Captivate vs RSS.com
A side-by-side look at Captivate and RSS.com for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.
At a glance
| Captivate | RSS.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $17/mo | $12/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
| Best for | Growth-focused podcasters and small agencies who need multi-show hosting, monetization tools, and analytics without paying per show | New podcasters who want to launch for free with no storage or episode limits and upgrade when they are ready to monetize |
| Founded | 2013 | - |
Key features
Captivate
- Unlimited podcast hosting across multiple shows
- IAB-certified analytics included on all plans
- Built-in monetization: memberships, tips, exclusive content
- Guest booking and interview management tools
- Transcription and dynamic show notes via Captivate Assistant
- Private and members-only podcast support
- Podcasting 2.0 support
- Video podcast publishing to Apple Podcasts
RSS.com
- AI transcription
- Unlimited episode uploads and audio storage on free tier
- Automatic distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music
- Podcast website builder
- Dynamic ad insertion (paid plans)
- Audio-to-video conversion (paid plans)
- Multi-user team collaboration
- Listener donations and Value for Value payments
Pros and cons
Captivate
Pros
- IAB analytics included on every plan, not gated behind premium tiers
- 30-day free trial - longer than most competitors
- Built-in monetization tools without needing third-party add-ons
Cons
- Interface is functional but less polished than some competitors
- Some advanced features feel underdeveloped relative to their billing
- No free permanent tier
RSS.com
Pros
- Most generous free tier in hosting - truly unlimited episodes and storage
- Paid plans are among the most affordable in the category
- Strong 4.95-star rating across 3,100+ reviews
Cons
- Free tier limits analytics to a 30-day window
- Less community, documentation, and ecosystem depth than older competitors
- Dynamic ad insertion and advanced features locked behind paid tiers
The verdict
Choose Captivate if
Growth-focused podcasters and small agencies who need multi-show hosting, monetization tools, and analytics without paying per show.
Captivate earns points for including IAB-certified analytics on every plan - not just premium tiers - and for building monetization tools directly into the platform rather than routing you to third-party integrations. The 30-day free trial is genuinely long compared…
Choose RSS.com if
New podcasters who want to launch for free with no storage or episode limits and upgrade when they are ready to monetize.
The free tier at RSS.com is real and meaningfully more generous than Buzzsprout's - no upload caps, no expiring episodes. That matters for podcasters who publish infrequently or are just getting started. The paid tiers are also reasonably priced at…