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MUBI vs Pocketcasts

MUBI logo

MUBI

Entertainment

Discover extraordinary cinema

From
$7.99/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: MUBI curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available; Pocketcasts specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website
  • They diverge on capability: MUBI covers Curated films, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MUBI and Pocketcasts actually diverge.

Attributes where MUBI and Pocketcasts differ
AttributeMUBIPocketcasts
Starting price$7.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidIos, Android, Web, Windows, Macos
CategoryEntertainmentPodcasting
Founded20072010

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 MUBI

  • Curated films
  • World cinema
  • Documentaries
  • Classics
  • New releases
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

Only in Pocketcasts

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

MUBI

  • Watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinemanot Pocketcasts
  • Discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platformsnot Pocketcasts
  • Getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via MUBI GO in eligible citiesnot Pocketcasts
  • Reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streamingnot Pocketcasts

Pocketcasts

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

Where each one falls short

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

MUBI

  • Curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available
  • No live TV or broad back-catalogue - deliberately small, curated library rather than a comprehensive on-demand one
  • MUBI GO (free theater ticket plus streaming) is limited to select cities

Pocketcasts

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

Pricing, plan by plan

MUBI

$7.99/month
  • Monthly$7.99/month
    • Unlimited streaming access to curated films
    • Download capability via iOS and Android apps
    • Ad-free viewing

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 MUBI if

  • You need curated films.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want world cinema.
MUBI 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 MUBI or Pocketcasts better?
Neither clearly leads. MUBI starts at $7.99/month and Pocketcasts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MUBI or Pocketcasts?
Pocketcasts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.99/month for MUBI and Free for Pocketcasts.
Does MUBI or Pocketcasts run on more platforms?
MUBI runs on Web, iOS, Android. 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. MUBI starts at $7.99/month.
What is MUBI best used for?
MUBI is most often used for watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinema, discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platforms, getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via mubi go in eligible cities, reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streaming. Of those, watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinema and discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platforms are not what Pocketcasts is typically brought in for.
What can MUBI do that Pocketcasts cannot?
MUBI covers Curated films, World cinema, Documentaries, Classics. Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MUBI: How much does MUBI cost?

MUBI costs $7.99 per month USD on a monthly plan. An annual plan is available that saves 38% compared to monthly billing, though the exact annual price is not shown on the pricing page.

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
MUBI: Is there a free trial for MUBI?

Yes, MUBI offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card required. After the trial ends, the membership converts to paid status.

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
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