Pocket Casts frequently tops lists of best podcast apps even though it’s a paid app. Don’t fancy paying for it? Well, the team has just announced that it’s now available as a free download.
The team behind Pocket Casts confirmed in a blog post that both the Android and iOS apps are now free to download. The team adds that every feature available in the paid mobile app is now available in the free version too.
Pocket Casts on Android (version 7.5) also brings a few more additions to the formula, including a trim silence option, the ability to import other audio files into the app, and variable speed playback. You can check out screenshots of the new version below.
The company has also confirmed that it’s launching Pocket Casts Plus, which is a subscription tier. Pay $1.14 a month or $11.49 a year and you’ll get access to the web and desktop apps, the ability to upload audio files to cloud storage, and exclusive icons and themes.
Anyone who’s ever paid for the web/desktop apps will receive a three year subscription to Pocket Casts Plus, the team said. But this move has nevertheless drawn the ire of some people on Twitter and reddit.
It’s not without cause either, as the Pocket Casts team previously noted that the one-time fee for the web/desktop apps was for life-time access. In other words, people who paid are effectively being downgraded to a three year membership.
Nevertheless, if you’ve been curious about the mobile app and didn’t want to commit to a purchase, now’s a good time to jump in. You can download Pocket Casts via the button below.
