So much good but one fatal flaw
I like so much about this app, and if you subscribe to a small number of pods you might enjoy it. But I subscribe to a lot. And there is no way to group them- if you subscribe to 100 podcasts they are just all listed on one big page.
Now, there are filters but they are for episodes. So you can say, give me all I played episodes, or all episodes longer than an hour, and it mixes them all into a playlist. But if you just want to group your news shows, your fiction stories, your true crime, etc- no way to do that.
I quit using this app after the fastest way for me to find the show I was looking for became too try and subscribe to it again and that would jump me to the page to play the next episode. And this isn’t a flaw- they want people to use filters and not folders. I don’t know why, and this is a long-standing complaint. I’ll occasionally check back to see if anything changed, but until then it’s just become unusable for me.
Now, there are filters but they are for episodes. So you can say, give me all I played episodes, or all episodes longer than an hour, and it mixes them all into a playlist. But if you just want to group your news shows, your fiction stories, your true crime, etc- no way to do that.
I quit using this app after the fastest way for me to find the show I was looking for became too try and subscribe to it again and that would jump me to the page to play the next episode. And this isn’t a flaw- they want people to use filters and not folders. I don’t know why, and this is a long-standing complaint. I’ll occasionally check back to see if anything changed, but until then it’s just become unusable for me.
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Best podcast app with a few quirks
I want to just echo what most other reviewers are saying, in that Pocket Casts is the best podcast player out there. The UI in my opinion should used as an example in exemplary design in UI/UX programs or schools.
I’ve tried others like Overcast or Google Podcasts, but I keep coming back to Pocket Casts. They’ve really put a ton of effort in refining their app over the years, often including entirely new features for free. They’re also one of the few companies that includes a quality web player so you keep up with your podcasts while your on your computer.
As someone who relies on this app daily, it’s only natural that some issues might arise from time to time. One feature I use heavily is the ability to Cast podcast episodes to our Google Home or Nest speakers. Most of the time it works fine, but lately it seems like there’s some communication or latency issues between the server and the app. There is a long standing issue where if you finish a podcast episode while Chromecasting and your phone’s screen locked, then when you unlock your phone and go back to the app, the episode you just finished will still show it’s progress as being where it was prior to the screen being locked.
Overall, this app is a must have. None of the other podcast apps, including the overly praised Overcast, come close to matching the ease of use and simple pleasure of using Pocket Casts!
I’ve tried others like Overcast or Google Podcasts, but I keep coming back to Pocket Casts. They’ve really put a ton of effort in refining their app over the years, often including entirely new features for free. They’re also one of the few companies that includes a quality web player so you keep up with your podcasts while your on your computer.
As someone who relies on this app daily, it’s only natural that some issues might arise from time to time. One feature I use heavily is the ability to Cast podcast episodes to our Google Home or Nest speakers. Most of the time it works fine, but lately it seems like there’s some communication or latency issues between the server and the app. There is a long standing issue where if you finish a podcast episode while Chromecasting and your phone’s screen locked, then when you unlock your phone and go back to the app, the episode you just finished will still show it’s progress as being where it was prior to the screen being locked.
Overall, this app is a must have. None of the other podcast apps, including the overly praised Overcast, come close to matching the ease of use and simple pleasure of using Pocket Casts!
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My Podcast Home
I never liked Apple’s Podcasts app but I tried other apps, even gave some a second chance, but always had to come back to Apple’s for some of their features. After trying Pocket Casts for over a year now, I am so so happy I’ve found a podcast app that I love. Appreciate how customizable the skip and go back times are, the look and ease-of-use of the podcast list, where episode notes appear, managing episode queuing, it’s all great.
After reading some other reviews, I gotta say the features behind the paywall are NOT a problem to me. If I ever needed the cloud storage or Watch version, I’d pay the small yearly subscription to devs who keep working on an app I’m really happy to have. It’d be nice to switch filters more easily (like one tap to go from filtering new releases to filtering downloads), but that’s the tiniest wish. Happily using this app every day!
After reading some other reviews, I gotta say the features behind the paywall are NOT a problem to me. If I ever needed the cloud storage or Watch version, I’d pay the small yearly subscription to devs who keep working on an app I’m really happy to have. It’d be nice to switch filters more easily (like one tap to go from filtering new releases to filtering downloads), but that’s the tiniest wish. Happily using this app every day!
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So much better than the built in app
I listen to a lot of podcasts and this app will be the most used one on my phone.
I’ve been getting increasingly frustrated with the built in Podcast app and iOS 14 was the last straw for me. Downloaded 6 different apps this morning and worked through all of them - Pocket Casts was the best by far. Some didn’t allow podcasts to be added by RSS URL, Pocket Casts did. Some had strange CarPlay displays, Pocket Casts works well in the car. Some didn’t allow downloads without a premium subscription, Pocket Casts free tier is very well equipped.
Features like per Podcast settings for trimming start and end of audio, white space removal, and volume boost are completely unexpected in a free app - there is nothing at all I can fault with it.
I’ve been getting increasingly frustrated with the built in Podcast app and iOS 14 was the last straw for me. Downloaded 6 different apps this morning and worked through all of them - Pocket Casts was the best by far. Some didn’t allow podcasts to be added by RSS URL, Pocket Casts did. Some had strange CarPlay displays, Pocket Casts works well in the car. Some didn’t allow downloads without a premium subscription, Pocket Casts free tier is very well equipped.
Features like per Podcast settings for trimming start and end of audio, white space removal, and volume boost are completely unexpected in a free app - there is nothing at all I can fault with it.
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Great App
This app by far has the best interface of any podcast app. The layout just makes sense. I’m a podcast junkie and have been listening to them for the past 6 years. I have been using Pocketcast since my first experience trying to navigate the confusing Apple Podcast app. This app offers easier interfaces and organizing features.
I know that there was some problems with the transition to subscriptions, and those difficulties have added to the negative reviews. Honestly, a app this polished with these excellent features should cost a little money to unlock additional features. For me, this is THE podcast app.
Excellent layout, excellent customization, great app! I've been using it for years and I hope to always use it in the future.
I know that there was some problems with the transition to subscriptions, and those difficulties have added to the negative reviews. Honestly, a app this polished with these excellent features should cost a little money to unlock additional features. For me, this is THE podcast app.
Excellent layout, excellent customization, great app! I've been using it for years and I hope to always use it in the future.
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Best podcast client ever!
Please add shuffle playlist, cheers
Podcast Perfection!
I have searched many apps and solutions to find a podcast player/catcher that can: remain in-sync across its own app on multiple phone and tablet devices, supports Apple CarPlay, affordable, and works well on downloads with Apple Watch.
This app hits all those marks and then some! With its recent introduction of enhanced Watch connectivity and offline usability, this app finally earns its top spot in my app drawer and is my go-to podcast player. The price is best at the annual rate and is well worth it (especially if you’re trying to use podcasts on your Apple Watch). These developers seem engaged and responsive to feedback. I hope they continue to find success and keep this app stable for years to come.
This app hits all those marks and then some! With its recent introduction of enhanced Watch connectivity and offline usability, this app finally earns its top spot in my app drawer and is my go-to podcast player. The price is best at the annual rate and is well worth it (especially if you’re trying to use podcasts on your Apple Watch). These developers seem engaged and responsive to feedback. I hope they continue to find success and keep this app stable for years to come.
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One of the best free podcast apps
My criteria was variable speed control on free podcast apps, and pocket casts has the best free version - adjustable in 0.1x increments and even has silence cutter for free as well. (The stats showing you how much time you’ve saved is a nice touch too).
As for the rest of the app: Can’t fault the interface, easy to use. Also love how you can set custom settings for different podcasts for free! (Playback speed, specific intervals for rewind / forward buttons), set start/end times to skip intro/outro).
Highly recommended if you listen to podcasts that require a variety of speeds for comfortable, processing listening.
As for the rest of the app: Can’t fault the interface, easy to use. Also love how you can set custom settings for different podcasts for free! (Playback speed, specific intervals for rewind / forward buttons), set start/end times to skip intro/outro).
Highly recommended if you listen to podcasts that require a variety of speeds for comfortable, processing listening.
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Better than Default Podcast App Especially on Apple Watch
I listen to 20+ podcasts and have used Pocket Casts for years. It is so much better than the default Apple Podcasts app at handling lots of podcasts and episodes. Now with the latest update that includes Apple Watch sync and cellular streaming without your iPhone nearby I can finally leave my iPhone behind while working out. Pocket Casts seamlessly remembers where I am mid-podcast when I switch from phone to watch. My Apple Watch had been in a drawer the last few months until today because the default Podcasts app is an organizational mess, rarely remembers playback position between devices, and has a really bad implementation of a queue. You have to pay for the Pocket Casts Plus tier but it’s well worth the $1 per month if you have an Apple Watch and listen to more than 1 or 2 podcasts regularly.
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Very impressive podcast app
This podcast app contains everything I was looking for that other apps seem to either not have or do but with a clumsy interface. This podcast app has an almost perfect interface in my opinion and runs extremely smoothly. I can’t believe it’s free. The developers have done an amazing job.
A couple things I’d love to see in future updates is the allow the search function to be within only subscribed podcasts and their show notes, add filter/playlist support to include individual podcast episodes, sharing of audio clips like Overcast has, and being able to add your own notes/comments to specific timestamps within an episode.
A couple things I’d love to see in future updates is the allow the search function to be within only subscribed podcasts and their show notes, add filter/playlist support to include individual podcast episodes, sharing of audio clips like Overcast has, and being able to add your own notes/comments to specific timestamps within an episode.
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