# Captivate vs Transistor for podcast hosting platforms

Captivate and Transistor are closely matched for core workflows. Both offer a trial; both support API access, dynamic ad insertion, private podcasts, and video podcasts. Transistor has confirmed number of podcasts of -1, monthly upload limit of -1, and storage limit of -1. Monthly price is £17 for Captivate and $19 for Transistor.

## Key decision points

- Monthly price is £17 for Captivate and $19 for Transistor.
- Transistor has confirmed number of podcasts of -1; number of podcasts is not yet confirmed for Captivate.
- Transistor has confirmed monthly upload limit of -1; monthly upload limit is not yet confirmed for Captivate.
- Transistor has confirmed storage limit of -1; storage limit is not yet confirmed for Captivate.

## Choose Captivate if…

- Choose Captivate if the lower monthly price is the deciding factor.

## Choose Transistor if…

- Choose Transistor if confirmed number of podcasts of -1 matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Captivate.
- Choose Transistor if confirmed monthly upload limit of -1 matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Captivate.
- Choose Transistor if confirmed storage limit of -1 matters to you; this detail is not yet confirmed for Captivate.

## Capacity

| Feature | Captivate | Transistor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of podcasts | Not confirmed | -1 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/pricing/)) |
| Monthly upload limit | Not confirmed | -1 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/pricing/)) |
| Storage limit | Not confirmed | -1 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/pricing/)) |
| Download limits | Not confirmed | 20000 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/pricing/)) |
| Team members | Not confirmed | -1 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/pricing/)) |

## Features

| Feature | Captivate | Transistor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| IAB-certified analytics | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/)) | Not confirmed |
| Advanced analytics | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Dynamic ad insertion | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/pricing)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Paid subscriptions | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/)) | Not confirmed |
| Listener donations | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/)) | Not confirmed |
| Private podcasts | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Video podcasts | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://help.captivate.fm/en/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Automatic transcription | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://help.captivate.fm/en/article/captivate-feature-releases-changelog-vq1h56/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Podcast website | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/pricing)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Episode scheduling | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Migration assistance | Not confirmed | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |

## Integrations

| Feature | Captivate | Transistor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Podcast advertising marketplace | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/captivate-marketplace-for-podcasters)) | Not confirmed |
| Distribution to Spotify | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Distribution to Apple Podcasts | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| YouTube distribution | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| WordPress integration | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://help.captivate.fm/en/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/features/integrations/)) |

## Technical

| Feature | Captivate | Transistor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| API | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/problems-with-current-host/lack-of-integration)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/pricing/)) |

## Pricing

| Feature | Captivate | Transistor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free trial | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/pricing)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Monthly price | £17 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/pricing)) | $19 (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/pricing/)) |

## Commercial

| Feature | Captivate | Transistor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Affiliate programme | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://www.captivate.fm/)) | Yes (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |
| Affiliate commission | Not confirmed | Unknown (verified 5 September 2026; [source](https://transistor.fm/)) |

## Evidence

- **Transistor — Number of podcasts:** -1. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/pricing/. Evidence: “Unlimited podcasts”
- **Transistor — Monthly upload limit:** -1. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/pricing/. Evidence: “We don't limit the number of episodes you can upload or the amount of total storage on Transistor.”
- **Transistor — Storage limit:** -1. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/pricing/. Evidence: “We don't limit the number of episodes you can upload or the amount of total storage on Transistor.”
- **Transistor — Download limits:** 20000. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/pricing/. Evidence: “20K Monthly downloads”
- **Captivate — IAB-certified analytics:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/. Evidence: “The most comprehensive podcast analytics, ever, included on every plan. All IAB-certified .”
- **Transistor — Advanced analytics:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Analytics Podcast analytics software”
- **Captivate — Dynamic ad insertion:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/pricing. Evidence: “All Captivate pricing plans include... Dynamic content insertion with AMIE”
- **Transistor — Dynamic ad insertion:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Dynamic Ads Automatically insert ads in episodes”
- **Captivate — Podcast advertising marketplace:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/captivate-marketplace-for-podcasters. Evidence: “Captivate Marketplace is a podcast advertising marketplace that connects podcasters with brands looking to reach engaged podcast audiences.”
- **Captivate — Paid subscriptions:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/. Evidence: “Paid membership subscriptions and one-off tips are a tried and tested way of generating both singular and recurring revenue from your growing fanbase. Set up recurring subscriptions directly within Captivate and monetize your show today. Available on all plans!”
- **Captivate — Listener donations:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/. Evidence: “Paid membership subscriptions and one-off tips are a tried and tested way of generating both singular and recurring revenue from your growing fanbase.”
- **Captivate — Private podcasts:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/. Evidence: “Private podcasting Create private, internal and secure podcasts using Captivate's fully-integrated private podcasting features. Available on every plan.”
- **Transistor — Private podcasts:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Private Podcasts Create a private podcast for your team”
- **Captivate — Video podcasts:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://help.captivate.fm/en/. Evidence: “Apple HLS Video Podcasts With Apple HLS, you can easily add video podcasts directly from Captivate straight to Apple Podcasts.”
- **Transistor — Video podcasts:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Video Podcast Hosting Host & distribute video podcasts”
- **Captivate — Automatic transcription:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://help.captivate.fm/en/article/captivate-feature-releases-changelog-vq1h56/. Evidence: “Automatic transcription: simply upload your audio file and we’ll do the rest, creating an accurate and fully editable transcription of your audio”
- **Transistor — Automatic transcription:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “AI Transcription Automatically transcribe your podcast”
- **Captivate — Podcast website:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/pricing. Evidence: “All Captivate pricing plans include... Podcast Website with Captivate Sites”
- **Transistor — Podcast website:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Website Builder One-click website for your podcast”
- **Captivate — Distribution to Spotify:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/. Evidence: “distribute automatically to every podcasting app . Reach audiences all over the world with easy, single-click submissions to leading directories including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon”
- **Transistor — Distribution to Spotify:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Publish your podcast everywhere YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Pocket Casts”
- **Captivate — Distribution to Apple Podcasts:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/. Evidence: “distribute automatically to every podcasting app . Reach audiences all over the world with easy, single-click submissions to leading directories including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon”
- **Transistor — Distribution to Apple Podcasts:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Publish your podcast everywhere YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Pocket Casts”
- **Captivate — YouTube distribution:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/. Evidence: “distribute automatically to every podcasting app . Reach audiences all over the world with easy, single-click submissions to leading directories including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon”
- **Transistor — YouTube distribution:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Publish your podcast everywhere YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Pocket Casts”
- **Transistor — Team members:** -1. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/pricing/. Evidence: “Unlimited Team members/collaborators”
- **Captivate — WordPress integration:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://help.captivate.fm/en/. Evidence: “Working with Captivate Sync™ Captivate Sync™ is Captivate's WordPress plugin, helping you to sync your podcast between your Captivate podcast hosting and your WordPress website.”
- **Transistor — WordPress integration:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/features/integrations/. Evidence: “Episode published WordPress post Create a WordPress post for every new episode you publish.”
- **Transistor — Episode scheduling:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Episode Scheduling”
- **Transistor — Migration assistance:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Importing / Migrating How to import a podcast from a different provider”
- **Captivate — API:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/problems-with-current-host/lack-of-integration. Evidence: “we've got a direct API route to save you time and money”
- **Transistor — API:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/pricing/. Evidence: “API Access”
- **Captivate — Free trial:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/pricing. Evidence: “All plans include a no-obligation, 30-day free trial”
- **Transistor — Free trial:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Try us free for 14 days.”
- **Captivate — Monthly price:** £17. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/pricing. Evidence: “Personal £17 GBP / month, paid yearly”
- **Transistor — Monthly price:** $19. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/pricing/. Evidence: “Starter $19 mo”
- **Captivate — Affiliate programme:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://www.captivate.fm/. Evidence: “Affiliate Programme Make money with Captivate”
- **Transistor — Affiliate programme:** Yes. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Affiliates”
- **Transistor — Affiliate commission:** Unknown. Last verified 5 September 2026. Source: https://transistor.fm/. Evidence: “Affiliates”