Podcasting · head to head
Headliner vs Pocketcasts

Pocketcasts
Podcasting
The powerful podcast player for serious listeners
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Headliner free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark; Pocketcasts specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website
- They diverge on capability: Headliner covers Audio to video conversion, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Headliner and Pocketcasts actually diverge.
| Attribute | Headliner | Pocketcasts |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos |
| Founded | 2017 | 2010 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Podcasting).
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 Headliner
- Audio to video conversion
- Animated waveforms
- Automatic captions
- Brand customization
- Social media optimization
- Batch processing
- Podcast platforms
- Social media
Only in Pocketcasts
- Podcast discovery
- Variable speed playback
- Silence trimming
- Cross-device sync
- Custom filters
- Apple Watch
- Wear OS
- Sonos
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Headliner
- Turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social medianot Pocketcasts
- Auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clipsnot Pocketcasts
- Producing branded promotional clips from full length episodesnot Pocketcasts
Pocketcasts
- Podcast listeningnot Headliner
- Audio content consumptionnot Headliner
- Learning on the gonot Headliner
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Headliner
- Free plan allows only one unwatermarked audiogram per month; everything else carries a Headliner watermark
- Basic plan at $9.99 per month caps unwatermarked audiograms at 10 per month
- Free and Basic plans cap video length at 10 minutes at 1080p; 2 hour videos require the Pro plan
- Custom watermarks and unlimited unwatermarked exports require the $25.99 per month Pro plan
- Video upload storage is capped at 10GB on every plan including Pro
Pocketcasts
- Specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website
- Free tier features not clearly delineated
Pricing, plan by plan
Headliner
Free- Forever FreeFree
- Ad-supported experience
- Unlimited free video clips
- Unlimited captioned videos
- Basic$9.99/month
- Ad-free experience
- 10 unwatermarked audiograms/month
- Unlimited captions (10 min/project)
- Pro$25.99/month
- All Basic features
- Unlimited unwatermarked videos
- Unlimited transcription
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 Headliner if
- You need audio to video conversion.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want animated waveforms.
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 Headliner or Pocketcasts better?
- Neither clearly leads. Headliner starts at Free and Pocketcasts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Headliner or Pocketcasts?
- Headliner starts at Free and Pocketcasts at Free.
- Does Headliner or Pocketcasts run on more platforms?
- Headliner runs on Web. Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
- Can I use Headliner for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Headliner best used for?
- Headliner is most often used for turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social media, auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clips, producing branded promotional clips from full length episodes. Of those, turning podcast audio into captioned audiogram videos for social media and auto transcribing episodes and burning captions into video clips are not what Pocketcasts is typically brought in for.
- What can Headliner do that Pocketcasts cannot?
- Headliner covers Audio to video conversion, Animated waveforms, Automatic captions, Brand customization. Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Headliner: How much does Headliner cost?
Headliner offers Forever Free (ad-supported), Basic at $9.99/month (reduced from $14.99), and Pro at $25.99/month (reduced from $29.99).
SourcePocketcasts: 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.
SourceHeadliner: What is included in Headliner Pro?
Headliner Pro at $25.99/month includes unlimited unwatermarked videos, unlimited transcription, unlimited captions, custom watermarks, 1080p up to 2 hours, 4-hour audio files, and priority support.
SourcePocketcasts: 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.
SourceHeadliner: Does Headliner offer annual discounts?
Yes, annual billing offers up to 50% savings. Basic plan costs $7.99/month billed yearly, and Pro costs $19.99/month billed yearly.
SourcePocketcasts: 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Pocketcasts
Other head to heads
- Headliner vs Transistor.fm
- Headliner vs Buzzsprout
- Headliner vs Adobe Podcast
- Headliner vs Repurpose.io
- Headliner vs Castmagic
- Headliner vs Podpage
- Headliner vs Alitu
- Headliner vs Glow.fm
- Headliner vs Spreaker
- Headliner vs Zencastr
- Headliner vs Apple Podcasts Connect
- Headliner vs Podtrac
- Headliner vs RedCircle
- Headliner vs Simplecast
- Headliner vs SoundCloud
- Headliner vs Spotify for Podcasters
- Headliner vs Podcast Addict
- Headliner vs Podbean
- Headliner vs Blubrry
- Headliner vs Fireside
- Headliner vs Hindenburg Journalist
- Headliner vs Captivate
- Headliner vs Castos
- Headliner vs Chartable
- Headliner vs Cleanfeed
- Headliner vs Transistor
- Pocketcasts vs Transistor.fm
- Pocketcasts vs Buzzsprout
- Pocketcasts vs Adobe Podcast
- Pocketcasts vs Repurpose.io
- Pocketcasts vs Castmagic
- Pocketcasts vs Podpage
- Pocketcasts vs Alitu
- Pocketcasts vs Glow.fm
- Pocketcasts vs Spreaker
- Pocketcasts vs Zencastr
- Pocketcasts vs Apple Podcasts Connect
- Pocketcasts vs Podtrac
- Pocketcasts vs RedCircle
- Pocketcasts vs Simplecast
- Pocketcasts vs SoundCloud
- Pocketcasts vs Spotify for Podcasters
- Pocketcasts vs Podcast Addict
- Pocketcasts vs Podbean
- Pocketcasts vs Blubrry
- Pocketcasts vs Fireside
- Pocketcasts vs Hindenburg Journalist
- Pocketcasts vs Captivate
- Pocketcasts vs Castos
- Pocketcasts vs Chartable
- Pocketcasts vs Cleanfeed
- Pocketcasts vs Transistor

