Captivate vs Libsyn
Captivate and Libsyn are both podcast & audio tools aimed at creators and small businesses. Libsyn costs less, from $8/mo versus $19/mo for Captivate.
Growth-focused podcast hosting
Veteran podcast host with IAB stats, video and ad monetization
| Pricing | Paid · $19 | Paid · $8 |
| Starting price | $19/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web | web |
| Country | GB · 2019 | US · 2004 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Captivate if
Podcasters focused on growing and monetizing.
- Strong growth features
- Unlimited shows
- Good analytics
Look elsewhere if: Casual hobbyists.
Choose Libsyn if
Established podcasters and small networks that want proven hosting, IAB stats and access to ad revenue.
- Two decades of reliable hosting and feed stability
- IAB-verified stats that advertisers trust
- Built-in access to a large podcast ad marketplace
Look elsewhere if: Beginners who want a free start or unlimited uploads at a flat price (Buzzsprout, Captivate, Transistor).
Captivate vs Libsyn pricing
Captivate
- Personal€17/moBilled yearly; 30,000 downloads/mo, unlimited podcasts
- Professional€44/moBilled yearly; 150,000 downloads/mo
- Business€90/moBilled yearly; 300,000 downloads/mo
Libsyn
- $8 Plan$8/moBare-essentials tier; limits shown at signup
- Basic$12/mo3 hrs audio/month, basic IAB stats, YouTube video
- Advanced$25/mo10 hrs audio/month, advanced IAB stats, Spotify video
- Max$150/mo55 hrs audio/month, social calendar, advanced stats
- ProfessionalCustomDynamic ad insertion, API, network RSS feed
Captivate · Key features
- Unlimited podcasts and team members
- Growth tools: smart links, CTAs
- Private and premium podcasts
- Dynamic ad insertion
- IAB-certified analytics
- Podcast websites
Cons
- Download-based tiers
- No free plan
- Smaller brand than Buzzsprout
Libsyn · Key features
- Audio and video podcast hosting with RSS feed management
- IAB-certified download statistics on every plan
- One-click distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and 20+ apps
- Video publishing to YouTube and Spotify on higher tiers
- Customizable podcast website and embeddable player
- Automatic podcast ads, PodRoll and host-read ad marketplace
Cons
- Upload-hour limits feel restrictive next to unlimited hosts
- No permanent free plan
- Dashboard is less intuitive than Buzzsprout or Captivate
Captivate vs Libsyn: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Captivate or Libsyn?
Libsyn starts at $8/mo and Captivate at $19/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Captivate and Libsyn have a free plan?
Captivate has no free plan, a 30-day free trial. Libsyn has no free plan, a 30-day free trial.