Comparison

PodPulse vs GilloCast

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

Head to head
About

PodPulse

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
Read full description

PodPulse – Simple, Clean, and Handcrafted Podcast Listening PodPulse is an indie-developed podcast app that brings simplicity and elegance to your podcast listening experience. Built by a solo developer and powered by Apple Podcasts, PodPulse focuses on providing a clean interface without unnecessary distractions—just you and your podcasts. Key Features • Minimalistic Design: A straightforward, ad-free interface with no bloat. Choose between elegant grid or list views to browse your podcasts exactly how you prefer. • Handcrafted Experience: Designed and built by an indie developer, PodPulse reflects the care and attention to detail you deserve in an app. • Smart Library Management: - Save your favorite shows with a simple star - Switch between grid and list views - Access your podcasts instantly - No account required—just pure listening • Refined Playback Experience: - Sleek mini-player that follows you - Full-screen immersive player - Background playback - Lock screen controls with artwork - 30-second forward skip - 15-second backward skip - Remembers where you left off • Thoughtful Details: - Clean episode descriptions - Smooth animations - Simple podcast search powered by Apple Podcasts - Continuous playback - No ads, no tracking - No hidden paywalls • Lightweight and Intuitive: No unnecessary features or complex menus—just a pure, smooth podcast experience focused on what matters most: listening. Whether you're catching up on your favorite show or exploring new content, PodPulse makes podcast listening easy, accessible, and enjoyable. It's podcast listening distilled to its essence—simple, beautiful, and respectful of your time and attention. Download PodPulse today and experience podcast listening as it should be: clean, simple, and handcrafted with care.

About

GilloCast

This private podcast player offers iCloud sync across all Apple devices. Discover millions of shows, import existing subscriptions, and enjoy smart playback features. Core listening is free with daily and weekly limits, while a subscription removes caps and unlocks advanced options.

Highlights
  • iCloud sync across Apple devices
  • Search millions of podcasts
  • Import OPML subscriptions
  • Smart playback speed control
  • Apple Watch direct playback
  • Transcript support
  • NFC/QR code playback triggers
Features
Read full description

Find the part of an episode you want to hear again. GilloCast puts a searchable transcript beside the audio, so you can read along and tap any line to jump there. Follow any show without an account, and pick up where you left off on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and CarPlay. See every feature at gillocast.com --- TRANSCRIPTS & SUMMARIES Read along as an episode plays, search what was said, and tap a line to jump there. GilloCast uses the show's transcript, or makes one on your device. On devices with Apple Intelligence, it writes a short episode summary too. INBOX & SYNC New episodes from the shows you follow land in your Inbox. Follows, queue and progress sync through iCloud, so you can start on iPhone and finish on Apple TV. FIND SHOWS Search millions of public podcasts. Browse trending shows, top picks, categories and publisher channels. SMART PLAYBACK Chapters, 0.5x-3x speed, custom skip intervals, gentle pause and resume fades, and a sleep timer that fades to silence. EVERY DEVICE CarPlay: your shows, the directory and your queue. Apple Watch: a remote, or for Supporters, a full player with downloads. Apple TV: listen on the big screen with the Siri Remote. DOWNLOADS & BOOKMARKS Supporters save episodes for offline, by hand or automatically for chosen shows, and bookmark any moment with a note. BRING YOUR SHOWS Supporters can import the shows they follow in another podcast app with a standard OPML file. WIDGET & TAP TO PLAY The Podcast Inbox widget puts your latest episodes on your Home Screen. Write any show or episode to an NFC tag, QR code or share link; links open for anyone with the app. MAKE IT YOURS Match the player to each show's artwork or pick your own accent, light or dark. Choose a player style, animated background and swipe gestures for the queue or transcript, or apply a built-in profile in one tap. Supporters save their own profiles. PRIVACY FIRST No tracking, no analytics, no in-app ads. Follows and progress sync through your personal iCloud. Account services are used only if you sign in. GO FURTHER WITH SUPPORTER GilloCast is free to download and plays no ads of its own, though shows may include theirs. Browsing and following shows are never capped. Supporter, as a subscription or a one-time Lifetime purchase, lifts the free tier's listening and transcript limits and adds offline downloads, OPML import, bookmarks with notes, Apple Watch direct playback, custom Personalization profiles, app icons, 20+ theme colors and more. Lifetime adds exclusive gold theming. --- Have your own music library? Try Dee Jellie (Jellyfin) and Drac's Jukebox (OpenSubsonic). Live radio? Try Honu’in. deejellie.com dracsjukebox.com honuin.com --- Need help? Email dev@gillocast.com or use Send Debug Log in the Menu. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.gillocast.com/eula

Screenshots

PodPulse4 screens
GilloCast4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PodPulse at none against GilloCast's 3. PodPulse also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.5.2). GilloCast's advantage is device support (5 vs 3). 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. GilloCast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. PodPulse 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 PodPulse against 5.0 for GilloCast. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PodPulse ships an update every 9 days, GilloCast every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PodPulse versus GilloCast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPodPulseGilloCast
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.5.2
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB199 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDor PascalFlore Technologies, LLC.

Customer experience

PodPulse

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

GilloCast

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

PodPulse

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

GilloCast

Subscriptions2
  • Supporter - 1 Month3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Supporter - 1 Year3 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Supporter - Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is PodPulse free?
PodPulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GilloCast free?
GilloCast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PodPulse or GilloCast?
PodPulse and GilloCast are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do PodPulse or GilloCast have ads?
Neither PodPulse nor GilloCast shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PodPulse or GilloCast?
PodPulse ships an update every 9 days, and GilloCast every 3 weeks. Most recently, PodPulse was updated on October 30, 2026 and GilloCast on November 2, 2026.

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