What does Acast do?
Acast is a podcast hosting and analytics service which powers a podcast ad marketplace.
Every podcast needs hosting to deliver the RSS feeds and MP3 audio files to listeners. Acast provides this hosting and gives podcasters the analytics to understand their audience better.
I already have a podcast. Can I move it to Acast?
Yes! It's really easy to migrate your feed and files to Acast. Simply plug in your RSS feed URL, and we'll move everything over to our robust servers. Here's a detailed step-by-step guide to switching from Libsyn, for example. If you're currently using a different service, you should be able to find the appropriate guide here.
If I switch platform, will my current analytics follow through as well?
Analytics will not carry over when changing hosts, simply because we can't guarantee the purity of the data. Acast is IAB certified, so carrying over analytics from a different platform would impact the integrity of the data. Don't worry, we take analytics very seriously: our dashboard is intuitive and clear, our analytics are highly detailed.
If I switch my podcast to Acast, will I keep my subscribers?
Yes! Our smart import function pulls in all your episodes, all your show notes and all your subscribers too. We make sure that switching to Acast is totally seamless and your listeners are always connected to your feed.
Do listeners need to download a special app?
Nope. Acast works wherever there are ears and RSS feeds. Podcasts which are hosted with Acast will play on all major podcast players (like iTunes, Overcast, Pocketcasts etc.). Your listeners don't need to do anything different to hear your show.
What's an RSS feed?
An RSS feed is a kind of file which contains information about a podcast and the episodes of that podcast and the location where the podcast audio files are stored. RSS feeds can be updated by their owners to incorporate new details—like a new episode, or a new image for the show. Podcast players (like iTunes, Overcast, Pocketcasts etc.) 'read' these RSS feeds and play the episode audio files. Read more about
Can I schedule episodes to publish later?
Yes! It's really easy to schedule your episodes right there when you upload your episode. Learn more here.
How can I put my podcast on my blog or website?
Acast has a simple and elegant audio player which can be embedded on any site. Here's an explanation of how to embed a player on your WordPress site.
Can I monetize my show with advertising if I am on the Starter plan?
Yes. Users on all plans are now able to monetize. Learn more about the Acast plans and reach out to support team in the Intercom chat if you have any questions.
What if I want to leave Acast?
We'll be sad to see you go! But in the event that you wish to cancel your subscription to Acast—for any reason—we will help you switch to a new host and will implement 301 redirects promptly. In order to process your cancellation properly and ensure your files are secure, please contact us on the intercom chat bubble.
Can I get direct links to MP3 files?
Yes, we provide links to the MP3 files directly, as well an embeddable player for your blog or website.
What about the quality and bitrate of the audio files?
While you should record audio at the best quality you can manage, when it comes to sharing your podcast we recommend uploading 128 kbps MP3 files. These typically have the right balance of good audio quality and small size, which your listeners will appreciate.
We support MP3 and M4A files in mono and stereo.
We do not change the quality of the files you upload.
It says the maximum file size is 150MB. Why?
Most people use the Apple Podcasts app to listen to podcasts. Apple has set the file limit to 150MB for all files downloaded over a cellular connection. When your listeners try to play the episode, they are greeted with a pretty unhelpful message "episode unavailable"—which is a frustrating experience. To help our podcasters avoid this issue, we set the internal limit to 150MB also.