Software · head to head
Libsyn vs Castos
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month; Castos transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro
- They diverge on capability: Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Castos covers Unlimited hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Libsyn and Castos actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Libsyn
- Reliable hosting
- Advanced analytics
- Monetization platform
- Distribution network
- Custom website
- Ad insertion
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Only in Castos
- Unlimited hosting
- WordPress integration
- Distribution
- Analytics
- Monetization
- Email marketing
- WordPress
- All podcast platforms
Both cover
- Content protection
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Libsyn
- Hosting podcast audio and distributing it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTubenot Castos
- Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Castos
- Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot Castos
Castos
- Podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloadsnot Libsyn
- Private and subscriber-only podcastsnot Libsyn
- Automatic transcription of episodesnot Libsyn
- Republishing episodes to YouTubenot Libsyn
- WordPress-integrated podcast publishingnot Libsyn
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Libsyn
- Basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
- Advanced IAB verified stats require the $25 per month Advanced plan; Basic gets basic stats only
- Spotify video distribution requires the Advanced or Max plan
- Dynamic ad insertion sits on Professional and Enterprise plans that are quoted by sales with no published rate
- The top published tier, Max at $150 per month, still caps audio uploads at 55 hours per month
Castos
- Transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro
- Private podcast subscribers are capped, at 100 on Essentials and 500 on Pro
- Video hosting and the uptime SLA require the Pro tier at $99 a month
- SSO and a dedicated account manager are Premium only, from $499 a month
- Team seats are limited by tier, at 5 on Growth and 10 on Pro
Pricing, plan by plan
Libsyn
$5/month- Classic 50$5/month
- 50 MB monthly storage
- Basic statistics
- Podcast page
- Classic 150$15/month
- 150 MB monthly storage
- Advanced statistics
- Custom website
- Advanced 400$20/month
- 400 MB monthly storage
- Premium analytics
- Multiple shows
- Advanced 800$40/month
- 800 MB monthly storage
- Full analytics suite
- Priority support
Castos
$13/month- Podcaster$13/month
- Unlimited hosting
- Automatic distribution
- Basic analytics
- Professional$29/month
- All Podcaster features
- Advanced analytics
- Email marketing
Which should you pick?
Choose Libsyn if
- You need reliable hosting.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want advanced analytics.
Choose Castos if
- You need unlimited hosting.
- You work on Web, Wordpress.
- You also want wordpress integration.
Questions people ask
- Is Libsyn or Castos better?
- Neither clearly leads. Libsyn starts at $5/month and Castos at $13/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Libsyn or Castos?
- Libsyn starts at $5/month and Castos at $13/month.
- Does Libsyn or Castos run on more platforms?
- Libsyn runs on Web, Ios, Android. Castos runs on Web, Wordpress.
- What is Libsyn best used for?
- Libsyn is most often used for hosting podcast audio and distributing it to apple podcasts, spotify and youtube, measuring audience with iab certified download statistics, monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plans. Of those, hosting podcast audio and distributing it to apple podcasts, spotify and youtube and measuring audience with iab certified download statistics are not what Castos is typically brought in for.
- What can Libsyn do that Castos cannot?
- Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Castos covers Unlimited hosting, WordPress integration, Distribution, Analytics. Both handle Content protection, Web support.