Comparison

PodWhale vs Lofer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PodWhale

Enhance your podcast listening experience with synchronized transcripts and translations. Discover new shows, skip to desired segments with chapters, and enjoy offline playback. A premium subscription offers advanced features.

Highlights
  • Synchronized transcripts
  • Subtitles in your language
  • Episode chapters
  • AI-generated episode summaries
  • Offline listening
  • Customizable playback speed
  • Sleep timer
Features
Read full description

PodWhale is the podcast app for people who really listen. Follow the shows you love, find new ones made for you, and get more out of every episode. LISTEN DEEPER WITH PODWHALE PLUS • Read along: the text follows what you hear, sentence by sentence. Tap a sentence to go there. • Subtitles in your language: listen to a podcast in another language and read along in yours. • Chapters: skip straight to the part you want, with a title for every part of the episode. • A line with every episode: in one sentence, why an episode is worth your time. Everyone reads along for free for 5 minutes a day. Try Plus free for 7 days. MADE FOR LISTENING • Home shows the new episodes of your podcasts, each with its own line. • For you: recommendations that tell you why they suit you. • The Top 10 of your country, updated every day. • A player that stays out of your way, in the colors of the cover: speed per podcast, your own skip times and a sleep timer that stops at the end of the episode. • Download episodes and listen offline. • Search millions of podcasts, by language too. • Made for iPhone and iPad, in light and dark. INDEPENDENT No ads, and we never sell your data. Plus keeps PodWhale going. Text, subtitles, chapters and the line with each episode are made automatically with AI and can contain mistakes. When in doubt, listen to the moment itself. PodWhale Plus is a subscription, billed monthly or yearly. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase, or when the free trial ends. It renews automatically unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://podwhale.app/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://podwhale.app/terms-of-use

About

Lofer

Create lo-fi music and ambient soundscapes with a user-friendly interface. Import audio, apply effects, integrate ambient sounds, and manage playlists. Enjoy background playback and customizable settings for a seamless audio journey.

Highlights
  • Import audio files (MP3, WAV, M4A)
  • Apply audio effects (filters, reverb, vinyl noise)
  • Integrate ambient sounds (rain, thunder)
  • Playlist creation and management
  • User-friendly interface with waveform display
  • Background audio playback
  • Customizable settings and preferences
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Lofer, your ultimate audio companion for crafting lo-fi music and immersive ambient soundscapes. Whether you're a music enthusiast, sound designer, or just looking to relax with soothing sounds, Lofer provides the tools you need to unleash your creativity. Key Features: Import and Organize: Easily import your favorite audio files in MP3, WAV, and M4A formats. Organize your library with custom categories and mark your favorites for quick access. Powerful Audio Effects: Transform your sound with a variety of effects, including low-pass filters, reverb, vinyl noise, and bit crushing. Adjust tempo and pitch to create the perfect vibe. Ambient Sound Integration: Enhance your tracks with ambient sounds like rain, thunder, and machinery. Control the volume of each sound to create a balanced mix. Playlist Management: Create and manage playlists to curate your favorite tracks. Share your unique soundscapes with friends or keep them for your personal enjoyment. User-Friendly Interface: Enjoy a sleek, modern design that makes audio editing intuitive and fun. Visual elements like waveform displays and animated graphics enhance your experience. Background Audio Support: Keep the music playing while you multitask. Lofer supports background audio playback, so you can enjoy your creations anytime, anywhere. Customizable Settings: Save your audio settings and preferences for future sessions. Lofer remembers your favorite configurations, making it easy to pick up where you left off. Why Choose Lofer? Lofer is designed for anyone who loves sound. Whether you're creating lo-fi beats, relaxing with ambient sounds, or experimenting with audio effects, Lofer provides a creative platform that inspires and empowers. Dive into the world of sound and let your imagination run wild! Download Lofer today and start your audio journey!

Screenshots

PodWhale4 screens
Lofer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lofer at none against PodWhale's 3. Lofer also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days). PodWhale's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PodWhale sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Lofer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PodWhale against 5.0 for Lofer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PodWhale ships an update every 9 days, Lofer every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PodWhale versus Lofer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPodWhaleLofer
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size102 MB20 MB
Age rating9+17+
DeveloperThinkaholicKaila Consulting Inc.

Customer experience

PodWhale

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Lofer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PodWhale

Subscriptions3
  • Friend - Support the app$0.991 Month
  • PodWhale Plus Monthly$3.991 Month
  • PodWhale Plus Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
None

Lofer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PodWhale free?
PodWhale is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lofer free?
Lofer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PodWhale or Lofer?
PodWhale and Lofer are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do PodWhale or Lofer have ads?
Neither PodWhale nor Lofer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PodWhale or Lofer?
PodWhale ships an update every 9 days, and Lofer every 4 days. Most recently, PodWhale was updated on November 8, 2026 and Lofer on October 30, 2026.

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