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Podcasting · head to head

Captivate vs Castos

Captivate logo

Captivate

Podcasting

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Castos logo

Castos

Podcasting

Simple podcast hosting for WordPress sites

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Castos transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro
  • They diverge on capability: Captivate covers AI analytics, Castos covers WordPress integration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captivate and Castos actually diverge.

Attributes where Captivate and Castos differ
AttributeCaptivateCastos
PlatformsWebWeb, Wordpress

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting), founded (2016).

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

  • AI analytics
  • Smart recommendations
  • Audience insights
  • Social media
  • Privacy controls

Only in Castos

  • WordPress integration
  • Analytics
  • Email marketing
  • WordPress
  • WordPress security
  • Wordpress support

Both cover

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Email services
  • Content protection
  • 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 Castos
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Castos
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Castos
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Castos

Castos

  • Podcast hosting with unlimited episodes and downloadsnot Captivate
  • Private and subscriber-only podcastsnot Captivate
  • Automatic transcription of episodesnot Captivate
  • Republishing episodes to YouTubenot Captivate
  • WordPress-integrated podcast publishingnot 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

Castos

  • Transcripts are metered by tier, at 10 a month on Essentials and 100 on Pro
  • Private podcast subscribers are capped, at 100 on Essentials and 500 on Pro
  • Video hosting and the uptime SLA require the Pro tier at $99 a month
  • SSO and a dedicated account manager are Premium only, from $499 a month
  • Team seats are limited by tier, at 5 on Growth and 10 on Pro

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Castos

Free
  • Essentials$19/month
    • unlimited podcasts/episodes
    • 10 transcripts/month
  • Growth$49/month
    • advanced analytics
    • 25 transcripts/month
  • Pro$99/month
    • video hosting
    • 100 transcripts/month
  • Premium$499/month
    • unlimited transcripts
    • dedicated account management

Which should you pick?

Choose Captivate if

  • You need ai analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want smart recommendations.
Captivate review

Choose Castos if

  • You need wordpress integration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Wordpress.
  • You also want analytics.
Castos review

Questions people ask

Is Captivate or Castos better?
Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and Castos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captivate or Castos?
Captivate starts at Free and Castos at Free.
Does Captivate or Castos run on more platforms?
Captivate runs on Web. Castos runs on Web, Wordpress.
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 Castos is typically brought in for.
What can Captivate do that Castos cannot?
Captivate covers AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Audience insights, Social media. Castos covers WordPress integration, Analytics, Email marketing, WordPress. Both handle Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Monetization, All podcast platforms.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Castos: How much does Castos cost?

Castos plans range from USD 19/month for Essentials to USD 499+/month for Premium, with annual billing offering 2 months free discount.

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
Castos: Is there a free trial for Castos?

Yes, Castos offers a 14-day free trial on the Essentials plan with no credit card required to get started.

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
Castos: How many transcripts are included per plan?

Essentials includes 10 transcripts/month, Growth includes 25, Pro includes 100, and Premium includes unlimited transcripts.

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
Castos: What are Castos add-ons and how much do they cost?

Add-ons include AI Assistant at USD 10/month and extra private subscribers at USD 50/month per 500 additional subscribers.

Source
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