specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Simplecast
providerId: simplecast
created: '2026-07-05'
modified: '2026-07-05'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Podcasting
- Podcast Hosting
- Podcast Analytics
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of Simplecast spend. Simplecast is a subscription SaaS podcast
  hosting, distribution, and analytics platform owned by SiriusXM Media. Cost is
  driven by a recurring monthly (or annual-prepay) plan subscription, with tiers
  differentiated primarily by monthly download allowance, team seats, and
  analytics/ad features. Higher tiers (Professional, Enterprise) are custom
  contracts that add dynamic ad insertion, secondary feeds, and API integration.
  The REST API itself is not separately metered - it reads the same podcast,
  episode, analytics, and distribution data your plan already covers - so API
  usage does not add incremental cost beyond the plan subscription.
notes: >-
  Per-tier prices and download allowances are taken from the public pricing page
  and are not reconciled against a live quote. Enterprise/Professional pricing is
  contact-sales. Reconcile the exact plan, download allowance, and whether API
  access is gated to a higher tier with Simplecast / SiriusXM Media.
sources:
- https://www.simplecast.com/pricing
- https://www.simplecast.com/
- https://apidocs.simplecast.com/
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Simplecast
serviceCategory: Media and Podcasting
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Recurring
  - Usage
  - Purchase
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Simplecast
  ServiceCategory: Media and Podcasting
  ProviderName: Simplecast
  PublisherName: Simplecast
  InvoiceIssuerName: SiriusXM Media
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Recurring
  PricingCategory: Subscription
meters:
- name: plan_subscription
  description: Recurring monthly or annual plan subscription fee for the chosen Simplecast tier.
  unit: subscription
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: monthly_downloads
  description: Podcast downloads counted against the plan's monthly download allowance.
  unit: downloads
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - podcast
- name: team_seats
  description: Team-member seats included with the plan tier.
  unit: seats
  aggregation: max
  dimensions:
  - account
- name: ad_insertion
  description: Dynamic ad insertion available on Professional and Enterprise tiers; may carry programmatic terms.
  unit: impressions
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - podcast
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track monthly downloads per podcast against the plan allowance to anticipate tier upgrades before overage.
- name: Allocation
  description: Map each podcast/show and team seat to a cost center; on multi-show accounts, allocate the plan fee across shows by download share.
- name: Optimization
  description: Right-size the plan to actual download volume and needed analytics depth; only move to Professional/Enterprise when ad insertion, secondary feeds, or API integration are genuinely required.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign an owner for the Simplecast subscription; review the plan tier against download trends and API/ad needs each renewal.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com