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Castro vs Showtime

Castro logo

Castro

Software

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Showtime

Software

Signature entertainment and sports

From
$10.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Castro has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support; Showtime showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • They diverge on capability: Castro covers Podcast app, Showtime covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castro and Showtime actually diverge.

Attributes where Castro and Showtime differ
AttributeCastroShowtime
Starting priceFree$10.99/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Apple Watch, iPadWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv
Founded20131983

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 Castro

  • Podcast app
  • Inbox system
  • Triage view
  • Playback
  • Discovery
  • Podcast services
  • Apple services
  • Privacy controls

Only in Showtime

  • Streaming
  • Original series
  • Movies
  • Sports
  • Live events
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Content filtering

Both cover

  • Account security
  • Ios support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Showtime
  • Listeningnot Showtime

Showtime

  • Premium streamingnot Castro
  • Sports watchingnot 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

Showtime

  • Showtime is now offered only as part of Paramount+'s Premium plan, per the App Store listing (Paramount+ by CBS Mobile)
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period rather than immediately, with continued access through the paid period, per the App Store listing

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

Showtime

$10.99/month
  • Showtime Standalone$10.99/month
    • Original content
    • Ad-free

Which should you pick?

Choose Castro if

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

Choose Showtime if

  • You need streaming.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
  • You also want original series.
Showtime review

Questions people ask

Is Castro or Showtime better?
Neither clearly leads. Castro starts at Free and Showtime at $10.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castro or Showtime?
Castro has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Castro and $10.99/month for Showtime.
Does Castro or Showtime run on more platforms?
Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad. Showtime runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv.
Can I use Castro for free?
Yes. Castro has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Showtime starts at $10.99/month.
What is Castro best used for?
Castro is most often used for podcast management, listening. Of those, podcast management and listening are not what Showtime is typically brought in for.
What can Castro do that Showtime cannot?
Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback. Showtime covers Streaming, Original series, Movies, Sports. Both handle Account security, Ios support, Web support.

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
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
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
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
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