Head-to-head comparison
Acast vs Transistor Private Podcasts
Two of the hosting tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Podcast host built around monetization, with a real ad marketplace behind it.
Best for: Monetization-focused podcasters
Transistor's per-subscriber private feed feature
Best for: Transistor users who want to add internal or paid feeds without a separate vendor.
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Acast
Pros
- Real ad marketplace with creator payouts
- Free Starter plan to begin
- Multiple shows on higher tiers
Watch-outs
- 50% ad revenue share is steep
- Free tier capped at 5 episodes without ads
- Less control over brand placements
Transistor Private Podcasts
Pros
- Private podcasts on every paid plan
- Same dashboard as your public show
- Per-subscriber feed analytics
Watch-outs
- Best value only if you'd buy Transistor anyway
- Less specialised for course-creator workflows
- Lighter on email gating than Hello Audio
Which one should you pick?
Pick Acast if
You’re building around monetization-focused podcasters. Acast's strength is the ad marketplace — they actually have advertisers and they actually pay out. The free Starter is a nice on-ramp, the revenue share is steep (around 50%), and the platform is more hands-on about brand fit than some creators want.
Pick Transistor Private Podcasts if
You’re building around transistor users who want to add internal or paid feeds without a separate vendor.. Transistor treats private podcasts as a first-class feature rather than an upsell. Every paid plan supports per-subscriber feeds, signup pages, and email-gated access from the same dashboard that runs your public show.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Acast alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Acast do better than Transistor Private Podcasts?
Acast's standout is "Real ad marketplace with creator payouts". Transistor Private Podcasts doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Private podcasts on every paid plan" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Acast; if the second does, pick Transistor Private Podcasts.
What are the trade-offs?
Acast: 50% ad revenue share is steep. Transistor Private Podcasts: best value only if you'd buy transistor anyway. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Do they support the same platforms?
Acast works on iOS where Transistor Private Podcasts doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use Acast and Transistor Private Podcasts together?
Both are hosting tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Acast for one show or episode type and Transistor Private Podcasts for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.