Software · head to head
Libsyn vs Captivate
The short version
- Only Captivate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month; Captivate tiers are download ceilings and nothing else: 30,000 a month on Personal, 150,000 on Professional and 300,000 on Business
- They diverge on capability: Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Captivate covers Unlimited hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Libsyn and Captivate 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 Libsyn
- Reliable hosting
- Advanced analytics
- Monetization platform
- Distribution network
- Custom website
- Ad insertion
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Only in Captivate
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Smart recommendations
- Distribution
- Monetization
- Audience insights
- All podcast platforms
- Social media
Both cover
- Content protection
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
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
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Captivate
Free- FreeFree
- 3 hours storage
- Basic hosting
- Limited analytics
- Professional$19/month
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Full distribution
Which should you pick?
Choose Libsyn if
- You need reliable hosting.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want advanced analytics.
Choose Captivate if
- You need unlimited hosting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want ai analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is Libsyn or Captivate better?
- Neither clearly leads. Libsyn starts at $5/month and Captivate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Libsyn or Captivate?
- Captivate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5/month for Libsyn and Free for Captivate.
- Does Libsyn or Captivate run on more platforms?
- Libsyn runs on Web, Ios, Android. Captivate runs on Web.
- 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 Libsyn best used for?
- Libsyn is most often used for hosting podcast audio and distributing it to apple podcasts, spotify and youtube, measuring audience with iab certified download statistics, monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plans. Of those, hosting podcast audio and distributing it to apple podcasts, spotify and youtube and measuring audience with iab certified download statistics are not what Captivate is typically brought in for.
- What can Libsyn do that Captivate cannot?
- Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Both handle Content protection, Web support.