Pocket Casts opens up about podcasting, making web player free for all

Pocket Casts, a podcast app that’s been around since 2011, has opened up their web player to everyone, free of charge. In their blog post, they make their stance on the future of podcasting quite clear – that it should remain open and accessible, not confined within proprietary platforms.

Previously, access to the Pocket Casts web player required a paid subscription. Now, anyone can stream virtually any public podcast feed directly through their browser. This includes essential playback controls like speed adjustment and playlist management. Users who create a free account unlock additional features, such as syncing playback progress across devices, managing queues, bookmarking episode segments, and saving subscription lists and listening preferences. This free access extends to Pocket Casts’ desktop applications for Windows and Mac as well.

For those seeking an enhanced experience, Pocket Casts Plus offers features like folders for organization, smart shuffle, bookmarks, chapter preselection, wearable and cloud support, exclusive content, and customization options for $39/year. If you really believe in Pocket Cast and want to support them further, a Patron tier is also available for $99/year.

This move by Pocket Casts, owned by Automattic, is a direct challenge to the growing trend of podcasting platforms moving towards closed ecosystems. Given Automattic’s ongoing advocacy for open platforms and its legal battles concerning the accessibility of WordPress, it’s plausible that this philosophy is a driving force behind Pocket Casts’ push for a more open podcasting ecosystem.

The company emphasizes that “podcasting is one of the last open corners of the Internet, and we’re here to keep it that way.” This sentiment directly addresses platforms like Spotify, which have been acquiring exclusive content and developing proprietary tools, effectively pulling podcasting away from its open, RSS-based roots.

Pocket Casts also highlights the importance of organic discovery, stating that “discovery should be organic, not algorithm-driven. Users should decide what to listen to, not an AI that promotes what’s best for the platform.” This point is particularly relevant in a landscape where algorithms increasingly dictate content consumption.

The company’s press release further elaborates on their commitment to open podcasting, stating that “podcasts should be freely accessible everywhere. No barriers, just open access.” They also reinforce that “listeners should have full control over their listening experience.”

The history of Pocket Casts adds context to this decision. Originally developed by a small Australian team, it was later acquired by a consortium of public radio entities before being sold to Automattic in 2021. The platform has consistently provided a reliable and feature-rich experience, bridging the gap between Android and iOS users.

My personal journey with Pocket Casts began around 2015. At that time, my daily commute was soundtracked by “Masters in Business” and “The Tim Ferriss Show,” and I needed a reliable podcast app that could automatically download new episodes. Pocket Casts delivered on that fundamental need, and its straightforward design has kept me a loyal user ever since. Here at Chrome Unboxed, we champion web-based tools and the democratization of the internet, so Pocket Casts’ decision to make its web player universally accessible truly resonates with our core values.

In a podcasting landscape increasingly dominated by Spotify and YouTube, Pocket Casts’ decision to make its web player free is a welcome move for those who value the open and accessible nature of the medium. By removing barriers and emphasizing user control, Pocket Casts is reinforcing its belief that podcasts remain “for the people, not corporations.”