# Skipper: Auto Skip Podcast Ads — Supports Creators & Sponsors > Podcast player that automatically skips ads and displays sponsor offers on-device. (iPhone/iPad app by Pineridge Ranch Technologies.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skipper-auto-skip-podcast-ads/id6757127240 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Pineridge Ranch Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864736926) - Category: News, Entertainment - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.20/5 from 20 App Store ratings · 17 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 26.0 · 35 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-01-21 - Data updated: 2026-08-30 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skipper-auto-skip-podcast-ads/id6757127240/reviews.md ## What is Skipper? Skipper detects and skips podcast ads automatically so you can enjoy uninterrupted listening. Everything runs on your device so there is no cloud, no subscription. Listen to unlimited episodes from up to two podcasts at a time for free, forever. One-time in-app purchase unlocks unlimited simultaneous podcast subscriptions. As you play an episode, Skipper detects sponsor segments on-device and converts them into Sponsor Cards, so you can see the brand, promo code, and offer at a glance. Want to support the show? Tap through. Want to stay in the flow? Skip the audio ads automatically. Either way, you never miss the deal. What you get: • Optional auto ad skipping (you’re always in control) • Voice Boost for clearer speech • Silence Skip to remove dead air • Variable speed 0.5x–2x with natural-sounding voices • Sleep timer, skip-back control, and seamless resume • Podcast Index search, RSS-by-URL (including private feeds), and OPML import • Sponsor Cards with brands, offers, and promo codes Privacy is the default. All detection and extraction happens on your device. No login, no tracking, no cloud processing. ## Key features - Automatic ad skipping - On-device ad detection - Sponsor Cards with offers - Voice Boost - Silence Skip - Variable playback speed - Sleep timer ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Unlimited Podcasts | $9.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 17) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skipper-auto-skip-podcast-ads/id6757127240/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Too slow and inconsistent *2026-08-23, version 1.5.7* Unfortunate ### 2/5 — Not effective yet at skipping ads and often skips real content *2026-07-23, version 1.5.7* I can’t recommend getting pro for $10 as the detection of ads is not effective enough such that I have to look at my phone every skip it does to check if it skipped real content (which it often does for me, and I report it). It also does not detect ads sometimes. As a result, I have to give more attention to this app than to any other podcast app which is against the purpose here. If you just want to hit play and not worry about ads, this app is not ready for you. I’ll stick with it for awhile as I paid my $10 dollars. I’ll report incorrect skips and hopefully it’ll work well one day. I should get paid $10 for all that development i’m helping out with honestly 😋 ### 3/5 — So close to awesome *2026-07-11, version 1.5.6* When it works, it works great! I've experienced it not skipping the occasional ad, and once skipping a description of a nightclub that was actual content - but that's to be expected from on-device transcription / AI. My main quibble is that sometimes when it does skip an ad, it'll just randomly start the episode over. Especially if the screen is off, it seems. Other times it'll end an episode prematurely. It's not skipping an ad at the end - the time just indicates the podcast is over, but it isn't yet. And finally, sometimes it will indicate that a podcast's time is over... but it's still playing lol. Like I'll be listening and glance to see where I’m at in the podcast and how much is left, and the time bar indicates I am at the end (say, 44:10 / 44:10) but it's still playing. If you scrub, it goes back to the visible portions of the time bar and there's no way to get back to where you were without just waiting since that portion exists... outside of time and space, apparently lol Overall I think it was worth my $10. These are just bugs I'm sure they'll iron out eventually. But yeah there's definitely some actual bugs - not just misidentified ads (which I'd completely expect). ### 5/5 — Amazing App *2026-07-04, version 1.5.6* I'm stunned by how well this app works: I've been an Overcast user for many years but switched to Skipper. The ad detection is accurate and unobtrusive after a few seconds of processing, and a list of the podcast's sponsors is available. The developer is responsive, and no subscription! ### 3/5 — ok *2026-06-16, version 1.5.5* I downloaded and immediately bought the Pro license because it was the only way to import my feeds from another app. An option to just import a few before buying would have been nice. The 1.5x playback speed is weird and unlike other podcast apps. It makes everyone's voices sound "shaky". It is a dealbreaker for me at this point. I would like options to customize the feed screen. One to show just the feed's artwork instead of per-episode artwork. One to include the feed name under the episode title. Both are needed because some episodes with per-episode artwork and weird titles make it impossible to guess what feed it's even from without tapping to view its details. Maybe some different application icon options? The ship wheel logo sticks out like a sore thumb. Maybe I'm not seeing it but is there a way to automatically download new episodes and process ads in the background so I don't have to wait to start playback every time? Even if it processes just the first X number of seconds/minutes so the playback can start right away and finish analyzing during playback. Please add some support resources in the app to at least provide feedback so I don't have to write all this in an app review. Even going to the app's website just bounces back to the App Store page. ### 2/5 — Skipped actual material and did not skip advertisement *2026-06-04, version 1.5.5* Tried Skipper with Marketplace podcast yesterday. It skipped the actual material around “lets do the numbers” section before the advertisements start. But it did not skip the advertisement at the end of the episode. I am trying multiple apps and am thinking of buying Skipper Pro version because it is developed by a company and not an individual. But other free apps are filtering the ads better at this point. I will keep trying Skipper Free for some time before either giving up on it or if you can update your AI Algos and improve Ad blocking, I will be more than happy to upgrade to Pro. Hope for the best. ### 5/5 — Love this *2026-05-16, version 1.5.5* Great app. Wish I could sort oldest to newest on the podcast list and quickly filter by a single podcast. Also the previous and next controls don’t work when I’m using my steering wheel controls in CarPlay mode ### 4/5 — Skipper does skip some ads...❗️ *2026-04-19, version 1.5.4* Updated Review in response to Devs post below: Fair enough, so, I tried again with a different podcast, "Crime Junkie", with a heavy load of ads. The February 16, 2026, ~30 minute episode, played on Apple's native Podcast app which had nine ads and it was very disruptive for listening to the story. ** Then I used Skipper to play the short episode again and happily, all of the ads were skipped -- Yay❗️With respect and in the interest of transparency, I encourage the Devs to consider editing their App Store description to include the disclaimer that Skipper is not 100% accurate and that users' mileage may vary. Anyway, I upgraded my rating from two stars to four and actually will likely fork over $10 for the app. ** Devs, thanks for taking the time to respond to my initial review. ********************************************* ******🚩Original Review: I downloaded the app (update 1.5.4) and used the trial offer (two podcasts with ad skipping enabled), to listen to two episodes on the "Intelligence Squared" show. However, on my iphone 16 pro running ios 26.4, I am still getting ads when listening. I have checked Skipper's settings and confirmed that automatic ad skipping is enabled and with the most aggressive setting -- but I am still being subjected to various ads. I would like to buy this promising podcast app but cannot justify doing so when it does not work as advertised -- This is DISAPPOINTING❗️ ### 3/5 — Potential but Flawed *2026-02-16, version 1.5.0* The ad-skipping feature is innovative and works great when it does—finally a clean, private podcast experience. But playback is unreliable: repeating sections, popping sounds, unresponsive controls, and a clunky interface. Support is basically nonexistent. Not ready for the paid unlock yet. Huge 5-star potential if these get fixed soon—I’ll be back! ### 5/5 — Amazing App *2026-02-15* I'm stunned by how well this app works: I've been an Overcast user for many years but switched to earsay. The ad detection is accurate and unobtrusive after a few seconds of processing, and a list of the podcast's sponsors is available. The developer is responsive, and no subscription! ## Frequently asked questions about Skipper ### Does earsay have ads? No, earsay is ad-free. The app focuses on removing advertisements from podcasts and does not display its own advertisements to users. ### How much does earsay cost? earsay is free for up to 2 podcasts. A one-time purchase unlocks unlimited podcast subscriptions, with no recurring subscriptions required. ### What devices support earsay? earsay is available on Mac, Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad, offering a consistent experience across Apple's ecosystem. ### What is the age rating for earsay? earsay has an age rating of 12+, indicating it is suitable for users aged 12 and older. ### How often is earsay updated? The latest version of earsay is 1.5.3, and it was last updated on March 12, 2026. This suggests a relatively active development cycle. ### What makes earsay's privacy features stand out? earsay prioritizes privacy by performing all ad detection and extraction directly on the user's device. There is no login, tracking, or cloud processing involved. ### Can earsay improve audio clarity? Yes, earsay includes a 'Voice Boost' feature designed to enhance speech clarity for a better listening experience. ### Does earsay offer a free trial? earsay is free to use for up to 2 podcasts. The option to unlock unlimited podcasts is a one-time purchase, not a subscription with a trial period. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.5.7 — 2026-07-17 Ahoy Mateys! We've been hard at work on reeling in new features and improvements for you. - Transcript view synced to the current word during playback - Faster feed refreshes - New and improved ad detection model - Bug fixes ### 1.5.6 — 2026-06-24 - Smarter episode ordering. Episodes now group by season with a sort toggle, plus a one-tap binge button to add a whole season to Up Next, with a confirmation so you don't queue one by accident. - Keep newest N episodes. Set a per-podcast limit and Skipper automatically cleans up older downloaded episodes to save space. - Headphone & Car Controls. A new settings screen lets you remap your headphone and steering-wheel Next/Previous buttons to either skip within an episode or jump to the next or previous episode. - Live transcripts. Tap the player artwork to flip to a synced transcript that highlights each word as it's spoken, so you can follow along or catch what you missed. - Better podcast search. Search results open into a richer detail view backed by the podcast's feed. - Bug fixes andother misc. improvements ### 1.5.5 — 2026-04-21 Bug Fixes and new icon. ### 1.5.4 — 2026-03-29 • The app has been renamed to Skipper! • Various bug fixes and stability improvements. ### 1.5.3 — 2026-03-12 What's New in v1.5.3 We squashed a bunch of bugs and made things snappier. - Fixed a crash that could happen when backgrounding the app during iCloud sync - Playback is more reliable now. Episodes that got stuck loading or showed "Preparing..." forever should be a thing of the past - Download progress actually shows progress again instead of sitting at 0% - Marking a bunch of episodes as played is noticeably faster - The Mac app starts up properly now, and volume controls work as expected - Episode artwork falls back more gracefully when a show doesn't provide per-episode images - Various under-the-hood improvements to how the app stores data, making it leaner and more stable ## Related topics [skipper podcast](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/skipper-podcast) --- *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 2026-08-30.*