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Entertainment · head to head

Apple Music vs Overcast

Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

All the ways you love music. All in one place.

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Overcast logo

Overcast

Media & Entertainment

The best podcast app for iPhone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Overcast has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Music individual plan discount pricing (3 months for $1.99) applies only to new subscribers, then rises to $11.99 per month; Overcast iOS and Mac only, with no Android version or plans for one
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Music covers Music streaming, Overcast covers Podcast app.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Music and Overcast actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Music and Overcast differ
AttributeApple MusicOvercast
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Macos, Windows, Android, WebiOS, macOS, watchOS
CategoryEntertainmentMedia & Entertainment
Founded20152014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Music

  • Music streaming
  • Offline downloads
  • Spatial Audio
  • Lossless audio
  • Curated playlists
  • Radio stations
  • Music discovery
  • Cross-device sync

Only in Overcast

  • Podcast app
  • Smart Speed
  • Voice Boost
  • Sync
  • Discovery
  • Apple services
  • Podcast services
  • Privacy-focused

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Music

  • Music listeningnot Overcast
  • Music discoverynot Overcast
  • Playlist creationnot Overcast
  • Offline listeningnot Overcast
  • Family entertainmentnot Overcast

Overcast

  • Podcast listeningnot Apple Music
  • Apple integrationnot Apple Music

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Music

  • Individual plan discount pricing (3 months for $1.99) applies only to new subscribers, then rises to $11.99 per month

Overcast

  • iOS and Mac only, with no Android version or plans for one
  • No web version for accessing podcasts across browsers
  • Dependent on Apple ecosystem, limiting accessibility for Windows and Android users

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Music

$10.99/month
  • Individual$10.99/month
    • 100+ million songs
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads
  • Family$16.99/month
    • Up to 6 accounts
    • Individual profiles
    • Parental controls

Overcast

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Podcast playback
    • Smart Speed
    • Voice Boost
  • Premium$9.95/year
    • No ads
    • Custom icons
    • Upload personal audio

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Music if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You work on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline downloads.
Apple Music review

Choose Overcast if

  • You need podcast app.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, macOS, watchOS.
  • You also want smart speed.
Overcast review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Music or Overcast better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and Overcast at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or Overcast?
Overcast has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Apple Music and Free for Overcast.
Does Apple Music or Overcast run on more platforms?
Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web. Overcast runs on iOS, macOS, watchOS.
Can I use Overcast for free?
Yes. Overcast has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month.
What is Apple Music best used for?
Apple Music is most often used for music listening, music discovery, playlist creation, offline listening. Of those, music listening and music discovery are not what Overcast is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Music do that Overcast cannot?
Apple Music covers Music streaming, Offline downloads, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio. Overcast covers Podcast app, Smart Speed, Voice Boost, Sync. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Overcast: Is Overcast free or paid?

Overcast is free with ad banners promoting podcasts. Premium subscription of $9.95 per year removes ads, enables custom icons, and allows uploading personal audio files.

Source
Overcast: What platforms does Overcast support?

Overcast is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Mac with Apple M1 or later. It is not available on Android, Windows, or web.

Source
Overcast: What are Overcast's signature features?

Overcast features Smart Speed, which dynamically shortens silences in podcasts while maintaining natural sound, and Voice Boost, which normalizes audio levels across episodes.

Source
Overcast: Who develops Overcast?

Overcast is developed and maintained by Marco Arment, a software developer who previously created Instapaper and served as CTO of Tumblr.

Source
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Related pages

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