The Best Podcast App? Now Free on Your Desktop

If you love listening to podcasts, there’s some exciting news for you. Pocket Casts often considered one of the best podcast apps, is now free to use on the web as well as on Mac and Windows computers. This means you no longer have to pay to access your favorite podcasts on these platforms. You can start listening for free by either going to Pocket Casts website or downloading App on your Mac or your Windows computer. Podcast listeners may now enjoy their favorite episodes more easily without having to worry about subscription or one-time payment thanks to this upgrade.

Now Free for All, with Extra Perks for Accounts

Previously, using Pocket Casts on desktop required a premium subscription that cost $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year. But now, you can enjoy it for free on Mac, Windows, and the web.

Simply press play to start listening to your favorite podcasts. If you create a free account, you’ll also unlock three additional features:

• Sync your playback progress across devices
• Manage your podcast queue seamlessly
• Save your subscriptions and preferences

In a blog post, Pocket Casts explained why they made this change. Podcasting was originally built on an open and decentralized standard called RSS, allowing anyone to create, share and listen to content freely. However, major platforms are now shifting away from open standards, making it harder for creators to distribute their content and for listeners to discover new podcasts. Pocket Casts remains committed to supporting an open podcasting ecosystem.

Pocket Casts is also available as a free app on Android and iOS, so mobile users have already been enjoying the app without a subscription.

For those who want extra features, the Pocket Casts Plus subscription is still available. It offers advanced tools like folders for organizing podcasts, smart shuffle for randomly selecting episodes, and support for listening on wearable devices. Subscribers also get 20GB of cloud storage for their personal media.

A New and Easy Way to Enjoy Podcasts

With Pocket Casts now offering free access to its web and desktop apps, podcast fans have another great way to listen to their favorite episodes. Whether you’re at home or work, you can now enjoy podcasts on your Mac, Windows PC, or through the web without any cost.

Of course, there are many other free apps available for listening to podcasts. Two of the biggest music streaming services, Spotify and Apple Music, also provide excellent options. Spotify offers useful features like offline downloads, making it convenient for podcast lovers. In 2024, Apple introduced a web app for Apple Podcasts, allowing users to listen to episodes without needing a dedicated app.

Personally, I’ve always enjoyed using Pocket Casts on my iPhone, especially with its excellent CarPlay integration for listening while driving. Now, I’m excited to have the option to listen to more episodes directly on my Mac, making it even easier to enjoy my favorite shows.

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Best Podcast App is Now Free on Desktop FAQ

1. Is Pocket Casts completely free now?
Yes, Pocket Casts is now free to use on the web, Mac, and Windows. You can listen to podcasts without paying, but creating a free account unlocks additional features like syncing, queue management, and saving preferences.

2. Do I need an account to use Pocket Casts for free?
No, you can start listening without an account. However, signing up for a free account enables syncing across devices, podcast queue management, and saving your subscriptions and preferences.

3. What features are still exclusive to Pocket Casts Plus?
Pocket Casts Plus subscribers get additional features like folders for organizing podcasts, smart shuffle, wearable device support, and 20GB of cloud storage for personal media.

4. Can I still use Pocket Casts on mobile devices?
Yes, Pocket Casts is available as a free app on both Android and iOS, just as it was before this update.

5. How does Pocket Casts compare to other podcast apps?
Pocket Casts is widely regarded as one of the best podcast apps due to its user-friendly interface, cross-device syncing, and commitment to open podcasting. While other platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts offer podcast streaming, Pocket Casts provides a dedicated and streamlined experience for podcast enthusiasts.