Media & Entertainment · head to head
Stitcher vs Pocketcasts
Pocketcasts
Podcast & Audio Publishing
The powerful podcast player for serious listeners
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Stitcher service discontinued August 29, 2023; Pocketcasts two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content
- They diverge on capability: Stitcher covers Podcast streaming, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Stitcher and Pocketcasts actually diverge.
| Attribute | Stitcher | Pocketcasts |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers | Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos |
| Category | Media & Entertainment | Podcast & Audio Publishing |
| Founded | 2007 | 2010 |
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 Stitcher
- Podcast streaming
- Original content
- Ad-free
- Offline listening
- Recommendations
- Smart speakers
- Car systems
- Account security
Only in Pocketcasts
- Podcast discovery
- Variable speed playback
- Silence trimming
- Cross-device sync
- Custom filters
- Apple Watch
- Wear OS
- Sonos
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Stitcher
- Podcast listening
- Audio entertainmentnot Pocketcasts
Pocketcasts
- Podcast listening
- Audio content consumptionnot Stitcher
- Learning on the gonot Stitcher
Both are used for podcast listening, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Stitcher
- Service discontinued August 29, 2023
- No longer available for download or use
Pocketcasts
- Two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content
Pricing, plan by plan
Stitcher
Free- FreeFree
- Free podcasts
- Ad-supported
- Stitcher Premium$4.99/month
- Ad-free
- Exclusives
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 Stitcher if
- You need podcast streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
- You also want original content.
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 Stitcher or Pocketcasts better?
- Neither clearly leads. Stitcher 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, Stitcher or Pocketcasts?
- Stitcher starts at Free and Pocketcasts at Free.
- Does Stitcher or Pocketcasts run on more platforms?
- Stitcher runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers. Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
- Can I use Stitcher for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Stitcher best used for?
- Stitcher is most often used for podcast listening, audio entertainment. Of those, audio entertainment is not what Pocketcasts is typically brought in for.
- What can Stitcher do that Pocketcasts cannot?
- Stitcher covers Podcast streaming, Original content, Ad-free, Offline listening. Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Stitcher: Is Stitcher still available?
No. Stitcher shut down on August 29, 2023. SiriusXM, which acquired Stitcher in 2020, discontinued the app to consolidate podcasts into its flagship SiriusXM subscription. Users can listen to podcasts via the SiriusXM app instead.
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