Podigee vs. AcastWhat's the Right Fit for Your Podcast?
Podigee and Acast solve different problems. Podigee is the open podcast platform for recording, hosting, video, and monetization with servers in Germany and the EU, while Acast is mainly a global ad network with hosting. Here's how pricing, features, and privacy compare.
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Podigee vs. Acast: the essentials
Podigee and Acast solve different problems at their core. Podigee is the open podcast platform for recording, hosting, video, transcripts, content repurposing, analytics, and monetization: built in Germany, run in Europe. Acast is first and foremost a global advertising network with hosting attached.
Podigee is a good fit if…
You want to run your entire podcast workflow in one piece of podcast software, from recording and AI transcripts to clips, distribution, and monetization.
You want to record remote interviews right in your browser and publish them without exporting or re-uploading. The Podigee Recording Studio records up to 8 people, in audio or video, from the GROW plan.
You want to publish video podcasts to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts from a single upload.
You're building your podcast into a professional business channel and want a platform that grows with you, with strong privacy built in: GDPR compliant, servers in Germany and the EU, and a cookie-free player.
Your team runs the podcast as a B2B marketing channel and you need IAB-certified, exportable analytics (CSV, PDF) to prove ROI to sponsors or leadership.
You want to connect AI assistants like Claude or ChatGPT to your podcast through the Podigee MCP Server to query analytics or manage episodes in plain language. It's included in all current plans, starting with the free LAUNCH plan. Acast doesn't document a comparable AI interface.
Acast could be the better fit if…
Keeping your hosting infrastructure in Germany or the EU isn't a requirement for your organization.
Your show already has significant reach and your priority is sponsorship placement through a large, international ad marketplace rather than one connected workflow from recording to monetization.
You mainly need hosting and ad monetization, and you're comfortable using separate tools for recording, transcription, and content repurposing.
Quick comparison: Podigee vs. Acast
Information as of: 15 October 2026 · 10 points
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (paid plan) | STARTER: €19/month billed monthly, €210/year billed annually | Essential: $25/month billed monthly, $14.99/month billed annually |
| Free plan | LAUNCH, free forever (1 podcast, 60 minutes of audio) | Starter, free forever, 1 show and 5 episodes; unlimited episodes if your show is available in Acast's advertising marketplace |
| Browser-based recording | Recording Studio from GROW: up to 8 people, audio or video, the recording becomes your episode | No built-in recording; Acast points to its partner Async and third-party tools |
| Server location | Germany and the EU | No specific location named; cloud hosting via Amazon Web Services, processing in the EEA or adequate countries per its DPA |
| Data Processing Agreement | EU/Germany hosting plus a DPA included | DPA publicly available, no specific server location named |
| Video podcasting | Video uploads on every plan; distribution to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts from STARTER | Open to all creators since August 5, 2026, but only on the separate Video plan; video currently goes to Apple Podcasts only |
| Monetization | Dynamic ad insertion for your own sponsors and paywall from SCALE, tipping from STARTER, affiliate links from GROW | Ad marketplace with revenue share; sponsorships and premium subscriptions from Essential |
| Team features | Roles and permissions from SCALE (3 users, €39/month or €430/year) | Team management from Pro ($29.99/month billed annually) |
| Analytics export | CSV, weekly PDF report, REST API | CSV export in the Insights dashboard; no PDF export documented |
| Best for | Solo creators, marketing teams, and agencies that want recording, video, repurposing, analytics, and monetization in one open podcast platform with strong privacy | Shows with substantial existing reach that prioritize a global ad marketplace |
Podigee prices are shown in euros as listed on podigee.com; Acast prices are shown in US dollars as listed on Acast's pricing page. Check the live pricing pages for current terms before you decide.
Already on Acast? Here's how switching to Podigee works
Create a Podigee account. Start on the free LAUNCH plan.
Enter your Acast RSS feed URL and Podigee imports all your episodes and metadata automatically.
Verify your episodes and metadata came across correctly.
Set up a feed redirect at Acast. With the 301 redirect, your existing subscribers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms automatically follow your new feed, and your subscriptions and ratings stay intact.
Because the move runs through your RSS feed, you keep both your episodes and your subscribers during the switch. If you have active marketplace or sponsorship deals through Acast, check in with Podigee support beforehand, since those agreements can carry their own contract terms.
After the move, everything else happens in one place: from GROW, you record new episodes right in the Recording Studio, publish audio and video with one upload, and turn every episode into clips and posts. Learn how import, hosting, and distribution work in Podigee
Podigee and Acast features compared
Recording & production
This is one of the biggest differences. With the Podigee Recording Studio, you record your podcast right in the browser, solo or with guests. Your guests don't need software or an account, just an invitation by link or email.
Up to 8 people and 4 hours per session, in audio or video.
Double-ender recording: each person is recorded locally in full quality, and every voice gets its own track. Tracks upload while you talk.
Done automatically: Podigee aligns the tracks, levels the volume, and creates a combined video from the video tracks.
Editor included: trim, mute or solo tracks, fine-tune alignment, and download individual tracks for your DAW.
Straight to your episode: the recording becomes your episode and goes out to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube from there.
The Recording Studio is included from the GROW plan (€29/month). Acast has no built-in recording tool. Its help center points you to its partner Async and to third-party tools like Zoom, Zencastr, SquadCast, or Riverside, so you record elsewhere, export the file, and upload it to Acast. Learn more about recording your podcast with the Podigee Recording Studio
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Recording built into the platform | Recording Studio from GROW, in the browser | No built-in tool (Acast points to third-party tools) |
| Remote recording with guests | Up to 8 people, 4 hours, guests need no software | No built-in tool (Acast points to third-party tools) |
| Separate track for every voice (double-ender) | With automatic track alignment and volume leveling | No built-in tool (Acast points to third-party tools) |
| Recording becomes your episode | No export, no second upload | Upload a file produced elsewhere |
Hosting & technology
Both providers offer unlimited episodes on their paid plans and automatic distribution to all major platforms. Podigee accepts WAV, FLAC, and MP3 and delivers your show through one RSS feed to more than 15 platforms. The main difference is server location: Podigee hosts from Germany and the EU. Acast doesn't name a specific server location: according to its Data Processing Agreement, cloud hosting runs on Amazon Web Services, and data may be processed in the EEA or in countries the European Commission considers adequate. Learn more about podcast hosting and distribution with Podigee
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Episodes and storage | Unlimited episodes from STARTER, no storage fees | Unlimited episodes from Essential (on Starter only with marketplace participation) |
| Automatic distribution | All major platforms | All major platforms |
| Server location | Germany and the EU | No specific location named (cloud hosting via Amazon Web Services, processing in the EEA or adequate countries) |
AI automation, transcripts & content repurposing
Podigee transcribes every episode automatically with AI, suggests chapter markers, and drafts your show notes from the transcript. From there, you turn each episode into more content:
Clipper: up to five clip suggestions per episode, exported as video in 9:16, 1:1, or 16:9. Audio-only episodes become audiograms with your cover art and a waveform.
Text Composer: drafts for LinkedIn posts, newsletter sections, or SEO articles based on your episode.
Quote Finder: spots quotable moments for social media.
Ask Podie: searches your transcripts and answers with sources.
According to its pricing page, Acast includes transcriptions from the Essential plan, plus a Headliner integration for turning audio into video for social media. AI show notes, chapter suggestions, or text drafts aren't documented there. Learn more about content repurposing with Podigee and about podcast transcripts and show notes
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| AI transcription | Automatic for every episode, with editor | Transcriptions from Essential |
| AI show notes | Drafts from the transcript | Not documented |
| AI chapter markers | Chapter suggestions | Not documented |
| Clips for social media | Clipper: up to 5 clip suggestions per episode, 9:16, 1:1, 16:9, audiograms for audio-only shows | Headliner integration (audio to video) from Essential |
| Written content from episodes | Text Composer (LinkedIn, newsletter, SEO articles) and Quote Finder | Not documented |
| AI assistant integration (MCP) | Podigee MCP Server, included in all current plans starting with free LAUNCH | Not documented |
Video podcasting
Video is part of Podigee's standard workflow. You can upload video files (MP4 or MOV) on every plan, and from STARTER, Podigee distributes them to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts with a single upload. Your monthly allowance grows with your plan, from 4 video episodes (STARTER) to 20 (CREATOR). Audio-only episodes are automatically turned into videos for YouTube using your cover or chapter images, and the Recording Studio records video directly.
Acast opened video publishing to all creators on August 5, 2026, with no invitation or selection needed. It requires the separate Video plan ($50/month, or $39.99/month billed annually), which includes up to 10,000 video views per month; shows in the Acast Creator Network get video through their partner manager. Video currently goes to Apple Podcasts only, and Acast doesn't list YouTube or Spotify as video destinations. Learn more about video podcasts with Podigee
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Video uploads | On every plan | Only on the separate Video plan |
| Video distribution | YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts (from STARTER) | Apple Podcasts only |
| Video plan price | Included from STARTER (€19/month) | $39.99/month billed annually ($50/month billed monthly) |
| Monthly allowance | 4 video episodes/30 min (STARTER) up to 20 video episodes/300 min (CREATOR) | Up to 10,000 video views |
| Video recording | In the Recording Studio from GROW | No built-in tool (Acast points to third-party tools) |
| Availability | Standard workflow, every creator | Open to all creators since August 5, 2026, on the Video plan |
Analytics & statistics
Both platforms count downloads according to IAB standards, and Podigee is IAB v2.2 certified. Podigee shows you downloads, listeners, subscribers, platforms, and countries, compares episodes and up to 10 shows, and emails you a weekly report as PDF or CSV. With the Podigee app for iPhone, iPad, and Android, your numbers are always with you, including widgets and push notifications, and through the MCP Server you can even ask your AI assistant for them. Acast includes advanced analytics on every plan and a CSV export in its Insights dashboard; it doesn't document a PDF export. Learn more about podcast analytics and reporting with Podigee
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement standard | IAB v2.2 certified | Counted according to IAB standards |
| Geo-reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Export formats | CSV, PDF, weekly email reports, REST API | CSV (Insights dashboard); no PDF export documented |
| Mobile app | Podigee app for iOS and Android | Not documented |
Monetization
With Podigee, you insert your own sponsors via dynamic ad insertion from the SCALE plan, with no minimum audience and even into older episodes. You also get tipping from STARTER, affiliate links from GROW, and a paywall plus private podcasts from SCALE. For German-language shows, the Podigee Ad Marketplace adds advertiser demand from 10,000 complete downloads per month, with a revenue share and no fee.
Acast focuses on its international advertising marketplace and inserts ads dynamically through its own ad server. Participation depends on eligibility criteria; according to Acast, advertisers typically look for shows with at least 10,000 downloads a month. Revenue is shared between Acast and the creator, and Acast doesn't publish a single commission rate. Sponsorships and premium subscriptions are available from the Essential plan. Learn more about podcast monetization with Podigee
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic ad insertion | For your own sponsors from SCALE, no minimum audience | For ads sold through the Acast marketplace |
| Ad marketplace | Podigee Ad Marketplace for German-language shows from 10,000 complete downloads/month, no fee | Acast marketplace, eligibility criteria apply |
| Commission structure | Revenue share only in the Ad Marketplace; no commission on your own sponsors | Revenue share; no single rate published |
| Paywall / premium content | Paywall and private podcasts from SCALE | Premium subscriptions from Essential |
| Tipping | From STARTER | Not documented |
| Affiliate links | From GROW | Not documented |
Team collaboration & private podcasts
Podigee offers roles and permissions per podcast (Viewer, Contributor, Admin) from the SCALE plan with 3 users, and 5 users on CREATOR. From SCALE, you can also run private podcasts for internal communication or exclusive content, with email invitations and a personal feed for every listener. Acast includes team management on its Pro plan and lets you manage multiple shows from Essential; larger setups run through the invitation-only Acast Creator Network. Learn more about private podcasts with Podigee
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Team roles & permissions | From SCALE (3 users), CREATOR (5 users) | From Pro |
| Multiple shows | 2 podcasts on GROW, 3 on SCALE, 5 on CREATOR | Multiple shows from Essential; larger setups through the invitation-only Acast Creator Network |
| Private podcasts | From SCALE, personal feed for every listener | Not documented |
| API | REST API | Publishing API from Pro |
Data protection & privacy
Privacy is built into Podigee: it hosts from Germany and the EU, follows the GDPR, one of the strictest privacy standards in the world, and includes a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) you can sign right in your account. Acast also provides a DPA. It names Amazon Web Services as its cloud host and states that personal data may be processed within the EEA or in countries the European Commission considers adequate, with transfers elsewhere covered by standard contractual clauses or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. Acast doesn't name a specific server location. Both offer embed players that don't require tracking cookies: Podigee's player is cookie-free with no tracking, and Acast states its embed player sets no cookies and currently has Google Analytics tracking disabled.
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Server location | Germany and the EU | No specific location named (EEA or adequate countries, cloud hosting via Amazon Web Services) |
| Data Processing Agreement (DPA) | Included, signed in your account | Publicly available |
| Cookie-free embed player | Cookie-free, no tracking | States its player sets no cookies; Google Analytics tracking currently disabled |
Podcast website & SEO
Podigee includes a podcast website on podigee.io or your own domain, plus a web player that displays transcripts and chapters. Since every episode gets a transcript, your podcast also becomes readable for search engines. Acast offers a basic website on the Starter plan, a customizable website from Essential, and a custom feed URL from Pro. Learn more about the Podigee podcast website and player
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Podcast website | With transcript and chapter view in the player | Basic site on Starter, customizable from Essential |
| Custom domain | Optional, your own domain for your podcast website | Custom feed URL from Pro |
Distribution
Both platforms distribute automatically to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major platforms like Deezer and Pocket Casts. Podigee submits your show directly to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Deezer, and Listen Notes, and also publishes your video to YouTube.
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Podcasts | Yes | Yes |
| Spotify | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Music | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube (video) | From STARTER | Video currently goes to Apple Podcasts only |
| Other platforms (Deezer, Pocket Casts, etc.) | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic submission | Yes | Yes |
Support & ease of use
Podigee offers support in English, a help center, and the Podcast Launch Kit to help you get your first show off the ground. If you already have a podcast, the RSS import moves it over in minutes. Acast offers support by email and chat and a help center, with priority support from the Pro plan.
| Feature | Podigee | Acast |
|---|---|---|
| Help center | For all plans | For all plans |
| Priority support | Help center and support for all plans | From Pro |
| Getting started | Podcast Launch Kit, RSS import in minutes | Help center, switching from another host |
Pricing
Podigee
LAUNCH: free forever. 1 podcast, 60 minutes of audio, 2 video episodes (15 minutes), 7-day analytics, MCP Server. No distribution to directories.
STARTER: €19/month billed monthly, or €210/year billed annually. 1 podcast, unlimited episodes, distribution to all directories, video to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts (4 video episodes/30 minutes per month), 90-day analytics, tipping.
GROW: €29/month billed monthly, or €320/year billed annually. 2 podcasts, Recording Studio, affiliate links, 8 video episodes/120 minutes per month, 180-day analytics.
SCALE: €39/month billed monthly, or €430/year billed annually. 3 podcasts, dynamic ad insertion, paywall, private podcasts, team roles (3 users), 12 video episodes/180 minutes per month, 365-day analytics.
CREATOR: €59/month billed monthly, or €650/year billed annually. 5 podcasts, player with your own branding, 5 users, 20 video episodes/300 minutes per month, unlimited analytics history.
Each plan includes everything in the plan below it, and the Podigee MCP Server is included in all current plans. Prices as of October 2026, excluding VAT where applicable. Compare all Podigee plans in detail
Acast
Starter: free. 1 show, 5 episodes; unlimited episodes if your show is available in Acast's advertising marketplace. Basic website, distribution, analytics.
Essential: $14.99/month billed annually ($25/month billed monthly). Multiple shows, unlimited episodes, ads and sponsorships, transcriptions, premium subscriptions, Headliner integration, customizable website and player.
Pro: $29.99/month billed annually ($40/month billed monthly). Everything in Essential, plus team management, priority support, and publishing API.
Video: $39.99/month billed annually ($50/month billed monthly). Everything in Pro, plus video episodes on Apple Podcasts, automatic video to audio conversion, and up to 10,000 video views per month.
Acast Creator Network: by invitation, for established creators with significant audiences; video is available through your partner manager.
Source: Acast pricing page, October 2026. Acast asks for a credit card at signup, even for the free plan. Video publishing has been open to all creators since August 5, 2026, but requires the Video plan and currently goes to Apple Podcasts only.
What you pay in comparison
As a solo podcaster on Podigee STARTER, you pay €210/year and get unlimited episodes, 90-day IAB analytics, tipping, and video distribution to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Acast Essential costs $14.99/month billed annually (about $180/year), but video isn't included. If you want to record with guests in your browser, Podigee GROW (€320/year) includes the Recording Studio, so you can skip a separate recording subscription. For team roles, Podigee SCALE costs €430/year for 3 users, including dynamic ad insertion, a paywall, and private podcasts. Acast Pro costs $29.99/month billed annually (about $360/year) and adds priority support and a publishing API.
FAQ: Podigee vs. Acast
- Is Podigee cheaper than Acast?
On entry price alone, Acast is slightly cheaper than Podigee: Essential costs $14.99/month billed annually, while Podigee STARTER costs €210/year (€17.50/month). But Podigee STARTER already includes video distribution to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, which on Acast requires the Video plan at $39.99/month billed annually. Podigee also adds servers in Germany and the EU, IAB-certified analytics with PDF reports, and the Recording Studio from GROW. And with LAUNCH, you can start on Podigee for free, forever.
- Can I switch from Acast to Podigee without losing my listeners?
Yes, you can switch from Acast to Podigee without losing your listeners. Switching from Acast to Podigee runs through a 301 RSS feed redirect, so existing subscribers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms are automatically routed to your new feed, and your subscriptions and ratings stay intact. If you have active Acast marketplace deals, check in with Podigee support before you switch.
- Can I record directly in Podigee or Acast?
You can record directly in Podigee, but not in Acast. The Podigee Recording Studio is included from the GROW plan (€29/month): you record in your browser with up to 8 people for up to 4 hours, in audio or video, with every voice on its own track, and the recording becomes your episode directly. Acast points you to its partner Async and third-party tools for recording, and you then upload the finished file.
- Do Podigee or Acast offer an MCP server?
Podigee offers an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server; Acast doesn't document one. The Podigee MCP Server is included in all current plans, starting with the free LAUNCH plan. It connects AI assistants like Claude or ChatGPT to your podcast so you can pull download numbers, compare episodes, schedule and publish episodes, or update titles, show notes, and chapters. You preview every change and confirm it yourself.
- Who is Acast a better fit for than Podigee?
Acast tends to be the better fit for shows that already have significant reach and want direct access to a large, international ad marketplace, where sponsorship and ad monetization matter more than one connected workflow from recording to analytics. Podigee is the better fit if you want recording, hosting, video, transcripts, repurposing, analytics, and monetization in one open podcast platform with strong privacy.
- How do Podigee and Acast differ on data protection?
Podigee hosts from Germany and the EU, follows the GDPR, includes a Data Processing Agreement (DPA), and uses a cookie-free player with no tracking. Acast also provides a public DPA: cloud hosting runs on Amazon Web Services, and data may be processed in the EEA or in countries the European Commission considers adequate. Acast doesn't name a specific server location, so ask Acast directly if location matters to you.
- Do Podigee and Acast offer video podcasting?
Yes, Podigee and Acast both offer video podcasting, but to a different extent. Podigee lets you upload video on every plan and distributes it to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts from the STARTER plan. Acast opened video publishing to all creators on August 5, 2026, but it requires the separate Video plan ($39.99/month billed annually), and video currently goes to Apple Podcasts only.
- Do Podigee or Acast take a commission on ad revenue?
Podigee doesn't take a commission on sponsors you insert yourself via dynamic ad insertion; a revenue share only applies if you use the Podigee Ad Marketplace, which has no usage fee. Acast shares ad revenue from its marketplace with creators, and the terms can depend on the type of advertising or agreement. Acast doesn't publish a single commission rate.
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