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Podcasting · head to head

Apple Podcasts Connect vs Simplecast

Apple Podcasts Connect logo

Apple Podcasts Connect

Podcasting

Manage and distribute your podcast on Apple Podcasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Podcasting

Hosting for professional podcast networks

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Podcasts Connect has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Podcasts Connect requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed; Simplecast basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission, Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Podcasts Connect and Simplecast actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Podcasts Connect and Simplecast differ
AttributeApple Podcasts ConnectSimplecast
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, MacosWeb
Founded19762014

Identical on both: 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 Apple Podcasts Connect

  • Podcast submission
  • Episode management
  • Subscription monetization
  • Show optimization
  • Multi-show management
  • RSS feeds
  • Hosting platforms
  • Apple ecosystem

Only in Simplecast

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Distribution
  • Team collaboration
  • API access
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks
  • CMS systems

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Apple Podcasts Connect

  • Submitting a new podcast to Apple Podcastsnot Simplecast
  • Claiming an existing show so it is registered to your accountnot Simplecast
  • Reviewing Apple Podcasts listener trends and analyticsnot Simplecast
  • Managing show artwork and metadatanot Simplecast

Simplecast

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

Where each one falls short

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

Apple Podcasts Connect

  • Requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
  • Only reports listening that happens inside Apple Podcasts, so it is not a whole-audience view
  • Does not host audio; the show still needs a hosting provider elsewhere

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

Apple Podcasts Connect

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Podcast submission
    • Analytics dashboard
    • Episode management
  • Subscriptions Program$19.99/year
    • Premium subscriptions
    • Paid content
    • Subscriber management

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 Apple Podcasts Connect if

  • You need podcast submission.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Macos.
  • You also want episode management.
Apple Podcasts Connect review

Choose Simplecast if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You also want dynamic ad insertion.
Simplecast review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Podcasts Connect or Simplecast better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Podcasts Connect 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, Apple Podcasts Connect or Simplecast?
Apple Podcasts Connect has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Podcasts Connect and $15/month for Simplecast.
Does Apple Podcasts Connect or Simplecast run on more platforms?
Apple Podcasts Connect runs on Web, Ios, Macos. Simplecast runs on Web.
Can I use Apple Podcasts Connect for free?
Yes. Apple Podcasts Connect has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplecast starts at $15/month.
What is Apple Podcasts Connect best used for?
Apple Podcasts Connect is most often used for submitting a new podcast to apple podcasts, claiming an existing show so it is registered to your account, reviewing apple podcasts listener trends and analytics, managing show artwork and metadata. Of those, submitting a new podcast to apple podcasts and claiming an existing show so it is registered to your account are not what Simplecast is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Podcasts Connect do that Simplecast cannot?
Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission, Episode management, Subscription monetization, Show optimization. Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Dynamic ad insertion, Distribution, Team collaboration. Both handle Analytics, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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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