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Podcasting · head to head

Captivate vs Chartable

Captivate logo

Captivate

Podcasting

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Chartable logo

Chartable

Podcasting

Podcast analytics and attribution platform

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; Chartable shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
  • They diverge on capability: Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, Chartable covers Download analytics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captivate and Chartable actually diverge.

Attributes where Captivate and Chartable differ
AttributeCaptivateChartable
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Founded20162017

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 Captivate

  • Unlimited hosting
  • AI analytics
  • Smart recommendations
  • Distribution
  • Monetization
  • Audience insights
  • Social media
  • Email services

Only in Chartable

  • Download analytics
  • Chart rankings
  • SmartLinks tracking
  • Attribution
  • SmartPromos
  • Cross-promotion analytics
  • Advertising networks
  • Marketing tools

Both cover

  • All podcast platforms
  • 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 Chartable
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Chartable
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Chartable
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Chartable

Chartable

  • Podcast analyticsnot Captivate
  • Marketing attributionnot Captivate
  • Chart trackingnot Captivate
  • Growth measurementnot 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

Chartable

  • Shut down on 12 December 2024. Spotify, which acquired Chartable in February 2022, announced the closure on 27 September 2024 and folded parts of it into Spotify for Podcasters
  • The tracking prefixes no longer function, and shows still carrying one need it removed
  • chartable.com now redirects to Spotify's Megaphone site

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

Chartable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Chart tracking
    • Basic analytics
    • 1 podcast
  • Indie$20/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • SmartLinks
    • Attribution
  • Team$100/month
    • Multiple podcasts
    • SmartPromos
    • Team access
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Custom integrations
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Captivate if

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

Choose Chartable if

  • You need download analytics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want chart rankings.
Chartable review

Questions people ask

Is Captivate or Chartable better?
Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and Chartable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captivate or Chartable?
Captivate starts at Free and Chartable at Free.
Does Captivate or Chartable run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Chartable is typically brought in for.
What can Captivate do that Chartable cannot?
Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Chartable covers Download analytics, Chart rankings, SmartLinks tracking, Attribution. Both handle All podcast platforms, Web support.

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
Chartable: How much does Megaphone (formerly Chartable) Professional plan cost?

The Professional plan is $99 per month and includes hosting, distribution, campaign management, analytics, monetization tools via Spotify Audience Network, and live chat support Monday through Friday 4am-9pm ET.

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
Chartable: What does the Enterprise plan cost?

Enterprise plan pricing is custom and requires contacting the company. It includes all Professional features plus API access, Metrics Export Service, and comprehensive monetization tools that scale with publisher growth.

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
Chartable: Are there any trial periods or free options?

No trial period or free tier is mentioned on the Megaphone pricing page. Customers interested in Enterprise plans should contact the company for quotes and additional information.

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
Chartable: Does the Professional plan include unlimited users?

Yes, the Professional plan includes unlimited users with role-based permissions for managing team access and responsibilities.

Source
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