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Podcasting · head to head

Auphonic vs Captivate

Auphonic logo

Auphonic

Podcasting

Automated audio mastering and loudness processing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Captivate logo

Captivate

Podcasting

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Auphonic the free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month; 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: Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Captivate covers Unlimited hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Auphonic and Captivate actually diverge.

Attributes where Auphonic and Captivate differ
AttributeAuphonicCaptivate
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Founded20102016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).

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 Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness optimization
  • Noise reduction
  • Audio restoration
  • Intelligent processing
  • API integration
  • Auto-upload
  • Podcast hosts
  • Dropbox

Only in Captivate

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audionot Captivate
  • Batch processing an archive of recordingsnot Captivate
  • Generating transcripts and chapters from an episodenot Captivate
  • Producing consistent output across multiple formats from one uploadnot Captivate

Captivate

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

Where each one falls short

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

Auphonic

  • The free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month
  • Billing is by audio duration with a 3 minute minimum per production, so many short clips cost more than the running time suggests
  • Multilingual speech recognition, automatic chapters and show notes all require a paid plan
  • Watch folders, batch productions and team accounts are paid features
  • Free output carries an Auphonic jingle

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

Auphonic

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours/month processing
    • Basic mastering
    • Download files
  • Personal$10/month
    • 50 hours/month
    • Advanced mastering
    • API access

Captivate

Free
  • Personal$17/month
    • up to 30,000 downloads/month
  • Professional$44/month
    • up to 150,000 downloads/month
  • Business$90/month
    • up to 300,000 downloads/month

Which should you pick?

Choose Auphonic if

  • You need automatic loudness optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want noise reduction.
Auphonic 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 Auphonic or Captivate better?
Neither clearly leads. Auphonic starts at Free and Captivate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Auphonic or Captivate?
Auphonic starts at Free and Captivate at Free.
Does Auphonic or Captivate run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Auphonic for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Auphonic best used for?
Auphonic is most often used for automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audio, batch processing an archive of recordings, generating transcripts and chapters from an episode, producing consistent output across multiple formats from one upload. Of those, automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audio and batch processing an archive of recordings are not what Captivate is typically brought in for.
What can Auphonic do that Captivate cannot?
Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Noise reduction, Audio restoration, Intelligent processing. Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Auphonic: Is Auphonic free or does it require payment?

Auphonic offers a free plan with 2 hours of audio processing per month. Premium plans require monthly subscription credits for additional processing hours, or one-time credit purchases that never expire.

Source
Captivate: How much does Captivate cost?

Captivate pricing starts at EUR 17/month for the Personal plan (annual billing). Professional is EUR 44/month and Business is EUR 90/month, with higher monthly rates on monthly billing plans.

Source
Auphonic: What does Auphonic's free plan include and what are its limits?

The free plan includes 2 hours of audio processing per month, all basic audio algorithms (leveler, noise reduction, filtering), automatic shownotes, and filler/silence cutting. The Auphonic jingle is included in free productions.

Source
Captivate: Is there a free trial for Captivate?

Yes, all Captivate plans include a 30-day free trial with access to all features; no credit card required to start.

Source
Auphonic: How does Auphonic charge for audio processing beyond the free tier?

Auphonic offers monthly subscription tiers (S through XXL) based on hours needed and one-time credit purchases (5-3000+ hours). Billing is based on audio file duration; minimum 3 minutes per production. Custom subscriptions available for over 1000 hours/month.

Source
Captivate: What happens if I exceed my Captivate download limit?

Captivate will notify you after a second consecutive month over your limit; no overage fees apply if you temporarily exceed the monthly allowance.

Source
Captivate: Are podcasts and storage unlimited on all Captivate plans?

Yes, unlimited podcasts and storage are included across the Personal, Professional, and Business tiers; limits are only on monthly downloads.

Source
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