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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Roku vs Castro

Roku logo

Roku

Media & Entertainment

Streaming made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Castro logo

Castro

Media & Entertainment

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Roku roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021); Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support
  • They diverge on capability: Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Castro covers Podcast app.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Roku and Castro actually diverge.

Attributes where Roku and Castro differ
AttributeRokuCastro
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsRoku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, AndroidiOS, Apple Watch, iPad
CategoryUnknownMedia & Entertainment
Founded20022013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Roku

  • Streaming aggregation
  • Free content
  • Voice search
  • Private listening
  • All major streaming apps
  • Smart home
  • PIN protection
  • Parental controls

Only in Castro

  • Podcast app
  • Inbox system
  • Triage view
  • Playback
  • Discovery
  • Podcast services
  • Apple services
  • Account security

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Roku

  • TV streamingnot Castro
  • Content discoverynot Castro
  • Free entertainmentnot Castro

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Roku
  • Listeningnot Roku

Where each one falls short

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

Roku

  • Roku takes a 20 percent cut of all revenue channel publishers receive through Roku Pay (purchases, subscriptions, ads), paying out the remaining 80 percent no later than 60 days after the end of the month the payment was received, with non-US partners restricted to PayPal or wire transfer (ACH/direct deposit is US-only) and bank fees applying to wire and ACH payouts (archived developer documentation, 2 May 2021)

Castro

  • iOS/Apple-only, no Android support
  • No unified inbox for managing multiple podcast accounts
  • Recent ownership change (2024) may affect long-term development

Pricing, plan by plan

Roku

Free
  • FreeFree
    • The Roku Channel
    • Free content
    • Ad-supported

Castro

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core podcast management
    • Inbox/queue/archive
    • CarPlay support
  • Castro Plus$24.99/year
    • Custom per-podcast settings
    • Trim Silence
    • Enhance Voices

Which should you pick?

Choose Roku if

  • You need streaming aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android.
  • You also want free content.
Roku review

Choose Castro if

  • You need podcast app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad.
  • You also want inbox system.
Castro review

Questions people ask

Is Roku or Castro better?
Neither clearly leads. Roku starts at Free and Castro at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Roku or Castro?
Roku starts at Free and Castro at Free.
Does Roku or Castro run on more platforms?
Roku runs on Roku-devices, Smart-tv, Ios, Android. Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad.
Can I use Roku for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Roku best used for?
Roku is most often used for tv streaming, content discovery, free entertainment. Of those, tv streaming and content discovery are not what Castro is typically brought in for.
What can Roku do that Castro cannot?
Roku covers Streaming aggregation, Free content, Voice search, Private listening. Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Castro: How much does Castro cost?

Castro 3 is free to download with optional Castro Plus subscription at $24.99/year (includes one-week free trial).

Source
Castro: What platforms does Castro support?

Castro is available on iPhone with an Apple Watch app and is expanding to iPad (launched August 4, 2025). There is no Android version.

Source
Castro: What are the key features of Castro Plus premium subscription?

Castro Plus adds custom per-podcast settings including Episode Limit, Trim Silence, Enhance Voices, Mono Mix, Skip Intros, and variable playback speed.

Source
Castro: How does Castro organize podcasts?

Castro uses an inbox/queue/archive split system where the inbox contains notifications of new episodes and the queue serves as an active playlist.

Source
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Related pages

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