# Pocket Casts: Podcast Player — Apple Audiobooks & Podcasts

> Powerful podcast player with discovery, playback, and sync features. (iPhone/iPad app by Automattic.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-casts-podcast-player/id414834813 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883)
- Category: News, Utilities
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 15,471 App Store ratings · 1,314 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 172 MB
- Languages: Dutch, German (Germany), Russian, Swedish, Mexican Spanish, American English, Italian, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified, China), Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan) and 3 more
- Released: 2011-01-26
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-casts-podcast-player/id414834813/reviews.md

## What is Pocket Casts?

Pocket Casts is the world's most powerful podcast platform, an app by listeners, for listeners. Our podcast player provides next-level listening, search and discovery tools. Find your next obsession with our hand-curated podcast recommendations for easy discovery, and seamlessly enjoy your favorite shows without the hassle of subscribing.

Here's what the press has to say:
 • Wired: "Pocket Casts Is the Podcast App Every iPhone User Needs"
 • iMore: "Pocket Casts is the best podcast app for iPhone"

NEW: PLAYLISTS
Your listening, your way. Organize your episodes with our powerful new Playlists feature:
- Playlists: Curate your perfect mix. Combine episodes from different podcasts, build collections around specific themes or guests, and even add episodes from podcasts you don't follow.
- Smart Playlists: We’ve upgraded our famous Filters. Build lists that automatically update based on rules you set, like release date, duration, or download status.

With a unique set of simple yet powerful features and a limitless podcast database, you're sure to find something you love.

WE SWEAT THE DETAILS
 • Design: Easily listen to, manage and find new podcasts.
 • Themes: Whether you're a dark or light theme person we've got you covered. We even have you OLED lovers covered with our Extra Dark theme.
 • Universal: Custom but familiar iPad interface, supporting Slide Over, Split View and Picture in Picture.
 • Everywhere: CarPlay, AirPlay, Chromecast and Sonos. Listen to your podcasts in more places than ever before.

POWERFUL PLAYBACK
 • Up next: Automatically build a playback queue from your favorite shows. Sign in and have that Up Next queue sync to all your devices.
 • Trim silence: Cut silences from episodes so you finish them faster, saving hours.
 • Variable speed: Change the play speed from anywhere between 0.5 to 3x.
 • Volume boost: Increase the volume of voices, while decreasing background noise.
 • Stream: Play episodes on the fly.
 • Chapters: Jump between chapters easily, and enjoy embedded artwork that the author has added (we support MP3 and M4A chapter formats).
 • Audio & video: Play all of your favorite episodes, toggle video to audio.
 • Skip playback: Skip episode intros, jump through episodes with custom skip intervals.
 • Apple Watch: Control playback from our Apple Watch app, adjust the volume or change playback effects, all without ever touching your phone.
 • Sleep timer: We'll pause your episode so you can rest your weary head.
 • Airplay & Chromecast: Send episodes straight to your TV or speakers with a single tap.
 • Sonos: Browse and play your podcast collection directly from the Sonos app.
 • CarPlay: When you're in the car, so are we.

SMART TOOLS
 • Sync: Subscriptions, Up Next, listening history, playback and filters are all securely stored in the cloud. You can pick up where you left off on another device and even the web.
 • Refresh: Let our servers check for new episodes, so you can get on with your day.
 • Notifications: We'll let you know when new episodes arrive, if you like.
 • Auto download: Automatically download episodes for offline playback.
 • Smart Playlists: Organize your episodes using custom rules.
 • Storage: All the tools you need to keep your podcasts tamed.
 • Audible audiobooks podcasts.

ALL YOUR FAVORITES
 • Discover: Subscribe to any podcast in iTunes and more. Browse by charts, networks and categories.
 • Share: Spread the word with podcast and episode sharing.
 • OPML: Jump on board without any hassle with OPML import. Export your collection at any time.

There are many more powerful, straight-forward features that make Pocket Casts the perfect podcasting app for you. So what are you waiting for?

Visit pocketcasts.com for more info about the web and other platforms supported by Pocket Casts.

Terms of Use: https://support.pocketcasts.com/article/terms-of-use
Privacy Policy: https://support.pocketcasts.com/article/privacy-policy

## Key features

- Curated podcast recommendations
- Customizable playlists
- Smart playlists with automatic updates
- Variable playback speed
- Trim silence and volume boost
- Cross-device sync
- CarPlay, AirPlay, Chromecast, Sonos support

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Plus Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Patron Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Patron Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Patron Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Patron Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pocket Casts Plus - Referral | $39.99 | per year |


## Chart rankings

- #65 in Top Free · News (US App Store)
- #47 in Top Grossing · News (US App Store)

## What do users think of Pocket Casts?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Customizable playback controls
- 👍 Intuitive and clean interface
- 🚀 Cross-platform sync
- 👍 Robust organization and filtering options
- 🚀 Reliable performance
- 👍 Useful features like trim silence and volume boost

**Cons**

- 🐛 Playback issues like skipping, pausing, and audio cutting out
- 🐛 Syncing problems between devices
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔧 Confusing UI changes and loss of functionality after updates
- 💰 Expensive subscription model

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Podcasts disappearing from Up Next queue
- Archived episodes reappearing
- Inconsistent playback progress tracking
- Search function not working as expected

**Most requested features**

- Ability to create custom playlists or folders
- Improved podcast discovery and recommendations
- Better Apple Watch support with offline playback
- More granular control over episode management

## Recent user reviews (10 of 1,314)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-casts-podcast-player/id414834813/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Cross play good!

*2026-08-17, version 8.17*

Still needs my favorite like Rox Knits and in the style of The Object from MIA. Thx

### 5/5 — Being patient with the developers goes a long way

*2026-08-17, version 8.17*

App developers do take a lot of guff. I admit I might have thrown some around occasionally in reviews. However, after the recent issue about notifications and no episodes I had a really lovely email thread explaining what was going on and helping them fix the problem. I’ve always liked this app but them being communicative and embracing what I was saying gave me more respect for the app itself. For that reason, I’m went up from 4 to 5 stars.

### 1/5 — Pocket Casts Now Has Ads

*2026-08-17, version 8.17*

This used to be the perfect podcast app. They now have ads across all podcasts, regardless of what you’re listening to. What an absolute disappointment.

### 1/5 — % podcast listened

*2026-08-15, version 8.17*

I have 9 seconds left on a podcast. It’s clearly finished but is still shown as not finished. Just use Apple Podcasts, it’s so much easier

### 2/5 — New ux stinks

*2026-08-15, version 8.17*

Their recent ux update basically ruined the app.

### 2/5 — UI regression

*2026-08-15, version 8.17*

Not sure what the logic was for the recent update, the controls are now hidden and tiny, making the app borderline unusable

### 5/5 — It’s for sleeping

*2026-08-14, version 8.17*

I use it to sleep

### 5/5 — Love it

*2026-08-11, version 8.17*

Used the app for years…best by a mile

### 1/5 — Poor new update👎👎👎

*2026-08-11, version 8.17*

It’s difficult to verify the playlist

### 5/5 — Great App

*2026-08-10, version 8.17*

This podcast app is the best one for listening and organizing your follows.

## Frequently asked questions about Pocket Casts

### What is Pocket Casts?

Pocket Casts is a comprehensive podcast platform designed for listeners. It offers advanced tools for discovering new podcasts, managing your subscriptions, and enjoying a superior listening experience with features like customizable playlists and smart playback controls.

### What are the key features of Pocket Casts?

Key features include curated podcast recommendations for easy discovery, powerful playlist creation (including smart playlists that update automatically), advanced playback options like variable speed and trim silence, and seamless syncing of subscriptions and listening history across all your devices.

### Is Pocket Casts free to use?

The app is free to download and use, offering a robust set of features for podcast listening and discovery. It also includes in-app purchases, which may unlock additional functionalities or content for users who wish to enhance their experience further.

### What devices is Pocket Casts compatible with?

Pocket Casts is available on multiple platforms, including iPhone, iPad, and web browsers. It also offers integration with CarPlay, AirPlay, Chromecast, and Sonos, allowing you to listen to your podcasts on a wide range of devices and in various environments.

### How does Pocket Casts help me find new podcasts?

The app provides hand-curated podcast recommendations, making it easy to discover your next favorite show. You can explore categories, trending podcasts, and personalized suggestions based on your listening habits to broaden your podcast horizons.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 8.18 — 2026-08-21

Bug fixes in this release:

- Bookmarks multi-select is tidier, with correct spacing and layout on the
  latest iOS.
- Up Next's navigation bar is consistent everywhere, with a new "…" menu
  for clearing your queue.
- Fixed some podcasts failing to play due to unrecognized HLS formats.

Plus a handful of smaller fixes.

### 8.17 — 2026-08-04

This one’s all about smoother listening. HLS streaming playback is here, bringing more reliable streaming to shows that use it, and with new support for Flightcast JSON transcripts, transcripts now show up for more episodes. Episode details load show notes and artwork faster, and pausing on your phone now syncs playback progress to your Apple Watch instantly, instead of whenever the two felt like catching up.

We also fixed the mini player showing up empty after opening the app from a notification, and the New Episodes notification setting getting reset when you updated the app – plus a stack of smaller thing

### 8.16 — 2026-07-23

Tired of your Up Next queue living by its own rules? Now you can sort it exactly how you like it.

Starred episodes now show a little star badge right on their Up Next cell, so you always know what’s a keeper.

Episode artwork now shows up right on the episode details page, giving you something nice to look at!

The mini player got some love too: it now shows off your podcast’s tint color properly, its play button has a satisfying springy bounce, and its title scales nicely with your text size settings.

Thanks for listening with Pocket Casts!

### 8.15 — 2026-07-07

Summer’s in full swing, and Pocket Casts 8.15 is here to soundtrack it.

The mini player got bigger controls (your thumbs asked nicely), and the bottom of the podcast grid eases into a blur, so nothing gets lost or hard to read where the grid meets the player.

New in this release:

- Folders got context menus
- A new Siri shortcut to mark the current episode as played
- Chapter artwork now on the lock screen, Control Center, and CarPlay

A few gremlins we escorted out:

- The Share swipe action now dismisses automatically
- Fix the Filters search header popping back when few episodes match
- Fix incorrect section heading when opening an episode on the Apple Watch
- Fix “Download All” on a season not warning before using cellular data
- The Playlists tab uses consistent background in dark mode

We also waved off iOS 16 and watchOS 9. Thanks for the memories.

### 8.14 — 2026-06-23

Transcripts just got a karaoke mode upgrade. New episodes now highlight words as they’re spoken, making it easier to follow along, search, tap, and jump straight to the good bits. No singing required.

Stats got a glow-up: a new listening activity heatmap lets you see exactly when you’ve been tuning in.

Discover and Search now show explicit content badges, so you always know what you’re getting into before you hit play.

Menus across the app have been updated to use sheet presentation for a smoother, more consistent feel.

Adding episodes to Up Next is snappier than ever: animations are fixed and you’ll now get visual feedback even when the tab bar is collapsed.

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*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 2026-08-27.*