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Audible vs Captivate

Audible logo

Audible

Software

Audiobooks as you've never experienced them

From
$7.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Captivate logo

Captivate

Software

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Captivate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Audible auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing; Captivate tiers are download ceilings and nothing else: 30,000 a month on Personal, 150,000 on Professional and 300,000 on Business
  • They diverge on capability: Audible covers Audiobooks, Captivate covers Unlimited hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Audible and Captivate actually diverge.

Attributes where Audible and Captivate differ
AttributeAudibleCaptivate
Starting price$7.95/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, Desktop, KindleWeb
Founded19952016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Audible

  • Audiobooks
  • Podcasts
  • Originals
  • Offline listening
  • Amazon Echo
  • Kindle
  • Apple Watch
  • Family library

Only in Captivate

  • Unlimited hosting
  • AI analytics
  • Smart recommendations
  • Distribution
  • Monetization
  • Audience insights
  • All podcast platforms
  • Social media

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Audible

  • Audiobook listeningnot Captivate
  • Podcast consumptionnot Captivate

Captivate

  • Podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tiernot Audible
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Audible
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Audible
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Audible

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Audible

  • Auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing
  • Renewal is charged at the rate of the selected plan within 24 hours before the end of each membership period, per the App Store listing

Captivate

  • Tiers are download ceilings and nothing else: 30,000 a month on Personal, 150,000 on Professional and 300,000 on Business
  • A show that exceeds its allowance for two consecutive months is expected to move up a tier
  • Above 300,000 downloads a month the plan is quote-only
  • Prices are quoted in euros at the yearly rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Audible

$7.95/month
  • Plus$7.95/month
    • Plus catalog
    • Podcasts
  • Premium Plus$14.95/month
    • 1 credit/month
    • Plus catalog

Captivate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 hours storage
    • Basic hosting
    • Limited analytics
  • Professional$19/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • AI analytics
    • Full distribution

Which should you pick?

Choose Audible if

  • You need audiobooks.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle.
  • You also want podcasts.
Audible review

Choose Captivate if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want ai analytics.
Captivate review

Questions people ask

Is Audible or Captivate better?
Neither clearly leads. Audible starts at $7.95/month and Captivate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Audible or Captivate?
Captivate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.95/month for Audible and Free for Captivate.
Does Audible or Captivate run on more platforms?
Audible runs on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle. Captivate runs on Web.
Can I use Captivate for free?
Yes. Captivate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Audible starts at $7.95/month.
What is Audible best used for?
Audible is most often used for audiobook listening, podcast consumption. Of those, audiobook listening and podcast consumption are not what Captivate is typically brought in for.
What can Audible do that Captivate cannot?
Audible covers Audiobooks, Podcasts, Originals, Offline listening. Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution.
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