Head-to-head · Podcast Apps
Pocket Casts vs Fountain
Pocket Casts leads on 0 checks, Fountain 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 scorePocket Casts · 8.8/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresPocket Casts · 5 of 5
Pocket Casts scores higher on our rubric for podcast apps: 8.8 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #9.
Pocket Casts is the better fit for cross-platform power users. Fountain is the better fit for social podcast discovery and listening.
- Pocket Casts fits best
Cross-platform power users
- Fountain fits best
Social podcast discovery and listening
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Side by side
| Feature | Pocket Casts 8.8/10 Visit ↗ | Fountain 7.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| Ranking | #3 in Podcast Apps | #9 in Podcast Apps |
| Best for | Cross-platform power users | Social podcast discovery and listening |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | $39.99/yr | $2.99/user/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs | Email, Docs |
| Integrations | 9 integrations | 8 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Pocket Casts 5/5 · Fountain 4/5 | ||
| Offline downloads | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video podcasts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Episode transcripts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private feed support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-device sync | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android; also Apple TV, Apple Watch, Wear OS, CarPlay, Android Auto, Android Automotive, Sonos, Alexa, and Chromecast | iOS, Android, web |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Pocket Casts is a podcast listening, discovery, and management app for people who move between mobile, desktop, web, and connected playback devices. It supports podcast search, episode downloads for offline playback, video episodes,… Read the review → |
Fountain is a podcast player and social platform for listeners who want more than a basic audio library. It combines discovery through recommendations, activity feeds, charts, and trending content with playlists, play queues, offline… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Pocket Casts — where it wins
- Supports web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Syncs follows, queues, playback position, and history across devices
- Handles video, private feeds, transcripts, offline downloads, and car platforms
Where it doesn't
- Transcript features apply only to supported episodes
- Folders, bookmarks, themes, and wearable apps require Plus
- Plus costs $3.99 monthly or $39.99 annually
Fountain — where it wins
- Discovery through recommendations, activity feeds, charts, and trends
- Transcripts, summaries, playlists, downloads, and video playback
- Private feeds, livestreams, clips, comments, and creator payments
Where it doesn't
- Device synchronization is not established by the published plans
- Creator hosting tiers begin at $25 per month for Lite
- Advanced creator features require Pro or Plus plans
- Pocket Casts8.8/10 · Free plan
A broad podcast app with free cross-device access and focused Plus upgrades.
Visit Pocket CastsFull verdict → - Fountain7.9/10 · Free plan
A feature-rich podcast app for discovery, offline listening, video, and social interaction.
Visit FountainFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update