Acast
Stockholm podcast host and ad marketplace with a free Starter plan and paid plans for sponsorships and subscriptions
Quick Overview
| Company | Acast AB (publ) |
|---|---|
| Category | Podcast Hosting |
| Headquarters | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Founded | 2014 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Sweden (EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages reviewed |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Podcast hosting, distribution to podcast apps, analytics, ad marketplace, sponsorships, premium subscriptions, transcriptions, publishing API, video to Apple Podcasts |
| Pricing | Starter free; Essential $25/month or $14.99/month; Pro $40 or $29.99; Video $50 or $39.99 (monthly or yearly toggle, shown in USD) |
| Best For | Podcasters whose main goal is selling ads and sponsorships |
| Replaces | Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Podbean |
Detailed Review
The Platform Services are provided by Acast AB (publ), a company registered in Stockholm with corporate registration number 556946-8498 and the address Kungsgatan 28, 111 35 Stockholm. The creator terms are governed by Swedish law, with disputes settled by the Stockholm court.
Acast says it was born in Stockholm in 2014 with dynamic ad insertion, has acquired the podcast host Pippa, and counts more than 140,000 podcasts on its platform.
Plans
Starter is free for one show and five episodes, and unlimited episodes are available if the show joins Acast's advertising marketplace. Essential adds multiple shows, unlimited episodes and monetisation with ads and sponsorships. Pro adds team management, prioritised support and a publishing API, and the Video plan adds video episodes for Apple Podcasts with up to 10,000 video views a month.
Monetisation First
The plan table lists ads, sponsorships, premium subscriptions, dynamic intros and outros and an audio-to-video integration through Headliner. Acast's value is in selling and inserting advertising, with hosting as the base.
Moving In and Out
Acast says you can import a show from another host and that it does not own your content. If you leave, it redirects your RSS feed on request by email.
Limitations to Consider
The free tier is capped at five episodes unless you join the ad marketplace, which is itself a commercial commitment. Prices on the pricing page were shown in US dollars, and two price points are listed per plan. Acast serves a US market with Do Not Sell and Share links, and the pages we reviewed do not state where audio is stored. For pure hosting without an ad business consider Podigee or Springcast.
Who Should Use Acast
Podcasters and networks that want to earn from ads and sponsorships through a Swedish platform and are comfortable with an ad marketplace model.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free Starter plan
- Built-in ad and sponsorship marketplace
- Premium subscriptions available
- Swedish contracting entity under Swedish law
- Redirect help when you move away
Cons
- Free plan capped at 5 episodes without the marketplace
- Prices listed in US dollars
- Storage location not stated
- Focus on monetisation over pure hosting
Alternatives to Acast
Other European podcast hosting worth comparing before you decide:
Podigee
Germany · Berlin podcast host with free plan, video and recording studio
Springcast
Netherlands · Dutch ISO 27001 podcast platform with EEA-only data processing
Ausha
France · French podcast host with unlimited uploads and marketing tools
Captivate
United Kingdom · UK host with unlimited podcasts and IAB-certified analytics
See all European podcast hosting or compare them directly against Buzzsprout on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a free Starter plan for one show and five episodes. Unlimited episodes are available when the show is made available in Acast's advertising marketplace. Paid plans start with Essential.
The creator terms name Acast AB (publ), a company registered in Stockholm, Sweden, as the provider of the Platform Services, with Swedish governing law.
Acast says it will redirect your RSS feed to your new host if you email support, and that it does not own your uploaded content.