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MUBI vs Pocketcasts

MUBI logo

MUBI

Software

Discover extraordinary cinema

From
$7.99/month
Rated
-
Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Software

The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

From
Free
Rated
-

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 two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content
  • They diverge on capability: MUBI covers Curated films, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.

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 modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidIos, Android, Web, Windows, Macos
Founded20072010

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 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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

MUBI

$7.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the MUBI review.

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.

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.

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.

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