Software · head to head
Buzzsprout vs Captivate
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Buzzsprout upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost; 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: Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Captivate covers Unlimited hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Buzzsprout and Captivate actually diverge.
| Attribute | Buzzsprout | Captivate |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Mobile | Web |
| Founded | 2009 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Buzzsprout
- Audio optimization
- Automatic distribution
- Episode transcription
- Custom podcast website
- Analytics dashboard
- Magic Mastering
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Only in Captivate
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Smart recommendations
- Distribution
- Monetization
- Audience insights
- All podcast platforms
- Email services
Both cover
- Social media
- Privacy controls
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Buzzsprout
- Podcast hostingnot Captivate
- Audio and video podcast distributionnot Captivate
- Transcription and show notes generationnot Captivate
- Podcast analytics and monetisationnot Captivate
Captivate
- Podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tiernot Buzzsprout
- Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Buzzsprout
- Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Buzzsprout
- Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Buzzsprout
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Buzzsprout
- Upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost
- Overage charges apply at plan rate for additional uploads
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
Buzzsprout
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Buzzsprout review.
Captivate
Free- FreeFree
- 3 hours storage
- Basic hosting
- Limited analytics
- Professional$19/month
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Full distribution
Which should you pick?
Choose Buzzsprout if
- You need audio optimization.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want automatic distribution.
Choose Captivate if
- You need unlimited hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want ai analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is Buzzsprout or Captivate better?
- Neither clearly leads. Buzzsprout 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, Buzzsprout or Captivate?
- Buzzsprout starts at Free and Captivate at Free.
- Does Buzzsprout or Captivate run on more platforms?
- Buzzsprout runs on Web, Mobile. Captivate runs on Web.
- Can I use Buzzsprout for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Buzzsprout best used for?
- Buzzsprout is most often used for podcast hosting, audio and video podcast distribution, transcription and show notes generation, podcast analytics and monetisation. Of those, podcast hosting and audio and video podcast distribution are not what Captivate is typically brought in for.
- What can Buzzsprout do that Captivate cannot?
- Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Automatic distribution, Episode transcription, Custom podcast website. Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Both handle Social media, Privacy controls, Web support.