Castos Vs Buzzsprout – Differences Compared

Over recent years, podcasting has hit the social media world like a storm, quickly becoming one of the most consumed forms of media. This is for good reason, too.

With a huge variety of content available, you can easily find something that will interest you. 

Due to the rise in podcast popularity, there is no shortage of hosting services for podcasters to choose from.

However, if you’re new to the podcasting world, selecting an exemplary hosting service can sometimes be overwhelming.  

Although, here’s the good news: in this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about the hosting service’s Castos and Buzzsprout (see also ‘Blubrry Vs Castos‘).

Quick Summary of Castos Vs Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout Introduction

Not only is Buzzsprout a robust and intuitive hosting platform, but it also allows new podcasters to dip their toes into the world of podcasting!

Featuring a free plan, Buzzsprout enables new podcasters to comprehend the different complexities involved when developing their podcasts from scratch, with advanced statistical analysis to monitor their episode’s performance. 

They support a user-friendly and clean interface that makes it easy for new podcasters to navigate.

You will also receive a free customizable podcast website which means you don’t have to take out money to create a website for your podcast to feature.

🎤 Buzzsprout review

Buzzsprout Pricing

• $0/month– Per month, publish up to two hours of content. Episodes are only hosted for 90-days. Features unlimited team members and advanced statistical analysis. 
• $12/month – Per month, upload up to three hours worth of content. Episodes are hosted indefinitely, and for $4/hour you can upload more content. For $6/month, you can add “Magic Mastering”, which is described as “an Instagram filter for your audio”. 
• $18/month – Per month, upload up to six hours’ worth of content. Episodes are hosted indefinitely, and for $3/hour you can upload more content. For $9/month, include “Magic Mastering”. 
• $24/month – Per month, upload up to 12 hours worth of content. Episodes are hosted indefinitely, and for $2/hour you can add more content. For $9/month, include “Magic Mastering”. 

Buzzsprout Pros

• Useful advanced features – An audio transcription service ($0.25 per minute) allows you to convert each podcast episode into SEO-friendly blog content. Magic Mastering can also be utilized to filter, encode, pre-condition, and level the audio in your episodes to perfection. 
• Simple user interface – Buzzsprout’s user experience is excellent. Whether you are transferring an existing podcast onto Buzzsprouts service or publishing your very first episode, it can all be done seamlessly with Buzzsprout’s interface. 
• Host multiple shows – In a single account, Buzzsprout allows you to host multiple shows. Likewise, if you’ve already set up separate shows in multiple Buzzsprout accounts, the Buzzsprout customer service team is happy to help you merge these accounts into one. 

Buzzsprout Cons

• No unlimited upload plan – Buzzsprout doesn’t provide a plan which provides unlimited audio hours. Therefore, if you need more than 12 hours worth of audio each month, you would have to pay extra on top of the standard monthly fee. 
• After 90-days, the free plan deletes your files – With Buzzsprouts free plan, you won’t be able to create a full show archive. 

Castos Introduction

Castos features an all-in-one podcasting service that enables you to upload your podcasts straight to WordPress with a plugin called Seriously Simple Podcasting.

Simply download the free plugin and follow the simple steps for publishing it on your WordPress website. 

Once completed, you’ll be able to effortlessly sync your Castos podcasts onto your WordPress. The plugin has over 30,000 active installations; therefore, you can trust that it will get the job done!

Looking at Castos itself, the hosting service enables you to upload unlimited private and public podcasts, while monitoring their performance with in-depth audience analytics.

In addition to no uploading limits, you can even distribute your podcast to major platforms including Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts (see also our comparison of Apple Podcasts and Stitcher). 

🎤 Castos Review

Castos Pricing

• Starter – $19/month – This package includes comprehensive analysis, up to 20,000 downloads per month and 100 private subscribers, and unlimited episodes and podcasts. 
• Growth – $49/month – You’ll find everything in the starter package along with 75,000 downloads per month, 250 private subscriptions, and video republishing to YouTube. 
• Pro – $99/month – This is targeted towards podcasters looking for enhanced video podcasting and analytics. You’ll receive 200,000 downloads per month, up to 500 private subscribers, and video file hosting. 
• Premium – From $499/month – Aimed at large podcasting enterprises, this package features increased limits, a dedicated account manager, and custom invoices. 

Castos Pros

• Dependable customer service – Customers have stated an extremely helpful customer service experience with a fast response rate. 
• Unlimited episodes and podcasts – Whichever plan you choose, you will be authorized to host multiple episodes and podcasts when paying for only one account. Every channel also features analytics, RSS feed, and more!
• YouTube republishing – Castos enables you to republish your podcasts to Youtube to help you increase your audience reach as a result of YouTube’s massive viewer base. 

Castos Cons

• Limited built-in monetization options – Unlike some other platforms, Castos doesn’t provide built-in features for taking one-off donations from listeners or selling podcast subscriptions. To do so, you’ll need a separate platform. 
• No free plan – The hosting service doesn’t provide any free plans. The cheapest package starts at $19/month. 

Castos Vs Buzzsprout – Which Is Better For Podcast Hosting?

Both Castos and Buzzsprout have their positives and negatives. While from the offset, Castos seems like the best option, it does demand a hefty monthly subscription.

Alternatively, Buzzsprout offers a free monthly service which is great for beginners; however, your content is deleted after 90-days. 

Therefore, when determining the best hosting service for you, it’s important to consider your requirements and what you look for in a platform. 

Something our readers ask about is Lisbyn vs Buzzsprout and Podbean and Buzzsprout so check those out if that interested you to add some further software to the mix.

Final Thoughts on The Two Podcast Hosting Platforms

Castos and Buzzsprout are two great hosting platforms that would suit a range of podcasters. If you’re a professional podcaster you may prefer Castors.

While, on the other hand, if you’re just starting, Buzzsprout may be ideal. Hopefully, this guide has informed you of the differences between Castos and Buzzsprout.