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Podcasting · head to head

Acast vs Pocketcasts

Acast logo

Acast

Podcasting

Enterprise podcast hosting and advertising

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Podcasting

The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Pocketcasts specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website
  • They diverge on capability: Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acast and Pocketcasts actually diverge.

Attributes where Acast and Pocketcasts differ
AttributeAcastPocketcasts
PlatformsWebIos, Android, Web, Windows, Macos
Founded20142010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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

  • Enterprise hosting
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Sponsorship platform
  • Analytics
  • Monetization
  • API access
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks

Only in Pocketcasts

  • Podcast discovery
  • Variable speed playback
  • Silence trimming
  • Cross-device sync
  • Custom filters
  • Apple Watch
  • Wear OS
  • Sonos

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Acast

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

Pocketcasts

  • Podcast listeningnot Acast
  • Audio content consumptionnot Acast
  • Learning on the gonot 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

Pocketcasts

  • Specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website
  • Free tier features not clearly delineated

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

Pocketcasts

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Cross-device sync
    • Playback effects
  • Plus$39.99/year
    • Desktop apps
    • Cloud storage 10GB
    • Extra themes

Which should you pick?

Choose Acast if

  • You need enterprise hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want dynamic ad insertion.
Acast review

Choose Pocketcasts if

  • You need podcast discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want variable speed playback.
Pocketcasts review

Questions people ask

Is Acast or Pocketcasts better?
Neither clearly leads. Acast starts at Free and Pocketcasts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acast or Pocketcasts?
Acast starts at Free and Pocketcasts at Free.
Does Acast or Pocketcasts run on more platforms?
Acast runs on Web. Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
Can I use Acast for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Pocketcasts is typically brought in for.
What can Acast do that Pocketcasts cannot?
Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Dynamic ad insertion, Sponsorship platform, Analytics. Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Both handle Web support.

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
Pocketcasts: How much does Pocket Casts cost?

Pocket Casts offers a free version described as 'the world's most powerful podcast platform, now available for free.' Premium tiers like Pocket Casts Plus and Pocket Casts Patron are available, but specific pricing is not disclosed on the main website.

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
Pocketcasts: Is there a free version of Pocket Casts?

Yes, Pocket Casts offers a free tier with 'next-level listening, search and discovery tools' and access to curated podcast recommendations. Premium features require upgrading to Plus or Patron plans.

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
Pocketcasts: What premium features does Pocket Casts Plus include?

Pocket Casts Plus includes wearable app access, folders for podcast organization, Up Next Shuffle, bookmarks, cloud storage, and themes with custom icons. Specific pricing for this tier is not published on the website.

Source
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