Captivate
Growth-oriented hosting with unlimited shows
See it in action
Dashboard Overview | Captivate Podcast Hosting Tutorial
Published by Captivate - Start & Grow Your Podcast! on YouTube · loads only when you press play
Captivate is the best host for podcasters who treat the show as a growth channel rather than a hobby.
Where it wins. Unlimited podcasts and unlimited storage on every plan is the structural advantage — you are billed on downloads, so launching a second show costs nothing. The marketing tooling is genuinely differentiated: dynamic calls to action inserted across episodes, customisable landing pages per episode, and audience-growth reporting that goes beyond download counts. The podcast website is the most capable bundled site in the category, with real SEO controls. Analytics are IAB v2 certified.
Where it falls short. Billing on downloads means a suddenly popular episode can push you up a tier unexpectedly — the inverse of Buzzsprout's problem. Pricing starts higher than the entry-level hosts. There is a heavier interface with more to learn, which will feel like overhead if you just want to publish an episode. Some marketing features overlap with tools you may already run, so the bundled value depends on your stack.
Our call. Strong for multi-show operators and anyone marketing a podcast seriously. Casual podcasters will find Buzzsprout simpler and cheaper.
Best for
Podcasters running multiple shows or actively marketing one, who need growth tooling rather than just hosting.
Key takeaways
- 1Unlimited shows and storage on every plan
- 2Billed on downloads, so a second show costs nothing
- 3Dynamic calls to action inserted across episodes
- 4Best bundled podcast website with real SEO controls
- 5A popular episode can push you into a higher tier
- 6Heavier interface than the simple hosts
Captivate was built by podcasters who were frustrated with hosting that treated growth as someone else's problem. Every plan includes unlimited shows and unlimited storage — billing is on downloads instead — and the product is stacked with marketing tooling: calls to action inside episodes, a customisable website, and analytics aimed at understanding an audience rather than counting it.
What we like
- Unlimited podcasts on every plan
- Strong growth and marketing tooling
- IAB v2 certified analytics
- Capable, SEO-aware podcast website
- Good private and premium podcast support
Worth noting
- Download-based pricing surprises
- Higher entry price
- More to learn than simpler hosts
- Feature overlap with existing marketing tools
Plans
Pricing
Personal
per month
- Unlimited podcasts
- Unlimited storage
- 12,000 monthly downloads
- IAB v2 certified analytics
- Podcast website with SEO controls
Business
per month
- Everything in Personal
- 60,000 monthly downloads
- Dynamic calls to action
- Private podcasting
- Team member access
Pricing verified Aug 13, 2026. Prices shown are billed annually where available and may change — always confirm on the vendor site.
Capabilities
Features
Content
- Audio masteringNo automatic mastering
- Automatic transcription
Monetisation
- Dynamic ad insertionDynamic calls to action across the catalogue
Analytics
- IAB-certified analyticsIAB v2 certified
Design
- Podcast websiteThe most capable bundled site, with SEO controls
Platform
- Private & premium podcastsBusiness plan
- Unlimited showsOn every plan
Distribution
- One-click directory submission
From real users
Reviews
No verified reviews yet
We publish a user score only once real, verified reviews exist — so this tool is rated on our hands-on testing alone for now. Used it? Your review would be the first.
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Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does Captivate really include unlimited podcasts?＋
Yes, on every plan, along with unlimited storage. Billing is based on monthly downloads instead, so launching a second or third show costs nothing extra until your total audience grows.
What happens if I exceed my download limit?＋
You move to a higher tier. This is the inverse of hourly-billed hosts: a popular episode raises the bill rather than a long one. Budget for a successful month rather than an average one.
What are dynamic calls to action?＋
Audio or show-note prompts that can be inserted across your entire back catalogue and changed centrally — so a sponsor read or a promotion can be swapped everywhere without re-editing episodes.
How good is the included podcast website?＋
The best bundled site in the category. It has genuine SEO controls, customisable templates, and episode pages that stand up as landing pages, which is not true of most hosts' free websites.
Captivate or Transistor?＋
Both include unlimited shows. Captivate has stronger marketing tooling and a better website; Transistor is cleaner, faster, and better for private podcasting and team access. Marketing focus points to Captivate, operational simplicity to Transistor.
Captivate
From $17/mo