Captivate vs Transistor
A side-by-side look at Captivate and Transistor for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.
At a glance
| Captivate | Transistor | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $17/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Growth-focused podcasters and small agencies who need multi-show hosting, monetization tools, and analytics without paying per show | Businesses, agencies, and multi-show creators who need unlimited podcast hosting with clean analytics under one account |
| 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
Transistor
- Unlimited shows under one account
- Audio and video podcast hosting and distribution
- Private and internal podcast support
- AI transcription
- Detailed IAB-certified analytics
- Dynamic ad insertion
- Embeddable player and podcast website builder
- API access for custom integrations
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
Transistor
Pros
- Unlimited shows on every paid plan - no per-show fees
- Clean, trustworthy analytics without inflated numbers
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
Cons
- No free permanent tier - trial only
- Download caps per plan tier; high-growth shows can bump up quickly
- Not the cheapest option for a single hobbyist show
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 Transistor if
Businesses, agencies, and multi-show creators who need unlimited podcast hosting with clean analytics under one account.
Transistor is the easiest hosting recommendation for anyone running more than one show - the unlimited-podcasts-per-account model is genuinely differentiated in a market where most hosts charge per show. The analytics are clean and honest (no inflated play counts), and…