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Podcasting · head to head

Megaphone vs Simplecast

Megaphone logo

Megaphone

Podcasting

Enterprise podcast hosting and monetization

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Podcasting

Hosting for professional podcast networks

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Megaphone there is no free tier; the entry Professional plan starts at $99 per month; Simplecast basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • They diverge on capability: Megaphone covers Enterprise hosting, Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Megaphone and Simplecast actually diverge.

Attributes where Megaphone and Simplecast differ
AttributeMegaphoneSimplecast
Starting price$99/month$15/month
Founded20152014

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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 Megaphone

  • Enterprise hosting
  • Targeted advertising
  • Advanced analytics
  • Network management
  • Spotify
  • Analytics platforms

Only in Simplecast

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Analytics
  • Distribution
  • Team collaboration
  • All podcast 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.

Megaphone

  • podcast hosting and distributionnot Simplecast
  • podcast analytics and monetizationnot Simplecast
  • creator monetization networksnot Simplecast

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Megaphone

$99/month
  • Professional$99/month
    • Hosting and distribution
    • Campaign management
    • Reporting and analytics
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • All Professional features
    • Comprehensive monetization tools
    • API access

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 Megaphone if

  • You need enterprise hosting.
  • You also want targeted advertising.
Megaphone review

Choose Simplecast if

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

Questions people ask

Is Megaphone or Simplecast better?
Neither clearly leads. Megaphone starts at $99/month and Simplecast at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Megaphone or Simplecast?
Megaphone starts at $99/month and Simplecast at $15/month.
Does Megaphone or Simplecast run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Megaphone best used for?
Megaphone is most often used for podcast hosting and distribution, podcast analytics and monetization, creator monetization networks. Of those, podcast hosting and distribution and podcast analytics and monetization are not what Simplecast is typically brought in for.
What can Megaphone do that Simplecast cannot?
Megaphone covers Enterprise hosting, Targeted advertising, Advanced analytics, Network management. Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Analytics, Distribution, Team collaboration. Both handle Dynamic ad insertion, API access, Advertising networks, CMS systems.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Megaphone: How much does Megaphone (Spotify) cost?

Megaphone Professional plan costs USD 99/month and includes hosting, distribution, campaign management, analytics, and Spotify Audience Network monetization.

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
Megaphone: Is there a free tier on Megaphone?

No, Megaphone does not offer a free plan; the Professional tier is the entry-level paid option at USD 99/month.

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
Megaphone: What does Megaphone Enterprise include?

Megaphone Enterprise includes all Professional features plus comprehensive monetization tools and API access; pricing is custom and requires contacting sales.

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
Megaphone: Who should use Megaphone Professional versus Enterprise?

Megaphone Professional suits individual podcasters; Enterprise is designed for large publishers, networks, and multi-show operations requiring advanced tools and custom integrations.

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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