Captivate vs Transistor Comparison 2026
Captivate charges by download volume, $17 a month billed yearly for 30,000 downloads with the full feature set on every band. Transistor charges $19 a month for 20,000 downloads but adds something Captivate does not offer: private feeds for up to 50 paying subscribers and an API on every plan. The choice turns on whether you need to sell a private feed or just want the cheapest download-based host.
At a glance
- Captivate starts cheaper, at $17.
- Neither has a free tier.
Side by side
Captivate | Transistor | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (they differ) | From $17 | From $19 |
| Pricing model | Free trial, then paid | Free trial, then paid |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Billing | Not stated | Monthly or annual |
| Free trial (they differ) | 30 days | 14 days |
| API |
Captivate
Podcast hosting priced by downloads
Captivate hosts shows on download bands rather than storage or episode counts, so a back catalogue costs nothing to keep and a viral episode is the thing that moves you up a tier. Every plan carries the full feature set, which is unusual here: analytics, a website, dynamic ad insertion and a listener signup tool are not held back for the dearest band. Unlimited podcasts sit on one account, so a second show does not mean a second bill.
Our note
The thing to check before signing up is your actual monthly download number rather than your subscriber count, because that is the only number the pricing responds to. If a single old episode still pulls traffic, the dynamic ad insertion is what makes this pay for itself.
Transistor
Podcast hosting with unlimited shows
Transistor hosts as many podcasts as you like on one subscription, which matters if you run several or produce for clients. Private feeds make paid subscriber shows straightforward. Analytics are honest rather than flattering.
Our note
Why people weigh these two
- Transistor instead of Captivate
- Transistor also runs unlimited shows on one account, at $19 against Captivate's $17, with a trial rather than a free tier on both sides.
- Captivate instead of Transistor
- Captivate prices by downloads rather than a flat unlimited-shows plan, from $17, closer in cost to Transistor but metered instead of flat.
Which one should you pick
Captivate is the cheaper host for the same job. Seventeen dollars a month billed yearly buys 30,000 downloads against Transistor's 20,000 for $19, and dynamic ad insertion, analytics and a podcast website come with every band. A single show with no paid membership loses nothing by choosing the lower price.
Transistor earns its extra two dollars through private podcasts: Starter includes 50 paying subscribers, rising to 500 on Professional and 3,000 on Business, with API access on every tier for pulling numbers into a sponsor report. Producers running more than one show, or selling a members-only feed, should pay the premium. A single free show should not.
Common questions
- Which gives more downloads for the money?
- Captivate. Its cheapest band covers 30,000 downloads a month for $17 billed yearly, against Transistor's 20,000 for $19.
- Which one supports a paid, private podcast feed?
- Transistor. Starter includes 50 private subscribers, rising by plan to 3,000 on Business. Captivate does not list private feed support.
- Does either charge extra for running more than one show?
- No. Both include unlimited podcasts on one account at every tier, so a second or third show does not add to the bill.
- Which suits an agency producing shows for clients?
- Transistor. Unlimited shows on one account and API access on every plan suit a network or agency more than a single show with a small audience.
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.