Podcast apps for iPhoneHead to head

Overcast vs Castro

Overcast ranks #1 and Castro ranks #3 in our guide to the best podcast apps for iPhone. Overcast is our pick for most people.

The Useful TechResearched and written with AI under our rulesUpdated 14 Oct 2026

Our pickOvercast app iconOvercastPick Overcast if you listen to hours of talk shows each week and want them shorter without sounding sped up.Free to start#3 in the guideCastro app iconCastroPick Castro if you follow lots of shows and want new episodes held in an inbox until you choose them.Free to start

What decides it

  • On price: Overcast is free with small ads. Premium is a yearly subscription that hides them. Castro is free with ads. Castro Plus is $3.99 a month or $24.99 a year.
  • Both run on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
  • Castro has the higher App Store rating: 4.6 from 9.2K ratings, against 4.5 for Overcast.

Side by side

Prices are checked every day.

At a glanceOvercast app iconOvercastCastro app iconCastro
PriceFree with small ads. Premium is a yearly subscription that hides themFree with ads. Castro Plus is $3.99 a month or $24.99 a year
How you payFree, with paid upgradesFree, with paid upgrades
3 years of useDepends on the plan$74.97 Yearly plan
Free trialFree to startFree to start
Runs oniPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Where to buyApp StoreApp Store
Rating4.5 48K ratings4.6 9.2K ratings Higher
FeaturesNone flaggedFamily Sharing, Free trial
Made byOvercast Radio, LLCMaple Media Apps, LLC
Last updated21 Oct 202624 Sept 2026

Who should get which

Get Overcast if

You listen to hours of talk shows each week and want them done faster without chipmunk voices.

Get Castro if

You follow lots of shows and want to hand-pick episodes into 1 queue for your commute.

Skip Overcast if

You play the odd episode on a long drive; Apple Podcasts is already on your phone and costs nothing.

Skip Castro if

You listen to 2 or 3 shows every week, all of which Apple Podcasts plays fine for free.

Our verdicts

Overcast app iconOvercast

One developer, Marco Arment, writes and runs Overcast on his own, and it still does something Apple Podcasts doesn't: Smart Speed trims the silences in talk shows without speeding up voices. Voice Boost evens out quiet and loud shows, which helps a lot in the car. Most features are free with small ads for other podcasts, and hiding them takes a yearly Premium subscription.

Castro app iconCastro

If you subscribe to dozens of podcasts but only want a few episodes from each, Castro's inbox is built for you: new episodes wait there until you send the good ones to a queue that downloads and plays in order. Apple Podcasts shows every new episode from every show instead. Trim Silence, the voice boost and sideloading need Castro Plus at $3.99 a month or $24.99 a year, and the free tier has ads.

What each one helps you do

Overcast app iconOvercast

  • Finish talk episodes faster without chipmunk voices
  • Hear quiet guests clearly in a noisy car
  • Play podcasts on your Watch without your phone
  • Build playlists that put favorite shows first

Castro app iconCastro

  • Pick only the episodes worth your time
  • Plan hours of listening in 1 queue
  • Cut silent gaps out of long episodes
  • Listen to your own audio files

Where to get them

Overcast

Free with small ads. Premium is a yearly subscription that hides them

  • App Store, iPhone, iPad and Apple WatchWith in-app purchases
    Free downloadApp Store

Castro

Free with ads. Castro Plus is $3.99 a month or $24.99 a year

  • App Store, iPhone, iPad and Apple WatchWith in-app purchases
    Free downloadApp Store

Neither one quite right?

The other picks in our guide to the best podcast apps for iPhone.

Read the full guideAll Overcast alternativesAll Castro alternatives

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