Buzzsprout Podcasting vs Seriously Simple Podcasting
Updated 13 Oct 2026. 21 features compared side by side.
Official Buzzsprout plugin with Player and Episode List blocks that stay in sync with your Buzzsprout-hosted show. For Buzzsprout customers.
Free podcast plugin by Castos that publishes episodes and feeds from WordPress, with players, blocks and optional Castos hosting and analytics.
Choose Buzzsprout Podcasting if…
- You need auto-sync new episodes
- You weigh user ratings (5.0 vs 4.7 on WordPress.org)
Choose Seriously Simple Podcasting if…
- You need podcast SEO & schema and guest & host profiles
- You want the more complete feature set (84/100 vs 79/100)
- You prefer the more widely used option
Buzzsprout Podcasting includes 1 feature that Seriously Simple Podcasting lacks, including Auto-sync new episodes; Seriously Simple Podcasting has 2 that Buzzsprout Podcasting lacks, including Podcast SEO & schema and Guest & host profiles. Both include 16 of the 21 features we track.
At a glance
Feature comparison
Click a screenshot to see both plugins side by side.
Buzzsprout Podcasting Seriously Simple PodcastingPublishing7/77/7
Buzzsprout hosting (free plan included) generates the feed; the plugin itself does not.
Generates an RSS feed for each podcast plus an optional combined feed.
Buzzsprout lists shows in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and 15+ more directories.
Feed settings for Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directories.
Plugin connects one show feed; Buzzsprout's Multi-Podcast plan hosts up to 5 or 10 shows.
Unlimited podcasts on one site, each with its own feed and settings.
Schedule an episode in Buzzsprout; the always-latest player updates on its own.
Episodes take a publish date and scheduled episodes sync to Castos when they go live.
Paid plans auto-create transcripts for the feed, apps and Buzzsprout site.
Transcript file field and podcast:transcript tag; AI transcriptions with Castos.
Chapter markers added in Buzzsprout's editors appear in supporting apps.
Chapters are added in the Castos dashboard and output in the Castos feed; no plugin field.
1080p video to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Embed Vimeo, VideoPress or video blocks; Castos Pro hosts video files.
Player3/43/4
Buzzsprout Player block embeds a chosen episode or always the newest.
Compact or HTML5 player shown above or below episode content.
Blocks embed inline single or multi-episode players only.
No persistent player is listed in the plugin or its blocks.
Player colours, details and sharing set in Buzzsprout; list style follows your theme.
Custom background and progress colours, dark mode, download and new-window links.
Episode List block: playlist of all or latest 5/10/20, or expandable list, tag filters.
Playlist player and Episode List blocks/shortcodes with a cards layout.
Hosting & importing3/32/3
Audio hosted by Buzzsprout; free plan keeps episodes for 90 days only.
Castos hosts audio on a podcast CDN with unlimited storage and downloads.
Easy Podcast Migration moves an existing show onto Buzzsprout.
Imports from Libsyn, Buzzsprout, Podbean, SoundCloud, Simplecast and PowerPress.
Blocks read your Buzzsprout feed (15-minute cache), so new episodes appear automatically.
Castos to WordPress sync is not offered; the connection is one-way from WordPress.
Growth & analytics4/55/5
Stats with app, location and episode comparisons in Buzzsprout, not in WordPress.
Free Seriously Simple Stats add-on; deeper analytics with Castos plans.
Directory links appear on the Buzzsprout-hosted website; no subscribe block in WordPress.
Customisable subscribe links per podcast for Apple, Spotify and others.
Plugin adds no episode schema or SEO settings.
Episode and series schema is added through the Yoast SEO integration.
Buzzsprout Subscriptions give paying supporters a personal premium RSS feed.
Password-protected feeds free; Castos adds private subscriber feeds and membership links.
Buzzsprout Ads, Subscriptions and monthly Listener Support donations.
Funding and Value4Value tags; Castos Ads and listener donations with Castos.
Guests & booking0/21/2
No guest application or booking features.
No guest application or booking tool integration.
No guest or host profiles.
Free Seriously Simple Speakers add-on adds speakers with archive pages.
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Pricing compared
Buzzsprout Podcasting Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Free | Free per month, Unlimited |
| Audio | $180 per year, Unlimited |
| Audio + Video | $300 per year, Unlimited |
| Multi-Podcast | $360 per year, Unlimited |
| Archive | $5 per month, Unlimited |
Seriously Simple Podcasting Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Free plugin | Free per year, Unlimited |
| Castos Essentials | $190 per year, 1 site |
| Castos Growth | $490 per year, 1 site |
| Castos Pro | $990 per year, 1 site |
| Castos Premium | $4,990 per year, 1 site |
Downloads trend
Buzzsprout Podcasting
893 downloads last week
Seriously Simple Podcasting
4,402 downloads last week
Verdict
Seriously Simple Podcasting scores higher on our feature checklist (84/100 against 79/100) and includes podcast SEO & schema and guest & host profiles that Buzzsprout Podcasting does not. Buzzsprout Podcasting still has the edge on auto-sync new episodes. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Biggest differences
Buzzsprout Podcasting: included. Seriously Simple Podcasting: not included. Blocks read your Buzzsprout feed (15-minute cache), so new episodes appear automatically.
Buzzsprout Podcasting: not included. Seriously Simple Podcasting: partial. Episode and series schema is added through the Yoast SEO integration.
Buzzsprout Podcasting: not included. Seriously Simple Podcasting: via add-on. Free Seriously Simple Speakers add-on adds speakers with archive pages.
Written from the feature, pricing and install data on this page, not from hands-on testing. How we compare.
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Buzzsprout Podcasting vs others
FAQ
Which is better, Buzzsprout Podcasting or Seriously Simple Podcasting?
Seriously Simple Podcasting scores higher on our feature checklist (84/100 against 79/100) and includes podcast SEO & schema and guest & host profiles that Buzzsprout Podcasting does not. Buzzsprout Podcasting still has the edge on auto-sync new episodes. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Which has more features?
Seriously Simple Podcasting includes 18 of the 21 features we track, against 17 for Buzzsprout Podcasting. Feature count is only part of the picture; check which of the differences matter to you.
Is Buzzsprout Podcasting free?
Buzzsprout Podcasting has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $5/mo.
Is Seriously Simple Podcasting free?
Seriously Simple Podcasting has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $190/yr.
Feature data last changed 13 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit to Buzzsprout Podcasting or Seriously Simple Podcasting. Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you; it never affects our data or rankings.