Loop vs BetterCast
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Loop
An independent podcast player designed for a superior audio experience on Apple devices. It offers features like sleep timers, chapter support, and automatic backups, all within a minimalist and privacy-focused interface.
- Sleep Mode with auto-pause timer
- Episode chapter support
- Podcast collections for sequential playback
- Automatic iCloud backup
- Privacy-first, no user tracking
- Offline episode downloads
- Podcast description translation
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A simple and intuitive podcast player, without a big company behind it — Loop is an independent podcast player, designed to provide the best possible audio experience on Apple platforms. Loop is a modern and full-featured podcast player with several useful features in a simple and intuitive interface: - Sleep Mode: Dim the player’s brightness and set a timer for automatic pause. - Chapter Support: View episode topics without leaving the player. - Collections: Create collections from your favorite podcasts and listen to the latest episodes of all podcasts in sequence. - Automatic Backup: Your collections and favorite podcasts are always saved in iCloud. - Podcast Discovery: Explore content randomly, with no algorithms behind it. - Apple Standard Experience: A smooth and intuitive experience for Apple ecosystem users. - Privacy First: Your data stays on your device, with no tracking. - Customization: Personalize your Loop experience your way. - Wallpaper Studio: Turn podcast covers into wallpapers. - High-Quality Streaming: Listen to your podcasts in the best quality, without restrictions. - Episode Download: Enjoy your favorite content even offline. - Podcast Description Translation: Learn more about the podcast, even if you don't know the language spoken in it. - Smart Search: Ask Loop to find podcasts related to a topic, and it will find related podcasts powered by Apple Intelligence. Loop is funded by each unit sold. Payment will be charged to your App Store account upon purchase confirmation. Privacy policy: https://loop-app.framer.website/privacy Designed and developed in Brazil.
BetterCast
This ad-free podcast player offers a beautiful, intuitive design with advanced playback controls and on-device transcription. Personalize playlists, track listening insights, and enjoy seamless integration across Apple devices.
- 100% Ad-Free Experience
- Intuitive Design
- Advanced Playback Controls
- On-Device Transcription
- Playlist Customization
- Listening Insights
- Apple Ecosystem Integration
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BetterCast is built for people who truly love podcasts. Fast, intuitive, and completely ad-free, BetterCast helps you listen your way with powerful features and a beautiful design across Apple devices. Created by heavy podcast listeners, BetterCast is designed from the ground up to make every part of podcast listening smarter, smoother, and more enjoyable. Key Highlights: ◆ 100% Ad-Free Experience No banner ads, no in-app interruptions. Just podcasts. Note that individual episodes may still contain ads embedded by their creators. ◆ Beautiful, Intuitive Design A clean interface that feels simple for beginners and powerful for advanced listeners. ◆ Advanced Playback Controls Adjust playback speed, browse chapter markers, use episode notes, and enjoy full artwork previews, plus more. ◆ On-Device Transcription for Any Podcast Get local transcripts with privacy in mind, then take action with smart controls: skip sections, stop playback, or jump intros using keyword-based rules. ◆ Powerful Playlist Customization Build highly personalized playlists by filtering episodes by keywords, topic, duration, and more. ◆ Detailed Listening Insights Track playback statistics and review storage usage with clear, helpful analytics. ◆ Deep Apple Ecosystem Integration Designed for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and iMessage for a seamless Apple-native experience. Discover even more inside the app. Download BetterCast and level up your podcast listening. Terms of Use: This app is governed by Apple's standard End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: BetterCast at Free against Loop's $4.99. BetterCast also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 67%) and ratings volume (34 vs 2). Loop's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#13 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
BetterCast is free to download; Loop costs $4.99 up front. BetterCast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year. Loop asks for nothing beyond the download.
BetterCast holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BetterCast has 34 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Loop's written reviews are positive against 94% of BetterCast's.
Loop ships an update fortnightly, BetterCast every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Loop | BetterCast |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) | 4.7 (34 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 93.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 34 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #13 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 74 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Augusto Simionato | Khashayar Abryoghani |
Customer experience
Loop
BetterCast
In-app purchases
Loop
No in-app purchases
BetterCast
- BetterCast Premium Annual$1.991 Year
- Full Version Lifetime$4.99
- Premium Lifetime$9.99
