Captivate is one of the most popular podcast hosting providers today.
Although it is a relatively new platform (launched in 2019), an experienced team was involved in developing it, which is why it has quickly become a big name in the podcasting industry.
Captivate offers a fantastic set of tools, features, and functionalities that make it in-demand among podcasters, new and old.
If you’re new to podcasting and don’t know much about this platform, one thing you may be wondering is, “Is it free to host podcasts on Captivate?”
In this article, we will answer this question and tell you all about what Captivate is, what it can do for your podcast, its costs, and if there’s a free version that you can try.
Let’s dive in!
What Is Captivate?
Captivate is a popular podcast hosting platform that offers innovative features for podcasters. Its parent company is Rebel Base Media, which also runs other podcasting tools and apps such as Poductivity, Podcast Websites, and Podcast Success Academy.
Captivate is a unique podcast host as it is one of the few platforms that features a WordPress plugin called Captivate Sync. This plugin publishes podcast episodes automatically to your WordPress site.
You also have the option of publishing episodes from your WordPress dashboard. The episodes will automatically sync to your Captivate dashboard, saving you a ton of effort and time.
If you do not have a WordPress website, Captivate has an attractive mobile-friendly website for podcasts, too.
The platform also has an embeddable podcast player with built-in calls to action (CTAs) for building email lists.
Every tool you need to start, manage and monetize
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Unlimited Podcast Hosting
You can also onboard unlimited team members to your account.
Podcasters can use Captivate to submit their podcast to the biggest directories in the industry, right from the Captivate dashboard. You can send your show to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Player FM, and Stitcher.
These outstanding features make this platform a must-try for podcasters, especially those just starting out.
How Much Does Captivate Cost?
Captivate offers three subscription plans for podcasters. You can choose to pay for them either on a monthly or yearly basis.
Personal
The Personal plan is best for podcasters who are just starting out and have a limited listener base but want to grow. You can subscribe to this plan for $17 per month if you go for the yearly membership or $19 per month with a monthly subscription.
The Personal gives users access to Captivate Growth Labs, where you can expand your knowledge about podcast marketing, SEO tools, and how to attract more sponsors and listeners.
You can share your feedback and join a community of other podcasters during podcast maker days, live masterminds, and growth challenges. This will help you stay accountable and grow your podcast steadily.
With the Personal plan, you have access to these features:
- 12,000 monthly downloads
- 150 customizable team roles
- Unlimited number of podcasts
- Unlimited uploads and storage
- Captivate Sync WordPress plugin
- Podcast submission to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories and apps
- Data analytics
- Customizable, embeddable podcast player
- Smart speaker “Flash Briefing” feed
- Promotional tools
- Podcasting and transcription support
- Dedicated international customer support
- Private podcasting
- Automatic podcast website
- Custom domain name
- Reusable show notes templates
- 3 set default publish times
- Automations
- Integrations
- Podcast network features
Professional
You can subscribe to Captivate’s Professional plan at $44 per month (annual subscription) or $49 per month (monthly subscription).
This plan is perfect for more experienced podcasters with a large listener base but needs more monthly downloads, team roles, and default publish times.
If you go for the Professional plan, you will get access to all the features in the Personal plan, along with the following functionalities and tools:
- 60,000 downloads per month
- 1,000 customizable team roles
- 6 set default publish times
Business
The Business plan is best suited for agencies, networks, consultants, and other professionals who manage podcasts on behalf of their clients. It costs $90 per month (yearly subscription) or $99 per month (monthly subscription).
Here are the features that you get with Captivate’s Business plan:
- 150,000 downloads per month
- 5,000 customizable team roles
- Unlimited set default publish times
- Network website
- Linking custom network domain
If you need a plan tailored to your specific requirements or need more than 150,000 downloads every month, fret not. Email Captivate’s Support team at support@captivate.fm, and they will be happy to help you out.
Every tool you need to start, manage and monetize
your podcast
Unlimited Podcast Hosting
Is There a Free Option?
Captivate does not provide a free membership plan. According to the company, free podcast hosting plans are severely limited when it comes to the number of podcast shows, allotted upload space, analytics, and so on.
Captivate aims to help users grow their podcasts and reach a wider audience. This is why all their plans come with the same tools and functionalities; the only key differences you’ll find are the number of downloads per month and customizable team roles.
Don’t lose heart! Although there is no free Captivate plan, the platform does offer a free 7-day trial period for all of its paid subscription plans. So you can try out all the features before you commit.
If you decide to pay for a plan after the trial period, note that Captivate also provides a 25% discount on all plans to educational organizations, students, registered charities, and non-profit organizations.
So if your enterprise is in any of these categories, make sure that you use our exclusive Captivate discount.
Every tool you need to start, manage and monetize
your podcast
Unlimited Podcast Hosting
Conclusion
Is it free to host podcasts on Captivate? No, but the platform offers a free 7-day trial for podcasters on all of its plans. You can check out their offered features and determine which plan suits your podcast needs.
We hope that you found this article useful. Check out our website for more podcast-related guides and blog posts.
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