Pod2Swim vs Downshift
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pod2Swim
Listen to podcasts during your swim without a phone. This app downloads your favorite shows to a compatible headset for offline playback, lap after lap. Enjoy adjustable playback speeds and organized audio queues for a seamless swimming experience.
- Podcast subscription and search
- Chronological episode feed
- Background downloading
- One-tap headset export
- Adjustable playback speed
- Offline phone-free playback
Read full descriptionHide full description
Pod2Swim turns your swim into podcast time. Bluetooth doesn't work underwater, so Pod2Swim loads your favourite podcasts straight onto a Shokz OpenSwim — or any headset that mounts as USB storage — ready to play, lap after lap. No phone at the poolside, no streaming, no signal required. HOW IT WORKS • Subscribe to any podcast with the built-in search. • Browse the newest episodes from all your shows in one chronological feed. • Queue what you want for your next swim — Pod2Swim downloads it in the background. • Plug in your headset and export the whole queue in a single tap, in playback order. • Scan the headset any time to see exactly what's loaded. BUILT FOR SWIMMERS • Your audio lives on the headset, so you can leave the phone in the locker. • Adjustable playback speed from 0.75× to 2.5× per podcast, with the pitch preserved — fit more in before the pool closes. • Choose Replace All or Add to End on transfer, so you stay in control of what's on the device. • Episodes land in playback order, so your queue plays exactly as you arranged it. SIMPLE STORAGE • The queue is the single source of truth — add to download, remove to free space. • See total downloaded storage and clear it in one tap. • Optional auto-delete after export keeps things tidy. FREE TRIAL, ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Download free and try everything for 7 days. • One single purchase unlocks Pod2Swim forever — no subscription. • Bought Pod2Swim when it was a paid download? You're unlocked automatically, at no extra cost. Pod2Swim works with the OpenSwim, OpenSwim Pro, and other MP3-player headsets that appear as a USB drive in the Files app. You'll need a USB-C or Lightning adapter to connect the headset to your iPhone. Pod2Swim is not affiliated with Shokz. Shokz and OpenSwim are trademarks of their respective owner.
Downshift
Read full descriptionHide full description
Downshift offers guided breathing exercises for the moments you feel tense or stressed — box breathing, 4-7-8, resonance breathing and the physiological sigh — plus progressive muscle relaxation, a body scan and, with a watch or tracker, a daily nervous-system reading from your Apple Health data. Breathe along. Follow the animated orb through guided patterns: the Physiological Sigh, Resonance breathing, Box, 4-7-8, and more. Gentle haptics mark every inhale and exhale, so you can do it with your eyes closed. Build a daily rhythm. A simple daily checklist of evidence-based habits — morning light, movement, a caffeine cutoff, a steady bedtime — with a streak to keep you going. See your progress. Log your tension morning and evening and watch the trend over time. Let go of physical tension. Guided progressive muscle relaxation walks you head-to-toe. On your wrist and your Home Screen. A standalone Apple Watch app with guided breathing, complications, and your reading at a glance — plus Home and Lock Screen widgets. Yours, and private. Your Apple Health data stays on your device. Your notes sync privately through your own iCloud — no account with us, no servers of ours, no tracking. Ever. Free to download and use. No ads. Downshift supports everyday wellbeing and is not a medical device or a substitute for professional care.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Downshift at none against Pod2Swim's 1. On price, update cadence, ads 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. Pod2Swim sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Downshift asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pod2Swim ships an update every 3 weeks, Downshift fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pod2Swim | Downshift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Christian Bartels | Ioan-Cristian Vezure |
In-app purchases
Pod2Swim
- Full Version$4.99
Downshift
No in-app purchases









