Softwr

Entertainment · head to head

Apple Music vs Pocketcasts

Apple Music logo

Apple Music

Entertainment

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

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Podcasting

The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pocketcasts 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; Pocketcasts specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Music covers Music streaming, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Music and Pocketcasts differ
AttributeApple MusicPocketcasts
Starting price$10.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Macos, Windows, Android, WebIos, Android, Web, Windows, Macos
CategoryEntertainmentPodcasting
Founded20152010

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
  • Siri

Only in Pocketcasts

  • Podcast discovery
  • Variable speed playback
  • Silence trimming
  • Custom filters
  • Wear OS
  • Sonos
  • Android Auto
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Cross-device sync
  • Apple Watch
  • CarPlay
  • Ios support
  • Macos support

What people use each for

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

Apple Music

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

Pocketcasts

  • Podcast listeningnot Apple Music
  • Audio content consumptionnot Apple Music
  • Learning on the gonot 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

Pocketcasts

  • Specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website
  • Free tier features not clearly delineated

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

Pocketcasts

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Cross-device sync
    • Playback effects
  • Plus$39.99/year
    • Desktop apps
    • Cloud storage 10GB
    • Extra themes

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 Pocketcasts if

  • You need podcast discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want variable speed playback.
Pocketcasts review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Music or Pocketcasts better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Music starts at $10.99/month and Pocketcasts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Music or Pocketcasts?
Pocketcasts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10.99/month for Apple Music and Free for Pocketcasts.
Does Apple Music or Pocketcasts run on more platforms?
Apple Music runs on Ios, Macos, Windows, Android, Web. Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
Can I use Pocketcasts for free?
Yes. Pocketcasts 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 Pocketcasts is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Music do that Pocketcasts cannot?
Apple Music covers Music streaming, Offline downloads, Spatial Audio, Lossless audio. Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Custom filters. Both handle Cross-device sync, Apple Watch, CarPlay, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Music: Where can I find Apple Music pricing and subscription information?

Pricing details are not shown on the New section of Apple Music. Check the main Apple Music homepage or account settings for subscription tiers.

Source
Pocketcasts: How much does Pocket Casts cost?

Pocket Casts offers a free version described as 'the world's most powerful podcast platform, now available for free.' Premium tiers like Pocket Casts Plus and Pocket Casts Patron are available, but specific pricing is not disclosed on the main website.

Source
Pocketcasts: Is there a free version of Pocket Casts?

Yes, Pocket Casts offers a free tier with 'next-level listening, search and discovery tools' and access to curated podcast recommendations. Premium features require upgrading to Plus or Patron plans.

Source
Pocketcasts: What premium features does Pocket Casts Plus include?

Pocket Casts Plus includes wearable app access, folders for podcast organization, Up Next Shuffle, bookmarks, cloud storage, and themes with custom icons. Specific pricing for this tier is not published on the website.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Apple Music

More on Pocketcasts

Keep looking

Other head to heads