What is Captivate?
Captivate is a podcast hosting platform that publishes your show to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music and other apps while giving you tools to market and earn from it. It is built for serious independent podcasters, brands, agencies and networks that care about audience growth as much as hosting, and every plan includes unlimited podcasts and storage.
Captivate pricing is based on monthly downloads rather than upload hours, and all features are available on every plan. That includes IAB-certified analytics, private podcasting for internal teams, Captivate Sites for show websites, a customizable player, and dynamic content insertion through its AMIE system. Monetization covers memberships, tips, early-access content and an ad marketplace. Captivate Assistant uses AI to draft transcripts, titles, show notes and chapters, and the company also offers free growth courses. Shows stay online if they exceed their download limit, and Captivate gets in touch after two consecutive months over.
Captivate at a glance
How does Captivate work?
- Start a trial and set up shows
Create an account, add one or more podcasts, or import an existing show from another host.
- Publish episodes
Upload episodes, use Captivate Assistant for show notes and chapters, and schedule releases.
- Distribute in one click
Submit to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music and other apps from the dashboard.
- Grow and monetize
Use the website, player and calls to action, add dynamic ads or memberships, and track results in analytics.
Captivate key features
Unlimited podcasts and storage
Host as many shows as you like on any plan, which suits networks and agencies.
IAB-certified analytics
Certified download stats on every plan, with the option to import history from previous hosts.
Dynamic content (AMIE)
Insert and swap ads, promos and calls to action across back-catalog episodes.
Private podcasting
Secure internal feeds for team training or member-only content, included on all plans.
Monetization tools
Memberships, one-off tips, early access content, a media kit and the Captivate Marketplace for ad deals.
Captivate Sites and player
A podcast website and embeddable player that stay in sync with your feed.
Captivate Assistant
AI help with transcripts, episode titles, show notes, chapters, ad markers and SEO.
Growth Labs
Free courses and workshops that teach podcast marketing and audience growth to every customer.
Why use Captivate?
- All features are on every plan, so you never pay more just to unlock tools.
- Unlimited shows make it cost-effective for networks and agencies.
- Download-based pricing means long episodes do not cost extra.
- Private podcasting is included for internal company communications.
- Growth tools and courses help shows build an audience, not just publish.
Who is Captivate best for?
A good fit for
- Independent podcasters focused on growth
- Agencies and networks managing several client shows
- Brands running both public and private podcasts
- Creators who want built-in memberships and ad tools
Less suited to
- Hobbyists who want a free plan
- Shows with very large audiences above 300,000 monthly downloads, which need custom pricing
Captivate pricing
| Pricing model | Subscription |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Starting price | $17/month billed yearly (Personal) |
Plans scale by monthly downloads: Personal up to 30,000, Professional ($44/month yearly) up to 150,000, and Business ($90/month yearly) up to 300,000. Every plan has all features, and students and non-profits get 25% off.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Captivate pricing page before you buy.
Captivate pros and cons
Pros
- Unlimited podcasts and storage on every plan
- Every feature available on every tier
- Strong growth, marketing and monetization tools
- Private podcasting included
Cons
- No free plan
- Fast-growing shows must move up tiers as downloads rise
- Monthly prices are higher than the yearly rate
Captivate integrations and platforms
Works with
Available on
Captivate alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best Podcast Software.
Captivate FAQ
Is Captivate free?
No. Captivate does not offer a free plan. It offers a free trial with full access instead, and paid plans start at $17 per month billed yearly for the Personal plan with up to 30,000 downloads a month. Students, educational groups and non-profits can request 25% off. The pricing page notes all features are included on every plan, so the trial shows the full product.
What is Captivate used for?
Captivate is used to host, distribute, grow and monetize podcasts. It publishes your RSS feed to the main listening apps, provides certified analytics, a website and player, private feeds for internal audiences, and tools for memberships, tips and dynamic ads. Agencies use it to manage many client shows from one account. Every plan also includes access to free podcasting courses and workshops.
Captivate vs Buzzsprout: which is better?
Captivate suits podcasters focused on growth and agencies running several shows, since it offers unlimited podcasts and prices by downloads. Buzzsprout suits beginners who want the simplest workflow and a free plan, and it prices by upload hours. Both provide certified stats, websites and monetization options. Captivate also includes private podcasting on every plan, which Buzzsprout does not highlight.
Does Captivate support private podcasts?
Yes. Captivate includes private podcasting on every plan. You can create secure feeds for internal training, company updates or paid member content, and control who can listen. This makes Captivate a fit for businesses that want both public marketing podcasts and private internal shows. Captivate Sites and the Captivate player also keep your website and embeds in sync with each new episode.
Can I move my podcast to Captivate?
Yes. Captivate lets you import an existing podcast from another host, and it can also import your historical analytics so you keep a full picture of past performance. Its in-app support team, usually answering chat within an hour, can help with the switch and with setting up your new feed and website.
Sources
This overview is based on Captivate's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.