Verdict
Castbox has a large user base but recent reviews point to real reliability problems: freezing, ads appearing even for paying subscribers, and downloads that don't sync with subscriptions correctly. It's a functional podcast app, not a polished one.
Best for
Someone who wants a free podcast player with a broad catalog and doesn't mind occasional glitches or ad interruptions during commutes.
Dealbreaker
Multiple reviewers report the app freezing after a single episode and full-screen ads appearing even on paid Premium accounts, plus no progress sync between devices.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand. unverified
Price
Free
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.9★ (199,152)
Version
10.31.0
Last updated
Jul 22, 2026
Released
Jun 15, 2017
Attributes
Native app
Category
News, Entertainment
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Ease of use and design3 reviews
Battery and performance2 reviews
Customer support2 reviews
Subscription pricing and paywalls2 reviews
Complained about
Subscription pricing and paywalls13 reviews
Crashes and stability12 reviews
Shows ads inside the app3 reviews
Battery and performance2 reviews
Import and export2 reviews
Sync and multi-device2 reviews
Where this comes from
13 of 200 recent reviews raised: Subscription pricing and paywallsApp Store reviews ›
12 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stabilityApp Store reviews ›
3 of 200 recent reviews raised: Shows ads inside the appApp Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Sync and multi-deviceApp Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Import and exportApp Store reviews ›
Listed at Free on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
The best podcast players ›Podcast apps that are well rated and still maintained, with the reason you might not want each.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is rated 4.2 or better, has been updated in the last eighteen months, and has no significant number of reviewers reporting it broken. Price is not the rule on this list — some are free, some are not. Also with a catch.
Free · 4.6★ (9,184) · Updated Jul 15, 2026
Verdict. Castro's Inbox triage system and clean design win people over, but a wave of recent reviews complain about a subscription price hike, crashes, and slow customer support since new ownership took over.
Best for. Someone who subscribes to a lot of podcasts and wants a fast way to triage new episodes into an inbox before committing to what to listen to.
Dealbreaker. A meaningful chunk of recent reviewers report crashes, freezes, and slowdowns, plus a subscription price increase after the app changed hands, with several saying support never responded.
Free · 4.7★ (6,789) · Updated Jul 14, 2026
Verdict. Studio for Podcast is easy to use for recording and publishing across platforms, but the paid tiers and subscription costs frustrate a meaningful slice of users, including complaints about upload glitches even on paid plans.
Best for. Someone just starting a podcast on their phone who wants a simple all-in-one recorder and distribution tool, and doesn't mind eventually hitting a paywall as their show grows.
Dealbreaker. Multiple reviewers say the monthly subscription is expensive relative to what it delivers, and some report losing episodes or hitting upload bugs even while paying for it.
Free · 4.7★ (4,680) · Updated May 29, 2026
Verdict. Player FM's cross-device sync is genuinely liked, but a meaningful slice of reviewers describe sync errors wiping out their libraries and account data, plus recurring crashes and premium subscribers reporting the app breaking under paid tiers.
Best for. Someone who listens across a phone and a web browser and wants their library to follow them, and who keeps a mental backup of their subscriptions in case sync goes wrong.
Dealbreaker. Multiple reviewers report sync errors that deleted their entire podcast library and account data, and there's no export option to recover subscriptions if that happens.