Captivate.fm was formed in 2018 by Mark Asquith and the team behind Podcast Websites. It quickly grew, backed by a strong brand and a focus on podcast marketing.
The content management system is easy to use – with its UI getting a big facelift in the spring of 2021 – and it boasts IAB certified metrics. Each podcast includes a reasonably-customisable website, and for those using WordPress, a plugin that makes integrating podcast content into an existing website easier.
Where Captivate differentiates itself in its messaging and, to some extend its toolset, is around podcast growth. Trackable subscription links make it easier to share your podcast and push listeners to follow your show in their favourite apps, and the CMS can generate press kits you can use to pitch your podcast to newsletters and other media outlets.
If monetisation is on the horizon, you can generate a “one-click sponsor kit”, and rely on those IAB certified metrics to give your advertisers confidence your numbers are legit.
Built by long-time podcaster and developer Dan Benjamin, using the years of experience he gained running 5by5.tv (both content and infrastructure), Fireside is a solid service for those who take their podcast seriously.
Along with audio hosting, analytics and a website for your podcast, Fireside also provides rich show notes, allowing for the addition of host and guest bios, and a blog. If your podcast has multiple hosts who aren’t on every episode, you can specify the hosts that appear on a per-episode basis, and visitors to your website can see who hosted which ones.
For Benjamin, podcasting means going live-to-tape, and having show notes with lots of links, so Fireside has tools that make it easy to gather links to the topics you discuss, while you record.
If you’re relatively new to podcasting, or you just like badges, there’s a lightly gamified element to the Fireside content management system, that lets you earn achievements for reaching important milestones.
Captivate offers the ability to host more podcasts. You can upload more episodes with Captivate too. Captivate is also more generous in its bandwidth. You can also hook up a custom domain to your website. They also offer IAB-certified stats, whereas Fireside doesn't. You can create a podcast network on Captivate. However, Fireside's plan is cheaper.
Captivate | Fireside | |
---|---|---|
Price | $19.00 per month | $9.00 per month |
Number of podcasts | Unlimited | 1 |
Episodes | Unlimited | 5 per month |
Downloads | 12,000 per month | 10,000 per month |
Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Podcast website included | ||
Use your own domain | ||
IAB certified metrics | ||
Republish to YouTube | ||
Podcast network support |
Fireside's plan is cheaper. They're also more generous with bandwidth. However, Captivate offers IAB-certified stats, whereas Fireside doesn't. You can create a podcast network on Captivate.
Captivate | Fireside | |
---|---|---|
Price | $49.00 per month | $19.00 per month |
Number of podcasts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Episodes | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Downloads | 60,000 per month | 75,000 per month |
Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Podcast website included | ||
Use your own domain | ||
IAB certified metrics | ||
Republish to YouTube | ||
Podcast network support |
Fireside's plan is cheaper. They're also more generous with bandwidth. However, Captivate offers IAB-certified stats, whereas Fireside doesn't. You can create a podcast network on Captivate.
Captivate | Fireside | |
---|---|---|
Price | $99.00 per month | $49.00 per month |
Number of podcasts | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Episodes | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Downloads | 150,000 per month | Unlimited |
Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Podcast website included | ||
Use your own domain | ||
IAB certified metrics | ||
Republish to YouTube | ||
Podcast network support |
Fireside attempt to protect against feeds being imported into other providers without your consent. Fireside allows you to designate portions of your episodes that can used to create audiograms in apps like Headliner. Fireside works with apps that support Bitcoin donations. However, Captivate provides private feeds.
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