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Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head

Captivate vs HBO Max

Captivate logo

Captivate

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HBO Max logo

HBO Max

Media & Entertainment

Stream iconic series, movies, and Max Originals

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Captivate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; HBO Max three subscription tiers: Basic With Ads at 10.99 USD/month, Standard at 18.49 USD/month, Premium at 22.99 USD/month
  • They diverge on capability: Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, HBO Max covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captivate and HBO Max actually diverge.

Attributes where Captivate and HBO Max differ
AttributeCaptivateHBO Max
Starting priceFree$9.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryPodcast & Audio PublishingMedia & Entertainment
Founded20162020

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 HBO Max

  • Streaming
  • Downloads
  • Profiles
  • HBO content
  • Max Originals
  • Smart TVs
  • Gaming consoles
  • Mobile devices

Both cover

  • 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 HBO Max
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot HBO Max
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot HBO Max
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot HBO Max

HBO Max

  • Premium streamingnot Captivate
  • HBO contentnot Captivate
  • Original seriesnot 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

HBO Max

  • Three subscription tiers: Basic With Ads at 10.99 USD/month, Standard at 18.49 USD/month, Premium at 22.99 USD/month
  • The cheapest tier is ad supported; ad-free viewing requires the Standard tier or above

Pricing, plan by plan

Captivate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 hours storage
    • Basic hosting
    • Limited analytics
  • Professional$19/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • AI analytics
    • Full distribution

HBO Max

$9.99/month
  • With Ads$9.99/month
    • Full HD
    • Ad-supported
    • 2 devices
  • Ad-Free$15.99/month
    • Full HD
    • Ad-free
    • 2 devices
  • Ultimate Ad-Free$19.99/month
    • 4K UHD
    • Dolby Atmos
    • 4 devices

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 HBO Max if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want downloads.
HBO Max review

Questions people ask

Is Captivate or HBO Max better?
Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and HBO Max at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captivate or HBO Max?
Captivate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Captivate and $9.99/month for HBO Max.
Does Captivate or HBO Max run on more platforms?
Captivate runs on Web. HBO Max runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use Captivate for free?
Yes. Captivate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HBO Max starts at $9.99/month.
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 HBO Max is typically brought in for.
What can Captivate do that HBO Max cannot?
Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. HBO Max covers Streaming, Downloads, Profiles, HBO content. Both handle Web support.
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