Software · head to head
Wavve vs Captivate
The short version
- Only Captivate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Wavve starter plan caps uploads at 70 minutes and exports at 18 videos 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: Wavve covers Analytics, Captivate covers AI analytics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Wavve and Captivate actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Wavve
- Analytics
- Simple interface
- Podcast website
Only in Captivate
- AI analytics
- Smart recommendations
- Audience insights
- Social media
- Privacy controls
Both cover
- Unlimited hosting
- Distribution
- Monetization
- All podcast platforms
- Email services
- Content protection
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Wavve
- Converting podcast audio clips into captioned social videonot Captivate
- Generating SRT files and transcripts from episodesnot Captivate
- Scheduling promotional audiogram posts to social channelsnot Captivate
Captivate
- Podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tiernot Wavve
- Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Wavve
- Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Wavve
- Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Wavve
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Wavve
- Starter plan caps uploads at 70 minutes and exports at 18 videos per month
- Starter plan is single user with no team members
- Pro plan at $19.99 per month still caps uploads at 210 minutes and 33 exported videos per month
- The Agency plan adds only 4 team members and costs $98.99 per month
- There is no free tier; the cheapest published plan is a paid Starter subscription
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
Wavve
$10/month- Creator$10/month
- Unlimited hosting
- Distribution
- Analytics
Captivate
Free- FreeFree
- 3 hours storage
- Basic hosting
- Limited analytics
- Professional$19/month
- Unlimited hosting
- AI analytics
- Full distribution
Which should you pick?
Choose Captivate if
- You need ai analytics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want smart recommendations.
Questions people ask
- Is Wavve or Captivate better?
- Neither clearly leads. Wavve starts at $10/month and Captivate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Wavve or Captivate?
- Captivate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10/month for Wavve and Free for Captivate.
- Does Wavve or Captivate 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. Wavve starts at $10/month.
- What is Wavve best used for?
- Wavve is most often used for converting podcast audio clips into captioned social video, generating srt files and transcripts from episodes, scheduling promotional audiogram posts to social channels. Of those, converting podcast audio clips into captioned social video and generating srt files and transcripts from episodes are not what Captivate is typically brought in for.
- What can Wavve do that Captivate cannot?
- Wavve covers Analytics, Simple interface, Podcast website. Captivate covers AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Audience insights, Social media. Both handle Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Monetization, All podcast platforms.