Captivate vs Zencastr
Captivate and Zencastr are both podcast & audio tools aimed at creators and small businesses. Only Zencastr has a free plan.
Captivate
Growth-focused podcast hosting
Zencastr
Free browser and iOS studio to record, edit and host podcasts
| Pricing | Paid · $19 | Freemium |
| Starting price | $19/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses | Creators, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web | web, ios |
| Country | GB · 2019 | — |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Captivate if
Podcasters focused on growing and monetizing.
- Strong growth features
- Unlimited shows
- Good analytics
Look elsewhere if: Casual hobbyists.
Choose Zencastr if
Independent podcasters and small creator teams who want free studio-quality recording, AI editing and hosting in one place.
- Free plan covers recording, AI editing and hosting in one place
- Separate local tracks protect quality when a guest's connection drops
- Unlimited track storage, transcription and post-production credits
Look elsewhere if: Professional video productions or teams that need advanced editing and guaranteed support (Riverside, Descript).
Captivate vs Zencastr 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
Zencastr
- Free (Vibecastr)$06 participants, 4K video, unlimited tracks, hosting and transcripts
- EnterpriseCustomCustom limits on every feature, sales-led
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
Zencastr · Key features
- Local recording of up to 6 participants with separate audio and video tracks
- 4K video and 48 kHz WAV audio with progressive upload and cloud backup
- Chat-based AI Producer that removes filler words, pauses and background noise
- Automatic transcripts in 10 languages, chapters, titles and show notes
- Podcast hosting with distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube
- Clip export up to 4K and scheduled posting to social platforms
Cons
- Ad monetization and paid AI programs come with terms worth reading
- Pricing has changed several times, so limits may move again
- No Android app listed, only web and iOS
Captivate vs Zencastr: FAQ
Do Captivate and Zencastr have a free plan?
Captivate has no free plan, a 30-day free trial. Zencastr has a free plan.