Every major casting platform explained — what it's for, which markets it covers, and how to get the most out of it.

Casting Platforms: The Complete Guide

Every market has its dominant casting platforms, and being on the wrong one -- or not being on the right one -- means you are invisible to the people hiring. This guide covers every major platform, what it costs, who uses it, and whether you actually need it.

A note before we start: platforms change their pricing, features, and market reach over time. The information here is accurate as of writing, but verify current pricing before you subscribe. The strategic advice -- which platforms matter in which markets -- changes much more slowly.

United States Platforms

Casting Networks

What it is: The largest casting platform in the world. Casting Networks handles both theatrical (film/TV) and commercial casting across every US market — plus Australia and New Zealand. This is where the majority of professional casting happens. It is not optional.

Markets served: All US markets, Australia, and New Zealand. Dominant across both theatrical and commercial casting in every market.

Cost for actors: Free basic profile. Premium membership at $29.99/month or $299.90/year unlocks self-submission on the Casting Billboard, unlimited media uploads, Role Tracker, Talent Scout, custom profile links, and social media linking. You cannot self-submit without Premium.

What makes it unique: Casting Networks is where casting directors manage the entire casting workflow — posting breakdowns, reviewing submissions, scheduling auditions, and sending offers. Agents pull breakdowns from Casting Networks every morning alongside Breakdown Services. The platform's search tools are powerful, which means every field you fill out in your profile makes you discoverable for more roles. If a CD searches for "female, 30s, speaks French, rock climbing experience" and you left those fields blank, you do not exist.

How to get started: Create your account, upgrade to Premium, upload professional headshots, and complete every single profile field. See our full step-by-step setup guide →

Actors Access

What it is: A major self-submission platform operated by Breakdown Services — the same company that distributes casting breakdowns to agents and managers. When you submit on Actors Access, your submission enters the same ecosystem your agent uses.

Markets served: All US markets, with the heaviest volume in Los Angeles and New York.

Cost for actors: Creating a profile is free. First 2 headshots are free. Self-submissions cost $2-$4 each, OR you can purchase Actors Access Plus at $68/year for unlimited submissions (SAG-AFTRA members get 20% off). If you are submitting regularly, the annual plan pays for itself almost immediately.

What makes it unique: Direct connection to Breakdown Services means you are seeing legitimate, funded projects — the same breakdowns your agent receives. Agent submissions and self-submissions are separate pools, so your self-submission gives you additional visibility beyond what your agent submits. Eco Cast, the built-in self-tape portal, is widely used by casting directors for tape requests.

How to get started: Create your free account, upgrade to Plus, upload headshots, and complete your profile. See our full step-by-step setup guide →

Backstage

What it is: A casting platform with a long history (it started as a print trade publication) that covers a wide range of projects from professional film and TV to indie films, theater, student films, web series, and non-union work. It also has an international presence.

Markets served: US (all markets), with growing international listings in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Heavy in indie, non-union, and emerging content.

Cost for actors: Free basic access with limited submissions. Premium membership runs approximately $20-25 per month or roughly $150-170 per year.

What makes it unique: Backstage is the widest net you can cast. It is not as focused on professional network-level productions as Actors Access, but it has a much larger volume of projects, including theater, indie film, web content, voice-over, and commercial work. For actors building their resume, Backstage is invaluable because it includes projects that are more accessible to newcomers. It also has a significant editorial and education component, with articles, advice, and resources for actors.

How to get started: Create your account and subscribe to premium. Upload headshots and build a thorough profile. Use the filtering tools aggressively -- Backstage has a huge volume of listings and you need to narrow to what is relevant for you. Pay attention to whether listings are union or non-union, paid or unpaid. Backstage is excellent for finding legitimate indie projects, but you do need to evaluate each listing carefully.

Casting Frontier

What it is: A casting platform with a strong foothold in the Los Angeles market, particularly for commercial and voiceover work. It is used by a number of established commercial casting offices in LA.

Markets served: Primarily Los Angeles. Some presence in other US markets for commercial and voiceover.

Cost for actors: Free basic profile. Premium membership for self-submissions runs approximately $10-15 per month.

What makes it unique: Casting Frontier has deep relationships with LA-based commercial casting directors. If you are based in Los Angeles and pursuing commercial work, there are specific casting offices that post exclusively or primarily on Casting Frontier. The platform also has a strong voiceover component with the ability to upload audio demos. It is a smaller platform than Actors Access or Casting Networks, but in its niche, it is essential.

How to get started: Create your account, upload commercial headshots and your voiceover demo if applicable. The platform is straightforward. If you are LA-based and doing commercial work, add this to your rotation.

Cast It

What it is: A newer casting platform that has been growing rapidly, particularly in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Cast It is built around self-taping and digital casting workflows, reflecting how the industry has shifted since 2020.

Markets served: United States, with growing strength in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Expanding nationally.

Cost for actors: Free basic profile with limited features. Premium plans are available at various tiers.

What makes it unique: Cast It was designed from the ground up for the self-tape era. The platform emphasizes digital submissions and self-tape management, and it has gained traction with casting directors who prefer a modern, streamlined interface. Its growth in Atlanta -- one of the fastest-growing production markets in the US -- has made it increasingly important for actors working in that region. The platform also includes tools for managing and organizing your self-tape submissions.

How to get started: Create your account and build your profile. If you are based in Atlanta or working on productions shooting there, this platform should be on your radar. The interface is clean and modern, and the submission process is intuitive.

Canada

Casting Workbook

What it is: The dominant casting platform for Canada. If you work in Vancouver or Toronto -- the two major Canadian production markets -- Casting Workbook is not optional. It is the industry standard.

Markets served: Canada, primarily Vancouver and Toronto.

Cost for actors: Annual membership runs approximately CAD $100-150 depending on the plan.

What makes it unique: Casting Workbook is to Canada what the Breakdown Services ecosystem is to the United States. Canadian casting directors use this platform as their primary tool. Both ACTRA (the Canadian performers union) and UBCP (the BC branch) have deep integration with the platform. Agent submissions go through Casting Workbook. Self-submissions for open calls appear here. Your profile on Casting Workbook is effectively your digital resume in the Canadian industry.

How to get started: Create your account and subscribe. Upload professional headshots that meet Canadian industry standards. Fill out your profile completely, including your ACTRA or UBCP status if applicable. If you have a Canadian agent, they will likely expect your Casting Workbook profile to be current and thorough. If you are new to the Canadian market, this is your first subscription priority.

United Kingdom

Spotlight

What it is: The definitive casting platform for the United Kingdom, and increasingly used in Australia and New Zealand as well. Spotlight is not just a casting platform -- it is a professional credential. Being listed on Spotlight signals to the UK industry that you are a trained, professional performer.

Markets served: United Kingdom (primary), Australia, New Zealand. Spotlight UK is the main product, with Spotlight Australia/NZ as a growing presence.

Cost for actors: Annual membership is approximately GBP 160-180 per year. There is an application process -- Spotlight is not open to everyone.

What makes it unique: Spotlight functions as both a casting platform and a professional directory. Unlike US platforms where anyone can create a profile, Spotlight has admission criteria. You generally need to demonstrate professional training (accredited drama school) or professional credits to be accepted. This gatekeeping means that casting directors trust Spotlight as a curated pool of professional talent. In the UK, if you are not on Spotlight, most professional casting directors cannot find you. It is the single most important platform for UK-based actors.

Spotlight also operates a robust casting system through which UK casting directors release breakdowns and manage submissions. Agents use Spotlight to submit their clients, and actors can self-submit for certain roles.

How to get started: Apply for membership through Spotlight's website. You will need to provide evidence of professional training or credits. If you graduated from an accredited UK drama school, admission is typically straightforward. If you are coming from outside the UK system, you may need to demonstrate equivalent professional standing. Once accepted, invest in strong headshots that meet UK standards (which differ from US headshot conventions -- UK headshots tend to be more naturalistic and less heavily styled) and build a comprehensive profile.

Australia

Showcast

What it is: One of the major casting platforms serving the Australian market. Showcast is used by casting directors across Australia for film, television, commercial, and theater work.

Markets served: Australia, primarily Sydney and Melbourne.

Cost for actors: Annual membership runs approximately AUD $80-120 depending on the plan.

What makes it unique: Showcast has been a long-standing part of the Australian casting ecosystem. It offers a clean interface for profile management and is used by many established Australian casting directors. The platform supports headshot galleries, showreel hosting, and direct submission capabilities.

How to get started: Create your account and set up your profile with professional headshots meeting Australian standards. List your MEAA (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance -- the Australian performers union) status if applicable. Upload your showreel if you have one.

Casting Networks (Australia & NZ)

What it is: Casting Networks (https://www.castingnetworks.com) has expanded into Australia and New Zealand and is now the dominant casting platform in these markets. The same platform US actors use — Australian and NZ casting directors run their theatrical, commercial, and voiceover casting through it.

Markets served: Australia (Sydney, Melbourne) and New Zealand (Auckland, Wellington).

Cost for actors: Free basic profile. Premium membership ($29.99 USD/month or $299.90/year) unlocks self-submission on the Casting Billboard, unlimited media uploads, Role Tracker, and Talent Scout.

What makes it unique: This is the primary platform where professional casting happens in Australia and New Zealand. Most casting directors in these markets use Casting Networks for managing submissions, scheduling auditions, and sending media requests. If you are only on one platform in Australia or NZ, this needs to be it.

How to get started: Create your account at castingnetworks.com. Upload professional headshots, build your complete profile with credits and skills, and subscribe to Premium if you want to self-submit. Set up Saved Searches on the Casting Billboard filtered to your market.

Casting.com

What it is: Casting.com (https://www.casting.com) is a casting platform used by some Australian casting directors, particularly for commercial and extras casting.

Markets served: Australia, Los Angeles, and Texas, with growing international presence.

What makes it unique: Casting.com is gaining traction in multiple markets. Some CDs prefer it for specific project types, especially commercial work and background casting. In LA and Texas, it is becoming an increasingly relevant secondary platform. Maintaining a profile means you are visible to the CDs who do use it.

How to get started: Create an account at casting.com, upload professional headshots, and complete your profile. Check whether CDs in your area actively post on this platform before investing in a paid plan.

Altai

What it is: Altai (https://www.altai.com.au) is a casting platform used in the Australian market by some casting directors.

Markets served: Australia.

What makes it unique: Altai serves as an additional platform where some Australian CDs post breakdowns and manage submissions. Not every CD uses it, so its value depends on your specific market and the CDs you are trying to reach. Ask your agent whether they submit through Altai.

How to get started: Create a profile, upload headshots, and add your credits. Monitor whether you see relevant postings in your market before committing to a paid plan.

Which Platforms Do I Need?

Different casting directors have different platform preferences. There is no single platform that every CD in every market uses. The most important strategy is to find out where the CDs in your specific market are posting jobs and make sure you are active on those platforms. Ask your agent, talk to other actors, and pay attention to where audition notices appear.

Stop subscribing to everything. Here is what you actually need based on where you work:

If You Are in Los Angeles

Casting Networks -- Essential. Tier 1 for theatrical and commercial. Non-negotiable.
Actors Access -- Essential. Covers the Breakdown Services pipeline.
Casting Frontier -- Recommended if you pursue commercial and voiceover.
Cast It -- Worth having. Growing presence.
Casting.com -- Secondary. Some CDs are using it — worth having a profile.
Backstage -- Optional but useful for indie projects and supplemental submissions.

If You Are in New York

Casting Networks -- Essential. Theatrical and commercial across the board.
Actors Access -- Essential. Heavy volume of NY breakdowns.
Backstage -- Strongly recommended. NY has a significant theater and indie film scene that Backstage covers well.
Cast It -- Growing but not yet essential for NY.

If You Are in Atlanta

Casting Networks -- Essential. Dominant platform in the Atlanta market for both theatrical and commercial.
Actors Access -- Essential. Covers the Breakdown Services pipeline.
Cast It -- Strongly recommended. Growing rapidly in this market.
Backstage -- Useful for supplemental submissions.

If You Are in Texas (Dallas / Austin)

Casting Networks -- Essential. The primary platform for professional casting in Texas.
Actors Access -- Essential. Covers the Breakdown Services pipeline.
Casting.com -- Secondary. Gaining traction in the Texas market — some CDs use it.
Backstage -- Useful for supplemental submissions.

If You Are in Chicago

Casting Networks -- Essential. Dominates the strong Chicago commercial market and handles theatrical.
Actors Access -- Essential. Covers the Breakdown Services pipeline.
Backstage -- Recommended for the robust Chicago theater scene.

If You Are in Vancouver

Casting Workbook -- Essential. This is the one that matters.
Actors Access -- Recommended if you also pursue US-based work or projects shooting in Vancouver with US casting.

If You Are in Toronto

Casting Workbook -- Essential.
Actors Access -- Recommended for US co-productions and cross-border work.
Backstage -- Optional for indie and theater.

If You Are in London / United Kingdom

Spotlight -- Essential. Nothing else comes close in importance.
Backstage -- Optional supplemental platform for indie and fringe theater.

If You Are in Australia (Sydney / Melbourne)

Casting Networks -- Essential. This is where most professional casting happens.
Showcast -- Recommended. Still used by some casting directors, particularly for commercial work.
Casting.com -- Secondary. Used by some CDs for commercial and extras casting.
Altai -- Secondary. Some CDs prefer it for certain project types.

💡 Pro Tip: Casting directors have different platform preferences. The most important thing you can do is find out where the CDs in your market are posting jobs and make sure you are active there. Ask your agent, talk to other actors in your market, and pay attention to where audition notices appear. Being on the right platforms matters more than being on every platform.

If You Are in New Zealand (Auckland / Wellington)

Casting Networks -- Essential. The primary casting platform in NZ.
Showcast -- Optional. Some crossover with the Australian market.

Platform Profile Tips (Universal)

Regardless of which platforms you use, these principles apply everywhere:

Use the same headshots across all platforms. Consistency helps casting recognize you. When your agent submits you on one platform and you self-submit on another, your photos should match.
Complete every field. Casting directors filter by attributes. If you left your height blank, you will not appear in searches for your height range. If you did not list your skills, you will not show up when someone searches for actors who can ride horses or speak French.
Update regularly. New headshot? Update everywhere. New credit? Add it immediately. Let your reel go stale and it actively works against you.
Be honest. Do not list skills you cannot actually perform on set. Do not inflate your credits. The industry is small and people talk.
Headshots are the priority. Your headshot is the first thing casting sees. A strong headshot on a bare-bones profile outperforms a mediocre headshot on the most detailed profile in the world. Invest in your headshots before you invest in premium subscriptions.

Casting Platform Guide