Software · head to head
Pocketcasts vs Buzzsprout
Pocketcasts
Software
The powerful podcast player for serious listeners
- 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; Buzzsprout upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost
- They diverge on capability: Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pocketcasts and Buzzsprout actually diverge.
| Attribute | Pocketcasts | Buzzsprout |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2010 | 2009 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Pocketcasts
- Podcast discovery
- Variable speed playback
- Silence trimming
- Cross-device sync
- Custom filters
- Apple Watch
- Wear OS
- Sonos
Only in Buzzsprout
- Audio optimization
- Automatic distribution
- Episode transcription
- Custom podcast website
- Analytics dashboard
- Magic Mastering
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Pocketcasts
- Podcast listeningnot Buzzsprout
- Audio content consumptionnot Buzzsprout
- Learning on the gonot Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout
- Podcast hostingnot Pocketcasts
- Audio and video podcast distributionnot Pocketcasts
- Transcription and show notes generationnot Pocketcasts
- Podcast analytics and monetisationnot 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
Buzzsprout
- Upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost
- Overage charges apply at plan rate for additional uploads
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
Buzzsprout
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Buzzsprout review.
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 Buzzsprout if
- You need audio optimization.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want automatic distribution.
Questions people ask
- Is Pocketcasts or Buzzsprout better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pocketcasts starts at Free and Buzzsprout at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pocketcasts or Buzzsprout?
- Pocketcasts starts at Free and Buzzsprout at Free.
- Does Pocketcasts or Buzzsprout run on more platforms?
- Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos. Buzzsprout runs on Web, Mobile.
- 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 Buzzsprout is typically brought in for.
- What can Pocketcasts do that Buzzsprout cannot?
- Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Automatic distribution, Episode transcription, Custom podcast website. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web support.