Castos free trial: how long it runs and what it includes
Castos gives every plan a 14-day free trial, and you add a card when you start it. The trial runs the plan you choose with that plan's features, so a Growth trial includes the Castos mobile app, a free iOS and Android app where invited listeners sign in with their email, and an Essentials trial does not.
Castos says private podcasting and its subscriber tools are part of the trial. As read on October 18, 2026, Essentials is $19 a month, billed monthly, or $190 a year, billed annually.
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Start a 14-day Castos trial →The card Castos asks for, and when it is charged
Castos asks for a card when you start the trial and does not charge it until the 14 days are up. Its terms say it charges the full price of the plan you chose on the day the trial ends, and its plans FAQ says the subscription begins by itself unless you cancel before the 14 days end.
The trial is 14 days on any Castos plan, and Castos emails you before it ends so the card charge is no surprise. Growth is $49 a month, billed monthly, or $490 a year, billed annually, and Pro is $99 a month or $990 a year. Castos takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express, not PayPal. Castos pricing has each plan's limits.
Changing plans or canceling during the trial
Until the trial ends you can change plans or cancel from your Castos dashboard. Canceling during the trial means no charge, per a Castos help article, but your podcast's feed and episodes become unavailable to listeners when the trial ends, so cancel only when you are done with the show.
Castos's help article says you can change plan during the trial without changing its length, while its terms say any change to a plan during the trial ends the trial immediately, so choose the plan before you start.
Is Castos free once the trial ends?
No. No Castos page we read lists a free plan or a money-back guarantee, and Castos Premium starts at $499 a month by contact. Its refund policy says Castos issues no refunds unless a system malfunction caused a problem or an account was terminated without cause.
Castos says you can cancel anytime and that the account stays active to the end of the billing period, while its refund policy and terms say it does not refund unused months, so plan on no refund, including on an annual payment. Its terms add that certain refund requests may be considered case by case, at Castos's sole discretion.
Trials at Transistor, Hello Audio and Libsyn
Three rivals publish trial terms, and they differ on the card: Transistor's pricing page does not say, Hello Audio asks for none and Libsyn needs one.
| Host | Trial length | Card at sign-up | After the trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castos | 14 days on every plan | Added at the start; not charged until the 14 days end | Plan price; no refunds for unused months |
| Transistor | 14 days | Not stated on the pricing page | Starter $19 a month, billed monthly |
| Hello Audio | 7 days, with Powerhouse features | No credit card | Refund on request within 30 days of first payment |
| Libsyn | 30 days on every plan | Card needed; not charged until the 30 days end | Basic $12 a month, billed monthly |
Pick Hello Audio for 7 days with no card, or Libsyn for 30 days with a card, though Libsyn's pricing page lists no private plan. Read the Castos review for the plans, and is Castos legit for its terms, before you hand over a card.
Sources used for this page
The facts above come from the pages below, read on October 18, 2026. We have not used these products hands-on. Prices and terms change, so confirm them on the vendor's site before you buy.
- Castos pricing page — Vendor pricing page · castos.com · read October 18, 2026
- Castos terms of service — Vendor legal page · castos.com · read October 18, 2026
- Castos refund policy — Vendor legal page · castos.com · read October 18, 2026
- Castos payments policy — Vendor legal page · castos.com · read October 18, 2026
- What to expect during your Castos free trial period — Vendor documentation · support.castos.com · read October 18, 2026
- Castos plans and pricing FAQ — Vendor documentation · support.castos.com · read October 18, 2026
- Change your Castos subscription plan tier — Vendor documentation · support.castos.com · read October 18, 2026
- Castos mobile app — Vendor product page · castos.com · read October 18, 2026
- Transistor pricing — Vendor pricing page · transistor.fm · read October 18, 2026
- Hello Audio pricing — Vendor pricing page · helloaudio.fm · read October 18, 2026
- Libsyn plans and pricing — Vendor pricing page · libsyn.com · read October 18, 2026