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Pocket Casts vs Downcast: catalog facts
Pocket Casts	Downcast
Freemium A free tier is available. Pocket Casts Plus is a paid subscription.	Paid A paid purchase or subscription is required.
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web, Browser extension	macOS, iOS
Subscriptions and playback position sync across every platform Volume boost and silence trimming genuinely improve poorly produced shows	Per-podcast rules for downloads, playback speed and episode retention iCloud sync across every Apple device including Watch and TV
Desktop and web apps and some features need the paid Plus tier Account required for syncing	Apple platforms only Paid purchase or subscription depending on platform
Downloadable app, Hosted service, Browser extension	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.