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Podcasting · head to head

Simplecast vs Zencastr

Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Podcasting

Hosting for professional podcast networks

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zencastr logo

Zencastr

Podcasting

Free podcast recording in your browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zencastr has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Simplecast basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats; Zencastr the pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Zencastr covers Browser-based recording.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Simplecast and Zencastr actually diverge.

Attributes where Simplecast and Zencastr differ
AttributeSimplecastZencastr
Starting price$15/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded20142015

Identical on both: 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 Simplecast

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

Only in Zencastr

  • Browser-based recording
  • Separate tracks
  • Automatic postproduction
  • Video recording
  • Lossless audio
  • Cloud storage
  • Dropbox
  • Google Drive

Both cover

  • 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 Zencastr
  • Distributing shows to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directoriesnot Zencastr
  • Monetising podcasts through dynamic ad insertion at the Professional tiernot Zencastr

Zencastr

  • Recording remote podcast interviews with separate local tracks per guestnot Simplecast
  • Recording video podcasts in the browser without guest software installsnot Simplecast
  • Publishing recorded episodes and clips from one workspacenot 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

Zencastr

  • The pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • The free tier caps a session at 6 participants
  • The free tier caps video streaming quality at 1080p
  • The free tier is limited to 5 podcast shows and 4 seats

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Zencastr

Free
  • HobbyistFree
    • 8 hours/month audio
    • MP3 quality
    • Up to 2 guests
  • Professional$20/month
    • Unlimited recording
    • WAV lossless quality
    • Video recording

Which should you pick?

Choose Simplecast if

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

Choose Zencastr if

  • You need browser-based recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want separate tracks.
Zencastr review

Questions people ask

Is Simplecast or Zencastr better?
Neither clearly leads. Simplecast starts at $15/month and Zencastr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Simplecast or Zencastr?
Zencastr has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $15/month for Simplecast and Free for Zencastr.
Does Simplecast or Zencastr run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Zencastr for free?
Yes. Zencastr has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplecast starts at $15/month.
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 Zencastr is typically brought in for.
What can Simplecast do that Zencastr cannot?
Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Analytics, Dynamic ad insertion, Distribution. Zencastr covers Browser-based recording, Separate tracks, Automatic postproduction, Video recording. Both handle 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
Zencastr: Is Zencastr free to use?

Zencastr offers a free plan called Vibecastr with the option to upgrade to Enterprise with 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
Zencastr: What support level comes with Zencastr's free plan?

The free Vibecastr plan includes Producer-level support, while Enterprise plans offer custom support arrangements.

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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