Comparing podcast hosting platforms? RedCircle and Castos both offer unlimited hosting, but they take fundamentally different approaches to helping creators succeed. We’re breaking down exactly how these platforms compare so you can pick the right fit for your show.
Looking For A RedCircle Alternative? Meet Castos
RedCircle and Castos serve different types of podcast creators. RedCircle, founded in 2018 by former Uber marketing technology leaders, built its platform around monetization and advertising tools. Their free tier attracts budget-conscious creators, but the real business model relies on taking a cut of your podcast revenue. Castos takes a different approach: you pay a predictable monthly fee and keep 100% of what you earn. We also offer deep WordPress integration, full video podcast hosting, and comprehensive private podcasting tools that RedCircle simply doesn’t match.
Podcasting Just Got A Lot Easier
Castos takes all of the confusion out of starting and growing an impactful podcast for your brand. Get started and check it out today!
Castos Features Compared To RedCircle
Castos offers a compelling alternative to RedCircle for podcast hosting. We provide native WordPress integration, full video podcast hosting, private podcasting with a dedicated subscriber app, and built-in monetization where you keep everything you earn. Here’s exactly how RedCircle and Castos compare.
Keep 100% of Your Revenue
Castos
Built-in Commerce feature for listener donations with 0% platform fee (only Stripe processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30).
Castos Ads dynamic ad insertion keeps you in control. No platform cuts from your advertising revenue.
RedCircle
Takes 4.5% of donations, 12% of subscriptions, 30% of host-read ads, and 50% of programmatic ads. Plus Stripe fees on top.
Video Podcast Hosting
Castos
Full video podcast hosting on Pro plan. Upload video files directly and distribute across platforms.
Automatic YouTube republishing converts audio to video with your artwork on Growth plan.
RedCircle
Does not support video podcast hosting. Audio-only platform with no native video file support.
Video generation feature (paid plans) creates static-image videos from audio, but cannot host actual video content.
Private Podcasting
Castos
Full private podcasting with 100-500 subscribers depending on plan. Dedicated Castos mobile app for subscribers.
Integrates with membership platforms like MemberPress and Paid Memberships Pro for gated content delivery.
RedCircle
Offers “exclusive content” for paying subscribers. No dedicated mobile app for private podcast listeners.
No membership platform integrations. RedCircle takes 12% of all subscription revenue you earn.
WordPress Integration
Castos
Castos owns and maintains Seriously Simple Podcasting, a free WordPress plugin powering over 30,000 podcasts with 200+ five-star reviews.
Upload episodes, write show notes, customize the player, and view analytics without leaving WordPress.
RedCircle
No native WordPress plugin. Offers embed codes and a JavaScript player you can add to your site manually.
Episode management happens entirely in RedCircle’s separate dashboard. Requires switching between platforms.
The “free” hosting trap: RedCircle’s revenue cuts add up fast
RedCircle’s free tier looks attractive at first glance. Unlimited hosting, unlimited downloads, distribution to major platforms. But here’s what the pricing page doesn’t emphasize: RedCircle’s real business model is taking a cut of your podcast revenue.
The numbers tell the story. RedCircle takes 4.5% of listener donations. They take 12% of subscription revenue. They take 30% of your host-read advertising deals. And programmatic ads? RedCircle keeps 50% of that revenue. Add Stripe’s 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee on top.
Let’s run the math on a mid-sized podcast. Say you have 5,000 weekly downloads and earn $2,000/month from a combination of subscriptions ($800), host-read ads ($800), and donations ($400). On RedCircle’s free plan, you’d lose $96 in subscription fees, $240 in ad fees, and $18 in donation fees. That’s $354/month going to RedCircle, or $4,248 per year.
With Castos, you’d pay a flat $49/month for our Growth plan and keep 100% of your revenue (minus only Stripe’s standard processing fees). At $588/year for hosting, you’d save over $3,600 compared to RedCircle’s “free” plan.
The calculation shifts even more dramatically as your revenue grows. RedCircle’s percentage-based cuts scale with your success. Castos’ flat monthly fee stays the same whether you earn $100 or $10,000.
Host actual video podcasts with Castos. RedCircle is audio-only.
Video podcasting is one of the fastest-growing content formats. YouTube is now the most popular podcast platform for many demographics. If you’re creating video content or planning to start, your hosting platform matters.
RedCircle does not support video podcasting. They’re an audio-only platform. Their paid plans include a “video generation” feature that takes your audio and creates a static-image video using your cover art for YouTube distribution. That’s useful for getting audio content onto YouTube, but it’s not video podcasting.
Castos supports full video podcast hosting on our Pro plan. Upload your actual video files. Distribute them across platforms. Host everything in one place. And on our Growth plan, we offer automatic YouTube republishing that converts your audio to video format with your artwork, similar to RedCircle’s feature.
If you record video interviews, produce visual content, or want to build a video-first podcast, Castos can handle it. RedCircle cannot.
Action
See how easy it is to set up Automatic YouTube Republishing with Castos’ Growth Plan.
RedCircle wins on built-in ad marketplace and cross-promotion. Choose based on your priorities.
We believe in being honest about where competitors have strengths. RedCircle has built strong tools in two areas: their advertising marketplace (RAP) and cross-promotion features.
RedCircle’s Ad Platform connects podcasters with brands for both programmatic and host-read advertising opportunities. Once you reach 500 weekly downloads, you can opt into their marketplace and potentially get advertising deals without cold-emailing sponsors yourself. Their cross-promotion marketplace lets you partner with similar podcasts to grow your audience through promo swaps.
These features are genuinely useful for podcasters focused primarily on monetization through advertising. However, the trade-off is significant: RedCircle takes 30% of host-read ad revenue and 50% of programmatic ad revenue. You’re paying for convenience with a substantial cut of your earnings.
The bottom line: If your main goal is getting into an ad marketplace quickly and you’re willing to give up a large percentage of revenue for that access, RedCircle has built tools for that. If you want to keep 100% of your revenue, need video podcasting, want WordPress integration, or require comprehensive private podcasting, Castos delivers features RedCircle cannot match.
Both Castos and RedCircle share several core features:
Unlimited Episodes and Storage
Both platforms offer unlimited podcast episodes and storage. With Castos, you also get absolutely no download limits, so your growing audience never costs you extra.
Podcast Analytics
Both platforms provide analytics to track your podcast performance. Castos offers IAB-compliant analytics with geographic breakdowns, device data, and listening trends.
Automatic Distribution To Major Podcasting Directories
Both Castos and RedCircle distribute your podcast to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major directories.
One-click import of your existing podcast from RedCircle
Migrating from RedCircle to Castos is straightforward. Our import tool pulls in your episodes, show notes, and metadata. Your RSS feed redirects automatically so listeners never miss an episode.
Here’s how the pricing structures compare at different tiers:
Entry-Level Plans:
Castos Essentials: $19/mo
RedCircle Core: Free
Castos Essentials
Unlimited downloads, 100 private subscribers, WordPress plugin, 10 transcripts/mo, keep 100% of revenue
RedCircle Core
Unlimited hosting, 1 podcast only, basic analytics, no WordPress plugin, 4.5-50% revenue cuts
Mid-Tier Comparison:
Castos Growth: $49/mo
RedCircle Growth: $19.99/mo
Castos Growth
Unlimited downloads, YouTube republishing, 250 private subs, WordPress plugin, 25 transcripts/mo, 100% revenue
RedCircle Growth
Unlimited podcasts, video generation, 5 transcripts/mo, cross-promotion, no WordPress plugin, revenue cuts still apply
Top-Tier Plans:
Castos Pro: $99/mo
RedCircle Pro: $34.99/mo
Castos Pro
Full video hosting, unlimited downloads, 500 private subs, 100 transcripts/mo, priority support, 100% revenue
RedCircle Pro
5 team seats, 50 transcripts/mo, premium analytics, YouTube distribution, no video hosting, revenue cuts still apply
The pricing takeaway: RedCircle’s free tier looks attractive on paper, but the revenue cuts make it expensive once you start earning. Castos charges a predictable monthly fee, and you keep 100% of your podcast revenue. For podcasters who monetize through donations, subscriptions, or advertising, Castos often costs less in the long run while providing video podcasting, WordPress integration, and private podcasting features that RedCircle lacks.
