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Pocketcasts vs Simplecast

Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Software

The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Simplecast logo

Simplecast

Software

Hosting for professional podcast networks

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pocketcasts has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Simplecast basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • They diverge on capability: Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pocketcasts and Simplecast actually diverge.

Attributes where Pocketcasts and Simplecast differ
AttributePocketcastsSimplecast
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, Web, Windows, MacosWeb
Founded20102014

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 Pocketcasts

  • Podcast discovery
  • Variable speed playback
  • Silence trimming
  • Cross-device sync
  • Custom filters
  • Apple Watch
  • Wear OS
  • Sonos

Only in Simplecast

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Analytics
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Distribution
  • Team collaboration
  • API access
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Pocketcasts

  • Podcast listeningnot Simplecast
  • Audio content consumptionnot Simplecast
  • Learning on the gonot Simplecast

Simplecast

  • Hosting podcasts with per-episode analytics and audience metricsnot Pocketcasts
  • Distributing shows to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directoriesnot Pocketcasts
  • Monetising podcasts through dynamic ad insertion at the Professional tiernot 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

Simplecast

  • Basic plan at $15 per month includes only 20,000 monthly downloads and 2 team seats
  • Essential plan at $35 per month includes 50,000 monthly downloads and 4 team seats
  • Dynamic ad insertion and campaign management are only on the Professional plan, which is quoted by sales with no published rate
  • API access for publishing and campaign management is Enterprise only
  • Annual prepayment is required to get the 10 percent discount

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

Simplecast

$15/month
  • Creator$15/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Analytics
    • Distribution
  • Studio$49/month
    • All Creator features
    • Dynamic ad insertion
    • Team access
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom features
    • API access
    • Dedicated manager

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.
Pocketcasts review

Choose Simplecast if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You also want analytics.
Simplecast review

Questions people ask

Is Pocketcasts or Simplecast better?
Neither clearly leads. Pocketcasts starts at Free and Simplecast at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pocketcasts or Simplecast?
Pocketcasts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pocketcasts and $15/month for Simplecast.
Does Pocketcasts or Simplecast run on more platforms?
Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos. Simplecast runs on Web.
Can I use Pocketcasts for free?
Yes. Pocketcasts has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplecast starts at $15/month.
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 Simplecast is typically brought in for.
What can Pocketcasts do that Simplecast cannot?
Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Simplecast covers Unlimited hosting, Analytics, Dynamic ad insertion, Distribution. Both handle Web support.
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