Comparison
Compare at a glance
Entry prices are similar; the billing unit is not.
| Host | Entry plan (annual / monthly) | Billed on | Free plan / trial | Multiple shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captivate | $17 / $19 (Personal) | Downloads: 30k/mo on entry | Free trial; no free plan | Unlimited on all plans |
| Transistor | $15.83 / $19 (Starter) | Downloads: 20k/mo on entry | 14-day trial; no free plan | Unlimited on all plans |
| Buzzsprout | $15 / not listed - check official page (Audio) | Upload hours: 72/yr on entry | Free: 2 hrs/mo, 90-day hosting | Multi-Podcast plan (5 or 10) |
Worked examples (annual billing)
- Weekly 1-hour show, 3,000 downloads/mo: Captivate $17; Transistor $15.83; Buzzsprout Audio $15 (52 hrs/yr fits in 72).
- Two weekly shows, 40,000 downloads/mo: Captivate Professional $44; Transistor Professional $40.83; Buzzsprout Multi-Podcast from $30 if under 180 hrs/yr (downloads limit not stated on its pricing page).
- Daily 45-minute show: ~274 hrs/yr exceeds Buzzsprout Audio's 72 and Multi-Podcast's 180, so overage applies at a rate not listed; download-based hosts are unaffected by hours.