Software · head to head
Simplecast vs Megaphone
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; Megaphone there is no free tier; the entry Professional plan starts at $99 per month
- They diverge on capability: Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Megaphone covers Enterprise hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Simplecast and Megaphone actually diverge.
| Attribute | Simplecast | Megaphone |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $15/month | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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
- Analytics
- Distribution
- Team collaboration
- All podcast platforms
Only in Megaphone
- Enterprise hosting
- Targeted advertising
- Advanced analytics
- Network management
- Spotify
- Analytics platforms
Both cover
- Dynamic ad insertion
- API access
- Advertising networks
- CMS systems
- Enterprise security
- SOC 2 compliant
- Access controls
- 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 Megaphone
- Distributing shows to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directoriesnot Megaphone
- Monetising podcasts through dynamic ad insertion at the Professional tiernot Megaphone
Megaphone
- Enterprise podcast hosting and distribution for publishers and networksnot Simplecast
- Dynamic ad insertion and campaign management across a back cataloguenot Simplecast
- Podcast measurement and reporting for large teamsnot 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
Megaphone
- There is no free tier; the entry Professional plan starts at $99 per month
- The Enterprise plan is custom priced and requires requesting a quote
- Access to the Megaphone API and the Metrics Export Service is Enterprise only
- Live chat support on the Professional plan is limited to 4am to 9pm Monday to Friday Eastern Time
- Monetisation runs through the Spotify Audience Network rather than an open marketplace
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
Megaphone
On request- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Unlimited hosting
- Dynamic ad insertion
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Questions people ask
- Is Simplecast or Megaphone better?
- Neither clearly leads. Simplecast starts at $15/month and Megaphone at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Simplecast or Megaphone?
- Simplecast starts at $15/month and Megaphone at On request.
- Does Simplecast or Megaphone 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 Megaphone is typically brought in for.
- What can Simplecast do that Megaphone cannot?
- Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Analytics, Distribution, Team collaboration. Megaphone covers Enterprise hosting, Targeted advertising, Advanced analytics, Network management. Both handle Dynamic ad insertion, API access, Advertising networks, CMS systems.