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Podcasting · head to head

Captivate vs RedCircle

Captivate logo

Captivate

Podcasting

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RedCircle logo

RedCircle

Podcasting

Free podcast hosting with sponsorship opportunities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; RedCircle the free Core plan is limited to 1 podcast; unlimited podcasts require the Growth plan at $14.99 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Captivate covers AI analytics, RedCircle covers Sponsorship marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captivate and RedCircle actually diverge.

Attributes where Captivate and RedCircle differ
AttributeCaptivateRedCircle
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20162015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Email services

Only in RedCircle

  • Sponsorship marketplace
  • Analytics
  • Podcast website
  • Advertising networks
  • Ios support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Social media
  • 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 RedCircle
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot RedCircle
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot RedCircle
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot RedCircle

RedCircle

  • Hosting and distributing podcasts with unlimited storage and downloadsnot Captivate
  • Monetising a podcast through host-read and programmatic ad marketplacesnot Captivate
  • Selling paid subscriptions and exclusive episodesnot 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

RedCircle

  • The free Core plan is limited to 1 podcast; unlimited podcasts require the Growth plan at $14.99 per month
  • The free Core plan caps AI transcripts at 5 per month
  • The Core plan podcast webpage carries a Related Shows section that cannot be removed
  • Support on the Core plan is standard with a 72 hour response; 48 hour Advanced support starts on Growth
  • Team seats are not available on Core or Growth; Pro at $29.99 per month includes 5 seats and unlimited seats require Enterprise at $99.99 per month
  • Video file upload to episodes and one-click YouTube distribution require the Pro plan
  • Running your own ads and tracking URLs require the Pro plan
  • A dedicated account manager is Enterprise only
  • The trial is 7 days

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

RedCircle

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Automatic distribution
    • Sponsorship opportunities

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 RedCircle if

  • You need sponsorship marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want analytics.
RedCircle review

Questions people ask

Is Captivate or RedCircle better?
Neither clearly leads. Captivate starts at Free and RedCircle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captivate or RedCircle?
Captivate starts at Free and RedCircle at Free.
Does Captivate or RedCircle run on more platforms?
Captivate runs on Web. RedCircle runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 RedCircle is typically brought in for.
What can Captivate do that RedCircle cannot?
Captivate covers AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Audience insights, Email services. RedCircle covers Sponsorship marketplace, Analytics, Podcast website, Advertising networks. 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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