The Zencastr Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Zencastr in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Zencastr
The Insider’s Guide
Free podcast recording, chat-based editing and hosting in one app
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from Zencastr’s own pages.
Made by Zencastr · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Zencastr’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Zencastr’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.4
GPA, above 51 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade
Zencastr is a podcasting tool that records audio and video with remote guests, edits the result and hosts and publishes the show. Each participant is recorded locally on a separate track, and edits are made by chatting with an AI assistant the company calls the Producer. Its pricing page now lists a single free plan, named Vibecastr, alongside a custom-priced Enterprise plan.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Zencastr, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You ask for the edit you want in words, and it trims pauses and filler itself.
- 1
Best for starting a podcast with remote guests for free
Zencastr records a podcast with remote guests on separate tracks, edits it by chat with an AI assistant, and hosts it, all on one free plan.
- 2
There is a free plan
Vibecastr plan: unlimited recording, hosting, transcription and post-production with up to 6 participants, 4 seats and 5 podcast shows, 4K video recording and 1080p live streaming.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Web and iOS.
- 4
Separate-track recording
Records each of up to 6 participants locally on their own device, with cloud backup, in up to 4K video and 48 kHz WAV audio, from a browser or an iPhone or iPad.
- 5
Editing by chat
Instead of a timeline, you ask the Producer for the edits you want. It also removes background noise, balances levels and cuts long pauses and filler words.
- 6
Transcripts, chapters and captions
Every recording or upload is transcribed automatically in 10 languages with speaker labels, then split into chapters and turned into burned-in captions.
- 7
A 3.4 GPA, above 51 of 52
That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Zencastr you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Zencastr at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS
- Made by
- Zencastr
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 3.4 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.9 on the App Store, 721 ratings
The report card
Best for starting a podcast with remote guests for free
Zencastr records a podcast with remote guests on separate tracks, edits it by chat with an AI assistant, and hosts it, all on one free plan. But a recording stops at 6 people, an account at 4 seats and 5 shows, the 60,000 video views have no stated period, there's no Android or desktop app, and anything past those limits is a custom Enterprise quote.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The only self-serve plan, Vibecastr, is free, and recording, hosting, transcription and post-production are all listed as unlimited on it. Rivals in this category charge from $10 a month upwards. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free covers unlimited recording, hosting and transcription with 6 participants, 4 seats and 5 shows in 4K, which is past where a normal podcaster stops. The one unknown is the 60,000 video views, with no period stated. |
| Features | B | Separate-track recording in 4K and 48 kHz WAV, editing by chat, transcripts in 10 languages with speaker labels, hosting and publishing to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, clips, 1080p streaming. It covers the podcast job, with no timeline at all. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.9 on the App Store, but from only 721 ratings, which is too few for the top mark on our ladder. You ask for the edit you want in words, and it trims pauses and filler itself. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | The web and an iPhone and iPad app, publishing to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok and Instagram with Google Drive and Dropbox storage. No Android app and no desktop app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Zencastr is for
- Fits if you're starting a podcast and want recording, editing and hosting on a free plan
- Works for interview shows of up to 6 people, each recorded on a separate track
Who it is not for
- Skip it if your panel is bigger than 6 people, as that's the cap on a recording
- Not for you if you or your guests record from Android or a desktop app, as only the web and iOS are listed
- Tight if you run a network, since an account stops at 5 shows and 4 seats and the next step is a custom quote
- Watch out: the free plan lists 60,000 video views and 6,000 for video RSS without saying per what period
- Not for you if you want to edit on a timeline, since edits are made by chatting with an AI assistant
Good to know
Good for
- New podcasters who want recording, editing and hosting at no cost
- Interview shows with remote guests recorded on separate tracks
- Creators who would rather describe edits than work on a timeline
Worth knowing
- The free plan caps a recording at 6 participants, a team at 4 seats and an account at 5 podcast shows.
- The pricing table lists 60,000 video views and 6,000 for video RSS on the free plan, without stating the period.
- Apps are listed for the web and iOS only; no Android app is mentioned.
- Anything beyond the free plan's limits is a custom Enterprise quote; no self-serve paid tier is listed.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
2
plans to choose from
Zencastr has a free plan.
The only self-serve plan, Vibecastr, is free, and recording, hosting, transcription and post-production are all listed as unlimited on it.
Vibecastr
$0
Unlimited recording, hosting and transcription for up to 6 participants, with 4 seats, 5 podcast shows, 4K video and 1080p live streaming.
Enterprise
Custom
Custom limits for participants, seats, shows, hosting and support, arranged with the sales team.
The free plan
Vibecastr plan: unlimited recording, hosting, transcription and post-production with up to 6 participants, 4 seats and 5 podcast shows, 4K video recording and 1080p live streaming.
Read from zencastr.com on Oct 6, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Upgrade to Pro”, against $19.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $24.99 | $17.57 | 12% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 349ribu | $19.52 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺999,99 | $20.34 | about the same |
| Philippines | ₱ 1,290.00 | $20.53 | about the same |
| South Africa | R399.99 | $24.19 | 21% more |
| Germany | 22,99 € | $25.76 | 29% more |
| Brazil | R$ 129,90 | $25.95 | 30% more |
| United Kingdom | £19.99 | $26.43 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Web and iOS
Free podcast recording, chat-based editing and hosting in one app. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, transcription, noise cancellation, video editing.
It covers the podcast job, with no timeline at all.
- Separate-track recording
- Records each of up to 6 participants locally on their own device, with cloud backup, in up to 4K video and 48 kHz WAV audio, from a browser or an iPhone or iPad.
- Editing by chat
- Instead of a timeline, you ask the Producer for the edits you want. It also removes background noise, balances levels and cuts long pauses and filler words.
- Transcripts, chapters and captions
- Every recording or upload is transcribed automatically in 10 languages with speaker labels, then split into chapters and turned into burned-in captions.
- Hosting and distribution
- Unlimited audio and video hosting for up to 5 shows, with publishing to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube, an embeddable player and listener analytics.
- Clips and social posting
- Export clips in up to 4K with animated captions and AI layouts, and schedule posts to the major social platforms.
- Live streaming
- Stream in 1080p to Twitch, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Each stream is recorded and can be turned into an episode or clips.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
What it works with
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- YouTube
- Twitch
- TikTok
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
Who makes Zencastr
Zencastr is a fully distributed company that makes a podcast platform for recording, editing, transcribing, hosting and publishing shows. It earns from paid plans on top of a free tier and from the monetisation tools it sells to podcasters.
- Founded
- 2014techcrunch.com
- Based
- Salt Lake City, Utahtechcrunch.com
- Ownership
- Privately held. Privately held: TechCrunch reported a $4.6 million seed round led by Kickstart in February 2021, the company's first outside money. No parent company is named on its own pages.techcrunch.com
- Funding
- Raised a $4.6 million seed round led by Utah firm Kickstart in February 2021, with former Flipagram executives Brian Dilley and Farhad Mohit and former Skullcandy chief executive Jeremy Andrus among those taking part, TechCrunch reported. Its founder said the company had been bootstrapped and self-funded until then.techcrunch.com
- Team
- Fully distributed, with people in 11 countries, its co-founder told TechCrunch in February 2021. No current number is published.techcrunch.com
- Founders and leaders
- Adrian Lopez, Co-founder and CEOzencastr.com
- Josh Nielsen, Foundertechcrunch.com
- Lately
- Podcasting Is Entering A New Era. So Are We. · Aug 14, 2026
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
51/52
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
Zencastr's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 51 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 46 of 52) and worst on platforms and integrations (B, above 15).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Zencastr’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 39 of 52
- AFree plan and trialAbove 46 of 52
- BFeaturesAbove 26 of 52
- BEase of useAbove 20 of 52
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 15 of 52
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Zencastr you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.4 is higher than 51 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade.
What you could not
- A video editor.
- Audio cleaned up live as you speak.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- A real app for iOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Zencastr’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Riverside, StreamYard, Descript and CapCut
The 4 tools Zencastr is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Riverside
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Remote recording studio for podcasts and video interviews.
- Only Riverside lists macOS and Android apps.
- Zencastr also covers noise cancellation.
- Riverside also covers screen recording.
- 2.0GPA
StreamYard
Free plan · from $35.99/mo
Browser-based studio for live streaming and recording with guests.
- Only Zencastr lists an iOS app.
- Zencastr also covers noise cancellation.
- 2.4GPA
Descript
Free plan · from $16/mo
Audio and video editor that works by editing the transcript.
- Only Zencastr lists an iOS app.
- Only Descript lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Descript also covers screen recording.
- 2.8GPA
CapCut
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Video and photo editor with effects, auto captions and AI tools.
- Only Zencastr lists a web app.
- Only CapCut lists Android, macOS and Windows apps.
- Zencastr also covers transcription and noise cancellation.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Zencastr free?
Zencastr has a free plan. Vibecastr plan: unlimited recording, hosting, transcription and post-production with up to 6 participants, 4 seats and 5 podcast shows, 4K video recording and 1080p live streaming.
How much does Zencastr cost?
Zencastr lists 2 plans. Vibecastr: $0.
What platforms does Zencastr work on?
Zencastr is available on Web and iOS.
How is Zencastr rated?
Zencastr's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 721 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Zencastr have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Zencastr is listed for Web and iOS.
Does Zencastr have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Zencastr is listed for Web and iOS.
Is Zencastr open source?
Zencastr is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does Zencastr integrate with?
Zencastr's listing names Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, Google Drive and Dropbox.
Who makes Zencastr?
Zencastr is made by a company of the same name. Privately held: TechCrunch reported a $4.6 million seed round led by Kickstart in February 2021, the company's first outside money.
What are the alternatives to Zencastr?
The closest alternatives to Zencastr in our directory are Riverside, StreamYard, Descript and CapCut.
How does Zencastr compare with other screen recording and video tools?
Zencastr's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 51 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 1.
Could I make my own version of Zencastr?
To replace Zencastr you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Zencastr’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Zencastr's own pages on 6 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-27.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Zencastr. Prices change, so check zencastr.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Zencastr, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/zencastr
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Zencastr: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/zencastr
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/zencastr/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after Zencastr, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Screen Recording & Video Insider's GuideEvery one of the 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, compared
- DaVinci Resolve Insider's GuideVideo editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app3.4 GPA
- Cap Insider's GuideOpen-source screen recorder with instant share links and an editor3.2 GPA
- Cursorful Insider's GuideScreen recorder that adds zooms and pans automatically3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Zencastr’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Zencastr is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Zencastr. Prices and plans change: check zencastr.com before you buy.