Head-to-head · Podcast Apps
PinePods vs Podcast Guru
PinePods leads on 0 checks, Podcast Guru on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scorePinePods · 7.4/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresPodcast Guru · 5 of 5
PinePods scores higher on our rubric for podcast apps: 7.4 against 7.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #12 and #14.
PinePods is the better fit for technical users wanting free self-hosted breadth. Podcast Guru is the better fit for broad catalog with private-feed support.
- PinePods fits best
Technical users wanting free self-hosted breadth
- Podcast Guru fits best
Broad catalog with private-feed support
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Side by side
| Feature | PinePods 7.4/10 Visit ↗ | Podcast Guru 7.2/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| Ranking | #12 in Podcast Apps | #14 in Podcast Apps |
| Best for | Technical users wanting free self-hosted breadth | Broad catalog with private-feed support |
| Pricing model | Free | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Tickets, Community, Docs | Docs |
| Integrations | 7 integrations | 3 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business |
| Features PinePods 4/5 · Podcast Guru 5/5 | ||
| Offline downloads | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video podcasts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Episode transcripts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private feed support | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Cross-device sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API, self-hosted server | Web, Android, iOS |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | PinePods is an open-source podcast management system for individuals, households, and organizations that want to manage their own podcast data. It combines discovery, subscriptions, playback, downloads, video episodes, playlists,… Read the review → |
Podcast Guru is a podcast discovery and listening app for web browsers, iOS, and Android. It is suited to listeners who want access to millions of episodes, podcast search and subscriptions, offline listening, video podcasts, transcripts,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
PinePods — where it wins
- Covers web, desktop, mobile, API, and self-hosted deployments
- Syncs listening position, subscriptions, settings, and themes across devices
- Adds video, transcripts, playlists, YouTube, and multi-user libraries
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosting adds deployment and maintenance work
- Primarily self-hosted, so it is less convenient than hosted apps
- Its broad feature set may be more than casual listeners need
Podcast Guru — where it wins
- Searches millions of episodes and supports subscriptions
- Handles private Patreon and password-protected RSS feeds
- Offers video, transcripts, offline downloads, and playlists
Where it doesn't
- Cloud sync and backup require the VIP plan
- Advanced playback-speed controls require VIP
- The free experience does not include cross-device cloud sync
- PinePods7.4/10 · Free plan
PinePods offers unusually broad, open-source podcast management for technical self-hosters.
Visit PinePodsFull verdict → - Podcast Guru7.2/10 · Free plan
A broad podcast app with offline listening, video, transcripts, and optional cloud sync.
Visit Podcast GuruFull verdict →
All podcast apps comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update