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Audible vs Pocketcasts

Audible logo

Audible

Software

Audiobooks as you've never experienced them

From
$7.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Software

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: Audible auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing; Pocketcasts two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content
  • They diverge on capability: Audible covers Audiobooks, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Audible and Pocketcasts actually diverge.

Attributes where Audible and Pocketcasts differ
AttributeAudiblePocketcasts
Starting price$7.95/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, Desktop, KindleIos, Android, Web, Windows, Macos
Founded19952010

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

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 Audible

  • Audiobooks
  • Podcasts
  • Originals
  • Offline listening
  • Amazon Echo
  • Kindle
  • Family library
  • Account security

Only in Pocketcasts

  • Podcast discovery
  • Variable speed playback
  • Silence trimming
  • Cross-device sync
  • Custom filters
  • Wear OS
  • Sonos
  • CarPlay

Both cover

  • Apple Watch
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Audible

  • Audiobook listeningnot Pocketcasts
  • Podcast consumptionnot Pocketcasts

Pocketcasts

  • Podcast listeningnot Audible
  • Audio content consumptionnot Audible
  • Learning on the gonot Audible

Where each one falls short

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

Audible

  • Auto renews monthly and must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current membership period, per the App Store listing
  • Renewal is charged at the rate of the selected plan within 24 hours before the end of each membership period, per the App Store listing

Pocketcasts

  • Two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content

Pricing, plan by plan

Audible

$7.95/month
  • Plus$7.95/month
    • Plus catalog
    • Podcasts
  • Premium Plus$14.95/month
    • 1 credit/month
    • Plus catalog

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 Audible if

  • You need audiobooks.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle.
  • You also want podcasts.
Audible 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 Audible or Pocketcasts better?
Neither clearly leads. Audible starts at $7.95/month and Pocketcasts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Audible or Pocketcasts?
Pocketcasts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.95/month for Audible and Free for Pocketcasts.
Does Audible or Pocketcasts run on more platforms?
Audible runs on Ios, Android, Desktop, Kindle. 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. Audible starts at $7.95/month.
What is Audible best used for?
Audible is most often used for audiobook listening, podcast consumption. Of those, audiobook listening and podcast consumption are not what Pocketcasts is typically brought in for.
What can Audible do that Pocketcasts cannot?
Audible covers Audiobooks, Podcasts, Originals, Offline listening. Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Both handle Apple Watch, Ios support, Android support.
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