Head-to-head comparison
Captivate vs PRX
Two of the hosting tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Podcast host pitched at growth-minded creators who want to monetize and manage many shows.
Best for: Growth-focused podcasters
Public radio's distribution and hosting cooperative
Best for: Public radio stations and documentary podcasters distributing to broadcast and on-demand.
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Captivate
Pros
- Unlimited shows per account at every tier
- Strong monetization tools without add-ons
- Growth Labs education is genuinely useful
Watch-outs
- Higher entry price than Buzzsprout
- Some features still in beta
- Interface has a real learning curve
PRX
Pros
- Mission-aligned nonprofit operator
- Dovetail handles hosting, DAI and analytics
- Home to Radiotopia and major narrative shows
Watch-outs
- Less self-serve than commercial hosts
- Wrong fit for chat or business shows
- Pricing depends on org type and arrangement
Which one should you pick?
Pick Captivate if
You’re building around growth-focused podcasters. Captivate is the host for indies who treat podcasting as a real business — unlimited shows per account, IAB analytics, and monetization tools without an upgrade dance. Entry price is higher than Buzzsprout and a couple of the promised features are still in beta.
Pick PRX if
You’re building around public radio stations and documentary podcasters distributing to broadcast and on-demand.. PRX is a nonprofit that distributes US public radio and hosts a lot of the editorial-leaning podcast world via its Dovetail platform. Radiotopia lives here.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Captivate alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Captivate do better than PRX?
Captivate's standout is "Unlimited shows per account at every tier". PRX doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Mission-aligned nonprofit operator" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Captivate; if the second does, pick PRX.
What are the trade-offs?
Captivate: higher entry price than buzzsprout. PRX: less self-serve than commercial hosts. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Captivate and PRX together?
Both are hosting tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Captivate for one show or episode type and PRX for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.