Captivate vs RSS.com

Captivate is a UK-based podcast hosting platform built around growth and monetization rather than storage alone. It hosts audio and distributes episodes to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directories, but its pitch is the set of marketing tools around the feed: every plan includes unlimited podcasts and unlimited team members, with tiers based on monthly downloads.

Growth features include smart links that route listeners to their preferred app, calls to action on episode pages and an auto-generated podcast website. Private and premium podcasts support paid or internal shows, and dynamic ad insertion lets you swap ads in back-catalog episodes. IAB-certified analytics give advertisers download numbers they can trust. There is no free plan, but a free trial lets you test the workflow before importing a show.

Captivate fits independent podcasters and small networks that are serious about growing an audience and earning from it, and agencies running several client shows under one account. Hobbyists who publish occasionally will find download-based tiers expensive compared with free options such as Spotify for Creators. Buzzsprout is simpler and very beginner-friendly but charges by upload hours; Transistor also offers unlimited shows and is strong for private podcasts; RSS.com and Podbean are cheaper entry points.

RSS.com is a podcast hosting platform launched in 2018 by co-founders Alberto Betella and Ben Richardson, operated by RSS America, LLC. Its core job: host your audio or video episodes, generate the RSS feed and push the show to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube and other directories.

Every account gets unlimited episodes and storage, a free podcast website with an embeddable player, IAB-certified cross-platform analytics, episode scheduling and Podcasting 2.0 tags for chapters, soundbites and transcripts. Monetisation runs through RSS.com's PAID programmatic ads (pre, mid and post-roll), Apple Podcasts subscriptions, a donation button and Value 4 Value. The Free plan covers one show; Plus adds AI transcripts and ads, Pro raises the limit to 10 shows with unlimited team members, and Max adds video podcasts and API access.

RSS.com suits independent creators who want a real free tier and simple pricing, and small networks that need several shows in one account. It is lighter on private podcasting and enterprise features than Transistor, Buzzsprout has more polished guides and episode-level marketing tools, and Captivate offers stronger built-in growth and CTA features. Spotify for Creators is cheaper (free) but ties you closer to one platform.

Buying tip: the Free plan really is free with no expiry, but you must add a credit card before uploading a second episode. Annual billing cuts 25% off every paid tier, paid plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee, and podcasters moving from another host can get three free months on any paid plan.