The arena · AI voice tool review
Async (Podcastle)
by Async (anciennement Podcastle AI ; renommé Async en 2026)
All-in-one podcast/video studio with built-in AI voices, rebranded as Async in 2026
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From $12/mo
Essentials $11.99/mo annual ($14.99 monthly); cloning needs Pro $24.99/mo ($19.99/mo annual); billed as Async since Jan 2026; async.com/pricing renders prices client-side, figures verified via trackers as of Jul 2026
unlimited audio recording, ~15 min TTS (12k chars, lifetime), 3h video, 2GB storage, 10 AI credits (lifetime)
1000+
15+
Yes
Yes
What is Async (Podcastle)?
Podcastle rebranded to Async on January 28, 2026 (podcastle.ai now permanently redirects to async.com), with existing plans, pricing tiers, and billing unchanged. It is an all-in-one recording and editing studio for podcasts and video that bundles 1,000+ AI text-to-speech voices in 15+ languages plus Revoice voice cloning from a 3-second sample (Pro plan and up). A developer Voice API prices generated audio from $0.50 per hour.
Async (Podcastle) pros & cons
Pros
- 1,000+ AI voices across 15+ languages included inside a full recording/editing studio
- Revoice voice cloning from a 3-second sample (Pro plan and up)
- Magic Dust one-click audio cleanup and multitrack editor, more than a bare TTS box
- Free plan with unlimited audio recording and ~15 min of TTS to test
- Developer Voice API with audio generation from $0.50 per hour
- Consistently praised as beginner-friendly (G2 Market Leader 2023, ~4 stars on Trustpilot)
Cons
- TTS realism clearly trails ElevenLabs: fine for intros/segments, weak for long-form narration
- Voice cloning locked behind the Pro plan ($24.99/mo, $19.99/mo annual), not the entry tier
- Recurring Trustpilot complaints: surprise annual renewals and refused refunds
- Free-plan caps are lifetime, not monthly (12k TTS characters ever, 3h video)
- Jan 2026 rebrand to Async pivots focus toward video and a developer API; users report post-rebrand bugs and workflow disruptions
The arena’s verdict
Pick Podcastle (now Async) if you want one tool that records, edits, and voices a podcast or video: the AI voices are a solid convenience feature inside a genuinely good studio, and the free tier lets you try it risk-free. Skip it if TTS quality is the whole point: its voices are noticeably less natural than ElevenLabs and language coverage (15+) is modest, while cloning requires the $24.99/mo Pro plan. Also factor in the January 2026 rebrand and video/API pivot, plus repeated billing/renewal complaints: set a calendar reminder before your renewal date.
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Top Async (Podcastle) alternatives
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Async (Podcastle): frequently asked questions
Is Async (Podcastle) free?
Async (Podcastle) offers a free tier (unlimited audio recording, ~15 min TTS (12k chars, lifetime), 3h video, 2GB storage, 10 AI credits (lifetime)). Paid plans start at $12/mo.
How much does Async (Podcastle) cost?
Async (Podcastle) starts at $12/mo (freemium). Essentials $11.99/mo annual ($14.99 monthly); cloning needs Pro $24.99/mo ($19.99/mo annual); billed as Async since Jan 2026; async.com/pricing renders prices client-side, figures verified via trackers as of Jul 2026
Does Async (Podcastle) support voice cloning?
Yes, Async (Podcastle) supports voice cloning.