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All Zencastr Plans & Pricing

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Enterprise Contact Sales Contact Sales Not specified
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Tier
Billing
Your projected cost$600per month · $24/unit × 25units
Year 1 license$7.2K12 months at this rate
At a glance

List price by tier (annualized, per unit)

Per-unit list price across Zencastr's plans, annualized. Custom-priced tiers show a hatched bar.

FreeCustom
Grow$288/yr
Scale$480/yr
Business$960/yr
EnterpriseCustom
Quick Answer
Last verified:
High confidence

Zencastr costs Free to $80 per month as of September 2026, with 5 plans available including a free tier. Plans: Free (free), Grow at $24/month, Scale at $40/month, and Business at $80/month. Custom pricing is available on request. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: Yes

Zencastr offers 5 pricing tiers: Free, Grow, Scale, Business, Enterprise. A free plan is available. Paid plans include Grow at $24/month, Scale at $40/month, Business at $80/month.

Compared to other podcast hosting software, Zencastr is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.

  • 15 documented hidden costs beyond list price
  • Contracts auto-renew
  • G2 rating: 3.7 out of 5 from 30 reviews (as of Sep 2026)
Last verified: | Sources: 1 pricing pages and reviews

How much does Zencastr cost?

Zencastr offers 5 pricing plans, starting with a free tier and scaling to custom enterprise pricing. Plans include Free (free), Grow at $24/month, Scale at $40/month, Business at $80/month, Enterprise (custom pricing).

Zencastr Pricing Overview

Zencastr has 5 pricing plans, including a free tier. Paid plans range from $0 to $80/month. The Free plan is free. The Grow plan costs $24/month. The Scale plan costs $40/month. The Business plan costs $80/month. The Enterprise plan requires contacting sales for a custom quote.

Zencastr contracts auto-renew, with a 1 year (annual plan) minimum commitment, and annual price increases of No published schedule.

There are at least 15 documented hidden costs beyond Zencastr's list price, including implementation, training, and add-on fees.

This pricing was last verified in June 13, 2026 from 1 independent source.

Try Zencastr Free

Zencastr pricing starts at $0 for the Free plan, which covers up to 2 hours of audio and video recording per month for up to 12 participants with unlimited audio hosting. Paid plans begin at $24/month (Grow) and scale to $40/month (Scale) and $80/month (Business) for longer recording hours, uncompressed WAV audio, AI transcription, and YouTube distribution. Enterprise pricing is custom-quoted.

How Zencastr Pricing Compares

Compare Zencastr pricing against top alternatives in Podcast Hosting.

Buzzsprout $0-$30/month View pricing → Captivate $19-$99/month View pricing → Simplecast $0-$35/month View pricing →

Compare Zencastr vs Alternatives

Before committing to Zencastr, compare pricing with these 3 alternatives in the same category.

VSBuzzsprout
Free

Getting started

Compare pricing
VSCaptivate
From $19/month

Solo podcasters and independent creators

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VSSimplecast
Free

Trial before commitment

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All Zencastr alternatives & migration guides

What Companies Actually Pay for Zencastr

Review scores
Trustpilot 1out of 5 (7)
G2 3.7out of 5 (30)
Third-party review aggregates, as of Sep 2026

Score gap reflects platform demographics — G2 surveys verified business users; Trustpilot is open to all, skewing toward support complaints.

Top pricing complaints
Auto-renewal onto annual plans without explicit user consent, including charges to expired cardsRefunds denied despite billing errors, with ToS cited as justificationEmail-only support with multi-day response times and no phone optionAccount lockouts after payment confirmation with no timely resolution

Zencastr Year 1 Total Cost by Company Size

Real deployment costs including licenses, implementation, training, and admin — not just the sticker price.

Solo Podcaster — Free Plan $0 Year 1 total

Individual podcaster using the Free plan for basic remote recording and audio hosting with up to 2 hours of recording per month

Growing Podcast — Grow Plan (Annual) $288 Year 1 total
$24/month
Total $288

Podcaster needing more recording hours, WAV audio quality, and YouTube distribution beyond the free plan limits on the Grow plan

Professional Podcast Operation — Business Plan (Annual) $960 Year 1 total
$80/month
Total $960

Professional podcasting team on the Business plan billed annually, as reported by a real customer

Small Team — Business Plan, Annual Billing $960 Year 1 total
$80/month × 12
Total $960

A company purchasing the Business plan on an annual basis, as reported by a real user on Trustpilot in April 2026.

Reddit (r/podcasting, 2023-03-22); current tier data

How Zencastr Pricing Compares

Software Starting Price Top Price
Zencastr Free $80/month
Buzzsprout Free $30/month
Captivate $17/month $90/month
Simplecast Free $35/month
Spotify for Podcasters Custom Custom
Transistor $19/month $199/month

Browse all Podcast Hosting pricing →

15 Zencastr Hidden Costs Beyond the List Price

Beyond the listed price, Zencastr has at least 15 documented hidden costs that can significantly increase total cost of ownership.

Watch for 15 hidden costs
  • Post-production Credits $3 per hour
    medium 1 source
    industry "An older "Hobbyist" account (likely a precursor to the current free tier) charged $3 per hour for Automatic Postproduction."
  • Recording Storage Limits
    medium 1 source
    industry "Recording Storage: The free plan includes 90 days of recording masters storage."
  • Limited and Slow Customer Support 5-10% of license costs
    medium 2 sources
    Trustpilot "They don't have a call support, just a number that says to email them. If you're hoping the email support is quick, it is not--days taken to even ask what the issue is."
    Trustpilot "it's insane to me that you have chat support, but that it's available even when no one is online or working, so that having real-time conversations about support issues is impossible."
  • Discontinuation of Free Recording
    high 1 source
    industry "This change forced some users who relied on the free recording features to either upgrade to a paid plan or seek alternatives, representing an unexpected cost for those users."
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    low 1 source
    industry "Learning Curve: Advanced features like dynamic ad insertion and AI clipping may require time to master, which can be considered an investment of time."
  • Forced Auto-Enrollment in Annual Plans $288-$960
    high 2 sources
    Trustpilot "after my 2-week trial, the company immediately started trying to charge me for a yearly plan (which I had not selected). I tried to change it to a monthly plan but it automatically swapped back to a yearly plan and tried to charge me again."
    Trustpilot "Purchased a yearly plan for my company, the payment went through (960 dollars for the year) and then the site blocks me from seeing anything from the setting saying that my payment has "failed.""
  • Charging Expired or Stored Payment Methods Without Consent $288-$960
    high 1 source
    Trustpilot "They charged an expired credit card I had on file for a service I don't want and refuse to refund me the money, hiding behind their 40 page Terms of Service like the scam company they are."
  • Free Plan 2-Hour Monthly Recording Ceiling $24/user/month
    medium 2 sources
    Reddit "One question about Zencastr (and other sites that offer the same pricing model) what does 5h of recording mean? If each individual person is recorded in a different track does it mean I can only record 5h divided by the number of people in the call?"
    Reddit "Just going to the Zencastr site and looking at pricing shows this. Free $0 2 hours of Audio and Video Recording"
  • Free Plan Restricted to Compressed MP3 Audio $24/user/month
    low 1 source
    Reddit "Can vouch for Zencastr - I use it with my guests. Difference with free plan is MP3 (compressed) vs WAV (uncompressed) recordings, and quite a few other features (e.g. sound effects, transcriptions) aren't included."
  • Recording Masters Expire After 31 Days on Free Plan $24/user/month
    medium 1 source
    Reddit "Just going to the Zencastr site and looking at pricing shows this. Free $0 31 days of Recording Masters Storage"
  • No-Refund Policy on Unwanted or Expired-Card Charges $288-$960
    high 1 source
    Trustpilot "They charged an expired credit card I had on file for a service I don't want and refuse to refund me the money, hiding behind their 40 page Terms of Service like the scam company they are."
  • Effectively No Live Customer Support 5-15% of license costs
    medium 2 sources
    Trustpilot "They don't have a call support, just a number that says to email them. If you're hoping the email support is quick, it is not--days taken to even ask what the issue is."
    Trustpilot "It is furthermore insane to me that you have chat support, but that it's available even when no one is online or working, so that having real-time conversations about support issues is impossible."
  • No Way to Remove Saved Payment Information $288-$960
    medium 1 source
    Trustpilot "I have found no possible way to remove my banking information from my account, and Zencastr keeps trying to switch me back to a yearly account and automatically charge me."
  • Auto-Renewal Billing Without Clear Consent $288-$960
    high 2 sources
    Trustpilot "They charged an expired credit card I had on file for a service I don't want and refuse to refund me the money, hiding behind their 40 page Terms of Service like the scam company they are."
    Trustpilot "after my 2-week trial, the company immediately started trying to charge me for a yearly plan (which I had not selected). I tried to change it to a monthly plan but it automatically swapped back to a yearly plan and tried to charge me again."
  • Slow Email-Only Support for Billing Disputes $288-$960
    high 1 source
    Trustpilot "Purchased a yearly plan for my company, the payment went through (960 dollars for the year) and then the site blocks me from seeing anything from the setting saying that my payment has "failed."
Tip

Ask your Zencastr sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Intelligence sourced from 4 independent sources
industry Trustpilot Consumer reviews Reddit User discussions G2 B2B reviews
Key claims include inline source attribution. Data verified against multiple independent sources. 34 source citations total.

Zencastr Contract Terms

Zencastr contracts auto-renew. Changes require advance notice. These terms are sourced from verified buyer experiences.

Contract Terms
Auto-Renewal Yes
Minimum Commitment 1 year (annual plan)
Mid-Term Downgrade Allowed
Payment Terms Annual upfront or monthly billing; annual and monthly rates are identical per current tier data
Price Escalation No published schedule
Note

Downgrade to monthly appears possible via support contact, but at least one user reported the system automatically reverted to an annual plan when they attempted to self-serve the switch.

Based on 2 verified sources

How to Negotiate Zencastr Pricing

Zencastr contracts are negotiable. These 12 tactics are sourced from real buyer experiences and procurement specialists.

Negotiation Playbook 12 tactics
Annual Billing Discount high success

Paying annually provides a discount of approximately 15-20% compared to monthly billing.

https://zencastr.com
Exhaust the Free Trial Before Committing high success

Zencastr offers a free trial of pro features. Given multiple reports of difficult cancellations and auto-enrollment in annual plans, use the full trial period and verify billing settings before the trial ends to avoid unwanted charges.

Reddit (r/podcasting, 2025-01-25); Trustpilot reviews (2023–2026)
Verify Plan Selection Matches Billing high success

Before completing signup, confirm in your account settings that the plan and billing period shown match what you selected. Users report the UI defaulting or reverting to annual billing silently.

Trustpilot reviews (2023–2026)
Use a Virtual Card with Spending Limits high success

Multiple users report being charged on expired or unwanted cards. Using a virtual card with a set spending limit or a single-use card number prevents unexpected annual charges and gives you leverage to dispute charges without canceling your primary card.

Trustpilot user complaints
Promotional Offers medium success

Zencastr has offered past discounts, such as 30% off 12 months of any paid plan for users transitioning from the discontinued Hobbyist plan.

https://ghost.io
Use Publicly Shared Coupon Codes medium success

Zencastr distributes coupon codes through podcast sponsor and affiliate partnerships offering up to 30% off subscriptions. Search for active codes before subscribing — codes have been shared openly on Reddit by both the CEO and affiliate partners.

Reddit (r/dopeypodcast 2021-12-11; r/podcasting 2023-07-27)
Remove Payment Information Before Trial Expiry medium success

Users report being unable to remove banking details from accounts. Attempt to remove payment information before the trial period ends if you do not intend to subscribe, as the system will otherwise auto-charge for an annual plan.

Trustpilot (2023-11-02)
Start on Monthly Billing and Confirm in Writing medium success

Given multiple reports of users being auto-enrolled into annual plans, explicitly request monthly billing from the outset and get written confirmation (email) of your billing cycle before providing payment details. Screenshot the checkout page showing the monthly rate.

Trustpilot user reports
Cancel Before Trial Expiry and Confirm Cancellation medium success

Zencastr's 2-week trial has been reported to transition automatically to an annual charge without a clear opt-in prompt. Cancel at least 48 hours before trial end, capture a cancellation confirmation number or email, and monitor your payment method for charges.

Trustpilot review, Nov 2023
Benchmark Against Riverside Before Committing medium success

At least one reviewer notes that Riverside offers roughly twice the editing functionality at approximately half the cost of Zencastr. Use a Riverside trial as a walk-away option during any pricing conversation with Zencastr sales or support.

Trustpilot review, Nov 2023
Insist on Monthly Billing to Reduce Lock-In Risk medium success

Given documented auto-renewal complaints and reported difficulty obtaining refunds on annual plans, explicitly confirm billing frequency before entering payment details and request written confirmation that you are on a monthly plan. Screenshot your plan selection at checkout as evidence in case of a dispute.

Trustpilot user complaints
Remove Payment Method After Cancelling low success

Attempt to delete saved payment information immediately after cancelling. Users report difficulty finding the removal option; escalate to support via email if the UI does not surface a delete option, and request written confirmation that the card has been removed.

Trustpilot user reports
High success Medium Low / difficult

Full negotiation guide →

Zencastr Pricing FAQ

01 What is the cheapest paid plan?

The Grow plan is the cheapest paid plan, costing $24.0 per month.

02 Are there discounts for annual billing?

Yes, annual billing is available for the Grow, Scale, and Business plans. The Grow plan costs $288.0 annually, the Scale plan costs $480.0 annually, and the Business plan costs $960.0 annually.

03 Do you offer custom pricing?

Yes, Zencastr offers custom pricing for the Enterprise plan.

04 Does Zencastr have a free plan?

Yes. Zencastr's Free plan is $0/month and includes 2 hours of audio and video recording per month, unlimited audio uploads, unlimited audio hosting, up to 12 participants per recording, 720p video quality, and 31 days of recording masters storage. Audio recordings are MP3 only on the free plan.

05 What is the difference between the free plan and paid plans?

The Free plan limits you to 2 hours of recording per month and MP3-compressed audio. Paid plans start at $24/month (Grow), $40/month (Scale), and $80/month (Business), and unlock more recording hours, uncompressed WAV audio, transcription features, sound effects, and YouTube distribution.

06 Does Zencastr auto-renew subscriptions?

Yes. User reports indicate Zencastr auto-renews subscriptions and in some cases automatically enrolls users in annual plans. Review your billing plan carefully before your trial or billing period ends and confirm the plan selected matches your intent.

07 How many guests can join a Zencastr recording?

Zencastr supports up to 12 participants (host plus 11 guests) per recording session on the Free plan.

08 What is the annual cost of the Business plan?

The Business plan is $80/month, totaling $960 per year.

09 Does Zencastr offer phone support?

No. Zencastr does not offer phone support. Support is available via email and an on-site chat widget, though the chat is frequently unstaffed with no posted hours. Email response times have been reported as taking multiple days.

10 Can Zencastr be used as an all-in-one podcasting solution?

Yes. Zencastr combines remote recording, hosting, analytics, distribution to major platforms (Apple, Spotify, Google), and monetization options on paid plans. Users who switched from dedicated hosting providers report the all-in-one convenience as a key reason for choosing Zencastr.

11 Can I get a refund if I'm charged unexpectedly by Zencastr?

Based on user reports, Zencastr's refund policy is strict. At least one user was denied a refund after being charged on an expired card, with Zencastr citing its Terms of Service. Contact support immediately if you see an unexpected charge, but refunds are not guaranteed based on available evidence.

12 What is included in Zencastr's Free plan?

The Free plan includes up to 2 hours of audio and video recording per month, unlimited audio uploads and hosting, up to 12 participants per recording, 192k MP3 audio recording, an audio embed player, 720p video recording, and 31 days of recording masters storage. Transcription, sound effects, WAV audio, and YouTube distribution are not available on the Free plan.

13 What happens to my recordings if I stay on the Free plan?

On the Free plan, recording masters are stored for only 31 days. If you do not download your raw files within that window, they are permanently deleted. Published audio hosting (for your podcast feed) is unlimited, but the underlying recording masters have this hard time limit.

14 How does Zencastr's pricing compare to Riverside?

At least one reviewer reports that Riverside offers approximately twice the editing functionality at roughly half the price. Zencastr paid plans start at $24/month (Grow), $40/month (Scale), and $80/month (Business). Evaluate both platforms during free trials before committing to an annual plan.

15 How do I contact Zencastr support?

Zencastr offers email and chat support, but multiple users report that chat agents frequently appear available when none are online, and email responses can take several days. There is no live phone support line.

16 Is there an annual billing discount on Zencastr?

Based on current plan data, Zencastr's monthly and annual billing rates are identical: Grow is $24/month, Scale is $40/month, and Business is $80/month regardless of billing cycle. There is no listed discount for paying annually.

17 Can I switch from an annual Zencastr plan to monthly billing?

Switching to monthly billing appears to require contacting support directly. At least one user reported that attempting to self-serve the switch caused the system to automatically revert to the annual plan. If you want monthly billing, confirm the change explicitly with a support rep and keep written confirmation.

18 Does Zencastr offer refunds on annual plans?

Based on user reports, Zencastr's Terms of Service restrict refunds on annual subscriptions, and multiple users report being denied refunds even in cases of billing errors. Review the Terms of Service carefully before purchasing an annual plan and consider monthly billing to reduce financial exposure.

19 When do I need to upgrade from Zencastr's free plan?

Upgrade to the Grow plan ($24/month) when you exceed 2 hours of recording per month, need uncompressed WAV audio for professional editing, want transcript-based editing, need YouTube distribution, or want recording masters stored beyond 31 days.

Is this pricing incorrect? — we'll verify and update it.