Softwr

Podcasting · head to head

Pocketcasts vs Spotify

Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Podcasting

The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

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: Pocketcasts specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website; Spotify ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • They diverge on capability: Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Spotify covers Music streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pocketcasts and Spotify actually diverge.

Attributes where Pocketcasts and Spotify differ
AttributePocketcastsSpotify
PlatformsIos, Android, Web, Windows, MacosWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
CategoryPodcastingEntertainment
Founded20102006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Pocketcasts

  • Podcast discovery
  • Variable speed playback
  • Silence trimming
  • Custom filters
  • Apple Watch
  • Wear OS
  • Sonos
  • CarPlay

Only in Spotify

  • Music streaming
  • Podcast streaming
  • Playlist creation
  • Music discovery
  • Social sharing
  • Offline downloads
  • Audio quality options
  • Spotify Connect

Both cover

  • Cross-device sync
  • Web support
  • Windows support
  • Macos support

What people use each for

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

Pocketcasts

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

Spotify

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

Where each one falls short

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

Pocketcasts

  • Specific pricing for Pocket Casts Plus and Patron tiers not published on website
  • Free tier features not clearly delineated

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

Pocketcasts

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Cross-device sync
    • Playback effects
  • Plus$39.99/year
    • Desktop apps
    • Cloud storage 10GB
    • Extra themes

Spotify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported listening
    • Standard audio quality
  • Premium Individual$12.99/month
    • 1 account
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads
  • Premium Student$6.99/month
    • 1 verified account for eligible students
    • Hulu access included
    • Ad-free listening
  • Premium Duo$18.99/month
    • 2 accounts for couples at same address
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads

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 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 Pocketcasts or Spotify better?
Neither clearly leads. Pocketcasts 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, Pocketcasts or Spotify?
Pocketcasts starts at Free and Spotify at Free.
Does Pocketcasts or Spotify run on more platforms?
Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos. Spotify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
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 Spotify is typically brought in for.
What can Pocketcasts do that Spotify cannot?
Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Custom filters. Spotify covers Music streaming, Podcast streaming, Playlist creation, Music discovery. Both handle Cross-device sync, Web support, Windows support, Macos support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Pocketcasts: 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.

Source
Spotify: Does Spotify offer a free plan?

Yes, Spotify offers a free ad-supported tier with standard audio quality. Users can listen to any song but do not get offline downloads, full playback control, or ad-free listening.

Source
Pocketcasts: 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.

Source
Spotify: What is the difference between Spotify Premium Student and Premium Individual?

Premium Student costs $6.99/month (half the price of Premium Individual at $12.99/month) and includes Hulu access. Premium Student is available only to verified higher education students with an introductory offer of $0 for 1 month, whereas Premium Individual has a $0 for 3 months introductory offer.

Source
Pocketcasts: 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.

Source
Spotify: How many people can share a Spotify Premium Family plan?

Spotify Premium Family plan allows up to 6 accounts for family members living at the same address, includes parental controls, and provides Premium access (including ad-free listening and offline downloads) for members under 13. The plan costs $21.99/month.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Pocketcasts

More on Spotify

Keep looking

Other head to heads