Technology @beehaw.org HoornseBakfiets @feddit.nl 10 mo. ago

Pocket Casts Plus increases subscription pricing to $33.99 from $10

Any suggestions on good multi-platform alternatives? I'm using Apple Podcasts and it's garbage.

Android @lemdro.id ijeff @lemdro.id 10 mo. ago

55 comments

For Android users and FOSS enthusiasts, AntennaPod is pretty great.
- Made the switch from Podcast Addict recently and I'm pretty happy. It's much more stable (especially with casting) and I like the queue system, but I do wish I had a bit more flexibility in applying download/update rules to whole categories instead of only one show at a time.
- Permanently Deleted
- Pocket Casts is also FOSS, though not sure about the server side code.
Man I'm glad I got grandfathered in to their lifetime license, that's really expensive
- I am too, but this makes me worry about how long that will last. Once they start needing money bad enough, they’ll be eyeing us.
  
  Yeah :( I'd probably go the selfhosted route if I can find a good bit of software to use for it, or just use RSS if that happens
- I’m in it until this happens.
I’ve been using pocket casts for a while now, but never got the plus. The free version seems to have everything I need. What’s the most useful plus feature?
- Been using it for a few years without paying, never felt the need.
  
  It looks like their paid plan adds cross-platform (including desktop) syncing, folders, some cloud storage for uploading files, a watch app, and some more themes.
  
  I have unlimited plus but really only use the Android app. I appreciate having the syncing though.
- I’d love to know this as well.
If you are already a subscriber it stays at 14.99. Its a glitch. You’re grandfathered to existing cost

But. If you are a new subscriber then yea you’re screwed.
- Thanks for the heads up! I shared it with folks on !android@lemdro.id. Do you happen to have a source for this?
  
  Dont have link but was browsing the forums and saw it
Years ago I bought the app for android, iPhone, and web because for work I needed it on different devices. When they changed the pricing model I got a email saying because of my support and having paid them that many times, I was given lifetime premium for free. They were owned by a different company back then, but I really appreciated the move and have it to this day.
What’s wrong with Apple Podcasts? Just curious.
- Pocket Casts is available as Android and Windows app; Apple Podcasts isn't.
  
  Pocket Casts syncs between MacOS, iOS, Android, Windows and Abby device that asked you to open the wenn player; Apple Podcasts doesn't.
  
  It's not garbage per se, it just doesn't fit the same use case.
  
  Yeah but I guess I just don’t use podcasts on other devices. Too much headphone switching.
I use Overcast.

Edit: Sorry just noticed you put multi platform. This is only for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch.
- They say they use Apple Podcasts, so depending what platforms they mean exactly, Overcast might work. It's definitely my pick of podcast app as well
- By gawd I love Overcast.
- Same
I really like antennapod. It works really well for all of my podcasts.

https://antennapod.org/

https://github.com/AntennaPod
I just use Spotify for podcasts. Unless there's something I'm missing from other podcast apps, Spotify works great for me.
- Spotify is also trying to kill traditional RSS podcasts by buying them up and making them exclusive to Spotify.
  
  same old EEE shit
  
  Way I see it, if you can't access it via RSS, then it ain't a podcast. Fuck Spotify.
  
  Yeah I hate them so much for this asshole move. I already "lost" two of my formerly favorite podcasts to them.
- Some podcasts have chapters, chapter art, show notes, etc. “Accidental Tech Podcast” is a good example. Spotify sucks for podcasts and they’re trying to kill podcasting so they can take it over.
- While I like spotify for music there are three things that bug me about it:
  
  Anker.fm ads. Just a rant I hate anker.fm auto injection ads. If you try sleeping to a pod cast it wil go from normal volume TO SHOUTING ABOUT STATEFARM OR DUNKIN. While this issue also occurs on third party podcasting apps spotify dynamically injects a banner ad into podcast art and hyperlinks the ad. I might be overeacting (I hate these kind of deeplink ads). To be clear I don't mind host read ads like linus sponsor shoutouts but dynamic ad injection is awfull.
  
  No chapter support
Can't comment for iOS but I use Podcast Addict for android.
Overcast for iOS is very good, has a fully free tier and it is cheap to support if you want to.
I use pocket casts since years. Never felt like needing the plus. Just checked the benefits and I think I am still good. Before a flight I download dozens of podcast to my phone via WiFi and use the list of downloaded podcasts to keep track of them.

I see no need for the following features for me:

Folders Organize your podcasts in folders, and keep them synced across devices.

Desktop Apps Take your podcasts to more places with our Windows, macOS and Web apps.

Cloud Storage Speed up your lectures. Burn through other content. Be your own Podcast DJ.

Watch Playback Ditch the phone and go for a run – without missing a beat. Apple Watch stands alone

Themes & Icons Fly your true colors. Exclusive icons and themes for the plus club only.
This is a bummer because PocketCasts was my go-to for a long time. The Stitcher for Podcasts app might be a good option. I've heard positive mention of it, and it has a 4.8 on the App Store.
- Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems like Stitcher is being shut down in August
  
  Oof. Good to know!
- I moved off of PocketCasts years ago when they started asking for subscriptions.
  
  Overcast is a pretty dang good podcast app. Use it daily.
- Podcast republic is a good alternative (assuming your just planning to use it on mobile/web)
I haven’t gotten any sort of notification about this and I use the app every day. I would hope they say something directly to users through the app and not just do it.
I'm migrating from Pocketcasts and Audible to a self-hosted Audiobookshelf instance. It's got all the audiobook features I would want, but the podcast features are not quite there yet. The two big ones that I miss from Pocketcasts are an automated "up next" playlist and auto-downloading new episodes to the phone. That being said, there is active development and new features and bugfixes come out regularly. I wouldn't be surprised if it had feature-parity with Pocketcasts within the year. I know self-hosting isn't for everyone, but if you're interested in playing around with something like that, audiobookshelf is a good place to start.
my fav is https://www.snipd.com/

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