Acast vs Spreaker
A side-by-side look at Acast and Spreaker for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.
At a glance
| Acast | Spreaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | Independent podcasters and mid-size networks who want advertising revenue built into their hosting | Podcasters who want hosting with a path to iHeartMedia's advertising network |
| Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
Key features
Acast
- One-click distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major directories
- Dynamic ad insertion with brand marketplace access
- Premium listener subscriptions and paid content
- Real-time analytics: downloads, revenue, listener location
- Audio-to-video clip generation via Headliner integration
- Custom podcast website and embeddable player
Spreaker
- Web-based recording and production via Spreaker Create
- Distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and major directories
- iHeartMedia Prime Network monetization partnerships
- Episode storage, bandwidth management, and scheduling
- Podcast library management across categories
- Embeddable player for external sites
Pros and cons
Acast
Pros
- Strong monetization infrastructure with real brand partners
- Free tier includes distribution and basic analytics
- Over $600M paid to creators - track record is real
Cons
- Pricing is in euros, not USD - adds friction for US creators
- Free tier limited to 5 episodes unless you join the ad marketplace
- Less control over ad placements compared to self-managed sponsorships
Spreaker
Pros
- Backed by iHeartMedia - real advertising network access for qualifying shows
- Free tier available for getting started
- Web-based recording tool requires no software download
Cons
- Pricing and plan structure are not transparently marketed or easy to find
- Analytics and UX lag behind modern competitors
- iHeart partnership only adds value once your show reaches meaningful scale
The verdict
Choose Acast if
Independent podcasters and mid-size networks who want advertising revenue built into their hosting.
Acast is legitimately one of the stronger monetization platforms in podcasting - if you have an audience and want to work with real brands, this is a credible path. The free Starter tier is genuinely useful but caps you at…
Choose Spreaker if
Podcasters who want hosting with a path to iHeartMedia's advertising network.
Spreaker's main differentiator is its parent company - iHeartMedia's reach into brand advertising is real and can be valuable for shows with meaningful audiences. The Spreaker Create web tool makes it accessible to beginners who do not want to install…