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Software · head to head

Pocketcasts vs Zencastr

Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Software

The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

From
Free
Rated
-
Zencastr logo

Zencastr

Software

Free podcast recording in your browser

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; Zencastr the pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Zencastr covers Browser-based recording.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pocketcasts and Zencastr actually diverge.

Attributes where Pocketcasts and Zencastr differ
AttributePocketcastsZencastr
PlatformsIos, Android, Web, Windows, MacosWeb
Founded20102015

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 Zencastr

  • Browser-based recording
  • Separate tracks
  • Automatic postproduction
  • Video recording
  • Lossless audio
  • Cloud storage
  • Dropbox
  • Google Drive

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Pocketcasts

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

Zencastr

  • Recording remote podcast interviews with separate local tracks per guestnot Pocketcasts
  • Recording video podcasts in the browser without guest software installsnot Pocketcasts
  • Publishing recorded episodes and clips from one workspacenot 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

Zencastr

  • The pricing page lists no dollar amount for any tier; the paid Enterprise tier is marked Custom and requires contacting sales
  • The free tier caps a session at 6 participants
  • The free tier caps video streaming quality at 1080p
  • The free tier is limited to 5 podcast shows and 4 seats

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

Zencastr

Free
  • HobbyistFree
    • 8 hours/month audio
    • MP3 quality
    • Up to 2 guests
  • Professional$20/month
    • Unlimited recording
    • WAV lossless quality
    • Video recording

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 Zencastr if

  • You need browser-based recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want separate tracks.

Questions people ask

Is Pocketcasts or Zencastr better?
Neither clearly leads. Pocketcasts starts at Free and Zencastr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pocketcasts or Zencastr?
Pocketcasts starts at Free and Zencastr at Free.
Does Pocketcasts or Zencastr run on more platforms?
Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos. Zencastr runs on Web.
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 Zencastr is typically brought in for.
What can Pocketcasts do that Zencastr cannot?
Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Zencastr covers Browser-based recording, Separate tracks, Automatic postproduction, Video recording. Both handle Web support.

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