Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head
Captivate vs Apple Podcasts Connect
Captivate
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Smart podcast hosting with AI insights
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Apple Podcasts Connect
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Manage and distribute your podcast on Apple Podcasts
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Captivate tiers are download ceilings and nothing else: 30,000 a month on Personal, 150,000 on Professional and 300,000 on Business; Apple Podcasts Connect requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- They diverge on capability: Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Captivate and Apple Podcasts Connect actually diverge.
| Attribute | Captivate | Apple Podcasts Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Macos |
| Founded | 2016 | 1976 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcast & Audio Publishing).
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 Captivate
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Smart recommendations
- Distribution
- Monetization
- Audience insights
- All podcast platforms
- Social media
Only in Apple Podcasts Connect
- Podcast submission
- Episode management
- Analytics
- Subscription monetization
- Show optimization
- Multi-show management
- RSS feeds
- Hosting platforms
Both cover
- Privacy controls
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Captivate
- Podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tiernot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Apple Podcasts Connect
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Submitting a new podcast to Apple Podcastsnot Captivate
- Claiming an existing show so it is registered to your accountnot Captivate
- Reviewing Apple Podcasts listener trends and analyticsnot Captivate
- Managing show artwork and metadatanot Captivate
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- Only reports listening that happens inside Apple Podcasts, so it is not a whole-audience view
- Does not host audio; the show still needs a hosting provider elsewhere
Pricing, plan by plan
Captivate
Free- FreeFree
- 3 hours storage
- Basic hosting
- Limited analytics
- Professional$19/month
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Full distribution
Apple Podcasts Connect
Free- FreeFree
- Podcast submission
- Analytics dashboard
- Episode management
- Subscriptions Program$19.99/year
- Premium subscriptions
- Paid content
- Subscriber management
Which should you pick?
Choose Captivate if
- You need unlimited hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want ai analytics.
Choose Apple Podcasts Connect if
- You need podcast submission.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Macos.
- You also want episode management.
Questions people ask
- Is Captivate or Apple Podcasts Connect better?
- Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Captivate or Apple Podcasts Connect?
- Captivate starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free.
- Does Captivate or Apple Podcasts Connect run on more platforms?
- Captivate runs on Web. Apple Podcasts Connect runs on Web, Ios, Macos.
- Can I use Captivate for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Captivate best used for?
- Captivate is most often used for podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tier, distribution to the major podcast directories, audience analytics by episode and platform, running several podcasts under one subscription. Of those, podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tier and distribution to the major podcast directories are not what Apple Podcasts Connect is typically brought in for.
- What can Captivate do that Apple Podcasts Connect cannot?
- Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission, Episode management, Analytics, Subscription monetization. Both handle Privacy controls, Web support.