Castopod

Open source alternative to Buzzsprout, Transistor, Captivate, Podbean and Castos

879 stars
AGPL-3.0
Active this month
Last commit 14 days ago

Last verified Nov 5, 2026

Host your own podcast feed with fediverse social integration, IABv2-compliant analytics, and Podcasting 2.0 support under AGPL-3.0.

Visit website GitHub879 Deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Castopod is for#

Independent podcasters leaving commercial hosting

Podcasters paying monthly hosting fees who want to cut recurring costs and move listener data onto their own infrastructure. Castopod covers the same distribution workflow as Buzzsprout or Podbean: RSS submission to directories, IABv2 analytics, and an embeddable player.

Skip if:

Skip if you have no experience managing a web server or VPS. Castopod requires PHP/MySQL setup and ongoing server maintenance. A managed host is the lower-friction path for non-technical creators.

Media organizations running multiple shows

Teams managing several podcast feeds from one installation with no per-show subscription cost. Castopod supports multiple shows on a single server instance, making the per-show cost nearly zero beyond storage and bandwidth.

Skip if:

Skip if your team needs tight CMS integration with a WordPress editorial workflow. Castopod is a standalone PHP application, not a WordPress plugin, and Castos integrates more naturally with existing WordPress sites.

Privacy-focused creators retaining listener data

Podcasters who want listener data stored on their own infrastructure under GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD-compliant conditions. Castopod's analytics collect only anonymized data and write it directly to the host's database, with no third-party analytics vendor in the pipeline.

Skip if:

Skip if you need deeper listener intelligence such as email capture, survey tools, or cross-platform subscriber attribution. These features require a dedicated analytics or marketing tool.

Creators building a fediverse-native podcast presence

Podcasters who want audience interaction outside the closed ecosystems of Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Each Castopod episode becomes an ActivityPub actor, allowing Mastodon users to comment and share natively, turning the podcast feed into a social node they control.

Skip if:

Skip if your audience does not use ActivityPub platforms. The fediverse feature has no visible benefit unless listeners are already on Mastodon or similar services.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Podcast hosting services charge monthly fees that scale with downloads, storage, or the number of shows. At the entry level, $12 to $20 per month may seem manageable, but costs compound across multiple shows and over multi-year runs. Beyond fees, proprietary services own the analytics pipeline: listener data lives in the host's database, subscriber counts come back as aggregate numbers rather than raw events, and there is no way to migrate your audience history to a new provider without losing it.

Audience interaction presents a separate challenge. Podcasters who want listeners to engage beyond writing app reviews are pushed toward Twitter, Instagram, or Substack, all of which sit between the creator and the audience and add their own lock-in. There is no open, interoperable channel for a listener on Mastodon to comment directly on an episode hosted on a commercial podcast service.

how Castopod solves it

How it solves it#

Fediverse Social Integration

Every episode becomes an ActivityPub actor. Listeners on Mastodon and other fediverse platforms can like, comment on, and share episodes directly without leaving their own social app. The podcast feed becomes a social network, with no dependency on any third-party service or proprietary account.

IABv2-Compliant Listener Analytics

Built-in analytics follow the Interactive Advertising Bureau v2 (IABv2) standard for counting unique downloads and listener geography. All data is anonymized at collection to comply with GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD. The data lives on your server, not in a third-party analytics warehouse.

Podcasting 2.0 Chapter and Transcript Support

Castopod supports the Podcast Index Podcasting 2.0 namespace, enabling episode chapters, transcripts, location tags, and person credits in the RSS feed. These features appear in Podcasting 2.0 compatible apps like Podcast Addict and Podfriend without additional configuration.

Video Clip and Soundbite Generator

Create shareable short video clips and audio soundbites from any episode directly in the admin panel. The tool generates clips ready for social media sharing, reducing post-production steps for social promotion of individual episodes.

Built-in Monetization Options

Support premium episode subscriptions, micropayments, tip jars, and listen-to-click ads from the same interface. The ad integration uses Ad Aures' cookieless ad technology, keeping listener tracking out of the equation.

RSS Distribution to Major Directories

Manage the podcast feed in one place and distribute to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and Podfriend via standard RSS. No directory-specific plugins or integrations are needed beyond submitting your self-hosted feed URL to each directory.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

No monthly hosting feeUnlike Buzzsprout (from $15/month), Transistor (from $19/month), Captivate, Podbean, and Castos (from $19/month), Castopod costs only the server it runs on. A basic VPS at $5-10/month covers a podcast of any size, and that cost does not scale with downloads or storage.
Full listener data ownershipIABv2 analytics data never leaves your infrastructure. Where commercial services aggregate and retain listener metrics in their own databases, Castopod writes everything to your database, giving you raw access to episode performance data with no vendor in the middle.
AGPL-3.0 license with full source accessThe AGPL-3.0 license means the full source code is available, the codebase is auditable, and you can run a modified version for personal or internal use. The copyleft clause requires distributing source changes if you offer a hosted Castopod service to others.
Fediverse engagement not available on commercial hostsActivityPub support makes Castopod the only host in this comparison set that connects to the decentralized social web. Listeners on Mastodon, Pleroma, or any ActivityPub network can interact with episodes natively, without needing a separate social account on a proprietary service.

Trade-offs

-PHP/MySQL server setup requiredCastopod is a PHP web application requiring PHP 8.1+ and a MySQL or MariaDB database. Users comfortable with shared hosting or basic VPS administration will find the setup approachable, but those who have never managed a web server will face a steeper learning curve than signing up for a managed service.
-Fediverse value depends on listener adoptionThe fediverse social layer only delivers value when listeners are on ActivityPub platforms. For podcasters whose audiences are primarily on mainstream social networks, the fediverse integration adds no immediate engagement benefit.

versus alternatives

Castopod vs alternatives#

Castopod vs Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is the most common starting point for independent podcasters: clean interface, automatic directory submission, and plans from $15/month. Castopod covers the same distribution workflow with no recurring fee.

Feature	Castopod	Buzzsprout
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Analytics	IABv2	IABv2
Fediverse integration	Yes	No
Podcasting 2.0	Yes	Partial
Monthly fee	None (server cost)	$15/mo and up

Castopod is the better fit when you want to eliminate monthly fees, retain raw listener analytics on your own server, and add fediverse audience interaction. Buzzsprout is worth considering when you need a managed service with no server maintenance, responsive customer support, and a polished embeddable player without technical setup.

Castopod vs Transistor

Transistor targets professional creators and teams managing multiple shows. The Starter plan is $19/month and Business is $99/month. Castopod supports multiple shows on a single installation with no per-show or per-download cost.

Feature	Castopod	Transistor
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Multiple shows	Yes	Yes (plan limits)
Fediverse integration	Yes	No
Monthly fee	None (server cost)	$19-$199/mo

Castopod is the better choice for teams running several shows who want to cut recurring costs and own their audience data. Transistor is worth considering for teams that want polished embeds, a clean public show page, and no server administration work.

Castopod vs Castos

Castos integrates natively with WordPress through its Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin, making it a natural choice for podcasters whose show lives inside a WordPress site. Castopod is a standalone PHP application, not a WordPress plugin.

Feature	Castopod	Castos
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
WordPress integration	No	Yes (native plugin)
Fediverse integration	Yes	No
Monthly fee	None (server cost)	$19-$99/mo

Castopod is the better fit when your podcast does not depend on WordPress and you want full data ownership without a monthly fee. Castos is worth considering when your existing site is WordPress and you want native post-to-episode publishing without leaving your CMS workflow.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Download and install Castopod from GitHub Releases onto a PHP 8.1+ and MySQL server: https://github.com/ad-aures/castopod/releases/latest

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: PHPTypeScript

frequently asked

FAQ#

Does Castopod work with Apple Podcasts and Spotify?

Yes. Castopod generates a standard RSS feed that can be submitted to any major podcast directory, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, and Podcast Addict. Submit your self-hosted feed URL to each directory through their standard podcast submission process.

What server or hosting does Castopod require?

Castopod requires PHP 8.1+ and a MySQL or MariaDB database. It runs on most shared hosting plans and any VPS or dedicated server with PHP support. The package ships with all static assets and dependencies included, so no build step is required after uploading and running the installer.

Is Castopod free to use?

Yes. Castopod is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. The only cost is your own hosting infrastructure. A basic shared host or VPS costing $5-10 per month is sufficient for most independent podcasts.

What is Podcasting 2.0 and does Castopod support it?

Podcasting 2.0 is an initiative by the Podcast Index community to extend the RSS podcast standard with features like chapters, transcripts, location tags, and person credits. Castopod supports the Podcasting 2.0 namespace in its RSS feeds, so these features appear automatically in compatible apps like Podcast Addict and Podfriend.

What does the AGPL-3.0 license allow for self-hosters?

The AGPL-3.0 license allows you to run Castopod on your own server for personal use or for your organization without restriction. If you offer a hosted Castopod service to other users, the AGPL copyleft clause requires you to make any source modifications publicly available. Running it internally for your own shows has no such requirement.

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Hostinger

Self-host Castopod on a Hostinger VPS

Keep it running 24/7, even when your laptop is off. A Hostinger VPS gives it a server of its own.

01
Choose a plan
Starts from $6.49/mo
02
Apply
Extra 10% off yearly plans
03
Install Castopod
On a server that stays on
04
Start building
Focus on the app, not the server

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Castopod vs Buzzsprout

Feature	Castopod	Buzzsprout
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Analytics	IABv2	IABv2
Fediverse integration	Yes	No
Podcasting 2.0	Yes	Partial
Monthly fee	None (server cost)	$15/mo and up

Castopod vs Transistor

Feature	Castopod	Transistor
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Multiple shows	Yes	Yes (plan limits)
Fediverse integration	Yes	No
Monthly fee	None (server cost)	$19-$199/mo

Castopod vs Castos

Feature	Castopod	Castos
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
WordPress integration	No	Yes (native plugin)
Fediverse integration	Yes	No
Monthly fee	None (server cost)	$19-$99/mo