# Network vs Pickaxe Player

The clearest difference is price: Pickaxe Player at Free against Network's $2.99. Pickaxe Player also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2). Network's advantage is ratings volume (11 vs 1) and chart position (#31 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Pickaxe Player is free to download; Network costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Pickaxe Player holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Network has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

## The numbers

| Metric | Network | Pickaxe Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.2 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/network-podcast-app/id723422355/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pickaxe-player/id6794137497/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 72.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | — |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#31** | — |
| Size | 1 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Conlan](https://appshunter.io/developer/588213097) | [Tampa Bay Coders](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476078506) |

## What reviewers say

### Network

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/network-podcast-app/id723422355)

**Currently charting:** #31 Top Paid · News (US App Store)

A minimalist podcast player designed for simplicity and efficiency. It offers automatic volume leveling, offline episode downloads, and smart storage management. Enjoy features like variable playback speeds, a sleep timer, and easy podcast importing.

**Highlights:** Sound Check for consistent volume, Automatic offline episode downloads, Smart storage management, Variable playback and skip rates, Sleep Timer, OPML import and URL subscription

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pickaxe Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pickaxe-player/id6794137497)

This app lets you curate your podcast listening experience with customizable "Listening Blocks" that automatically order episodes based on your set rules. It prioritizes user control and privacy, with no accounts or cloud storage required. Enjoy private RSS feeds and essential playback features.

**Highlights:** Customizable Listening Blocks for episode ordering, Manual queue management, Support for private RSS feeds, Local-first data storage, no account needed, Background audio and lock-screen controls, Adjustable playback speed and skip intervals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Network free?

Network costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pickaxe Player free?

Pickaxe Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Network or Pickaxe Player?

Pickaxe Player is rated higher. Network averages 4.2 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Pickaxe Player averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Network or Pickaxe Player have ads?

Neither Network nor Pickaxe Player shows ads.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*