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Podcasting · head to head

Captivate vs Fireside

Captivate logo

Captivate

Podcasting

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fireside logo

Fireside

Podcasting

Podcast hosting with community features

From
$20/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; Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
  • They diverge on capability: Captivate covers AI analytics, Fireside covers Community features.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captivate and Fireside actually diverge.

Attributes where Captivate and Fireside differ
AttributeCaptivateFireside
Starting priceFree$20/month
Free tierYesNo
Founded20162018

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
  • Audience insights

Only in Fireside

  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Listener engagement

Both cover

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Social media
  • Email services
  • Content protection
  • Privacy controls
  • 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 Fireside
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Fireside
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Fireside
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Fireside

Fireside

  • Hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast websitenot Captivate
  • Running several shows as a podcast network from one accountnot Captivate
  • Tracking episode download metrics and link clicksnot 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

Fireside

  • Starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
  • Custom domain with SSL requires the $19 per month Standard plan; Starter sites sit on a Fireside subdomain
  • Additional podcasts beyond the one included on Standard cost $8 per month each
  • Bandwidth is capped at 1TB per month on Standard and 5TB per month on Professional
  • Advanced download metrics and click tracking require the $49 per month Professional plan

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

Fireside

$20/month
  • Creator$20/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Community features
    • Distribution
  • Network$50/month
    • Multiple shows
    • Team management
    • Advanced analytics

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 Fireside if

  • You need community features.
  • You also want analytics.
Fireside review

Questions people ask

Is Captivate or Fireside better?
Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and Fireside at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captivate or Fireside?
Captivate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Captivate and $20/month for Fireside.
Does Captivate or Fireside 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. Fireside starts at $20/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 Fireside is typically brought in for.
What can Captivate do that Fireside cannot?
Captivate covers AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Audience insights. Fireside covers Community features, Analytics, Listener engagement. Both handle Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Monetization, All podcast platforms.

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
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
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
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
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