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Podcasting · head to head

Castos vs Simplecast

Castos logo

Castos

Podcasting

Simple podcast hosting for WordPress sites

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Podcasting

Hosting for professional podcast networks

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Castos has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Castos transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro; Simplecast basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • They diverge on capability: Castos covers WordPress integration, Simplecast covers Dynamic ad insertion.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castos and Simplecast actually diverge.

Attributes where Castos and Simplecast differ
AttributeCastosSimplecast
Starting priceFree$15/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, WordpressWeb
Founded20162014

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Castos

  • WordPress integration
  • Monetization
  • Email marketing
  • WordPress
  • Email services
  • Content protection
  • WordPress security
  • Wordpress support

Only in Simplecast

  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Team collaboration
  • API access
  • Advertising networks
  • CMS systems
  • Enterprise security
  • SOC 2 compliant
  • Access controls

Both cover

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Analytics
  • All podcast platforms
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Castos

  • Podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloadsnot Simplecast
  • Private and subscriber-only podcastsnot Simplecast
  • Automatic transcription of episodesnot Simplecast
  • Republishing episodes to YouTubenot Simplecast
  • WordPress-integrated podcast publishingnot Simplecast

Simplecast

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

Where each one falls short

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

Castos

  • Transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro
  • Private podcast subscribers are capped, at 100 on Essentials and 500 on Pro
  • Video hosting and the uptime SLA require the Pro tier at $99 a month
  • SSO and a dedicated account manager are Premium only, from $499 a month
  • Team seats are limited by tier, at 5 on Growth and 10 on Pro

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

Castos

Free
  • Essentials$19/month
    • unlimited podcasts/episodes
    • 10 transcripts/month
  • Growth$49/month
    • advanced analytics
    • 25 transcripts/month
  • Pro$99/month
    • video hosting
    • 100 transcripts/month
  • Premium$499/month
    • unlimited transcripts
    • dedicated account 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 Castos if

  • You need wordpress integration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Wordpress.
  • You also want monetization.
Castos review

Choose Simplecast if

  • You need dynamic ad insertion.
  • You also want team collaboration.
Simplecast review

Questions people ask

Is Castos or Simplecast better?
Neither clearly leads. Castos 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, Castos or Simplecast?
Castos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Castos and $15/month for Simplecast.
Does Castos or Simplecast run on more platforms?
Castos runs on Web, Wordpress. Simplecast runs on Web.
Can I use Castos for free?
Yes. Castos has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplecast starts at $15/month.
What is Castos best used for?
Castos is most often used for podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloads, private and subscriber-only podcasts, automatic transcription of episodes, republishing episodes to youtube. Of those, podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloads and private and subscriber-only podcasts are not what Simplecast is typically brought in for.
What can Castos do that Simplecast cannot?
Castos covers WordPress integration, Monetization, Email marketing, WordPress. Simplecast covers Dynamic ad insertion, Team collaboration, API access, Advertising networks. Both handle Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Analytics, All podcast platforms.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Castos: How much does Castos cost?

Castos plans range from USD 19/month for Essentials to USD 499+/month for Premium, with annual billing offering 2 months free discount.

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
Castos: Is there a free trial for Castos?

Yes, Castos offers a 14-day free trial on the Essentials plan with no credit card required to get started.

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
Castos: How many transcripts are included per plan?

Essentials includes 10 transcripts/month, Growth includes 25, Pro includes 100, and Premium includes unlimited transcripts.

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
Castos: What are Castos add-ons and how much do they cost?

Add-ons include AI Assistant at USD 10/month and extra private subscribers at USD 50/month per 500 additional subscribers.

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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