Up Next vs Podwaves
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Up Next
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Up Next is local-first and built around open podcast standards, so your listening stays in your control. What makes Up Next different: Smart chapter skipping with keyword rules, including per-podcast customization Private on-device transcription processing (no cloud upload required) Powerful Up Next queue management with manual reordering Chapter-aware playback, bookmarks, playback speed, and sleep timer Offline downloads with automatic refresh and cleanup OPML import/export, feed URL support, CarPlay, and Siri Shortcuts Up Next is 100% free to use, with no locked features. No data is collected. No tracking. No account required. No central server involved. No ads, subscriptions, in-app purchases, or paywalls.
Podwaves
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Podwaves – Discover & Share Podcasts You’ll Actually Love Podwaves is a smarter way to discover podcasts—powered by real people, not just algorithms. Explore trending shows, save your favorites, and open any podcast instantly in your preferred app like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Discover Better Podcasts Tired of endless scrolling? Podwaves helps you find podcasts that actually matter: * Browse New, Most Recommended, and Most Opened podcasts * Discover curated content shared by real users * Explore podcasts across multiple languages * Clean, fast, and distraction-free experience Filter by Language Find podcasts in the languages you care about: * Select one or multiple languages (English, Romanian, Spanish, French, and more) * Personalized feed based on your preferences * Switch instantly—no reload needed Save & Build Your Library Keep track of what you love: * Save podcasts as Favorites * Automatically track Recently Opened shows * Everything stored locally for speed and privacy * No account required Open in Your Favorite App No need to switch players: * Open podcasts directly in Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube * Works with any valid podcast link * Seamless experience across platforms Recommend Podcasts in Seconds Know a great podcast? Share it: * Paste a link from Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or any website * Podwaves automatically detects and adds it * Help others discover great content Simple Podcast Search Quickly find what you’re looking for: * Search podcasts by title * Fast, responsive results * Integrated with your language filters Private & Simple * No signup required (anonymous access) * No tracking, no clutter * Lightweight and fast Why Podwaves? Most podcast apps focus on playback. Podwaves focuses on discovery. Find what’s worth listening to—faster.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Podwaves at 18.0 against Up Next's 26.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Up Next | Podwaves |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 132 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Holger Krupp | Lazar Sidor |
In-app purchases
Up Next
No in-app purchases
Podwaves
No in-app purchases








