Captivate vs Simplecast

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.

Simplecast is a podcast hosting and analytics platform founded in 2013 and acquired by SiriusXM in June 2020, which paired it with its ad-tech unit AdsWizz. Now branded Simplecast by AdsWizz, it serves both independent shows and large networks: publishing episodes, distributing them to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and other apps, and measuring listening with IAB Tech Lab certified analytics.

Every plan includes unlimited storage, multiple shows per account, a show website with custom domain, embeddable players and HTTPS feeds. Pricing follows monthly downloads: Basic costs $15 per month for 20,000 downloads and two seats, Essential $35 for 50,000 downloads and four seats with location, unique listener and app analytics. Professional and Enterprise are quoted and add dynamic ad insertion, ad-free feeds, programmatic demand through the AdsWizz marketplace, API access and white-label feeds. All plans start with a 14-day trial without a card.

Simplecast suits growing shows and networks that need trustworthy numbers and plan to sell ads. Hobby podcasters get more for less elsewhere. Transistor offers unlimited shows on flat download tiers, Buzzsprout is friendlier for beginners, Captivate leans into marketing tools, and Acast is the main rival for ad-sold networks.

Buying tip: estimate monthly downloads before choosing, because download caps rather than features drive the price, and confirm overage terms. If programmatic revenue is the goal, ask sales about Professional early, since dynamic ad insertion is not in the self-serve plans.