If you host 3 different podcasts, paying $15/month for each show on Buzzsprout is annoying. You want to pay for the account, not the show.
Captivate.fm operates on a different model: Unlimited Podcasts for one monthly price. But there is a catch—they limit your total downloads per month. Is this a good deal for you? In this Captivate pricing review, we broke down the math and tested their "Dynamic Ad Insertion" features.
Quick Summary
The "Growth" Host
Captivate is built for marketers. The built-in calls to action (CTAs), email opt-in forms, and dynamic ad insertion (even on the cheapest plan) make it superior to Buzzsprout for anyone trying to build a business, not just a hobby.
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What Captivate Actually Does
Captivate hosts your MP3 files and generates the RSS feed you submit to Apple/Spotify.
Unlike other hosts that charge you based on how many hours of audio you upload, Captivate charges based on popularity (downloads). This means you can upload a daily 2-hour show for the same price as a weekly 10-minute show, provided your total audience size stays within the limit.
Core Features
How to Use Captivate — Workflow
We tested the "Dynamic Insertion" feature to see if we could monetize an old episode.
- The Goal: We wanted to promote our "ROI Calculator" tool on 50 past episodes without editing the audio files manually.
- The Upload: We recorded a 30-second "Pre-Roll" clip: "Before we start, check out our free ROI calculator..."
- The Setup: In the AMIE dashboard, we set this clip to play as a "Pre-Roll" on All Episodes.
- The Result: Within 5 minutes, every single episode in our feed had the new ad. When the campaign ends, we can remove it with one click.
Example Use Cases
Who Captivate Is Best For
- Serial Creators: If you have "shiny object syndrome" and start new podcasts often, this saves you money.
- Marketers: The analytics and attribution tools are top-tier.
- Private Communities: The private feed feature is usually a $20+ add-on with other hosts; here, it's free.
Who Should Avoid Captivate
- Hobbyists ($0 Budget): Captivate has no free-forever plan. If you want free, go to Spotify for Podcasters (Anchor).
- Massive Viral Shows: If you suddenly get 500,000 downloads, you will be bumped to the $90+ plan quickly.
Pricing & Download Limits Explained
Pricing is based on Total Monthly Downloads across all your shows combined.
| Plan | Price | Download Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $17 /mo | 30,000 /mo |
| Professional | $44 /mo | 150,000 /mo |
| Business | $90 /mo | 300,000 /mo |
How Captivate Compares
| Feature | Captivate | Transistor | Buzzsprout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Shows | Yes | Yes | No (Pay per show) |
| Dynamic Ads | All Plans | Yes | Paid Add-on |
| Private Feeds | Included | Included | No |
| Starting Price | $17/mo | $19/mo | $12/mo |
Limitations & Reality Check
- No Free Tier: Unlike Buzzsprout (which has a 90-day free tier), Captivate is paid-only after the trial.
- Website Builder: The included website is functional but basic. It won't replace a full WordPress site for SEO.
Best Practices: "The Private Feed"
Monetize from Day 1.
Pros & Cons
- Unlimited podcasts for one price.
- Advanced "Growth" features like Dynamic Insertion are standard.
- Clean, modern interface (unlike Libsyn).
- Private podcasting is included for free.
- Strictly paid (no free tier).
- Download limits can punish viral success (rare problem).
- Video podcasting support is limited compared to Spotify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I exceed 30k downloads?
Captivate won't shut off your podcast. They will contact you and ask you to upgrade to the next tier. They are generally lenient if it's a one-time spike.
Can I import my podcast from Anchor/Spotify?
Yes. Captivate has a one-click import tool. You paste your RSS feed, and it pulls all your episodes, art, and descriptions over in minutes.
Does it support video podcasts?
No, Captivate is audio-focused. If you want to distribute video to Spotify, you generally need to use Spotify for Podcasters (Anchor) directly or a specific video host.
Is Transistor better?
They are very similar. Captivate focuses more on "Marketing/Growth" features (calls to action), while Transistor focuses more on "Corporate/Private" features.
Final Verdict
If you are planning to launch more than one podcast, or if you are serious about treating your podcast as a marketing channel (collecting emails, inserting ads), Captivate is the best value in the industry.
The $17/mo plan gives you enterprise-level features that other hosts charge $50+ for.
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