Overview

Acast is a podcast publishing and monetization service for creators who want distribution, audience data and ad tools in one place. It is strongest for publishers ready to grow beyond a single small show; the Starter plan’s five-episode cap makes the free entry point a narrow fit.

Key features

Publishing and reach

Acast supports RSS and distributes to major podcast directories, with one-click publishing to Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Scheduling, bulk editing and multi-show management help keep a release operation organized, while dynamic intros and outros and automated ad placements support ongoing production and monetization. Private podcasts and video podcast support broaden the format options.

The customizable no-code website and web player give shows a place to present episodes, and video clips support social sharing. Paid plans include a Headliner integration for audiograms for services such as Instagram and TikTok. It defaults to 10-minute videos and supports videos up to four hours, a useful range for social assets, though not a substitute for the platform’s separate video publishing tier.

Analytics and integrations

Advanced analytics cover downloads, geography, listening platforms, engagement and revenue. That combination is useful to creators who need to understand both audience reach and income rather than just track episode downloads. The Publishing API supports show and episode operations for Pro users and Creator Network members, with a rate limit of 60 requests per minute. Webhooks can send an event whenever a new episode is published.

Video publishing to Apple Podcasts remains a limited beta for selected creators, so the Video plan’s headline capability is not a guarantee of immediate access for every publisher. Its 10,000 monthly video views cap also matters for shows with larger video audiences.

Pricing

Acast is freemium, with paid plans starting at $14.99/mo (annual). Starter has no price stated and includes one show and five episodes. That cap is restrictive for a regular publishing schedule; unlimited episodes become available when a show is made available in Acast’s advertising marketplace. Starter suits a trial or a small, occasional show more than a growing catalog.

Essential costs 14.99 USD per month, billed yearly, and adds multiple shows, unlimited episodes, ads and sponsorships. It is the practical choice for creators who need room to publish and monetize, but do not need team administration or API access.

Pro costs 29.99 USD per month, billed yearly. It includes everything in Essential, plus team management, prioritized support and the Publishing API. The higher price makes sense for collaborative publishing or API-driven workflows; solo creators who do not need those tools can stay on Essential.

Video costs 39.99 USD per month, billed yearly, and includes everything in Pro, Apple Podcasts video publishing, automatic video-to-audio conversion and 10,000 monthly video views. It is aimed at publishers actively producing video, but the selected-creator beta restriction on Apple Podcasts video publishing is a material caveat.

Acast Creator Network has custom pricing and offers premium benefits and services beyond the standard tiers. Paid plans renew on a yearly billing basis as stated in their terms.

Platforms

Acast supports Android, iOS and web, as well as an API. The platform mix suits creators who manage shows across mobile and browser workflows, with API access tied to Pro and Creator Network membership.

Who it's for

Acast fits independent podcasters who expect to expand their catalog, sell sponsorships or use detailed audience and revenue analytics. Multi-show publishers can use Essential, while teams and technically integrated operations have a clearer case for Pro. It is less compelling for a new show that will remain under five episodes, or for video-first creators who require assured Apple Podcasts video access.

Acast says it does not own uploaded creator content. Its security measures include audit logging, access monitoring, backups, data erasure, AWS hosting, anti-DDoS protection, separate production environments, disk encryption, firewalls and IDS/IPS. For users in the EEA, Switzerland and UK, Acast AB is the data controller and provides rights including access, rectification and erasure. Support is available by email and Intercom chat; Pro includes prioritized support.

Pros and cons

Pros: Major-directory distribution, advanced listener and revenue analytics, and monetization tools combine publishing and commercial workflows in one service.
Pros: Essential removes the Starter episode ceiling and allows multiple shows, making it a clear step up for a growing portfolio.
Cons: Starter’s one-show, five-episode limit is tight, and unlimited episodes depend on joining the advertising marketplace.
Cons: Annual billing applies to the priced paid tiers, and Apple Podcasts video publishing is limited beta rather than universally available.

Alternatives

Choose Podbean if its free plan’s stated allowance of five hours of storage, 100GB monthly bandwidth and 20 episodes in the RSS feed better matches a bounded hosting need. Buzzsprout is an option for a smaller trial, with a free plan allowing two hours of uploads and 90-day episode hosting. Podigee may suit someone who wants a free-forever entry tier with one podcast, a 60-minute lifetime audio allowance and seven days of analytics.

For advertising-specific needs, Lucid offers a free monetization network for shows with at least 1,000 monthly downloads and no obligation to accept work, while Magellan AI offers a free verified-download prefix but requires a demo for full platform access. Zencastr is an alternative for recording, with its free plan covering six participants, unlimited recording and downloads, and video up to 4K. OpenStream is a free-to-use option with no obligation and cancellation at any time. Spotify Ad Analytics is free of charge.

For category-specific browsing, see Podcast Advertising Platforms, Podcast Website Builders and Podcast Monetization Platforms.

Verdict

Acast is a strong fit for creators who want distribution, detailed audience and revenue insight, and monetization in a single platform, especially once they need multiple shows or unlimited episodes. The principal reason to look elsewhere is the restrictive Starter ceiling, alongside the uncertainty of access to Apple Podcasts video publishing even on the Video tier.

	Acast	Castos
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	—	$19/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Web	Web, iOS, Android
Free plan	Yes	No
Paid from	14.99 /mo	19 /mo

Acast vs Castos

Acast

Castos