Pocket Casts has long been one of our favorite podcast clients for iPhone and iPad, and one of the best ways to keep track and consume podcasts, period.
It comes with slick discovery options to help you find things to listen to, a host of smart playback functions, and unlike most of its rivals it’s cross-platform. We gave Pocket Casts an impressive 4.5/5 rating after its big update earlier this year.
And now it’s free.
Previously the app was a one-time $4/£4 purchase, which was pretty reasonable. But with competing podcast clients available free from Apple, Google, and even Spotify, its developers have decided to ditch the entry fee.
Instead, Pocket Casts adds a “Plus” subscription for users wanting to get a little more from the app. Crucially, though, it’s not hiding any of its core features behind the paywall.
Everything available in the previous version of the app is now available for free, with some additional features there for subscribers. Pocket Casts Plus costs $1/£1 per month or $10/£10 annually and grants access to custom audio uploads, 10GB of cloud storage, and a desktop client for use on your computer. (If you paid for the old desktop client, you’ll get three years of Plus for free).
Most of that stuff isn’t relevant to the average user, who just wants a solid app for finding, storing, and listening to their favorite podcasts.
Pocket Casts certainly fits the bill, but there are plenty of other options out there and each caters to a different type of person. Check out our guide to iOS podcast clients if you need help choosing the best app for your needs.