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Software · head to head

Captivate vs Stitcher

Captivate logo

Captivate

Software

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
S

Stitcher

Software

Premium podcast subscription service

From
Free
Rated
-

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; Stitcher service discontinued August 29, 2023
  • They diverge on capability: Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, Stitcher covers Podcast streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captivate and Stitcher actually diverge.

Attributes where Captivate and Stitcher differ
AttributeCaptivateStitcher
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
Founded20162007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Stitcher

  • Podcast streaming
  • Original content
  • Ad-free
  • Offline listening
  • Recommendations
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Account security

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

Stitcher

  • Podcast listeningnot Captivate
  • Audio entertainmentnot 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

Stitcher

  • Service discontinued August 29, 2023
  • No longer available for download or use

Pricing, plan by plan

Captivate

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

Stitcher

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free podcasts
    • Ad-supported
  • Stitcher Premium$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Exclusives

Which should you pick?

Choose Captivate if

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

Choose Stitcher if

  • You need podcast streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want original content.

Questions people ask

Is Captivate or Stitcher better?
Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and Stitcher at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captivate or Stitcher?
Captivate starts at Free and Stitcher at Free.
Does Captivate or Stitcher run on more platforms?
Captivate runs on Web. Stitcher runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
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 Stitcher is typically brought in for.
What can Captivate do that Stitcher cannot?
Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Stitcher covers Podcast streaming, Original content, Ad-free, Offline listening. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stitcher: Is Stitcher still available?

No. Stitcher shut down on August 29, 2023. SiriusXM, which acquired Stitcher in 2020, discontinued the app to consolidate podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription. Users can listen to podcasts via the SiriusXM app instead.

Source

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