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Podcasting · head to head

Captivate vs Simplecast

Captivate logo

Captivate

Podcasting

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Podcasting

Hosting for professional podcast networks

From
$15/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; Simplecast basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • They diverge on capability: Captivate covers AI analytics, Simplecast covers Analytics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captivate and Simplecast actually diverge.

Attributes where Captivate and Simplecast differ
AttributeCaptivateSimplecast
Starting priceFree$15/month
Free tierYesNo
Founded20162014

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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

  • AI analytics
  • Smart recommendations
  • Monetization
  • Audience insights
  • Social media
  • Email services
  • Content protection
  • Privacy controls

Only in Simplecast

  • Analytics
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Team collaboration
  • API access
  • Advertising networks
  • CMS systems
  • Enterprise security
  • SOC 2 compliant

Both cover

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • 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 Simplecast
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Simplecast
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Simplecast
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Simplecast

Simplecast

  • Hosting podcasts with per-episode analytics and audience metricsnot Captivate
  • Distributing shows to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directoriesnot Captivate
  • Monetising podcasts through dynamic ad insertion at the Professional tiernot 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

Simplecast

  • Basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • Essential plan at $35 per month includes 50,000 monthly downloads and 4 team seats
  • Dynamic ad insertion and campaign management are only on the Professional plan, which is quoted by sales with no published rate
  • API access for publishing and campaign management is Enterprise only
  • Annual prepayment is required to get the 10 percent discount

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

Simplecast

$15/month
  • Basic$15/month
    • Annual option: $13.50/month when prepaid
    • 2 team seats
    • Unlimited storage
  • Essential$35/month
    • Annual option: $31.50/month when prepaid
    • 4 team seats
    • Everything in Basic plus additional web players
  • Professional$null/custom
    • Contact sales for custom pricing
    • Dynamic ad insertion
    • Campaign management
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Contact sales for custom features
    • Everything in Professional plus API integration
    • White-labeled RSS

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 Simplecast if

  • You need analytics.
  • You also want dynamic ad insertion.
Simplecast review

Questions people ask

Is Captivate or Simplecast better?
Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and Simplecast at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captivate or Simplecast?
Captivate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Captivate and $15/month for Simplecast.
Does Captivate or Simplecast run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Captivate for free?
Yes. Captivate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplecast starts at $15/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 Simplecast is typically brought in for.
What can Captivate do that Simplecast cannot?
Captivate covers AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Monetization, Audience insights. Simplecast covers Analytics, Dynamic ad insertion, Team collaboration, API access. Both handle Unlimited hosting, Distribution, 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
Simplecast: How much does Simplecast cost?

Simplecast offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card required) followed by paid plans starting at $15/month for Basic ($13.50/month annual) and $35/month for Essential ($31.50/month annual). Professional and Enterprise plans require contacting sales for custom pricing.

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
Simplecast: Can I change my Simplecast plan anytime?

Yes. Plan changes are allowed anytime with prorated adjustments. You can cancel anytime with no long-term contracts or penalties.

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
Simplecast: What is included in the Basic plan?

The Basic plan ($15/month or $13.50/month annually) includes 2 team seats, unlimited storage, distribution to all platforms, basic analytics, custom domain website, and 20,000 downloads per month.

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
Simplecast: What makes the Essential plan different from Basic?

The Essential plan ($35/month or $31.50/month annually) adds 2 more team seats (4 total), comparative analytics, location analytics, unique listener reports, and increases the monthly download allowance to 50,000.

Source
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