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Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

Simplecast vs Acast

Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Hosting for professional podcast networks

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Acast logo

Acast

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Enterprise podcast hosting and advertising

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Simplecast basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats; 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
  • They diverge on capability: Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Acast covers Enterprise hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Simplecast and Acast actually diverge.

Attributes where Simplecast and Acast differ
AttributeSimplecastAcast
Starting price$15/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcast & Audio Publishing), founded (2014).

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 Simplecast

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Team collaboration
  • Access controls

Only in Acast

  • Enterprise hosting
  • Sponsorship platform
  • Monetization
  • Data protection

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • API access
  • All podcast platforms
  • 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.

Simplecast

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

Acast

  • Hosting and distributing a podcast to all major listening appsnot Simplecast
  • Monetising episodes through the Acast advertising marketplace and sponsorshipsnot Simplecast
  • Publishing video podcast episodes alongside audionot Simplecast

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Simplecast

$15/month
  • Creator$15/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Analytics
    • Distribution
  • Studio$49/month
    • All Creator features
    • Dynamic ad insertion
    • Team access
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom features
    • API access
    • Dedicated manager

Acast

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Dynamic ad insertion
    • Sponsorship marketplace

Which should you pick?

Choose Simplecast if

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

Choose Acast if

  • You need enterprise hosting.
  • You also want sponsorship platform.
Acast review

Questions people ask

Is Simplecast or Acast better?
Neither clearly leads. Simplecast starts at $15/month and Acast at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Simplecast or Acast?
Simplecast starts at $15/month and Acast at On request.
Does Simplecast or Acast run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Simplecast best used for?
Simplecast is most often used for hosting podcasts with per-episode analytics and audience metrics, distributing shows to apple podcasts, spotify and other directories, monetising podcasts through dynamic ad insertion at the professional tier. Of those, hosting podcasts with per-episode analytics and audience metrics and distributing shows to apple podcasts, spotify and other directories are not what Acast is typically brought in for.
What can Simplecast do that Acast cannot?
Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Team collaboration, Access controls. Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Sponsorship platform, Monetization, Data protection. Both handle Analytics, Dynamic ad insertion, API access, All podcast platforms.
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