Acast

Overview

Acast is a podcast management and publishing platform for creators who want distribution, audience data and monetization tools in one service. It suits independent podcasters as well as teams managing multiple shows. Its breadth is a strength, but the free Starter tier’s five-episode cap makes it a limited long-term home unless the show joins Acast’s advertising marketplace.

Key features

Publishing and reach

Acast supports RSS feeds, one-click publishing to Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and distribution to major podcast directories. Scheduling, bulk editing and multi-show management help creators keep releases organized; automated ad placements and dynamic intros and outros add useful control over show operations. The Starter limit of one show and five episodes is restrictive for an ongoing catalogue, though unlimited episodes become available when the show is made available in Acast’s advertising marketplace.

Audience insight and growth

Advanced analytics cover downloads, geography, listening platforms, engagement and revenue. That combination is useful for creators who want to assess both audience behavior and monetization rather than track downloads alone. A customizable no-code website and web player, plus video clips for social sharing, give creators ways to present and promote a show beyond directory listings.

Video, integrations and technical access

Acast supports video podcasts, but Apple Podcasts video publishing remains a limited beta for selected creators, so the Video plan’s headline capability is not broadly available to every buyer. The paid-plan Headliner integration creates audiograms for social platforms such as Instagram and TikTok; videos default to 10 minutes and can run up to four hours. Acast’s 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 trigger an event when a new episode is published.

Privacy, ownership and support

Acast states that it does not own uploaded podcast content. Its GDPR policy names Acast AB as data controller for users in the EEA, Switzerland and UK, with rights including access, rectification and erasure. Its security portal lists safeguards including audit logging, access monitoring, backups, data erasure, AWS hosting, anti-DDoS protection, disk encryption, firewalls and IDS/IPS. Support is offered by email and Intercom chat; Pro adds prioritized support.

Pricing

Acast uses a freemium model. Starter has no published price and includes one show and five episodes. That can suit a small trial or a short catalogue, but the episode ceiling is a material constraint unless the show is made available in Acast’s advertising marketplace.

Essential costs $14.99 a month, billed yearly. It adds multiple shows, unlimited episodes, ads and sponsorships, making it the practical paid starting point for creators who need room to grow or earn from a show.

Pro costs $29.99 a month, billed yearly, and includes everything in Essential plus team management, prioritized support and Publishing API access. It is the stronger fit for collaborative operations or API-based workflows; solo creators without those needs may not benefit enough to justify the higher tier.

Video costs $39.99 a month, billed yearly, and includes everything in Pro, Apple Podcasts video publishing, automatic video-to-audio conversion and 10,000 monthly video views. Its value depends on needing those video features, and Apple video access is currently limited to selected creators. Acast Creator Network has custom pricing and offers premium benefits and services beyond the standard tiers.

Platforms

Acast is available on Android, iOS and the web, and provides an API. Its combination of mobile and web access suits creators who manage shows across devices, while the API is specifically included for Pro users and Creator Network members.

Who it's for

Acast is a strong fit for podcasters who want distribution, advanced analytics and monetization in one platform, particularly when they run multiple shows or need team workflows. Essential is the most relevant tier for creators who have outgrown Starter’s episode cap. It is less compelling for someone seeking a durable free archive, or for a buyer who needs Apple Podcasts video publishing without beta-selection uncertainty.

Pros and cons

• Pros: One-click Spotify and Apple Podcasts publishing plus major-directory distribution reduces the need to manage each outlet separately.
• Pros: Advanced analytics combine audience engagement and revenue data, useful for evaluating both reach and earnings.
• Pros: Multiple-show management, team tools on Pro and monetization options support growth beyond a single show.
• Cons: Starter permits only one show and five episodes, a tight ceiling for a continuing podcast unless it enters Acast’s advertising marketplace.
• Cons: Apple Podcasts video publishing is limited to selected creators, which weakens the certainty of the Video tier’s central extra.
• Cons: Paid plans are billed yearly, so the monthly-equivalent prices do not represent a month-to-month commitment.

Alternatives

For a simpler podcast website rather than a broader publishing and monetization platform, compare podcast website builders. If ad-marketplace options are the priority, browse podcast advertising platforms; for a wider focus on earning from a show, see podcast monetization platforms.

Podbean is another freemium option with Android and iOS apps and a free plan that caps storage, bandwidth, daily episodes, file size and RSS-feed episodes. SupaPass Podcast Website Builder suits a creator prioritizing a website, with a free forever tier that imports podcast and blog RSS feeds and includes a sitewide player, member login and comments. Blubrry offers a lower-cost Standard 1.5 plan at $7 a month, capped at 1.5 hours monthly, with audio and video podcasting, standard statistics and a managed WordPress site.

Podcast.page and PodView are alternatives for podcast websites: Podcast.page has a free one-site tier with a watermark, while PodView’s free tier uses a PodView subdomain and excludes a custom domain. RSS.com offers a free plan for one podcast with 30 days of analytics history and one voicemail. Jellypod has a free hosting plan with a dedicated podcast website. Castee is another freemium option for comparison.

Verdict

Choose Acast if you want a single platform for podcast distribution, advanced analytics and monetization, with paid tiers that can scale to multiple shows and team work. Essential is the clearest step up for creators who have hit Starter’s five-episode limit. Look elsewhere if you need a lasting free catalogue or dependable access to Apple Podcasts video publishing, which remains limited to selected creators.