Podcast apps for iPhoneHead to head
Overcast vs Spotify
Overcast ranks #1 and Spotify ranks #4 in our guide to the best podcast apps for iPhone. Overcast is our pick for most people.
OvercastPick Overcast if you listen to hours of talk shows each week and want them shorter without sounding sped up.Free to start#4 in the guide
SpotifyPick Spotify if you already pay for Spotify and want podcasts and music in the same app.Free to startWhat decides it
- On price: Overcast is free with small ads. Premium is a yearly subscription that hides them. Spotify is free with ads. Premium is $12.99 a month.
- Both run on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Only Spotify runs on Mac.
Side by side
Prices are checked every day.
| At a glance | Overcast | Spotify |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free with small ads. Premium is a yearly subscription that hides them | Free with ads. Premium is $12.99 a month |
| How you pay | Free, with paid upgrades | Free, with paid upgrades |
| Free trial | Free to start | Free to start |
| Runs on | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Where to buy | App Store | Developer, App Store |
| Rating | 4.5 48K ratings | Too few ratings |
| Made by | Overcast Radio, LLC | Not listed |
| Last updated | 21 Oct 2026 | 23 Oct 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 Spotify if
You already use Spotify on your phone and want the same playlists on your Mac.
Skip Overcast if
You play the odd episode on a long drive; Apple Podcasts is already on your phone and costs nothing.
Skip Spotify if
You pay for Apple Music, and the Music app built into macOS plays all of it.
Our verdicts
Overcast
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.
Spotify
Free with ads, or $12.99 a month for Premium, Spotify on the Mac plays the same playlists and podcasts you have on your phone. Premium drops the ads, adds unlimited skips, offline downloads and lossless audio, and the Duo or Family plans cut the cost per person. The recommendations are why people stay, but if you already pay for Apple Music, the built-in Music app covers the same ground.
What each one helps you do
Overcast
- 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
Spotify
- Stream music and podcasts on your Mac
- Download playlists to listen offline
- Listen in lossless quality with Premium
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 purchasesFree downloadApp Store
Neither one quite right?
The other picks in our guide to the best podcast apps for iPhone.
Pocket CastsPick this if you switch between iPhone, Mac, Android or CarPlay and want your queue and progress everywhere.Free to start
CastroPick it if you follow lots of shows and want new episodes held in an inbox until you choose them.Free to start
MatterPick it if you'd rather listen to saved articles read aloud than to more podcasts.Free to start
Read the full guideAll Overcast alternativesAll Spotify alternatives