# Downcast — user reviews > 520 indexed App Store user reviews of Downcast by Jamawkinaw Enterprises LLC, rated 4.30/5 from 2,663 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downcast/id393858566/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downcast/id393858566.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,854 · 4★ 295 · 3★ 142 · 2★ 156 · 1★ 216 ## What do users think of Downcast? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Powerful features - 👍 Highly customizable - 💡 Granular podcast management - 🚀 Reliable performance - 👍 Great organization and playlists - 👍 Offline listening - 👍 Excellent value - 👍 Responsive developer **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes and bugs - 🔋 Battery drain issues - 🔍 Subpar search functionality - 👎 Outdated user interface - 👎 Syncing problems - 👎 Chromecast support issues **Commonly reported bugs** - Podcast downloads failing - Playback position not saved correctly - Podcast artwork and information mix-ups - Continuous play issues - Crashing on startup **Most requested features** - Bookmark feature - Playback speed of 1.75x - Podcast triage/management tools - Improved CarPlay integration - Apple Watch app with volume control ## Newest reviews (17 of 520) ### 4/5 — FAN-FRICKEN-TASTIC PODCAST PLAYER, DEFINITELY THE BEST, BEST PODCAST PLAYER!! Highly Recommend!! *2026-07-25, version 2.11.33* Great app for holding all of my 96.8 GB’s of podcasts. Easy to use with some cool features, like being able to make a podcast list with just certain podcasts and excluding others. Having podcasts start after a set time and end after a certain time you can control, in case your podcasts don’t droll on about commercials for the 1st 5-15 minutes or the last 10 minutes. The jump skip is also a helpful feature. I am very happy with this podcast and grateful to use it every single day! I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS APP TO OTHER PEOPLE AND TWO OF MY FRIENDS STARTING USING IT AND WONT GO BACK TO THEIR OLD 🍏 PODCAST NETWORKS. 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 😎⚡️🤙 Thank you! ### 2/5 — URLs not resolving *2026-07-14, version 2.11.33* All of a sudden all my urls stopped resolving. Everything is stuck in the download queue. ### 2/5 — Was Good Now Meh *2026-07-06, version 2.11.33* when I first downloaded it, it was the best option. It had a number of features, including speed control. Since it was downloaded, the quality has been lacking. Increasing freezes, skipping during playback, jumping to other podcasts, disappearing playlists, inability to export podcasts, and so many more problems. There have been no updates at all in almost 18 months. I have to wonder if it’s finally been abandoned. ### 4/5 — Still the best podcast app *2026-06-24, version 2.11.33* Updated Review: After many many years of use (at least 12+ years) Downcast is still the best podcast app I have found. I use it almost daily. It just works, has a fantastic simple user interface, and it's highly customisable. But there are some negatives. 1. cloud sync doesn't work very well which is a big letdown if you use more than one device. 2. Playlists are rule-based only, which means you cannot arbitrarily add selected episodes to a playlist, this is a peculiar and annoying oversight given the general level of customisation the app offers - thankfully there is a workaround which is to create a playlist for locked episodes and then add episodes to the playlist by marking them as locked. 3. The app while it still appears to be supported has not had any meaningful updates for a very long time. Because of this I have changed my review from 5 stars to 4 stars. Original review from years ago (2012ish) :- After using Apple's awful podcasts app this is a million times better (Apple take note). Downcast is a joy to use. It automatically updates and downloads podcast feeds, the search is as good if not better than iTunes and you can manually enter feed urls. It's really easy and intuitive use and it has lots of configuration and customisation options should you need them. Highly recommended. ### 2/5 — Average *2026-05-06, version 2.11.33* No way to import files from other podcast apps. It’s a bare bones podcast app that hasn’t had any updates or bug fixes in over a month. ### 3/5 — Not Bad but not Great *2026-04-15, version 2.11.33* I find the lack of intuitive controls and the inability to perform basic function really frustrating. I am not the typical user, I want to stream my podcasts and use up all the memory space on my phone. I configure to save all and also to configure to only stream an episode. I have to delete the podcast to get all the episodes back in the library. Should not have do that. ### 4/5 — 95% perfect; Is video supported? *2026-04-15, version 2.11.33* I’ve been using Downcast for over a decade and it’s stood the test of time. I think I read video podcasts were supported but I sure can’t figure out how to make them work (must they be downloaded?) The are more aesthetically pleasing apps but the functionality will be lacking, in particular the Playlist feature. Some issues are related to Apple, such as the inability to perform background refreshes longer than (two?) minutes. The workaround here is to select the podcasts you want refreshed automatically and do the others manually. ### 5/5 — I’ve been using this app for over 10 years *2026-04-11, version 2.11.33* I have tried other podcast apps over the years, but ultimately I keep coming back to Downcast. ### 5/5 — Best podcast app ever! *2026-04-10, version 2.11.33* Downcast is excellent! Best podcast app I have ever used. ### 5/5 — Best Podcast Player, Period *2026-04-04, version 2.11.33* I've been using Downcast since I carried an iPhone 4. I'm now on an iPhone 16 Pro Max and I've never found anything better. Downcast gives you the power to control exactly how podcasts play and what a playlist contains, and it does it LOCALLY ( i.e., no streaming) so you can continue to listen when you're hiking or biking in rural areas with no cell coverage. AND it does everything without the annoyance of "subscriptions". Yes, you need to learn how the options work, and you may need to read a Help page, but in return you get a player you can use across all your devices: phone, tablet, iPod, watch, and laptop. I have a "Daily" playlist I use most mornings, and a "News Only" one that lets my wife listen to the news without being bored by all the tech stuff I listen to; we both appreciate that. Keep up the good work, y'all! ### 5/5 — THE BEST - update *2026-03-31, version 2.11.33* I’ve been using this app at lease since 2010-longer if it was out before then. I switched to it from Stitcher because Downcast could do EVERYTHING I wanted it to - controlling downloads or streams, adding podcasts from anywhere, paid or not… it’s just been my go to Podcast app since not long after podcasts became king for listening. PLEASE, PLEASE keep it going because I know I’m not the only one that still loves it, everyday! ### 5/5 — Melhor de todos *2026-03-19* Ainda é incontestável o melhor app para podcasts. ### 4/5 — It’s 2026 ! *2026-03-15, version 2.11.33* Why no widgets? ### 2/5 — Better But Not Great *2026-03-09, version 2.11.33* Looking for an alternative to Apple Podcast. This app brings back some functionality that Apple has lost touch with, but was hoping for more podcast playlist settings abilities. Trying a different app now, but maybe the good days of podcasts are over. ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-03-04, version 2.11.33* Been using since it started and I still think it’s the best. ### 2/5 — Buggy, slow, no development *2026-03-04, version 2.11.33* I’ve loved this app for over a decade but the current developer has other things to do I guess. Deleting a podcast episode often doesn’t work. Schedule WiFi updates of new episodes just doesn’t happen. Maybe a CarPlay widget could be created? All ideas that someone putting time into this would work on. ### 5/5 — Yay *2026-03-03, version 2.11.33* No nonsense, I was up and running in two seconds. Buttons are common sense , easy to use and clearly labeled. Brilliant App. So much easier than the other apps. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Not good anymore *2026-07-10, version 2.11.33* Update your app you ***** ### 1/5 — Where are all my playlists. *2026-05-28, version 2.11.33* Updated after it crashed and had to upload again. Now ALL my podcasts lists have been deleted. So bad update bad mananger. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t seem supported anymore *2026-04-18, version 2.11.33* The watch app hasn’t worked properly in a month or more. No updates in that timeframe. Time to find a new podcast app. ### 1/5 — Not so good anymore *2026-01-08, version 2.11.33* This use to be a good app. Lately however none of my podcasts play through to the end. Very disappointing. ### 1/5 — Auto skipped to the end of a series… *2026-01-05, version 2.11.33* Just downloaded. It blows my mind that Apple Podcasts can’t do the most simple thing in the world - pick up on the last thing I was listening to. I did a search for an alternative and Downcast was the top contender. I just had my first listening experience and WTF !?! I started with the first episode of a 10 episode series. After the first episode it skipped ahead to the 10th. After some confusion and spoilers, I looked at my phone and figured it out. Dear podcast player developers- The first offering should be the last episode you were listening to and the default should be playing episodes in order. ### 1/5 — Censorship from the J *2025-11-17, version 2.11.33* Block’s some alternate conservative podcasts. Not surprised. ### 1/5 — Please fix the bugs! *2025-10-01, version 2.11.33* This app would be perfect if not for two major bugs: - If I delete a podcast feed (even after disabling auto-refresh on that feed), it reappears at the next download and queues up all the episodes from the deleted feed to be re-downloaded. - Manually downloaded episodes that haven’t been played yet disappear at the next download refresh. I have to lock them to prevent them from disappearing. I’ve been using this app for many years and it’s been great until recently. Super frustrating. ### 1/5 — Ads everywhere!! *2025-09-15, version 2.11.33* I have this app for years, paid for that and now EVERY episode has ads at beginning and in the middle of every podcast!!! Holy!!! ### 1/5 — Scam *2025-08-27, version 2.11.33* This podcast app contains no podcasts. ### 1/5 — Worthless *2025-06-30, version 2.11.33* Waste of 3 bucks. I don't download. I stream. Making a playlist of different podcasts can't be done streaming. More frustrating than the stock app and that's sad ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Super for offline podcast listening! Just one little request… *2026-08-20, version 2.11.33* Perfect for podcast enjoyment without an internet connection! The one feature I would really like to see added are additional playback speeds, especially 0.8x, 0.85x and 0.9x, which would really help those of us learning a new language through non-English podcasts. Otherwise, super app! ### 5/5 — Exactly what I want *2026-08-03, version 2.11.33* Downcast simply works-easily, reliably, no nonsense. No flashy uselessness. Can’t imagine using anything else ### 5/5 — Fantastic Podcast Player *2026-07-02, version 2.11.33* Been using this for years. Lots more features than the Apple Podcasts app and Spotify. Stable. Updated regularly. Highly recommend. ### 5/5 — Great player *2026-06-29, version 2.11.33* Needed a podcast player that would allow me to create playlists of downloaded pods that would automatically play the next in the list without internet. This was suggested to me. I really enjoy it and have suggested this app to many people who also enjoy it. ### 5/5 — Well worth the small price *2026-06-06, version 2.11.33* This is a much better player than the built in iPhone option. Easy to use, simple design, some good options to give you more control and works well. I should have started using it years ago. ### 5/5 — Great App *2026-06-03, version 2.11.33* Downcast is easily customized to play how and when you want it, for ho long and at what speed. That’s all I want! Thanks! ### 5/5 — Great *2026-06-02, version 2.11.33* Been using for years. Love the interface. Just wish there was a speed up option in between 1.25 and 1.5. Other than that, perfect. ### 5/5 — 10+ years😊 *2026-05-14, version 2.11.33* I’ve been using this app for 10 years plus and it does everything I needed to do just for me appreciate it ### 5/5 — Straightforward, efficient, reliable *2026-05-04, version 2.11.33* I've tried many different podcast players over the years and Downcast has been the best for me. If you want a lot of bells and whistles and if following the crowd is important to you, then this is probably not the player for you. If you want something that works reliably, I recommend Downcast. ### 5/5 — Fantastic, stable, and awesome app for podcasts! *2026-05-01, version 2.11.33* Downcast is a wonderfully reliable, stable and long lived application. It’s incredibly flexible, and can be customized in many different ways. I particularly appreciate how easy it is to prioritize podcasts, to easily configure streaming or download, and to tweak the sorting and saving of episodes. I believe I have been using it for more than 10 years now, and I wouldn’t move to any other podcast app at this point. I highly recommend it! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*