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Castro vs Toon Boom Harmony

Castro logo

Castro

Entertainment

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Toon Boom Harmony logo

Toon Boom Harmony

Video Production

Creating worlds of Animation

From
On request
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; Toon Boom Harmony licensing is subscription only across Essentials, Advanced and Premium tiers, with no perpetual license option offered on the pricing page

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castro and Toon Boom Harmony actually diverge.

Attributes where Castro and Toon Boom Harmony differ
AttributeCastroToon Boom Harmony
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Apple Watch, iPadWeb
CategoryEntertainmentVideo Production
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Toon Boom Harmony

Nothing recorded that Castro does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Toon Boom Harmony
  • Listeningnot Toon Boom Harmony

Toon Boom Harmony

  • Traditional frame by frame animation productionnot Castro
  • Cut-out character animation with rigsnot Castro
  • Studio animation pipelines on the Premium editionnot 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

Toon Boom Harmony

  • Licensing is subscription only across Essentials, Advanced and Premium tiers, with no perpetual license option offered on the pricing page
  • Access beyond the 14 day free trial requires purchasing a subscription through the shop

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

Toon Boom Harmony

On request
  • Harmony Essentials$null/month
    • Fundamental drawing, painting, and animation tools
    • Designed for enthusiasts
  • Harmony Advanced$null/month
    • Full traditional, paperless style animation
    • Simple cut-out style animation
    • Designed for students and professional animators and studios
  • Harmony Premium$null/month
    • Sophisticated cut-out rigs
    • Natural and realistic character movement
    • Unlimited special effects for any style of animation

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 Toon Boom Harmony if

Nothing in the data separates Toon Boom Harmony from Castro on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Toon Boom Harmony review

Questions people ask

Is Castro or Toon Boom Harmony better?
Neither clearly leads. Castro starts at Free and Toon Boom Harmony at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castro or Toon Boom Harmony?
Castro has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Castro and On request for Toon Boom Harmony.
Does Castro or Toon Boom Harmony run on more platforms?
Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad. Toon Boom Harmony runs on Web.
Can I use Castro for free?
Yes. Castro has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Toon Boom Harmony starts at On request.
What is Castro best used for?
Castro is most often used for podcast management, listening. Of those, podcast management and listening are not what Toon Boom Harmony is typically brought in for.
What can Castro do that Toon Boom Harmony cannot?
Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback.

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
Toon Boom Harmony: What tiers are available for Toon Boom Harmony?

Toon Boom Harmony is available in three subscription editions: Essentials (with fundamental drawing and painting tools for enthusiasts), Advanced (with full traditional and simple cut-out animation for students and professionals), and Premium (with sophisticated cut-out rigs and unlimited special effects, recommended for studios and educational institutions).

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
Toon Boom Harmony: What does the Harmony Premium tier add?

The Harmony Premium tier adds sophisticated cut-out rigs, very natural and realistic character movement, and unlimited special effects for any animation style. It is recommended for professional studios, freelancers, and educational institutions, whereas Advanced is more suited for students and professional animators.

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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