# Tubecasts: Background Player — user reviews > 104 indexed App Store user reviews of Tubecasts by Jianfeng Wu, rated 3.70/5 from 61 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tubecasts-background-player/id6450131804/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tubecasts-background-player/id6450131804.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 35 · 4★ 4 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 10 ## What do users think of Tubecasts? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Easy to navigate - 👍 Great for background audio - 👍 Good for sleep audio - 👍 No ads (for some users) - 👍 Can create playlists - 👍 Can organize content - 👍 Can download audio - 👍 Works with CarPlay - 👍 Offline playback - 👍 Good concept - 👍 Great app - 👍 Effective - 👍 Simple and clean UI - 👍 No bloat - 👍 Can switch between live streams - 👍 Better than alternatives - 👍 No need for YouTube Premium - 👍 Works well - 👍 Playback speed options - 👍 Fair pricing (for some) - 👍 Good for podcasts - 👍 Very handy - 👍 Excellent - 👍 Super - 👍 Convenient - 👍 Used daily - 👍 Phenomenal app - 👍 Fantastic 'lite' app - 👍 The goat - 👍 Much better than other alternatives - 👍 Perfect for sleep audio - 👍 Favorite app for ad-free YouTube - 👍 Good - 👍 Excellent - 👍 Great app - 👍 Simple to use - 👍 Effective - 👍 Great - 👍 Very handy - 👍 Great app - 👍 Works as advertised - 👍 This App Slaps! - 👍 Good app - 👍 Buena - 👍 Great app - 👍 Works very well - 👍 Simple to use, effective - 👍 Great - 👍 Very handy - 👍 Great app - 👍 Can listen without ads **Cons** - 😞 Cannot skip audio parts - 😞 Too many pop-up prompts - 😞 Audio keeps cutting - 😞 Nearly unusable without paid version - 😞 Manipulative UI - 😞 Constantly nags - 😞 Constantly fails - 😞 Laughable subscription pricing - 😞 Breaks the purpose of the app - 😞 Stops mid-stream - 😞 Features locked behind paywall - 😞 Worse free version - 😞 Stops to ask for subscription - 😞 Pop-ups get in the way - 😞 Onerous to use - 😞 Spammy options forced - 😞 Scam app pricing - 😞 Unreasonable pricing - 😞 YouTube premium is cheaper - 😞 Shovelware apps - 😞 Quantity over quality - 😞 Prompts to subscribe/support other apps - 😞 Nearly unusable - 😞 Expensive subscription - 😞 Unclear subscription pricing - 😞 Buggy subscription pricing - 😞 Video translated to another language - 😞 Frustrating language issue - 😞 Plays in a different language - 😞 Episodes in foreign language - 😞 Permanent reminders to upgrade - 😞 Much trouble to work - 😞 Cannot transfer music from old version - 😞 Too expensive now - 😞 Less options for file formats - 😞 No downloads in free tier - 😞 Poor execution - 😞 Doesn't reliably remember place - 😞 Fails to load on mobile data - 😞 Buffers and fails to load - 😞 Asks for review every time song added - 😞 Old Tubecast was more powerful/better/cheaper - 😞 New app doesn't save mp3 - 😞 Constant message to rate - 😞 Subscription required for offline download - 😞 Voluntary donation to subscription obligation - 😞 Error adding songs - 😞 No music! No sound! - 😞 Playlist import doesn't work - 😞 No auto-save feature - 😞 Discontinued by Apple - 😞 Takes ages to process long videos - 😞 One-time payment version unavailable - 😞 Paying for 12 months more expensive - 😞 Stripped features from original app - 😞 Can't roll back to previous version - 😞 Playback error - 😞 Constantly stops - 😞 No response to play - 😞 Previous version UI better **Commonly reported bugs** - Audio keeps cutting after every few mins - Pauses audio stream randomly to ask to subscribe - Player pauses every ten mins to ask for subscription - Stops mid stream - Failure to load - Not working anymore - Not working today - Menus get in the way of user experience - Constant popups to subscribe - Pop up ads that stop the music - Buggy and cumbersome to use - Constant pop ups that get in the way of the UI - Pauses the audio or distracts from browsing - App struggles to remember place - Frequently reverts back to the beginning of the video - Completely fails to load when on mobile data - Error: 'Failed to load' - Does not reliably remember your place - Does not work - Buffers and then tells me that it failed to load - Does not remember when it stopped playing - Starts from the beginning - Error 0 when adding songs - No sound - Doesn't work - Playlist import doesn't work - Error message « failed to get… » - Playback error - Constantly stops - Doesn't have auto save feature - Pause/stop then kill app, next time should auto play from last previous time - Takes ages to process a seven hour long video - Playback speed shown as 1x but actual speed is different - Pause an episode, sometimes have to restart the app to make it play - Starts from the beginning again - Cannot skip to different parts of the audio - Video gets translated into another language - Plays in a different language when video is originally in English - Episodes always play in a foreign language different than link on YouTube - Doesn't remember place, recording starts from beginning each time - Clicking play does not respond - Does not play, plays in YouTube **Most requested features** - Add option for Airplay only audio - Enable photos, videos, files and iCloud files import options - Enable all audio file formats like Mp3, M4A and others - Enable Mp4 file video formats - Proper accessibility mode quicker done - Download subtitles of foreign language in English version - Include an option to cast audio to Google Nest - Add auto-save feature - Option to adjust button customization - Import playlist functionality to be fixed - Roll back to previous version ## Newest reviews (18 of 104) ### 4/5 — Almost *2026-06-17* This app is so close. The developers are very responsive to issues. Just a few tweaks in the performance would make it great. It’s very useful to me. I use it everyday. It’s my main source for audio content. **Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback. Version 1.2.5 had an issue that prevented properly seeking within long audio files. This problem has been fixed in Version 1.2.6. Please update to the latest version and try again. Thank you for your support and patience! ### 3/5 — Recent update *2026-05-13* You cannot skip to different parts of the audio. It’s very frustrating with long files **Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback. Version 1.2.5 had an issue that prevented properly seeking within long audio files. This problem has been fixed in Version 1.2.6. Please update to the latest version and try again. Thank you for your support and patience! ### 4/5 — Update: problem fixed. Always plays link in different language *2026-04-02, version 1.2.4* Loved the original app. This one always plays the episodes in a foreign language different than what the link was on YouTube. Disappointing. Update: the language problem has been fixed. The app's been working great. My only complaint now is that I wish the playlist could be renamed, but I'm upping my rating. ### 1/5 — Used to be good. Not anymore. *2026-01-24* I originally bought (yes bought) the old Tubecasts app years ago. For a while it was really good! Worked just fine and was super high quality! Eventually I become very annoyed that some features were being locked behind an additional paywall, but that was just the start. Later on the entire app was discontinued with this free one in its place. So the app I originally payed for has been replaced by a worse free version. Now with every update it only gets worse. It constantly stops to ask if you want to subscribe (even though I bought the original!). And with a recent update it stops mid stream! I can’t even use it to fall asleep with anymore because of that! This used to be my favorite app but I cannot recommend it after all these annoying changes. At the very least I should have had some sort of bonus for originally buying the app. **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. The subscription pop-ups help fund ongoing costs, including servers, development, and maintenance. ### 4/5 — Das neue Tubecast *2026-01-23* Das neue tubecast ist sehr nervig weil mann immer bestätigen muss wenn mann in einen Ordner gehen will oder ein lied abspielen will was sehr nervig ist, aber im groben und ganzen ist das neue auch sehr ok doch das beste ist immer noch das alte meiner Meinung nach. **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für das Feedback. Die Abonnement-Pop-ups tragen zur Finanzierung laufender Kosten bei, darunter Server, Entwicklung und Wartung. ### 1/5 — $1200/year? *2026-01-22, version 1.2.2* nice app but not worth $1200/year; I hope people don't greet suckered into paying $100/month lowered to 1 star because of popups after every click; deleted ### 3/5 — App verschlechtert sich *2026-01-21* Die App wird leider immer schlechter. Das abspielen funktioniert nur noch gelegentlich **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für das Feedback. Möchten Sie Version 1.2.2 ausprobieren? ### 1/5 — Unterbrechungen nerven *2026-01-21* Hatte den Vorgänger schon im Einsatz. Praktische App für YouTube als Podcast im Auto über AppleCarPlay. Seit den letzten Update nerven die permanente Unterbrechungen. Ich hätte kein Problem mit einem Abo mit vernünftigen Preisen. Aber die Preise für diese Abos , soll sich jeder seine eigene Meinung bilden. Schade war mal eine tolle App, so kann man auch die Nutzer vergraulen. **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für das Feedback. Die Anzahl der Abonnement-Pop-ups stieg nach zusätzlichen Werbeaktionen, was dazu beitrug, mehr Sponsoren zu gewinnen, um die laufenden Kosten (Server, Entwicklung und Wartung) zu decken. ### 1/5 — Recent updates make it useless *2026-01-20* Constant popups to subscribe which pause the audio or distract from browsing **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. The subscription pop-ups increased after added promotions, which helped to get more sponsorship to cover ongoing costs (servers, development, and maintenance). ### 1/5 — Funktionen Mau *2026-01-20* War früher besser und seit kurzem andauernd Anfragen, ob man nicht Abonnent werden möchte. Ich wäre auch bereit, aber 1000€/Jahr oder 99€/Monat??? Der Entwickler muss schon gutes Zeug nehmen, um das Geld aufzurufen **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für Ihr Feedback. Möchten Sie die wöchentliche Option ausprobieren? ### 1/5 — Getting worse and worse *2026-01-20* I used to love this app. The original was great! This one just has constant pop ups that get in the way of the UI. The pop up ads That stop the music are driving me away from the app instead of toward a subscription. It’s buggy and cumbersome to use. **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. The subscription pop-ups increased after added promotions, which helped to get more sponsorship to cover ongoing costs (servers, development, and maintenance). ### 1/5 — Goodbye~ *2026-01-19* Goodbye~~~ I feel like this update was a truly devastating choice. I used this app precisely because it had no annoying ads and supported background playback... But now it forces playback to stop by popping up a deduction notification mid-playback.... **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. The subscription pop-ups increased after added promotions, which helped to get more sponsorship to cover ongoing costs (servers, development, and maintenance). ### 1/5 — Not working anymore *2026-01-18, version 1.2.0* Not working today ### 2/5 — Stopped working *2026-01-18, version 1.2.1* Failure to load. I cancelled my subscription which was good until this June to prevent automatic renewal ### 1/5 — Old app was better *2025-12-24* Aug 2025: Too expensive now. Less options for file formats. No downloads in free tier. Used the old app almost every day, now I barely use it. Very unfortunate. Update Dec 2025: Now they added an annoying pop up to subscribe every time you try to open a folder or play a video. And they randomised where you have to click, so you will accidentally click on subscribe. This is unacceptable. 0/5 stars if I could **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. The subscription pop-ups increased after added promotions, which helped to get more sponsorship to cover ongoing costs (servers, development, and maintenance). ### 1/5 — Nicht mehr auf dem hohen Niveau wie früher *2025-12-24* Die App ist der Nachfolger der App Tubecasts und leider wird sie mit jedem Update schlechter. Beim Ordner anlegen und aufmachen wird man mittlerweile bei jedem Klick gefragt, was man möchte und darf aus 4 Punkten wählen. Wenn ich Musik hören will, dann will ich etwas hören und mich nicht durch Zwischenfragen ans Ziel bewegen. Leider ist es nicht mal halb so gut wie die frühere App. **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für das Feedback. Die Anzahl der Abonnement-Pop-ups stieg nach zusätzlichen Werbeaktionen, was dazu beitrug, mehr Sponsoren zu gewinnen, um die laufenden Kosten (Server, Entwicklung und Wartung) zu decken. ### 2/5 — Too many pop up menus *2025-12-24* The menus get in the way of the entire used experience. In order to listen to one song I have to remind the developer 3 times that I don’t want to subscribe. The UI has unfortunately made me go to other options. It used to be good. But it’s too onerous to use now. All good things come to an end. **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. The subscription pop-ups increased after added promotions, which helped to get more sponsorship to cover ongoing costs (servers, development, and maintenance). ### 2/5 — Brilliant app let down by one thing *2025-12-23, version 1.2.0* Would be five stars if not for the spammy options forced in your face when opening folders etc every time you want to open folders, import videos and play them. Looking at the support pricing of £1000 a year, £99 a month it seems like a scam app. Someone could easily click these options by accident this charging what I deem as an unreasonable amount to ask for. YouTube premium would be cheaper over a lifetime compared to this. They also have tons of other apps which seem like shovel ware as it seems to be quantity over quality. It’s a shame as this app does work well if not for the above issues. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — BAD! Force me to subscribe to use! *2026-06-30* I bought this app many years ago, but I hadn’t used it for quite a while. When I recently started using it again, I realized I was being forced to subscribe just to keep using it. If I don’t subscribe, the audio stops every 10 minutes!! This is a fraud. I paid for the app when I first bought it, and now you’re asking me to pay a monthly subscription as well???? That’s ridiculous!!! ### 1/5 — 399 Euro? *2026-05-15* Früher eine super App, heute leider voller Bugs. Wie unpassend dann den Jahrespreis von 9,99 auf 399 Euro anpassen zu wollen. App wird gelöscht, Abo ist gekündigt **Developer response:** Einige Nutzer haben möglicherweise bemerkt, dass der Preis des alten Jahresabonnements auf 364,99 USD pro Jahr geändert wurde. Dieser Preis ist nicht als tatsächlich aktives Abonnementangebot vorgesehen. Da noch bestehende Abonnenten mit dem alten Jahresabo-Produkt verknüpft sind, kann das Produkt nicht vollständig aus App Store Connect entfernt werden. Stattdessen wurde der Preis absichtlich erhöht, um neue Abonnements und Verlängerungen des eingestellten Jahresplans zu verhindern. Das Jahresabonnement-Modell wurde eingestellt, da es schwierig geworden ist, eine unterbrechungsfreie langfristige Bereitstellung und Unterstützung über einen gesamten Jahreszeitraum zuverlässig zu gewährleisten. Vor einigen Monaten führten serverseitige Probleme zu mehreren Tagen Dienstunterbrechung, und diese Erfahrung führte dazu, langfristige Vorauszahlungs-Abonnements zu überdenken. Die aktuelle Abonnementoption ist ein Wochenplan zum Preis von 0,69 USD pro Woche. Ziel ist es, die Preisgestaltung flexibel und fair zu halten, damit Nutzer ihr Abonnement jederzeit beenden können, falls der Dienst ihre Erwartungen nicht mehr erfüllt oder technische Probleme auftreten, anstatt an eine lange jährliche Verpflichtung gebunden zu sein. Die App benötigt keine Benutzerkonten, sammelt keine E-Mail-Adressen von Abonnenten und verfolgt keine persönlichen Nutzerdaten. Aufgrund dieses datenschutzorientierten Designs gibt es keine direkte Möglichkeit, allen Abonnenten E-Mails über Änderungen am Abonnement zu senden. Updates und Diskussionen wurden jedoch in der Discord-Community veröffentlicht, auch wenn verständlich ist, dass diese Ankündigungen möglicherweise nicht alle Abonnenten erreichen. Vielen Dank an alle langjährigen Nutzer und Unterstützer für ihr Verständnis und ihre fortgesetzte Unterstützung. Zusätzlich bleibt ein Unterstützungsabonnement für 30 USD pro Monat für Nutzer verfügbar, die zusätzliche finanzielle Unterstützung für laufende Kosten, Wartung und zukünftige Entwicklung leisten möchten. Diese höherpreisige Option ist vollständig freiwillig und nicht erforderlich, um die normale Nutzung des Dienstes zu ermöglichen. ### 1/5 — Will not work *2026-03-22, version 1.2.4* The old app was good. This one will only play one maybe two songs then stops. ### 1/5 — Not working anymore *2026-03-04, version 1.2.2* Not working today ### 1/5 — Nicht mehr ok *2026-02-26* Um das Abo zu verkaufen werden immer mehr Störungen eingeführt. Da das Abo überzogen ist wird das nichts werden. **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für das Feedback. Die Abonnement-Pop-ups tragen zur Finanzierung laufender Kosten bei, darunter Server, Entwicklung und Wartung. ### 1/5 — App used to be great not anymore *2026-02-06, version 1.2.2* App used to be great but its now nearly unusable unless you get the paid version/‘make a donation’. Way too many pop up prompts and audio keeps cutting after every few mins. ### 1/5 — Nagware: Avoid *2026-01-28* TLDR: Don’t get this app unless you want to pay the subscription. I have used this app for years and loved it, but recently (late 2025) the app has been updated so that every time you push a button it asks you to subscribe. It pauses your audio stream randomly to ask you to subscribe. The player is great but the UI is manipulative. I get it if the developer wants to make it a subscription app, fine. But be upfront with a description of the functionality limitations if not paying the subscription. I’ll be looking for a replacement. ### 1/5 — Nagware: Find something else. *2026-01-28* TLDR: it isn’t worth it unless you want to pay monthly I have been using this app for years and have loved it, but with the last few updates the developer has made it so that every time you press a button on the app it asks you to subscribe. It even pauses in the middle of things you were listening to and asks you to subscribe! Technically it works without a subscription, but the UI is getting downright manipulative. Find a different app. **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. The weekly option suits most users, and the monthly option is available for those who wish to offer additional support. ### 1/5 — Marginally Useful to Fail *2026-01-27* Constantly nags. Constantly fails. Was once marginally useful. Now just fail. There are better options. Cannot recommend. **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. It works for most users. Would you like to provide more information about “fail” scenarios? ### 1/5 — Gets worse *2026-01-27* The response regarding asking £1000 to £100 to subscribe fell on deaf ears. They have changed it to 49p for 7 days which is fair but the £29.99 for the month is still laughable. Now the new update has the player pause every ten mins to ask for subscription. Defeats the purpose of the app completely and you may as well subscribe to YouTube for more benefits with no adverts…. Maybe adding banner ads would be a better business model to generate revenue instead of the torrent of spam that the app is suffering from as it’s managed to completely break the point of this kind of app. **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. The weekly option suits most users, and the monthly option is available for those who wish to offer additional support. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — FIXED - Playlists Do Not Refresh *2026-06-18, version 1.2.8* EDIT: Thank you for the lightning fast turnaround in fixing this issue! Updating my rating now. I have loved this app, but now when you try to update a playlist (or add a new one), an error message occurs stating, “Failed to get data by YouTube playlist”. I have confirmed there is not an update, and I have rebooted my phone, but nothing works. I am hopeful this is fixed, and I will gladly update my review. ### 5/5 — Fantastic App! *2026-01-23* This is an awesome app. Easy to navigate. Well worth getting. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Excelente *2025-12-18, version 1.2.0* De las mejores aplicaciones para reproducir audio en segundo plano, puedes crear carpetas, playlists y no solo eso, aleatorio, temporizador, bucle. Sinceramente la mejor, gracias a los desarrolladores por lanzarla, gran trabajo. ### 5/5 — Dory *2025-12-17* Many bugs fixed. **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. Would you like to try version 1.1.7? ### 5/5 — Love this app except for 1 thing *2025-12-01, version 1.1.9* I really like this app. I use it every day at work. I highly recommend it. The only thing is every now and again a YouTube video gets translated into another language. The original video will be in English and it’ll start playing in another language. I can’t figure out how to stop that from happening. I just wanted to play in the original language. It’s very frustrating and I hope they can fix it. If they do, I will change my review to 5 stars. Update… They fixed the issue so now it’s 5 Stars. ### 5/5 — amazing app， no ad， fantastic *2025-08-30, version 1.1.8* Amazing app, no ad ### 5/5 — Love it! *2025-08-07* Initially, was not getting sound. Not sure why but it’s working now! 👍🏻 **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. Would you like to try version 1.1.7? ### 5/5 — Vuelve a funcionar *2025-08-07, version 1.1.7* Parece que en la última versión se ha corregido el problema de carga de canciones y la importación de listas de reproducción. La app merece mucho la pena, muy recomendable. ### 5/5 — DW *2025-06-16, version 1.1.5* Great app. ### 5/5 — Imprescindible!! *2025-06-15, version 1.1.5* Esta aplicación es imprescindible si lo que buscas es escuchar contenido de YouTube como si fueran Podcasts (de ahí su nombre) o música con gasto mínimo de datos; sin tener la pantalla encendida, escuchando el contenido con el teléfono bloqueado. Además puedes organizar y guardar el contenido en carpetas y descargarlo a tu móvil! No necesitas pagar la suscripción $$$ a YouTube para ello. --- *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 2026-09-11.*