Podcast Hosting

CaptivatevsSimplecast

Compare Captivate and Simplecast side by side. See pricing, features, and which is right for your podcast.

Captivate logo

Captivate

Growth-focused hosting with marketing tools

Full Captivate Review →
Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Enterprise hosting with advanced analytics

Full Simplecast Review →

Pricing Comparison

TierCaptivateSimplecast
Starting Price$19/mo$15/mo

Feature Comparison

FeatureCaptivateSimplecast
Unlimited Storage
Unlimited Bandwidth
Dynamic Ad Insertion
Transcription
Video Support
Analytics
Monetization
Custom Website
Team Members
API Access

Captivate Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Unlimited team members on all plans
  • Advanced marketing and growth tools
  • AMIE dynamic ad insertion with DAX network

Cons

  • No free tier (30-day trial only)
  • Transcription costs $1/hour extra
  • No video podcast support

Simplecast Pros & Cons

Pros

  • IAB 2.0 certified analytics
  • AdsWizz integration for enterprise monetization
  • Professional publishing workflow

Cons

  • No free tier
  • Per-podcast pricing (separate subscription per show)
  • No automatic transcription

The Verdict

Captivate is best for:

  • Podcasters focused on audience growth
  • Teams and networks needing collaboration
  • Marketers using podcasts for business

Simplecast is best for:

  • Professional podcasters and networks
  • Enterprise clients needing AdsWizz
  • Data-driven content creators

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper: Captivate or Simplecast?
Simplecast is the cheaper way in: its Basic plan is $15/month, against $19/month for Captivate's Personal.
Do Captivate and Simplecast have free versions?
Neither one has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19/month for Captivate and $15/month for Simplecast.
What is the main difference between Captivate and Simplecast?
Captivate covers Unlimited Bandwidth and Transcription, which Simplecast does not. Nothing on the compared feature list goes the other way.

Never Lose a Quote Again

Whichever host you pick, PodRewind turns your episodes into a searchable archive you can actually chat with—ask questions, find quotes, and generate content from everything you've ever said.