Acast is a podcast hosting and distribution platform that is dedicated to helping podcasters succeed. It provides the ideal environment for creating and publishing content, as well as monetization and growth opportunities. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at what Acast has to offer, including its pricing plans, monetization options, and overall ease of use.
If you’re considering using this platform for your podcast, read on to see if it’s the right platform for your needs.
About Acast
Acast is a podcast hosting and monetization platform founded in 2014 by Karl Rosander and Mans Ulvestam in Stockholm, Sweden. The platform was created to make it easier for podcasters to distribute their content and monetize their shows.
Since its launch, Acast has grown to become one of the leading podcast-hosting platforms in the world, with offices in Stockholm, London, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Paris. The platform has over 100 million monthly listens and hosts over 10,000 shows in over 100 countries.
In simple terms, Acast is a platform that allows podcasters to upload and distribute their shows to a broader audience while also providing monetization options such as advertising and subscription services. The platform also offers analytics tools that allow podcasters to track their listenership and audience engagement.
Main Features
 Acast +
Acast allows you to produce premium content for individuals who pay a subscription fee. You can store and handle both public and private, paywalled content in one place. Most podcast players, excluding Spotify, can access Acast+, allowing your fans to seamlessly transition to becoming paying subscribers without disrupting their experience.
You can tailor your subscription plan to meet your and your listeners’ needs, providing them with ad-free streams, early access, and bonus content while setting up a reliable and stable revenue stream. Please be aware that Acast will take 15% of the income from subscriptions. Additionally, financial transactions are handled through Stripe, which charges an extra 2.9% and $0.30 per transaction. |
 Distribution Tools
This platform provides comprehensive hosting services, wide distribution, and growth support to ensure your podcasts are heard everywhere. Expand your reach by making your podcasts available on all leading podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Samsung Free, and many more streaming platforms like Castbox, Google Podcasts, Overcast, and Pocket Casts. |
 Website & Sharing
Acast’s website has a basic layout, but it suffices for sharing your episodes. You can select the colors and fonts or let the website choose for you, while it also features a helpful guide, How to Listen To A Podcast, to assist those new to the podcast. The Head of Technical Account Management, Katie Rogers, said that Acast’s goal is to “convert samplers to listeners.”
The audio player from Acast can be customized to include buttons that allow users to follow or share the podcast. Additionally, links to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Patreon, and Twitter can be included. |
 Encoding & Sound Quality
Acast wants to ensure that your audio files sound tremendous and download quickly for your listeners. To ensure this happens, they automatically optimize your audio files so that you can still provide complex audio dramas and podcasts without compromising quality or speed. |
 Monetization
Acast makes it easier than ever for podcasters to share their content and profit from it. You can work with some of the biggest brands in the world, pick which ones you want to feature on your show and offer exclusive benefits to your most dedicated fans with Acast+.
- Direct Support – Acast’s easiest way to monetize is to use the Supporter feature, which provides creators with a mobile-friendly page to accept payments in various currencies. This page can be customized with a welcome and thank you messages. This feature fits into the Acast website and episodes.
- Dynamic Ads – The podcast producer controls the dynamic content insertion process. You can pinpoint the exact timing of your pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads down to the second. Furthermore, Acast also has an AI-powered silence detector feature, which automatically detects a silent spot in your audio and inserts the ad there.
- Crowdfunding – Acast integrates seamlessly with both Facebook and Twitter, as well as with Patreon.
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 Analytics & Statistics
Acast’s analytics offers a comprehensive view of your podcast’s performance, with insights on your reach, marketing, and promotion impact. As well as sources of revenue such as advertising, sponsorship, and subscriptions. Uniquely, the Audience section provides demographic information of those who listen to your show through the Acast app. |
Pricing & Plans
Acast offers one free and two paid hosting plans.
- The Free tier offers unlimited uploads, basic analytics, and a basic podcast website.
- The Influencer tier costs $14.99 monthly if purchased yearly, or $25 monthly. It has a 14-day free trial, advanced analytics & website, integration with Patreon, monetization options, and allows you to easily submit your podcast to Amazon Music, Spotify and YouTube.
- The Ace tier is the most comprehensive, costing $29.99 monthly when purchased annually, or $40 monthly. It has transcription, professional workshops, more customer support, and team and network management.
 PROS
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 CONS
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| Seamless distribution |
Unavailable video podcasts |
| Effortless social media sharing |
Lossy file formats and limited uploads |
| Ability to customise media embed player |
Fees charged for each episode |
| Endless storage and downloads |
No ability to create content. |
| Round-the-clock customer service |
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| Reasonable pricing packages |
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Final Verdict: Acast, A Great Choice For Podcast Hosting
Acast is an excellent podcast hosting platform that offers great features and tools to help podcasters grow. It is user-friendly, provides reliable hosting, and has powerful monetization capabilities. Overall, it is an exceptional choice for podcast creators of all levels and anyone looking to make the most of their podcasting experience.
We appreciate your support and feedback. We hope this review helps you make an informed decision about the best podcast hosting platform for your show.
