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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Castro vs Chartable

Castro logo

Castro

Media & Entertainment

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Chartable logo

Chartable

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Podcast analytics and attribution platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support; Chartable shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
  • They diverge on capability: Castro covers Podcast app, Chartable covers Download analytics.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castro and Chartable actually diverge.

Attributes where Castro and Chartable differ
AttributeCastroChartable
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Apple Watch, iPadWeb
CategoryMedia & EntertainmentPodcast & Audio Publishing
Founded20132017

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

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

Only in Chartable

  • Download analytics
  • Chart rankings
  • SmartLinks tracking
  • Attribution
  • SmartPromos
  • Cross-promotion analytics
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Chartable
  • Listeningnot Chartable

Chartable

  • Podcast analyticsnot Castro
  • Marketing attributionnot Castro
  • Chart trackingnot Castro
  • Growth measurementnot Castro

Where each one falls short

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

Castro

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

Chartable

  • Shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
  • The tracking prefixes no longer function, and shows still carrying one need it removed
  • chartable.com now redirects to Spotify's Megaphone site

Pricing, plan by plan

Castro

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

Chartable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Chart tracking
    • Basic analytics
    • 1 podcast
  • Indie$20/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • SmartLinks
    • Attribution
  • Team$100/month
    • Multiple podcasts
    • SmartPromos
    • Team access
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Custom integrations
    • API access

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Chartable if

  • You need download analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want chart rankings.
Chartable review

Questions people ask

Is Castro or Chartable better?
Neither clearly leads. Castro starts at Free and Chartable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castro or Chartable?
Castro starts at Free and Chartable at Free.
Does Castro or Chartable run on more platforms?
Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad. Chartable runs on Web.
Can I use Castro for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Castro best used for?
Castro is most often used for podcast management, listening. Of those, podcast management and listening are not what Chartable is typically brought in for.
What can Castro do that Chartable cannot?
Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback. Chartable covers Download analytics, Chart rankings, SmartLinks tracking, Attribution. 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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