Softwr

Podcasting · head to head

Castos vs Transistor.fm

Castos logo

Castos

Podcasting

Simple podcast hosting for WordPress sites

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Transistor.fm logo

Transistor.fm

Podcasting

The podcast host built for professional broadcasters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Castos transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro; Transistor.fm add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display
  • They diverge on capability: Castos covers Unlimited hosting, Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castos and Transistor.fm actually diverge.

Attributes where Castos and Transistor.fm differ
AttributeCastosTransistor.fm
PlatformsWeb, WordpressWeb, Mobile

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting), founded (2016).

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

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

Only in Transistor.fm

  • Unlimited episodes
  • Automatic transcription
  • Advanced analytics
  • Custom player
  • Email newsletters
  • White-label options
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

Both cover

  • 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 Transistor.fm
  • Private and subscriber-only podcastsnot Transistor.fm
  • Automatic transcription of episodesnot Transistor.fm
  • Republishing episodes to YouTubenot Transistor.fm
  • WordPress-integrated podcast publishingnot Transistor.fm

Transistor.fm

  • Podcast hosting and distributionnot Castos
  • Video podcast publishingnot Castos
  • AI transcriptionnot Castos
  • Dynamic ad insertionnot Castos
  • Private podcast networksnot 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

Transistor.fm

  • Add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display
  • Enterprise pricing lacks specificity and requires direct contact
  • Private subscriber limits appear restrictive for scaling large networks
  • No transparent usage overage costs shown

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

Transistor.fm

Free
  • Starter$19/month
    • 20K monthly downloads
    • 50 private subscribers
    • Unlimited podcasts
  • Professional$49/month
    • 100K monthly downloads
    • 500 private subscribers
    • Dynamic ads
  • Business$99/month
    • 250K monthly downloads
    • 3K private subscribers
    • Branded removal
  • Enterprise$199/month
    • Custom limits exceeding 250K downloads or 3K private subscribers

Which should you pick?

Choose Castos if

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

Choose Transistor.fm if

  • You need unlimited episodes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want automatic transcription.
Transistor.fm review

Questions people ask

Is Castos or Transistor.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Castos starts at Free and Transistor.fm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castos or Transistor.fm?
Castos starts at Free and Transistor.fm at Free.
Does Castos or Transistor.fm run on more platforms?
Castos runs on Web, Wordpress. Transistor.fm runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Castos for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Transistor.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Castos do that Transistor.fm cannot?
Castos covers Unlimited hosting, WordPress integration, Distribution, Analytics. Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes, Automatic transcription, Advanced analytics, Custom player. Both handle Web support.

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
Transistor.fm: Does Transistor.fm offer a free trial?

Yes, Transistor offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

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
Transistor.fm: What's the least expensive plan?

The Starter plan costs $19 per month USD and includes 20K monthly downloads, 50 private subscribers, unlimited podcasts, and unlimited collaborators.

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
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
Share

Related pages

More on Castos

More on Transistor.fm

Keep looking

Other head to heads