Captivate vs Simplecast
Side-by-side comparison of Captivate and Simplecast.
Podcast hosting built for serious independent creators
Clean podcast hosting built for serious creators
What they are
Captivate
Captivate is a podcast hosting platform aimed at independent podcasters and small networks who want distribution, analytics, and monetization tools in one place. It handles unlimited podcasts and team members on every plan, which is unusual at this price point. The analytics go deeper than most entry-level hosts, but the platform has no free tier, so beginners testing the waters will need to commit from day one.
Simplecast
Simplecast is a podcast hosting platform that handles distribution, analytics, and embeddable players for independent podcasters and media teams. It targets creators who want reliable RSS management and clear listener data without a cluttered interface. The analytics dashboard is genuinely useful for understanding audience retention, though the lack of a free tier means you pay from day one even when your show is just starting out.
if you need analytics and podcast hosting. Starts at 17/mo.
- +Unlimited podcasts and team members on all plans
- +IAB-certified analytics with listener trend data
- +Built-in private podcast support for memberships
if you need analytics and podcast hosting. Starts at 15/mo.
- +Clean, minimal dashboard that is easy to navigate
- +Detailed listener analytics including retention and consumption rates
- +Unlimited uploads on paid plans
Which to choose
Captivate and Simplecast both cover analytics, podcast hosting, so this is a real either-or for some teams. The right pick depends on which one's wider feature set and pricing fit how you work.
Read the full reviews for Captivate and Simplecast.
Pricing checked 3 Jun 2026.