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Castro vs Paramount+

Castro logo

Castro

Software

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paramount+ logo

Paramount+

Software

A mountain of entertainment

From
$5.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Castro has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support; Paramount+ the App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • They diverge on capability: Castro covers Podcast app, Paramount+ covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castro and Paramount+ actually diverge.

Attributes where Castro and Paramount+ differ
AttributeCastroParamount+
Starting priceFree$5.99/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Apple Watch, iPadWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20132021

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 Castro

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

Only in Paramount+

  • Streaming
  • Live sports
  • CBS shows
  • Nickelodeon
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Parental controls
  • Profile management

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Paramount+
  • Listeningnot Paramount+

Paramount+

  • TV streamingnot Castro
  • Sportsnot Castro
  • Kids contentnot 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

Paramount+

  • The App Store listing states Paramount+ gates all of SHOWTIME behind the Premium plan only, and separately caps household profiles at six, without stating either plan price in the visible description.
  • The App Store listing states the base Paramount+ plan carries ads and does not include ad-free viewing, offline downloads, or a local CBS station live stream, which are reserved for the Premium plan.

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

Paramount+

$5.99/month
  • Essential$5.99/month
    • Limited ads
    • Full library
  • With Showtime$11.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Showtime
    • Downloads

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 Paramount+ if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want live sports.
Paramount+ review

Questions people ask

Is Castro or Paramount+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Castro starts at Free and Paramount+ at $5.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castro or Paramount+?
Castro has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Castro and $5.99/month for Paramount+.
Does Castro or Paramount+ run on more platforms?
Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad. Paramount+ runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Castro for free?
Yes. Castro has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paramount+ starts at $5.99/month.
What is Castro best used for?
Castro is most often used for podcast management, listening. Of those, podcast management and listening are not what Paramount+ is typically brought in for.
What can Castro do that Paramount+ cannot?
Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback. Paramount+ covers Streaming, Live sports, CBS shows, Nickelodeon. Both handle Ios support, 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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