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podcast host · Captivate

Captivate

Podcast host with three paid plans that differ only by monthly downloads, and no limit on shows.

50/100

#10 of 10 podcast hosts
Facts checked 9 Oct 2026

In short

Captivate suits creators who run several shows or want private feeds and ad insertion included, because every plan has the same features1,3,10. Pricing starts at $17 a month billed yearly, and downloads are capped by tier1. The catch: there is no free plan, and its redirect guide covers moving to Captivate rather than leaving it1,6.

Best for: Creators who want private feeds and ad insertion without paying for a higher tier.

Where the points come from

Hosting limits4 of 20
Publishing20 of 28
Ads and stats13 of 13
Your data13 of 21
Price0 of 18

Hosting limits 4 of 20 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Unlimited episodesNot publishedNot published on the vendor's plans and pricing FAQ1.0 / 4
No monthly upload capNot publishedNot published on the vendor's plans and pricing FAQ1.0 / 6
No download capNoPersonal includes 30,000 downloads a month1.0 / 6
More than one showYesThe plans FAQ says there is no limit on podcasts, 'as many as you want'1.4 / 4

Publishing 20 of 28 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Directory submission guidesApple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon MusicDistribution overview links guides for Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music; its YouTube guide names YouTube, not YouTube Music8.3 / 4
Private podcastsYesHelp centre says private podcasting is available on any plan at no extra cost; each subscriber gets a personal feed link3,4.6 / 6
Video podcastsNoVideo to Apple Podcasts is a separate add-on at $12 a month per podcast19; the Spotify video article uploads in Spotify, not Captivate14.0 / 4
Automatic transcriptsNot publishedThe transcription FAQ covers importing and Descript transcripts; it does not say Captivate creates them11.0 / 3
Team membersYesInvited members set up their own logins; the plans FAQ says every plan has all features13,1.4 / 4
Public APIYesPublic API documentation lists Create Episode and Update Episode endpoints20; the help centre says API credentials are in the dashboard account page12.3 / 3
Show website and playerYesEvery customer gets a free website; each episode gets its own page; four embeddable player styles are offered; every plan has all features15,16,17,1.4 / 4

Ads and stats 13 of 13 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Dynamic ad insertionYesAMIE inserts pre-, mid- and post-roll content dynamically at no extra charge10.7 / 7
IAB-certified downloadsYesIAB Tech Lab's compliant-companies list names Captivate, Podcast Measurement 2.2 (download, listener), dated 2024-07-1918; Captivate's help article says it is IAB Certified9.6 / 6

Your data 13 of 21 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Import from another hostYesDashboard option 'Switch Your Podcast to Captivate' imports a feed and episodes at no extra cost5.7 / 7
Redirect when you leaveNot publishedThe 301 redirect guide covers moving to Captivate from other hosts, not away from Captivate6.0 / 8
Download your filesYesEach episode's menu has a Download option; files are downloaded one at a time7.6 / 6

Price 0 of 18 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free plan that publishesNoThe plans FAQ lists three paid plans and a 30-day free trial; no free plan1.0 / 8
Cheapest paid plan$17/moPersonal, $204 a year billed yearly; $19 billed monthly1,2.0 / 10

The rule behind each line: how we score podcast hosts.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
PersonalUnlimited podcasts$204/year1,2$1730,000 downloads a month; $19 billed monthly
ProfessionalUnlimited podcasts$528/year1,2$44150,000 downloads a month; $49 billed monthly
BusinessUnlimited podcasts$1,080/year1,2$90300,000 downloads a month; $99 billed monthly

Prices are in US dollars; euro and pound pricing also exists. Students, educational organisations and registered non-profits get 25% off all plans1.

Strengths

  • Every plan has the same features; only the monthly download allowance changes1.
  • No limit on the number of podcasts under one account1.
  • Private podcasts are included on any plan at no extra cost3.
  • Dynamic ad insertion (AMIE) is offered at no extra charge10.
  • IAB Tech Lab's public list names Captivate for Podcast Measurement 2.2, covering downloads and listeners18.

Limits

  • No free plan; only a 30-day free trial1.
  • Personal allows 30,000 downloads a month, so busy shows move to a dearer tier1.
  • Audio files download one at a time; no bulk download is described7.
  • The redirect guide explains moving to Captivate, not away from it6.

What Captivate says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

  • Captivate says its download analytics and unique listener counts meet IAB standards9.

Other podcast hosts

  1. 1
    PodbeanCreators who want a free start, a low paid tier and a clear way to leave
    77/100
    $12/mocheapest paid plan
  2. 2
    CastosCreators who want no caps and a WordPress-friendly host
    77/100
    $15.83/mocheapest paid plan
  3. 3
    RSS.comCreators who want a free start and AI transcripts included
    72/100
    $15/mocheapest paid plan
  4. 4
    AcastCreators who want free hosting or plan to sell ads through the host's marketplace
    67/100
    $14.99/mocheapest paid plan

All 10 podcast hosts

Sources

  1. Plans & Pricing FAQ, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  2. How do I upgrade my Captivate podcasting plan?, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  3. Captivate help centre, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  4. Private Podcasts FAQs, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  5. Importing your podcast to Captivate: a complete guide, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  6. How to set up a 301 redirect, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  7. How to download media files from Captivate, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  8. Podcast distribution overview, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  9. IAB podcast analytic certification compliance explained, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  10. AMIE dynamic ad insertion FAQs, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  11. Podcast transcription FAQs, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  12. How to find your Captivate API credentials, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  13. How to create your podcast team, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  14. How to add video podcasts to Spotify, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  15. How to create a beautiful website for your podcast with Captivate: Part 1, basic settings, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  16. Captivate Sites: single episode pages, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  17. Captivate podcast players overview, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  18. Compliant companies, IAB Tech Lab. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  19. Pricing for Apple HLS video podcasts, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
  20. Captivate API, Captivate. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.

Website: www.captivate.fm · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Captivate.