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Podcasting · head to head

Podcorn vs Simplecast

Podcorn logo

Podcorn

Podcasting

Marketplace connecting podcasters with sponsors

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Podcasting

Hosting for professional podcast networks

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Podcorn has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Podcorn 10% service fee charged on successful podcast sponsorship campaigns; Simplecast basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • They diverge on capability: Podcorn covers Sponsor marketplace, Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podcorn and Simplecast actually diverge.

Attributes where Podcorn and Simplecast differ
AttributePodcornSimplecast
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modeltransactionsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20192014

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 Podcorn

  • Sponsor marketplace
  • Direct brand deals
  • Rate setting
  • Campaign management
  • Payment processing
  • Performance tracking
  • Podcast hosts
  • Payment processors

Only in Simplecast

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Analytics
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Distribution
  • Team collaboration
  • 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.

Podcorn

  • Podcast monetizationnot Simplecast
  • Sponsorship dealsnot Simplecast
  • Native advertisingnot Simplecast
  • Brand partnershipsnot Simplecast

Simplecast

  • Hosting podcasts with per-episode analytics and audience metricsnot Podcorn
  • Distributing shows to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directoriesnot Podcorn
  • Monetising podcasts through dynamic ad insertion at the Professional tiernot Podcorn

Where each one falls short

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

Podcorn

  • 10% service fee charged on successful podcast sponsorship campaigns
  • Only charges on completed transactions, not upfront

Simplecast

  • Basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • Essential plan at $35 per month includes 50,000 monthly downloads and 4 team seats
  • Dynamic ad insertion and campaign management are only on the Professional plan, which is quoted by sales with no published rate
  • API access for publishing and campaign management is Enterprise only
  • Annual prepayment is required to get the 10 percent discount

Pricing, plan by plan

Podcorn

Free
  • Free for PodcastersFree
    • Create profile
    • Browse opportunities
    • Set your rates

Simplecast

$15/month
  • Basic$15/month
    • Annual option: $13.50/month when prepaid
    • 2 team seats
    • Unlimited storage
  • Essential$35/month
    • Annual option: $31.50/month when prepaid
    • 4 team seats
    • Everything in Basic plus additional web players
  • Professional$null/custom
    • Contact sales for custom pricing
    • Dynamic ad insertion
    • Campaign management
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Contact sales for custom features
    • Everything in Professional plus API integration
    • White-labeled RSS

Which should you pick?

Choose Podcorn if

  • You need sponsor marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want direct brand deals.
Podcorn review

Choose Simplecast if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You also want analytics.
Simplecast review

Questions people ask

Is Podcorn or Simplecast better?
Neither clearly leads. Podcorn starts at Free and Simplecast at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podcorn or Simplecast?
Podcorn has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Podcorn and $15/month for Simplecast.
Does Podcorn or Simplecast run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Podcorn for free?
Yes. Podcorn has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplecast starts at $15/month.
What is Podcorn best used for?
Podcorn is most often used for podcast monetization, sponsorship deals, native advertising, brand partnerships. Of those, podcast monetization and sponsorship deals are not what Simplecast is typically brought in for.
What can Podcorn do that Simplecast cannot?
Podcorn covers Sponsor marketplace, Direct brand deals, Rate setting, Campaign management. Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Analytics, Dynamic ad insertion, Distribution. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Podcorn: How much does Podcorn cost?

Podcorn is free to join with 0% signup fees for both podcasters and brands. The platform operates on a 10% service fee model charged only on successful campaigns when payment is received.

Source
Simplecast: How much does Simplecast cost?

Simplecast offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card required) followed by paid plans starting at $15/month for Basic ($13.50/month annual) and $35/month for Essential ($31.50/month annual). Professional and Enterprise plans require contacting sales for custom pricing.

Source
Podcorn: How does Podcorn's pricing model work?

Podcorn charges a 10% service fee for podcasters when they receive payment for sponsorships and a 10% fee for brands when their content is approved. There are no upfront costs, and fees are only charged for successful campaigns.

Source
Simplecast: Can I change my Simplecast plan anytime?

Yes. Plan changes are allowed anytime with prorated adjustments. You can cancel anytime with no long-term contracts or penalties.

Source
Podcorn: Are there any commitments or contracts required on Podcorn?

No, podcasters on Podcorn have no exclusivities or long-term commitments required. Brands can control costs by setting their own sponsorship budgets.

Source
Simplecast: What is included in the Basic plan?

The Basic plan ($15/month or $13.50/month annually) includes 2 team seats, unlimited storage, distribution to all platforms, basic analytics, custom domain website, and 20,000 downloads per month.

Source
Simplecast: What makes the Essential plan different from Basic?

The Essential plan ($35/month or $31.50/month annually) adds 2 more team seats (4 total), comparative analytics, location analytics, unique listener reports, and increases the monthly download allowance to 50,000.

Source
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