Comparison

Pod2Swim vs Downshift

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Podcast subscription and search
  • Chronological episode feed
  • Background downloading
  • One-tap headset export
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Offline phone-free playback
Features
Read 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.

About

Downshift

Features
Read 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

Pod2Swim4 screens
Downshift4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Pod2Swim sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Downshift asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pod2Swim ships an update every 3 weeks, Downshift fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Pod2Swim versus Downshift: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPod2SwimDownshift
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB18 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperChristian BartelsIoan-Cristian Vezure

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pod2Swim

One-time1
  • Full Version$4.99
None

Downshift

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pod2Swim free?
Pod2Swim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Downshift free?
Downshift is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pod2Swim or Downshift have ads?
Neither Pod2Swim nor Downshift shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pod2Swim or Downshift?
Pod2Swim ships an update every 3 weeks, and Downshift fortnightly. Most recently, Pod2Swim was updated on October 13, 2026 and Downshift on October 8, 2026.

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