Captivate Review | Vetteroo

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What it is: Podcast hosting and growth tools
Best for: Podcasters who want hosting with growth and marketing tools
Price: Personal $19/mo ($17/mo yearly); 30-day trial, checked October 28, 2026
Prices checked: October 28, 2026

We researched Captivate's official pricing, plan terms, product pages, help documentation and Trustpilot profile. We haven't used Captivate ourselves, so this is a research-based review, not a hands-on test.

Who it’s best for

Podcasters who want to grow an audience.
People with more than one show.
Podcasters who want websites, links and calls to action built in.

Who should skip it

Probably not the best fit if you want free hosting.

How it works day to day

This part draws on Captivate’s own product pages, help center and documentation, read October 28, 2026 (listed under Sources). We haven’t used Captivate ourselves.

You upload episodes, schedule them, and check download stats and growth tools.

Key features in use

Podcast hosting.
Websites.
Smart links.
Analytics.
Calls to action.

Setup and learning curve

You start the trial, create a show, upload an episode, and submit to directories.

Integrations

Captivate connects with directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, plus some recording tools.

Support

Captivate offers chat and email support.

Real-world use cases

A coach runs an interview show.
A brand runs two podcasts.
A creator grows an audience.

What it costs

Prices checked October 28, 2026, from Captivate’s own pricing page unless noted. Prices change often, so check the official page before you buy.

Personal: $19 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly ($204 a year).
Professional: $49 a month, or $44 a month billed yearly.
Business: $99 a month, or $90 a month billed yearly.
Plans are priced by downloads, with unlimited podcasts and uploads.
30-day free trial. Cancel anytime; unused time is not refunded.

What we like

Unlimited podcasts and uploads on every plan.
Built-in podcast websites and smart links.
Marketing tools and calls to action.
30-day free trial.
Cancel anytime.

What to watch for

Trustpilot showed 3.7 out of 5 from about 93 reviews as of October 28, 2026; a December 2025 review complained about a Black Friday offer being charged sooner than expected.
Plans are priced by downloads.
No free plan.

The fine print

Unused time is not refunded when you cancel.
Prices are in US dollars before tax.
Yearly plans are billed up front.

The main alternative: Riverside Reviewed by Vetteroo

Riverside is a recording and editing studio for podcasts and video, with hosting features too.

What it costs: Free plan; Pro $24/mo billed annually, checked October 26, 2026

Read our full Riverside review

Pick CaptivateReviewed by Vetteroo if you…

want growth tools.
have several shows.
want a long free trial.

Pick RiversideReviewed by Vetteroo if you…

need remote recording.
want video editing.

Our take

Captivate is a strong podcast host for growth, with unlimited shows and a 30-day trial. It has no free plan and unused time is not refunded. Compare Riverside if recording is your main need.

Side by side

Company	Best for	Starting price	Trial / refund
Captivate Reviewed by Vetteroo	Podcasters who want hosting with growth and marketing tools	Personal $19/mo ($17/mo yearly); 30-day trial, checked October 28, 2026	30-day free trial
Riverside Reviewed by Vetteroo	Podcasters and creators who record remote guests in high quality	Free plan; Pro $24/mo billed annually, checked October 26, 2026	Free plan; 14-day free trial of paid plans

From our company records. Check the official pages for current prices.

What we checked

Captivate's pricing page and plan terms, read October 28, 2026
Captivate's Trustpilot profile, read October 28, 2026
Riverside's details: from our existing company record and review, not re-checked on October 28, 2026
Captivate's feature, help and integration pages listed below (links checked October 28, 2026)

Sources

Visit Captivate’s official site

How we review

We read the company's own terms, test the sign-up or booking steps where we can, and compare it with alternatives. A commission never changes what we write. Read our disclosure.