# Podcastle vs PodPulse

The clearest difference is rating: PodPulse at 5.0 against Podcastle's 1.0. PodPulse also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Podcastle sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. PodPulse asks for nothing beyond the download.

PodPulse holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Podcastle ships an update every 3 months, PodPulse every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and August 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Podcastle | PodPulse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/podcastle/id6450795970/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/podpulse/id6737267922/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Emidio Cunha](https://appshunter.io/developer/369173671) | [Dor Pascal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1773249483) |

## What reviewers say

### Podcastle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/podcastle/id6450795970)

This podcast player offers a minimalist interface with a unique transcription feature that allows you to read along while listening. It prioritizes user privacy with on-device processing and no account registration required. Support the developer through an optional donation.

**Highlights:** Transcription while listening, Searchable transcripts, Minimalist user interface, On-device data processing, No account registration required, Chapter information display

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip Jar | $0.99 | one-time |
| Podcastle Unlock | $3.99 | one-time |


### PodPulse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/podpulse/id6737267922)

This podcast player offers a clean, ad-free interface for an elegant listening experience. It features smart library management, refined playback controls, and a minimalistic design, all developed by an indie creator.

**Highlights:** Minimalistic design, Ad-free interface, Smart library management, Refined playback experience, Background playback, Indie-developed

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Podcastle free?

Podcastle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PodPulse free?

PodPulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Podcastle or PodPulse?

PodPulse is rated higher. Podcastle averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while PodPulse averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Podcastle or PodPulse have ads?

Neither Podcastle nor PodPulse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Podcastle or PodPulse?

Podcastle ships an update every 3 months, and PodPulse every 9 days. Most recently, Podcastle was updated on September 18, 2026 and PodPulse on August 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*