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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Overcast vs Spotify

Overcast logo

Overcast

Media & Entertainment

The best podcast app for iPhone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spotify logo

Spotify

Entertainment

Music for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Overcast iOS and Mac only, with no Android version or plans for one; Spotify ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • They diverge on capability: Overcast covers Podcast app, Spotify covers Music streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Overcast and Spotify actually diverge.

Attributes where Overcast and Spotify differ
AttributeOvercastSpotify
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, macOS, watchOSWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
CategoryMedia & EntertainmentEntertainment
Founded20142006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Overcast

  • Podcast app
  • Smart Speed
  • Voice Boost
  • Sync
  • Discovery
  • Apple services
  • Podcast services
  • Privacy-focused

Only in Spotify

  • Music streaming
  • Podcast streaming
  • Playlist creation
  • Music discovery
  • Social sharing
  • Offline downloads
  • Cross-device sync
  • Audio quality options

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Overcast

  • Podcast listeningnot Spotify
  • Apple integrationnot Spotify

Spotify

  • Music listeningnot Overcast
  • Podcast consumptionnot Overcast
  • Playlist sharingnot Overcast
  • Music discoverynot Overcast
  • Background musicnot Overcast

Where each one falls short

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

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

Spotify

  • Ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • Lossless streaming tops out at 24-bit/44.1 kHz
  • The Duo plan at $18.99 a month covers two people and the Family plan at $21.99 covers a household, with no per-seat option between them

Pricing, plan by plan

Overcast

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Podcast playback
    • Smart Speed
    • Voice Boost
  • Premium$9.95/year
    • No ads
    • Custom icons
    • Upload personal audio

Spotify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported music
    • Shuffle play
    • Limited skips
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Ad-free music
    • Play any song
    • Unlimited skips
  • Family$15.99/month
    • 6 Premium accounts
    • Individual profiles
    • Parental controls

Which should you pick?

Choose Overcast if

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

Choose Spotify if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want podcast streaming.
Spotify review

Questions people ask

Is Overcast or Spotify better?
Neither clearly leads. Overcast starts at Free and Spotify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Overcast or Spotify?
Overcast starts at Free and Spotify at Free.
Does Overcast or Spotify run on more platforms?
Overcast runs on iOS, macOS, watchOS. Spotify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
Can I use Overcast for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Overcast best used for?
Overcast is most often used for podcast listening, apple integration. Of those, podcast listening and apple integration are not what Spotify is typically brought in for.
What can Overcast do that Spotify cannot?
Overcast covers Podcast app, Smart Speed, Voice Boost, Sync. Spotify covers Music streaming, Podcast streaming, Playlist creation, Music discovery. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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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Related pages

More on Overcast

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