Podcast Hosting
AcastvsLibsyn
Compare Acast and Libsyn side by side. See pricing, features, and which is right for your podcast.
Pricing Comparison
| Tier | Acast | Libsyn |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Starter: 1 show, 5 episodes, or unlimited episodes with ads enabled | 30-day free trial on every plan (card required, no charge until it ends) |
| Starting Price | Free | $8/mo |
| Pricing Model | freemium | subscription |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Acast | Libsyn |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Storage | ||
| Unlimited Bandwidth | ||
| Dynamic Ad Insertion | ||
| Transcription | ||
| Video Support | ||
| Analytics | ||
| Monetization | ||
| Custom Website | ||
| Team Members | ||
| API Access |
Acast Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free Starter plan with advanced analytics included
- Yearly billing cuts Essential to $14.99/month and Pro to $29.99/month
- Global infrastructure and support
Cons
- Free Starter plan stops at 5 episodes unless you enable ads
- Transcriptions require Essential or above, not the free plan
- Acast does not publish its ad revenue split on its pricing pages
Libsyn Pros & Cons
Pros
- Longest track record in the industry (since 2004)
- Priced on upload hours, not downloads, so audience growth never raises the bill
- Video uploads included on every plan, up to 100GB a month
Cons
- No free forever plan, only a 30-day trial
- Upload allowance is small on the entry plans (3 hours a month on Basic)
- No overage rate published, so exceeding the quota means upgrading
The Verdict
Acast is best for:
- →Shows seeking premium advertising deals
- →International podcasters
- →Creators wanting transcription included
Libsyn is best for:
- →Professional podcasters needing reliability
- →Established shows with large audiences
- →Networks requiring proven infrastructure
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper: Acast or Libsyn?
- Libsyn is the cheaper way in: its Bare Essentials plan is $8/month, against $25/month for Acast's Essential.
- Do Acast and Libsyn have free versions?
- Only Acast, which offers Starter: 1 show, 5 episodes, or unlimited episodes with ads enabled. Libsyn has no free plan. Libsyn does list a free option: 30-day free trial on every plan (card required, no charge until it ends). The cheapest way into Libsyn is Bare Essentials at $8/month.
- What is the main difference between Acast and Libsyn?
- Acast covers Unlimited Storage and Transcription, which Libsyn does not. Nothing on the compared feature list goes the other way.