Software · head to head
Captivate vs Libsyn
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; Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
- They diverge on capability: Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, Libsyn covers Reliable hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Captivate and Libsyn actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Captivate
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Smart recommendations
- Distribution
- Monetization
- Audience insights
- All podcast platforms
- Social media
Only in Libsyn
- Reliable hosting
- Advanced analytics
- Monetization platform
- Distribution network
- Custom website
- Ad insertion
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Both cover
- 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 Libsyn
- Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Libsyn
- Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Libsyn
- Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Libsyn
Libsyn
- Hosting podcast audio and distributing it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTubenot Captivate
- Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Captivate
- Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot 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
Libsyn
- Basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
- Advanced IAB verified stats require the $25 per month Advanced plan; Basic gets basic stats only
- Spotify video distribution requires the Advanced or Max plan
- Dynamic ad insertion sits on Professional and Enterprise plans that are quoted by sales with no published rate
- The top published tier, Max at $150 per month, still caps audio uploads at 55 hours per month
Pricing, plan by plan
Captivate
Free- FreeFree
- 3 hours storage
- Basic hosting
- Limited analytics
- Professional$19/month
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Full distribution
Libsyn
$5/month- Classic 50$5/month
- 50 MB monthly storage
- Basic statistics
- Podcast page
- Classic 150$15/month
- 150 MB monthly storage
- Advanced statistics
- Custom website
- Advanced 400$20/month
- 400 MB monthly storage
- Premium analytics
- Multiple shows
- Advanced 800$40/month
- 800 MB monthly storage
- Full analytics suite
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Captivate if
- You need unlimited hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want ai analytics.
Choose Libsyn if
- You need reliable hosting.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want advanced analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is Captivate or Libsyn better?
- Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and Libsyn at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Captivate or Libsyn?
- Captivate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Captivate and $5/month for Libsyn.
- Does Captivate or Libsyn run on more platforms?
- Captivate runs on Web. Libsyn runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Captivate for free?
- Yes. Captivate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Libsyn starts at $5/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 Libsyn is typically brought in for.
- What can Captivate do that Libsyn cannot?
- Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Both handle Content protection, Web support.