Captivate vs Spreaker
Captivate and Spreaker are both podcast & audio tools aimed at creators and small businesses. Captivate costs less, from $19/mo versus $20/mo for Spreaker. Only Spreaker has a free plan.
Growth-focused podcast hosting
iHeartMedia podcast hosting with built-in ad and listener monetisation
| Pricing | Paid · $19 | Freemium · $20 |
| Starting price | $19/mo | $20/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web | web, ios, android |
| Country | GB · 2019 | US |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Captivate if
Podcasters focused on growing and monetizing.
- Strong growth features
- Unlimited shows
- Good analytics
Look elsewhere if: Casual hobbyists.
Choose Spreaker if
Independent podcasters and small networks that want free hosting with built-in ad and listener monetisation from the start.
- Monetisation is available even on the free plan
- Backed by iHeartMedia's audio advertising demand
- Fixed monthly prices with no hidden fees
Look elsewhere if: Beginners wanting the simplest workflow or shows seeking premium sponsorship sales (Buzzsprout, Acast, Transistor).
Captivate vs Spreaker 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
Spreaker
- Free Speech$01 podcast, unlimited episodes, ads, 6 months of stats
- Broadcaster$20/moUnlimited podcasts, subscriptions, 0% Supporters Club fee
- Anchorman$50/moFull stats, custom player colours, unlimited collaborators
- Publisher$250/moAd Campaign Manager, sell your own ads, 24 months of stats
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
Spreaker · Key features
- Unlimited episodes and automatic distribution to major podcast apps
- Programmatic ad monetisation through iHeartMedia's ad network
- Supporters Club for monthly listener payments
- Private podcasts and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions on paid plans
- Ad Campaign Manager to sell and traffic your own ads on Publisher
- Customizable RSS feeds and embeddable web player
Cons
- Free plan keeps statistics for only six months
- Interface and editor feel dated next to newer hosts
- No annual billing discount listed
Captivate vs Spreaker: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Captivate or Spreaker?
Captivate starts at $19/mo and Spreaker at $20/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Captivate and Spreaker have a free plan?
Captivate has no free plan, a 30-day free trial. Spreaker has a free plan.