Castr vs Dacast Comparison 2026
Castr and Dacast both sell 2.4TB of yearly bandwidth on their cheapest plan, but at very different prices: Castr is $16.67 a month billed annually, about $200 a year, against Dacast's $39 a month billed annually, close to $468. Dacast's storage is five times larger at 500GB against Castr's 100GB, and unused bandwidth rolls over rather than resetting. The choice is Castr's lower price against Dacast's larger allowance and the paywall it puts on live streams specifically, not just recordings.
Live streaming with hosting and a paywall
Live streaming and hosting sold by the terabyte
At a glance
- Castr starts cheaper, at $19.99.
- Neither has a free tier.
Side by side
Castr | Dacast | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (they differ) | From $19.99 | From $39 |
| Pricing model (they differ) | Paid subscription | Free trial, then paid |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Billing | Monthly or annual | Monthly or annual |
| Free trial (they differ) | 7 days | 14 days |
| API |
Castr
Live streaming with hosting and a paywall
Castr covers the parts of streaming that sit either side of the broadcast: hosting the recording afterwards, running a 24/7 playout channel, and putting a paywall in front of either. Bandwidth is sold as a pool rather than metered per viewer. It is priced for a business running channels, not for somebody going live on a Sunday.
Dacast
Live streaming and hosting sold by the terabyte
Dacast is a broadcaster's video platform: live channels, a paywall, white-label playback and a bandwidth allowance measured in terabytes a year. Unused bandwidth rolls forward, which suits anybody whose schedule is a season rather than a week. It sells to events and businesses rather than to social creators, and the interface has never pretended otherwise.
Our note
The three-month minimum on monthly billing is the term to notice, because it makes a single event cost three payments. Buy this when you are selling access to the stream itself; for hosting recordings, SproutVideo or Vimeo is simpler and cheaper.
Why people weigh these two
- Dacast instead of Castr
- Dacast sells the same business live streaming and hosting by the terabyte from $39, the closest match for scheduled channels.
- Castr instead of Dacast
- Castr is the closest match, live streaming with hosting and a paywall, at a lower $19.99 entry against Dacast's $39.
Which one should you pick
Castr is the cheaper way to buy the same 2.4TB of yearly bandwidth, at less than half of Dacast's price, and it adds 24/7 playout channels for a schedule that behaves like a TV feed. A business running scheduled channels on a tighter budget, or with lighter storage needs, saves real money here.
Dacast is worth the higher price for an event producer or sports league selling access to the broadcast itself. The paywall covers live streams as well as recordings, storage is five times larger at 500GB, and bandwidth that rolls over suits a seasonal schedule better than a weekly one. Watch the three-month minimum on monthly billing, which turns a single event into three payments.
Common questions
- Which is cheaper for the same bandwidth?
- Castr, by more than half: $16.67 a month billed annually for 2.4TB, against Dacast's $39 a month for the same 2.4TB a year.
- Which one gives more storage?
- Dacast, at 500GB on its entry plan against Castr's 100GB. Dacast's bandwidth also rolls over if unused, where Castr's resets.
- Can either put a paywall on a live stream, not just the recording?
- Both can. Castr's paywall covers streams and recordings, and Dacast's covers live streams and pay-per-view alongside the archive.
- Is there a minimum commitment on either?
- Dacast's monthly billing carries a three-month minimum, so a single event costs three payments. Castr offers a 7-day trial with no card and does not mention a minimum term.
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.