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Entertainment · head to head

Castro vs Overcast

Castro logo

Castro

Entertainment

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Overcast logo

Overcast

Entertainment

The best podcast app for iPhone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support; Overcast iOS and Mac only, with no Android version or plans for one
  • They diverge on capability: Castro covers Inbox system, Overcast covers Smart Speed.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castro and Overcast actually diverge.

Attributes where Castro and Overcast differ
AttributeCastroOvercast
PlatformsiOS, Apple Watch, iPadiOS, macOS, watchOS
Founded20132014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

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 Castro

  • Inbox system
  • Triage view
  • Playback
  • Account security
  • Privacy controls

Only in Overcast

  • Smart Speed
  • Voice Boost
  • Sync
  • Privacy-focused
  • Local processing

Both cover

  • Podcast app
  • Discovery
  • Podcast services
  • Apple services
  • Ios support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Overcast
  • Listeningnot Overcast

Overcast

  • Podcast listeningnot Castro
  • Apple integrationnot Castro

Where each one falls short

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

Castro

  • iOS/Apple-only, no Android support
  • No unified inbox for managing multiple podcast accounts
  • Recent ownership change (2024) may affect long-term development

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

Castro

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core podcast management
    • Inbox/queue/archive
    • CarPlay support
  • Castro Plus$24.99/year
    • Custom per-podcast settings
    • Trim Silence
    • Enhance Voices

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 Castro if

  • You need inbox system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad.
  • You also want triage view.
Castro review

Choose Overcast if

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

Questions people ask

Is Castro or Overcast better?
Neither clearly leads. Castro starts at Free and Overcast at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castro or Overcast?
Castro starts at Free and Overcast at Free.
Does Castro or Overcast run on more platforms?
Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad. Overcast runs on iOS, macOS, watchOS.
Can I use Castro for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Castro best used for?
Castro is most often used for podcast management, listening. Of those, podcast management and listening are not what Overcast is typically brought in for.
What can Castro do that Overcast cannot?
Castro covers Inbox system, Triage view, Playback, Account security. Overcast covers Smart Speed, Voice Boost, Sync, Privacy-focused. Both handle Podcast app, Discovery, Podcast services, Apple services.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Castro: How much does Castro cost?

Castro 3 is free to download with optional Castro Plus subscription at $24.99/year (includes one-week free trial).

Source
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
Castro: What platforms does Castro support?

Castro is available on iPhone with an Apple Watch app and is expanding to iPad (launched August 4, 2025). There is no Android version.

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
Castro: What are the key features of Castro Plus premium subscription?

Castro Plus adds custom per-podcast settings including Episode Limit, Trim Silence, Enhance Voices, Mono Mix, Skip Intros, and variable playback speed.

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
Castro: How does Castro organize podcasts?

Castro uses an inbox/queue/archive split system where the inbox contains notifications of new episodes and the queue serves as an active playlist.

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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