Softwr

Software · head to head

SoundCloud vs Castos

SoundCloud logo

SoundCloud

Software

Discover, stream, and share music

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Castos logo

Castos

Software

Simple podcast hosting for WordPress sites

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SoundCloud has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: SoundCloud the free tier plays tracks with ads; Castos transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro
  • They diverge on capability: SoundCloud covers Audio streaming, Castos covers Unlimited hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SoundCloud and Castos actually diverge.

Attributes where SoundCloud and Castos differ
AttributeSoundCloudCastos
Starting priceFree$13/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, DesktopWeb, Wordpress
Founded20072016

Identical on both: 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 SoundCloud

  • Audio streaming
  • Uploads
  • Discovery
  • Sharing
  • Social media
  • DJ software
  • Privacy settings
  • Ios support

Only in Castos

  • Unlimited hosting
  • WordPress integration
  • Distribution
  • Analytics
  • Monetization
  • Email marketing
  • WordPress
  • All podcast platforms

Both cover

  • Content protection
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

SoundCloud

  • Discovering tracks from emerging and independent artistsnot Castos
  • Uploading your own music to reach listeners directlynot Castos
  • Offline listening and ad-free playback on a paid tiernot Castos

Castos

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

Where each one falls short

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

SoundCloud

  • The free tier plays tracks with ads
  • Offline saving of tracks requires a SoundCloud Go or Go+ subscription
  • Premium Go+ tracks are locked behind the higher Go+ tier, so SoundCloud Go alone does not unlock the full catalogue
  • Exclusive DJ app integrations require Go+
  • The app is available in only eight languages: English, Brazilian Portuguese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Arabic
  • The iOS app requires iOS 16.4 or later

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

Pricing, plan by plan

SoundCloud

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited uploads
    • Ads
  • Go$5.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Offline
  • Go+$12.99/month
    • Full catalog
    • HQ audio

Castos

$13/month
  • Podcaster$13/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Automatic distribution
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$29/month
    • All Podcaster features
    • Advanced analytics
    • Email marketing

Which should you pick?

Choose SoundCloud if

  • You need audio streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want uploads.
SoundCloud review

Choose Castos if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You work on Web, Wordpress.
  • You also want wordpress integration.
Castos review

Questions people ask

Is SoundCloud or Castos better?
Neither clearly leads. SoundCloud starts at Free and Castos at $13/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SoundCloud or Castos?
SoundCloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for SoundCloud and $13/month for Castos.
Does SoundCloud or Castos run on more platforms?
SoundCloud runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. Castos runs on Web, Wordpress.
Can I use SoundCloud for free?
Yes. SoundCloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Castos starts at $13/month.
What is SoundCloud best used for?
SoundCloud is most often used for discovering tracks from emerging and independent artists, uploading your own music to reach listeners directly, offline listening and ad-free playback on a paid tier. Of those, discovering tracks from emerging and independent artists and uploading your own music to reach listeners directly are not what Castos is typically brought in for.
What can SoundCloud do that Castos cannot?
SoundCloud covers Audio streaming, Uploads, Discovery, Sharing. Castos covers Unlimited hosting, WordPress integration, Distribution, Analytics. Both handle Content protection, Web support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on SoundCloud

More on Castos

Keep looking

Other head to heads