# Async (Podcastle): pricing, crowd verdict, pros and cons (2026)

> All-in-one podcast/video studio with built-in AI voices, rebranded as Async in 2026

Source: [GLAD-AI-TOR](https://glad-ia-tor.com) · Full page: https://glad-ia-tor.com/tool/podcastle
Arena: ai-voice · Crowd score: 50% recommend (0 votes, Bayesian-smoothed) · Price: $12/mo

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.

## Key facts

- freeTier: unlimited audio recording, ~15 min TTS (12k chars, lifetime), 3h video, 2GB storage, 10 AI credits (lifetime)
- voices: 1000+
- languages: 15+
- cloning: yes
- api: yes

## Ratings (editorial, 1-5)

- voiceQuality: 3/5
- easeOfUse: 4/5
- valueForMoney: 4/5
- languages: 2.5/5

## 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

## Best for

- podcast production
- video voice-overs
- beginner all-in-one studio
- content repurposing (clips/dubbing)

## 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.

## Pricing note

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

## Alternatives and head-to-heads

- [ElevenLabs](https://glad-ia-tor.com/tool/eleven-labs) (crowd score 80%) · [Async (Podcastle) vs ElevenLabs](https://glad-ia-tor.com/vs/podcastle-vs-eleven-labs)
- [Murf AI](https://glad-ia-tor.com/tool/murf-ai) (crowd score 67%) · [Async (Podcastle) vs Murf AI](https://glad-ia-tor.com/vs/podcastle-vs-murf-ai)
- [LOVO AI (Genny)](https://glad-ia-tor.com/tool/lovo-ai-genny) (crowd score 67%) · [Async (Podcastle) vs LOVO AI (Genny)](https://glad-ia-tor.com/vs/podcastle-vs-lovo-ai-genny)
- [Wondercraft AI](https://glad-ia-tor.com/tool/wondercraft-ai) (crowd score 67%) · [Async (Podcastle) vs Wondercraft AI](https://glad-ia-tor.com/vs/podcastle-vs-wondercraft-ai)

Full ranking: https://glad-ia-tor.com/hall-of-fame/ai-voice

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