Software · head to head
Headliner vs Acast
The short version
- Only Headliner has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Headliner free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark; Acast the free Starter tier is limited to 1 show and 5 episodes; unlimited episodes require making the show available in Acast's advertising marketplace
- They diverge on capability: Headliner covers Audio to video conversion, Acast covers Enterprise hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Headliner and Acast actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Headliner
- Audio to video conversion
- Animated waveforms
- Automatic captions
- Brand customization
- Social media optimization
- Batch processing
- Podcast platforms
- Social media
Only in Acast
- Enterprise hosting
- Dynamic ad insertion
- Sponsorship platform
- Analytics
- Monetization
- API access
- 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.
Headliner
- Turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social medianot Acast
- Auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clipsnot Acast
- Producing branded promotional clips from full length episodesnot Acast
Acast
- Hosting and distributing a podcast to all major listening appsnot Headliner
- Monetising episodes through the Acast advertising marketplace and sponsorshipsnot Headliner
- Publishing video podcast episodes alongside audionot Headliner
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Headliner
- Free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark
- Basic plan at $9.99 per month caps unwatermarked audiograms at 10 per month
- Free and Basic plans cap video length at 10 minutes at 1080p; 2 hour videos require the Pro plan
- Custom watermarks and unlimited unwatermarked exports require the $25.99 per month Pro plan
- Video upload storage is capped at 10GB on every plan including Pro
Acast
- The free Starter tier is limited to 1 show and 5 episodes; unlimited episodes require making the show available in Acast's advertising marketplace
- Multiple shows require the paid Influencer plan at $14.99 per month billed annually or $25 per month billed monthly
- Team management, prioritised support and the Publishing API require the Pro plan at $29.99 per month billed annually or $40 per month monthly
- Publishing video episodes to Apple Podcasts requires the Video plan at $39.99 per month billed annually or $50 per month monthly
- The Video plan includes only 10,000 monthly video views
- A payment card is required to sign up even for the free tier
- The Creator Network tier is quote only with no published price
Pricing, plan by plan
Headliner
Free- FreeFree
- Create clips
- Watermarked videos
- Limited exports
- Creator$15/month
- Unlimited exports
- No watermarks
- Captions
Acast
On request- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Unlimited hosting
- Dynamic ad insertion
- Sponsorship marketplace
Which should you pick?
Choose Headliner if
- You need audio to video conversion.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want animated waveforms.
Questions people ask
- Is Headliner or Acast better?
- Neither clearly leads. Headliner starts at Free and Acast at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Headliner or Acast?
- Headliner has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Headliner and On request for Acast.
- Does Headliner or Acast run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Headliner for free?
- Yes. Headliner has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acast starts at On request.
- What is Headliner best used for?
- Headliner is most often used for turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social media, auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clips, producing branded promotional clips from full length episodes. Of those, turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social media and auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clips are not what Acast is typically brought in for.
- What can Headliner do that Acast cannot?
- Headliner covers Audio to video conversion, Animated waveforms, Automatic captions, Brand customization. Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Dynamic ad insertion, Sponsorship platform, Analytics. Both handle Web support.