Is Spotify better than Castro?

Spotify ranks higher in our list of podcast apps (#2 against #6, score 85.5 against 81.0). Castro is best for: iPhone listeners who manage many shows with a queue. Spotify is best for: podcasts and music in one app.

Which is cheaper, Castro or Spotify?

Castro: Free app; Castro Plus subscription at $24.99 a year. Spotify: Free ad-supported plan; Premium is $12.99 a month in the US.

Do Castro and Spotify run on the same platforms?

Castro supports iOS. Spotify supports Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.

Castro vs Spotify: Which Is Better? (2026)

81.0
Editorial score
85.5
1
Platforms
5
Yes
Free to use
Yes
No
Open source
No

Which should you choose?

Choose Castro if you want

iPhone listeners who manage many shows with a queue.

An iPhone podcast app with one shared queue, auto-queue for favorite shows, episode limits for frequent publishers and custom playback speeds. Castro Plus at $24.99 a year adds advanced playback, and the app is iPhone-only.

Choose Spotify if you want

Podcasts and music in one app.

Carries podcasts alongside music on every major platform, with a free plan that includes ads. Its podcast tools are part of a music app, so dedicated listeners may find it less focused.

The main differences

Only Spotify runs on Windows.
Only Spotify runs on macOS.
Only Spotify runs on Android.
Only Spotify runs on Web.

Side by side

	Castro	Spotify
Score	81.0	85.5
Rank in list	#6 of 10	#2 of 10
Price	Free plan, paid upgradesFree app; Castro Plus subscription at $24.99 a year	Free plan, paid upgradesFree ad-supported plan; Premium is $12.99 a month in the US
Free to use	Yes	Yes
Open source	No	No
Platforms	iOSiOS	WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Made by	Not stated	Not stated
Any RSS feed	Yes	No
Best for	iPhone listeners who manage many shows with a queue	Podcasts and music in one app
Strengths	Queue and auto-queue for favorite shows Episode limits for frequent publishers	Free plan with ads for trying the service Lossless audio on Premium Works with car systems and smartwatches
Limits	iPhone only, per the site Advanced playback needs Castro Plus	Free plan plays ads between tracks Closed source, so the code cannot be checked
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about Castro vs Spotify

Is Spotify better than Castro?: Spotify ranks higher in our list of podcast apps (#2 against #6, score 85.5 against 81.0). Castro is best for: iPhone listeners who manage many shows with a queue. Spotify is best for: podcasts and music in one app.
Which is cheaper, Castro or Spotify?: Castro: Free app; Castro Plus subscription at $24.99 a year. Spotify: Free ad-supported plan; Premium is $12.99 a month in the US.
Do Castro and Spotify run on the same platforms?: Castro supports iOS. Spotify supports Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.