Pocket Casts review

Pocket Casts is the most complete podcast player you can use on almost any device. Since the company made the core app free, sync of subscriptions, the Up Next queue, listening history and filters is included without paying, and you can continue on another phone or in the web player. The Playlists feature mixes episodes from different shows, and Smart Playlists rebuild themselves from rules such as release date, duration or download status. Playback tools cover trim silence, volume boost for voices, chapters, custom skip intervals and speeds from 0.5x to 3x. It casts to Chromecast, AirPlay and Sonos and works in CarPlay. Plus, at $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year on the US App Store, adds folders, bookmarks, wearable apps, extra themes and cloud storage for your own files. The downside is density: there are many screens and switches, and a casual listener may never touch most of them.

Who it is for

Listeners who want one full-featured player that syncs across phone, watch and browser.

Price

Free app; Plus $39.99 per year (about $3.33 per month) or $3.99 monthly on the US App Store; Patron from $9.99 a month.

Plus Monthly $3.99 Plus Yearly $39.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Key features

• Playlists and Smart Playlists that update by release date, duration or download status
• Trim silence, volume boost and speed from 0.5x to 3x
• Up Next queue, subscriptions and history synced to the cloud and the web
• CarPlay, AirPlay, Chromecast and Sonos playback
• OPML import and export at any time

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The core player is free, including sync
• Strength: Runs on iPhone, Android, Apple Watch and a web player
• Strength: Smart Playlists make large libraries manageable
• Weakness: Folders and wearable extras need Plus
• Weakness: Plus costs more than Overcast or Castro per year
• Weakness: The many settings take time to learn

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, core player and sync
• US price: Plus $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year
• Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple Watch, web
• Speed range: 0.5x to 3x
• Developer: Automattic

Where it ranks

Pocket Casts is No. 2 in our Best Podcast Apps verdict.