Is Spotify better than Pocket Casts?

Spotify ranks higher in our list of podcast apps (#2 against #3, score 85.5 against 85.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Pocket Casts is best for: free cross-platform listening with RSS feeds. Spotify is best for: podcasts and music in one app.

Which is cheaper, Pocket Casts or Spotify?

Pocket Casts: Free app with in-app purchases. Spotify: Free ad-supported plan; Premium is $12.99 a month in the US.

Do Pocket Casts and Spotify run on the same platforms?

Pocket Casts supports iOS, iPadOS, Android, Web. Spotify supports Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.

Comparison · Podcast apps

Pocket Casts vs Spotify: which is better in 2026?

Pocket Casts85.0#3 in best podcast apps

Spotify85.5#2 in best podcast apps

Spotify ranks higher in our list of podcast apps (#2 against #3, score 85.5 against 85.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.

How we rank Share

85.0
Editorial score
85.5
4
Platforms
5
Yes
Free to use
Yes
Yes
Open source
No

Which should you choose?

Choose Pocket Casts if you want

Free cross-platform listening with RSS feeds.

A free podcast player for iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, with curated recommendations and private RSS feed support. Its app code is published under MPL-2.0, and its paid extras are in-app purchases.

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.
Pocket Casts is open source; Spotify is not.

Side by side

	Pocket Casts	Spotify
Score	85.0	85.5
Rank in list	#3 of 10	#2 of 10
Price	Free plan, paid upgradesFree app with in-app purchases	Free plan, paid upgradesFree ad-supported plan; Premium is $12.99 a month in the US
Free to use	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	No
Platforms	iOS, iPadOSAndroidWebiOS, iPadOS, Android, Web	WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Made by	Automattic, Inc.	Not stated
Any RSS feed	Yes	No
Best for	Free cross-platform listening with RSS feeds	Podcasts and music in one app
Strengths	Free app with search and curated recommendations Adds private and paid RSS feeds by pasting the URL App code published under MPL-2.0	Free plan with ads for trying the service Lossless audio on Premium Works with car systems and smartwatches
Limits	Extras are sold as in-app purchases Only the app code is published; the service behind it is not described	Free plan plays ads between tracks Closed source, so the code cannot be checked
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about Pocket Casts vs Spotify

Is Spotify better than Pocket Casts?: Spotify ranks higher in our list of podcast apps (#2 against #3, score 85.5 against 85.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Pocket Casts is best for: free cross-platform listening with RSS feeds. Spotify is best for: podcasts and music in one app.
Which is cheaper, Pocket Casts or Spotify?: Pocket Casts: Free app with in-app purchases. Spotify: Free ad-supported plan; Premium is $12.99 a month in the US.
Do Pocket Casts and Spotify run on the same platforms?: Pocket Casts supports iOS, iPadOS, Android, Web. Spotify supports Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.