Captivate vs Podbean
Captivate
captivate.fmPodbean
podbean.comSide by side
| Figure | Captivate | Podbean |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3.67/mo | $17/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 7 |
| Spec score · Podcast hosting platforms | 7.4 (#48) | 9.2 (#2) |
| Spec score · Private Podcast Platforms | 7.4 (#17) | 8.6 (#3) |
| Spec score · Video Podcast Software | 7.4 (#34) | 8.7 (#6) |
| Spec score · Podcast Website Builders | 7.4 (#26) | 8.7 (#3) |
| Spec score · Podcast Monetization Platforms | 7.4 (#29) | 8.7 (#8) |
| Analytics level | advanced | advanced |
| Directory distribution | major directories | One-click distribution includes Apple Podcasts, Podbean app, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | 30 Leicester Square, London, UK WC2H 7LA | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Monetization tools | Yes | Yes |
| Private podcasts | Yes | Yes |
| RSS feed | Yes | Yes |
| Paid from | 17 | 12 |
| Video podcast support | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Podbean
- Basic Free PlanFree
- Unlimited Audio$17 a month
- Unlimited Plus$39 a month
- Network$99 a month
- Business$129 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
- FreeFree
In their own words
Captivate
Captivate is a web-based podcast hosting service for publishing shows and managing their distribution. It provides an RSS feed and sends podcasts to major directories. Advanced analytics give publishers detailed audience information, while monetization tools support revenue activity. The service also includes private podcasts and video podcast support. Captivate offers three listed plans. Personal costs $204.00 per year, billed annually at $17.00 per month, with 30,000 downloads per month, unlimited podcasts and unlimited uploads and storage. Professional costs $44.00 per year when paid yearly and allows 150,000 downloads per month, unlimited podcasts and unlimited uploads and storage. Business costs $90.00 per year when paid yearly and allows 300,000 downloads per month, with the same unlimited podcast and storage terms and a 300,000-download monthly limit. There is no free plan, but a 30-day trial is offered. Captivate was founded in 2013 and its maker is headquartered at 30 Leicester Square, London, UK WC2H 7LA.
Podbean
Podbean is a podcast hosting and publishing service with tools for distribution, audience statistics, monetization, and private or video podcasts. It supports RSS feeds and distribution to major directories. Its iPhone and Android apps cover recording, publishing, statistics, and listening, and episodes can be automatically shared to Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Tumblr, and WordPress. The Basic Free Plan provides 5 hours or 500MB of storage, 100GB of monthly bandwidth, up to three published episodes per day, a 100MB single-file limit, and up to 20 episodes in its RSS feed. Free hosting supports MP3 and M4A files, includes basic statistics, and does not require a credit card to sign up. Paid plans add options such as audio or video publishing, private podcasts, team access, and AI tools for audio optimization, content assistance, transcripts, and podcast creation. The listed Unlimited Audio plan costs $17 a month when billed yearly. Podbean also offers advanced, IAB-certified analytics and monetization features including an Ads Marketplace, dynamic ad insertion, and Apple Podcasts Subscriptions.