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Entertainment · head to head

Castro vs StubHub

Castro logo

Castro

Entertainment

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
StubHub logo

StubHub

Entertainment

Ticket resale marketplace charging both buyers and sellers, with combined fees often a large share of face value

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support; StubHub combined buyer and seller fees can amount to a large fraction of a ticket's face value, so the printed listing price understates the real total cost by a wide margin.
  • They diverge on capability: Castro covers Podcast app, StubHub covers Buy and sell marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castro and StubHub actually diverge.

Attributes where Castro and StubHub differ
AttributeCastroStubHub
Pricing modelUnknownFree to browse, two sided transaction fees on buyers and sellers
PlatformsiOS, Apple Watch, iPadiOS, Android, Web
Founded2013Unknown

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

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 StubHub

  • Buy and sell marketplace
  • FanProtect guarantee
  • Price alerts
  • Interactive seat maps
  • Mobile and PDF ticket delivery
  • Seller payout tracking

What people use each for

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

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot StubHub
  • Listeningnot StubHub

StubHub

  • A fan trying to buy a ticket to a sold-out event no longer available at face value from the primary sellernot Castro
  • Someone who bought tickets they can no longer use and wants to resell themnot Castro
  • A buyer wanting a guarantee that a resold ticket will be valid and delivered on timenot Castro
  • Comparing seat locations and prices across multiple listings for the same event before buyingnot 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

StubHub

  • Combined buyer and seller fees can amount to a large fraction of a ticket's face value, so the printed listing price understates the real total cost by a wide margin.
  • Buyer fees are typically not shown until near checkout, which regulators in the US and UK have specifically targeted as a form of drip pricing in the ticketing industry.
  • Sellers receive less than their listed price after StubHub's seller fee is deducted, which can surprise first-time sellers expecting to net the full listed amount.
  • As a secondary market, prices for popular events can be well above face value, and there is no guarantee of a cheaper option appearing before the event date.
  • Refund and guarantee terms depend on FanProtect policy conditions, and disputes over cancelled or changed events can take time to resolve through customer support.

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

StubHub

Free
  • Buyer fee$undefined/per transaction
    • Service fee added at checkout, commonly around 20 to 30 percent or more of ticket price
    • Fee amount varies by event and is shown before final purchase confirmation
  • Seller fee$undefined/per transaction
    • Service fee deducted from the sale proceeds, historically around 10 to 15 percent
    • Rate can vary by event and seller volume

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.

Choose StubHub if

  • You need buy and sell marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want fanprotect guarantee.

Questions people ask

Is Castro or StubHub better?
Neither clearly leads. Castro starts at Free and StubHub at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castro or StubHub?
Castro starts at Free and StubHub at Free.
Does Castro or StubHub run on more platforms?
Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad. StubHub runs on iOS, Android, 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 StubHub is typically brought in for.
What can Castro do that StubHub cannot?
Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback. StubHub covers Buy and sell marketplace, FanProtect guarantee, Price alerts, Interactive seat maps.

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
StubHub: Does StubHub charge fees to both buyers and sellers?

Yes, it charges a service fee to sellers deducted from their proceeds, and a separate service fee to buyers added at checkout.

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
StubHub: How much are StubHub fees in total?

They vary by event, but buyer fees are commonly in the range of 20 to 30 percent or more of the ticket price, and seller fees historically around 10 to 15 percent, so combined fees can be a large share of face value.

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
StubHub: Are resold tickets guaranteed?

StubHub's FanProtect guarantee covers ticket validity, on-time delivery and event cancellation or significant changes, subject to its terms.

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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