Captivate vs Transistor Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
| Captivate | Transistor | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $17/mo | $19/mo |
| Number of plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | ||
| Pricing model | usage-based | flat-rate |
Personal
- Up to 30,000 downloads/month
- Unlimited Podcasts
- Unlimited Uploads/Storage
- Extensive Distribution List
Professional
- Up to 150,000 downloads/month
- Unlimited Podcasts
- Unlimited Uploads/Storage
- Extensive Distribution List
Business
- Up to 300,000 downloads/month
- Unlimited Podcasts
- Unlimited Uploads/Storage
- Extensive Distribution List
Starter
- Unlimited podcasts
- Unlimited Team members/collaborators
- 50 Private podcast subscribers
- 20K Monthly downloads
- Live customer support
- Advanced analytics
- API Access
- Built-in podcast website
- Podcast network website
Professional
- Unlimited podcasts
- Unlimited Team members/collaborators
- 500 Private podcast subscribers
- 100K Monthly downloads
- Live customer support
- Advanced analytics
- API Access
- Built-in podcast website
- Podcast network website
- Dynamic ads (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll)
- Dynamic show notes
- Auto-post to YouTube
Business
- Unlimited podcasts
- Unlimited Team members/collaborators
- 3K Private podcast subscribers
- 250K Monthly downloads
- Live customer support
- Advanced analytics
- API Access
- Built-in podcast website
- Podcast network website
- Dynamic ads (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll)
- Dynamic show notes
- Auto-post to YouTube
- Remove branding
Enterprise
Captivate vs Transistor FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- Captivate starts lower at $17/mo, compared to $19/mo for Transistor.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Neither has a free plan. But Captivate and Transistor offer a free trial.
- How do they charge?
- Different approach here. Captivate uses usage-based pricing, while Transistor goes with flat-rate. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. Captivate: Captivate sits in the mid-market of podcast hosting — not the cheapest (Buzzsprout, Anchor/Spotify for Podcasters undercut them) but well below enterprise tools. They're clearly targeting serious independent creators and small media companies who want pro tooling without a bloated price tag. Transistor: Transistor sits in the mid-market sweet spot — not as cheap as Buzzsprout or Anchor/Spotify for Creators, but well below enterprise podcast platforms. They're clearly targeting professional creators and small media companies who've outgrown the free tier tools but don't need a full enterprise solution.
Still deciding? See the best Captivate alternatives or the best Transistor alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
Keep tabs on both.
We'll monitor pricing changes for Captivate and Transistor and let you know when something moves.