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Castro vs Tubi

Castro logo

Castro

Software

Podcast app with episode inbox

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tubi logo

Tubi

Software

Watch movies and TV shows for free

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Castro iOS/Apple-only, no Android support; Tubi the App Store listing (Tubi, Inc) shows the app as entirely free with advertising; there is no in-app purchase, ad-free tier, or premium subscription offered anywhere in the listing, meaning users who want to remove ads have no paid option at all
  • They diverge on capability: Castro covers Podcast app, Tubi covers Streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Castro and Tubi actually diverge.

Attributes where Castro and Tubi differ
AttributeCastroTubi
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsiOS, Apple Watch, iPadWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv
Founded20132014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Account security

Only in Tubi

  • Streaming
  • Full catalog
  • Search
  • Recommendations
  • Watchlist
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Content filtering

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Castro

  • Podcast managementnot Tubi
  • Listeningnot Tubi

Tubi

  • Free streamingnot Castro
  • Content discoverynot 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

Tubi

  • The App Store listing (Tubi, Inc) shows the app as entirely free with advertising; there is no in-app purchase, ad-free tier, or premium subscription offered anywhere in the listing, meaning users who want to remove ads have no paid option at all

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

Tubi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full catalog
    • Ad-supported

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 Tubi if

  • You need streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
  • You also want full catalog.
Tubi review

Questions people ask

Is Castro or Tubi better?
Neither clearly leads. Castro starts at Free and Tubi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Castro or Tubi?
Castro starts at Free and Tubi at Free.
Does Castro or Tubi run on more platforms?
Castro runs on iOS, Apple Watch, iPad. Tubi runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Roku, Fire-tv.
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 Tubi is typically brought in for.
What can Castro do that Tubi cannot?
Castro covers Podcast app, Inbox system, Triage view, Playback. Tubi covers Streaming, Full catalog, Search, Recommendations. Both handle 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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Related pages

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