Softwr

Software · head to head

Zencastr vs Captivate

Zencastr logo

Zencastr

Software

Free podcast recording in your browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Captivate logo

Captivate

Software

Smart podcast hosting with AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Zencastr the pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales; 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: Zencastr covers Browser-based recording, Captivate covers Unlimited hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Zencastr and Captivate actually diverge.

Attributes where Zencastr and Captivate differ
AttributeZencastrCaptivate
Founded20152016

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

  • Browser-based recording
  • Separate tracks
  • Automatic postproduction
  • Video recording
  • Lossless audio
  • Cloud storage
  • Dropbox
  • Google Drive

Only in Captivate

  • Unlimited hosting
  • AI analytics
  • Smart recommendations
  • Distribution
  • Monetization
  • Audience insights
  • All podcast platforms
  • Social media

Both cover

  • Privacy controls
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Zencastr

  • Recording remote podcast interviews with separate local tracks per guestnot Captivate
  • Recording video podcasts in the browser without guest software installsnot Captivate
  • Publishing recorded episodes and clips from one workspacenot Captivate

Captivate

  • Podcast hosting with unlimited shows on any tiernot Zencastr
  • Distribution to the major podcast directoriesnot Zencastr
  • Audience analytics by episode and platformnot Zencastr
  • Running several podcasts under one subscriptionnot Zencastr

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Zencastr

  • The pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • The free tier caps a session at 6 participants
  • The free tier caps video streaming quality at 1080p
  • The free tier is limited to 5 podcast shows and 4 seats

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

Zencastr

Free
  • HobbyistFree
    • 8 hours/month audio
    • MP3 quality
    • Up to 2 guests
  • Professional$20/month
    • Unlimited recording
    • WAV lossless quality
    • Video recording

Captivate

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Zencastr if

  • You need browser-based recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want separate tracks.
Zencastr review

Choose Captivate if

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

Questions people ask

Is Zencastr or Captivate better?
Neither clearly leads. Zencastr starts at Free and Captivate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Zencastr or Captivate?
Zencastr starts at Free and Captivate at Free.
Does Zencastr or Captivate run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Zencastr for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Zencastr best used for?
Zencastr is most often used for recording remote podcast interviews with separate local tracks per guest, recording video podcasts in the browser without guest software installs, publishing recorded episodes and clips from one workspace. Of those, recording remote podcast interviews with separate local tracks per guest and recording video podcasts in the browser without guest software installs are not what Captivate is typically brought in for.
What can Zencastr do that Captivate cannot?
Zencastr covers Browser-based recording, Separate tracks, Automatic postproduction, Video recording. Captivate covers Unlimited hosting, AI analytics, Smart recommendations, Distribution. Both handle Privacy controls, Web support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Zencastr

More on Captivate

Keep looking

Other head to heads