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Podcasting · head to head

Acast vs Megaphone

Acast logo

Acast

Podcasting

Enterprise podcast hosting and advertising

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Megaphone logo

Megaphone

Podcasting

Enterprise podcast hosting and monetization

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Acast has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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; Megaphone there is no free tier; the entry Professional plan starts at $99 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Acast covers Sponsorship platform, Megaphone covers Targeted advertising.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acast and Megaphone actually diverge.

Attributes where Acast and Megaphone differ
AttributeAcastMegaphone
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20142015

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).

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 Acast

  • Sponsorship platform
  • Analytics
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Data protection

Only in Megaphone

  • Targeted advertising
  • Advanced analytics
  • Network management
  • Spotify
  • Analytics platforms
  • Access controls

Both cover

  • Enterprise hosting
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • API access
  • Advertising networks
  • CMS systems
  • Enterprise security
  • SOC 2 compliant
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Acast

  • Podcast distribution and monetizationnot Megaphone
  • Ad network managementnot Megaphone
  • Listener analytics trackingnot Megaphone
  • Multi-platform publishingnot Megaphone

Megaphone

  • podcast hosting and distributionnot Acast
  • podcast analytics and monetizationnot Acast
  • creator monetization networksnot Acast

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

Megaphone

  • There is no free tier; the entry Professional plan starts at $99 per month
  • The Enterprise plan is custom priced and requires requesting a quote
  • Access to the Megaphone API and the Metrics Export Service is Enterprise only
  • Live chat support on the Professional plan is limited to 4am to 9pm Monday to Friday Eastern Time
  • Monetisation runs through the Spotify Audience Network rather than an open marketplace

Pricing, plan by plan

Acast

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 1 show
    • 5 episodes (unlimited with monetization)
    • Basic podcast website
  • Essential$25/month
    • Unlimited shows
    • Unlimited episodes
    • All Starter features
  • Pro$40/month
    • Unlimited shows
    • Unlimited episodes
    • All Essential features
  • Video$50/month
    • Unlimited shows
    • Unlimited episodes
    • All Pro features

Megaphone

$99/month
  • Professional$99/month
    • Hosting and distribution
    • Campaign management
    • Reporting and analytics
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • All Professional features
    • Comprehensive monetization tools
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Acast if

  • You need sponsorship platform.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want analytics.
Acast review

Choose Megaphone if

  • You need targeted advertising.
  • You also want advanced analytics.
Megaphone review

Questions people ask

Is Acast or Megaphone better?
Neither clearly leads. Acast starts at Free and Megaphone at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acast or Megaphone?
Acast has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Acast and $99/month for Megaphone.
Does Acast or Megaphone run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Acast for free?
Yes. Acast has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Megaphone starts at $99/month.
What is Acast best used for?
Acast is most often used for podcast distribution and monetization, ad network management, listener analytics tracking, multi-platform publishing. Of those, podcast distribution and monetization and ad network management are not what Megaphone is typically brought in for.
What can Acast do that Megaphone cannot?
Acast covers Sponsorship platform, Analytics, Monetization, All podcast platforms. Megaphone covers Targeted advertising, Advanced analytics, Network management, Spotify. Both handle Enterprise hosting, Dynamic ad insertion, API access, Advertising networks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Acast: What is the minimum cost to publish a podcast on Acast?

Acast offers a free Starter plan that allows publishing 1 show with up to 5 episodes. To unlock unlimited episodes and multiple shows, the Essential plan starts at EUR 25 per month.

Source
Megaphone: How much does Megaphone (Spotify) cost?

Megaphone Professional plan costs USD 99/month and includes hosting, distribution, campaign management, analytics, and Spotify Audience Network monetization.

Source
Acast: How does Acast's annual billing discount work?

Annual plans are discounted versus monthly billing. Essential plan costs EUR 14.99 per month when billed yearly, Pro costs EUR 29.99 monthly when annual, and Video costs EUR 39.99 monthly when annual.

Source
Megaphone: Is there a free tier on Megaphone?

No, Megaphone does not offer a free plan; the Professional tier is the entry-level paid option at USD 99/month.

Source
Acast: Which Acast plan includes team management and API access?

The Pro plan (EUR 40 per month) includes team management, prioritized support, and publishing API access. Pricing is for monthly billing.

Source
Megaphone: What does Megaphone Enterprise include?

Megaphone Enterprise includes all Professional features plus comprehensive monetization tools and API access; pricing is custom and requires contacting sales.

Source
Megaphone: Who should use Megaphone Professional versus Enterprise?

Megaphone Professional suits individual podcasters; Enterprise is designed for large publishers, networks, and multi-show operations requiring advanced tools and custom integrations.

Source
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