Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head
Pocketcasts vs Apple Podcasts Connect
Pocketcasts
Podcast & Audio Publishing
The powerful podcast player for serious listeners
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Apple Podcasts Connect
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Manage and distribute your podcast on Apple Podcasts
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Pocketcasts two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content; Apple Podcasts Connect requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- They diverge on capability: Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pocketcasts and Apple Podcasts Connect actually diverge.
| Attribute | Pocketcasts | Apple Podcasts Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos | Web, Ios, Macos |
| Founded | 2010 | 1976 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcast & Audio Publishing).
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 Pocketcasts
- Podcast discovery
- Variable speed playback
- Silence trimming
- Cross-device sync
- Custom filters
- Apple Watch
- Wear OS
- Sonos
Only in Apple Podcasts Connect
- Podcast submission
- Episode management
- Analytics
- Subscription monetization
- Show optimization
- Multi-show management
- RSS feeds
- Hosting platforms
Both cover
- Ios support
- Web support
- Macos support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Pocketcasts
- Podcast listeningnot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Audio content consumptionnot Apple Podcasts Connect
- Learning on the gonot Apple Podcasts Connect
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Submitting a new podcast to Apple Podcastsnot Pocketcasts
- Claiming an existing show so it is registered to your accountnot Pocketcasts
- Reviewing Apple Podcasts listener trends and analyticsnot Pocketcasts
- Managing show artwork and metadatanot Pocketcasts
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Pocketcasts
- Two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content
Apple Podcasts Connect
- Requires an Apple account, and a show has to be claimed before it can be managed
- Only reports listening that happens inside Apple Podcasts, so it is not a whole-audience view
- Does not host audio; the show still needs a hosting provider elsewhere
Pricing, plan by plan
Pocketcasts
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited podcasts
- Cross-device sync
- Playback effects
- Plus$39.99/year
- Desktop apps
- Cloud storage 10GB
- Extra themes
Apple Podcasts Connect
Free- FreeFree
- Podcast submission
- Analytics dashboard
- Episode management
- Subscriptions Program$19.99/year
- Premium subscriptions
- Paid content
- Subscriber management
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Apple Podcasts Connect if
- You need podcast submission.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Macos.
- You also want episode management.
Questions people ask
- Is Pocketcasts or Apple Podcasts Connect better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pocketcasts starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pocketcasts or Apple Podcasts Connect?
- Pocketcasts starts at Free and Apple Podcasts Connect at Free.
- Does Pocketcasts or Apple Podcasts Connect run on more platforms?
- Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos. Apple Podcasts Connect runs on Web, Ios, Macos.
- Can I use Pocketcasts for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Pocketcasts best used for?
- Pocketcasts is most often used for podcast listening, audio content consumption, learning on the go. Of those, podcast listening and audio content consumption are not what Apple Podcasts Connect is typically brought in for.
- What can Pocketcasts do that Apple Podcasts Connect cannot?
- Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Apple Podcasts Connect covers Podcast submission, Episode management, Analytics, Subscription monetization. Both handle Ios support, Web support, Macos support.