of episodesnot SoundCloud
  • Republishing episodes to YouTubenot SoundCloud
  • WordPress-integrated podcast publishingnot SoundCloud

SoundCloud

  • Discovering tracks from emerging and independent artistsnot Castos
  • Uploading your own music to reach listeners directlynot Castos
  • Offline listening and ad-free playback on a paid tiernot 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

SoundCloud

  • The free tier plays tracks with ads
  • Offline saving of tracks requires a SoundCloud Go or Go+ subscription
  • Premium Go+ tracks are locked behind the higher Go+ tier, so SoundCloud Go alone does not unlock the full catalogue
  • Exclusive DJ app integrations require Go+
  • The app is available in only eight languages: English, Brazilian Portuguese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Arabic
  • The iOS app requires iOS 16.4 or later

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

SoundCloud

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited uploads
    • Ads
  • Go$5.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Offline
  • Go+$12.99/month
    • Full catalog
    • HQ audio

Which should you pick?

Choose Castos if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You work on Web, Wordpress.
  • You also want wordpress integration.
Castos review

Choose SoundCloud if

  • You need audio streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want uploads.
SoundCloud review

Questions people ask

Is Castos or SoundCloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Castos starts at $13/month and SoundCloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castos or SoundCloud?
SoundCloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $13/month for Castos and Free for SoundCloud.
Does Castos or SoundCloud run on more platforms?
Castos runs on Web, Wordpress. SoundCloud runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
Can I use SoundCloud for free?
Yes. SoundCloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Castos starts at $13/month.
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 SoundCloud is typically brought in for.
What can Castos do that SoundCloud cannot?
Castos covers Unlimited hosting, WordPress integration, Distribution, Analytics. SoundCloud covers Audio streaming, Uploads, Discovery, Sharing. Both handle Content protection, Web support.
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