Castos vs Podbean for private podcasts: limits, sign-in and who should pick which

Castos vs Podbean: the short answer and the main difference

Both are podcast hosts that run private shows, and both cap private lists by plan. The main difference is where the company features start. Podbean's plan list puts private podcasts, private groups, single sign-on and SOC 2 content protection together on its Business plan. Castos spreads them out: private feeds on every plan, the listener app from Growth, and single sign-on only on the contact-us Premium plan.

Plans were read on October 18, 2026. Prices are left out because both vendors change them and show monthly and annual toggles. This site has not used either product.

Key differences in private-listener limits and access

• Self-serve private list: Castos lists up to 100, 250 or 500 private subscribers across Essentials, Growth and Pro. Podbean lists 100 private members on Business and says more can be bought.
• Top private list: Podbean's contact-us Enterprise plan lists 500 private members. Castos Premium lists custom limits.
• Access model: Castos gives each subscriber a personal feed that can be revoked on its own. Podbean's pages describe a private members list and private groups, and do not say whether each member has a separate feed.
• Listener app: Castos offers a free iOS and Android app from Growth. Podbean names a Podbean Pro App for private listeners on Business and Enterprise.
• Single sign-on: listed on Podbean Business and Enterprise, and on Castos Premium only.
• Security statements: Podbean lists SOC 2 content protection and encryption on Business. The Castos pricing grid we read lists no security certification, so ask each vendor for its security documents.
• Team seats: Castos caps team members at 1, 5 and 10 on its three self-serve plans. Podbean lists unlimited admins on Business.

Cost: what each vendor shows and what stays open

Neither vendor's page gives your cost per listener. Castos charges by plan and lets you add subscribers in blocks of 500 above Pro. Podbean charges by plan and lets you buy extra private members above 100. Check both live pages with the monthly and annual toggles in each position, because this guide states no prices.

To compare, divide each plan's monthly fee by the people you will invite. At 80 people, Castos Essentials and Podbean Business both fit. At 150, Castos needs Growth, and Podbean needs Business plus purchased members. At 300, Castos Pro fits, while Podbean Business needs purchased members beyond its 100, or the quoted Enterprise plan. The Castos pricing guide shows the Castos side in more detail.

Trial and sign-up: how each vendor lets you test

Castos offers a 14-day trial, and its own comparison page says a card is added to start it. Podbean shows a start-free-trial button on its Business plan; the trial length is not stated on the pages we read. Whichever you choose, test with your real use. Invite one person on iPhone and one on Android, then remove one and check that new episodes stop arriving.

Who should choose Castos and who should choose Podbean

• Choose Podbean if your IT team requires single sign-on or a stated security certification, and you want it on a plan you can start online.
• Choose Podbean if you want private groups to split staff by team inside one show.
• Choose Castos if staff will listen in ordinary podcast apps and you want to remove one person without touching anyone else.
• Choose Castos if you expect 100 to 500 listeners and want that range on listed self-serve plans.
• Choose neither yet if you only need a handful of listeners. How to create an internal podcast explains the minimum, and the host shortlist adds three more options.