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Head-to-head · Podcast Apps

Pocket Casts vs Podcast Guru

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Pocket Casts #3 in Podcast Apps 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Pocket Casts
Podcast Guru #14 in Podcast Apps 7.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Podcast Guru

Pocket Casts 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 scorePocket Casts · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth

Pocket Casts scores higher on our rubric for podcast apps: 8.8 against 7.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #14.

Pocket Casts is the better fit for cross-platform power users. Podcast Guru is the better fit for broad catalog with private-feed support.

  • Pocket Casts fits best

    Cross-platform power users

  • Podcast Guru fits best

    Broad catalog with private-feed support

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Side by side

Feature Pocket Casts 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Podcast Guru 7.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 7.2
Ranking #3 in Podcast Apps #14 in Podcast Apps
Best for Cross-platform power users Broad catalog with private-feed support
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $39.99/yr —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Community, Docs Docs
Integrations 9 integrations 3 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Pocket Casts 5/5 · Podcast Guru 5/5
Offline downloads ✓ ✓
Video podcasts ✓ ✓
Episode transcripts ✓ ✓
Private feed support ✓ ✓
Cross-device sync ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android; also Apple TV, Apple Watch, Wear OS, CarPlay, Android Auto, Android Automotive, Sonos, Alexa, and Chromecast Web, Android, iOS
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Searches millions of episodes and supports subscriptions
  • Handles private Patreon and password-protected RSS feeds
  • Offers video, transcripts, offline downloads, and playlists
Cons
  • Transcript features apply only to supported episodes
  • Folders, bookmarks, themes, and wearable apps require Plus
  • Plus costs $3.99 monthly or $39.99 annually
  • Cloud sync and backup require the VIP plan
  • Advanced playback-speed controls require VIP
  • The free experience does not include cross-device cloud sync
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 →

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 →
  1. Pocket CastsPodcast Apps 8.8Free plan
  2. Podcast GuruPodcast Apps 7.2Free plan

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
  • 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

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update