Overview

Acast combines RSS hosting with distribution to major podcast directories, including one-click publishing to Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Episode scheduling, bulk editing, dynamic intros and outros, automated ad placements and multi-show management give it a broader publishing workflow than a feed-only host. Private podcasts and video podcast support extend the format options.

Discovery and audience tools include a customizable podcast website and web player, social video clips, and advanced analytics covering downloads, geography, listening platforms, engagement and revenue. The result is a capable operating base for shows that need to publish and earn, though the Starter episode cap makes the free tier better for trying the workflow than running an expanding catalog.

Key features

Publishing, analytics and monetization

Scheduling and bulk edits help coordinate releases, while dynamic intros and outros and automated ad placements support ongoing production and monetization. Advanced analytics connect audience behavior with revenue data, useful when a team needs more than download totals to assess a show. Acast also states that it does not own uploaded podcast content.

Developer access and integrations

The Publishing API supports show and episode operations, but access is restricted to Pro users and Creator Network members. Its 60-requests-per-minute limit is a clear ceiling for integrations with frequent polling or high-volume workflows. When enabled, webhooks fire on each new episode publication, offering a more direct trigger for release automation.

Paid plans include a Headliner integration for making audiograms for social platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Videos default to 10 minutes and can run up to four hours. Acast's security portal lists audit logging, access monitoring, backups, data erasure, AWS hosting, anti-DDoS protection, isolated production environments, disk encryption, firewalls and IDS/IPS. Its GDPR policy identifies Acast AB as controller for EEA, Swiss and UK users and provides rights including access, rectification and erasure.

Video

Video podcasts are supported, but publishing video episodes to Apple Podcasts is a limited beta for selected creators. That makes the Video plan a conditional choice rather than a dependable route for every creator seeking Apple video distribution.

Pricing

Acast uses a freemium model. Starter has no published price and includes one show and five episodes; unlimited episodes become available when the show is made available in Acast's advertising marketplace. That condition may suit a new show testing the service, but it is a meaningful constraint for creators who want a larger catalog without marketplace participation.

Essential costs 14.99 USD per month, billed yearly, and adds multiple shows, unlimited episodes, ads and sponsorships. It is the clearest fit for independent publishers moving beyond Starter's limits. Pro costs 29.99 USD per month, billed yearly, and includes everything in Essential plus team management, prioritized support and the Publishing API. The added cost is justified for teams needing shared management or programmatic publishing; solo creators without those needs may not benefit as much.

Video costs 39.99 USD per month, billed yearly. It includes Pro features, Apple Podcasts video publishing, automatic video-to-audio conversion and 10,000 monthly video views. The view quota and selected-creator beta restriction matter: teams should not choose this tier assuming universal Apple video access. Acast Creator Network has custom pricing and offers premium benefits and services beyond the standard tiers. Support is available by email and Intercom chat, with prioritized support on Pro.

Platforms

Acast is available on web, iOS and Android, and provides an API for eligible users. Its RSS feed and directory distribution support broad podcast delivery, while the API's Pro and Creator Network eligibility restriction limits who can build against its publishing functions.

Who it's for

Acast fits creators and teams that want hosting, directory distribution, analytics and monetization together, especially those managing multiple shows or coordinating a publishing workflow. Essential is the practical step up for multiple shows and unlimited episodes; Pro is better for teams and API-led operations. It is less suitable for creators seeking unrestricted video publishing to Apple Podcasts or a free tier for a substantial archive.

Pros and cons

Broad publishing workflow: Scheduling, bulk editing, multi-show management and dynamic intros and outros reduce the need to assemble separate publishing tools.
Useful audience and revenue data: Advanced analytics span engagement, geography, platforms and revenue, supporting decisions beyond basic download tracking.
Free entry has a hard cap: Starter covers only one show and five episodes unless the show joins Acast's advertising marketplace for unlimited episodes.
API access is gated: Publishing API use requires Pro or Creator Network membership, and the rate limit is 60 requests per minute.
Apple video is not broadly available: Video publishing is a selected-creator beta, despite being included in the Video plan.

Alternatives

Choose Blubrry if a self-hosted option and WordPress integration matter more than Acast's integrated publishing and monetization workflow; its Standard 1.5 plan costs 7.00 USD per month and covers up to 1.5 hours monthly with standard statistics.

Podcast.co is a paid alternative with a free trial and a Lite plan at 19.00 USD per month for one user and 15,000 monthly downloads. Stationista suits a reader comparing download and team quotas: its Podcasting plan is 12.00 EUR per month for one show, 20,000 monthly downloads and two team members.

For another free hosting option, Podbean offers a Basic Free Plan with five hours of storage, 100GB monthly bandwidth and a 20-episode RSS feed. RSS.com offers a free plan for one podcast with 30 days of analytics history and a voicemail feature, while Podcast.page and PodView focus on podcast websites. Consider SupaPass Podcast Website Builder when the website and membership experience is the priority.

Readers comparing focused tools can also browse podcast website builders, podcast advertising platforms and podcast monetization platforms.

Verdict

Acast is a strong fit for creators and teams seeking one service for podcast publishing, distribution, analytics and monetization, with clear upgrade paths for multi-show management and API workflows. Its main drawbacks are Starter's five-episode limit and the restricted Apple Podcasts video beta. Choose it for the integrated workflow; look elsewhere if a generous free catalog or universally available Apple video publishing is essential.

	Acast	Podbean
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	—	$17/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Web	Android, iOS
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	14.99 /mo	12 /mo

Acast vs Podbean

Acast

Podbean