# Alternatives to Overcast Smart speed and voice boost on iOS. Overcast ranks #3 of 8 in Podcast apps, with an Alt Score of 86. It is proprietary, freemium from $14.99 and available on iOS. 10 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source. Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/overcast/ Category: Podcast apps ## Overview - **Who it's for**: iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users who listen to podcasts regularly and want more control and polish than Apple's default podcast app offers. - **What you get**: Smart Speed dynamically trims silences in talk-heavy shows to save listening time, while Voice Boost normalizes volume so quiet voices stay audible without blasting loud segments. It supports any podcast with a public RSS feed, plus streaming, playlists, and cross-device sync via iCloud. The app is free with ads, with an optional annual subscription that removes ads and adds extra features. - **How it works**: Add podcasts by searching or subscribing to their RSS feeds, and new episodes populate your queue automatically. Episodes can be streamed or downloaded and play through customizable playlists with per-podcast or global Smart Speed and Voice Boost settings applied. ## Profile - **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-10) - **Pricing model**: Freemium (verified 2026-07-10) - **Starts at**: $14.99 (verified 2026-07-10) - **Platforms**: iOS - **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-10) ## Ranked alternatives | # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms | |---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------| | 1 | [Pocket Casts](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/pocket-casts.md) | 91 | MPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | | 2 | [Castro](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/castro.md) | 86 | Proprietary | iOS | | 3 | [Castbox](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/castbox.md) | 82 | Proprietary | iOS, Android, Web | | 4 | [AntennaPod](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/antennapod.md) | 78 | GPL-3.0 | Android | | 5 | [Snipd](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/snipd.md) | 73 | Proprietary | iOS, Android | | 6 | [Apple Podcasts](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/apple-podcasts.md) | 68 | Proprietary | macOS, iOS, Web | | 7 | [Podcast Addict](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/podcast-addict.md) | 28 | ? | Android | Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/ ## Feature comparison Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified). | Podcast apps checklist | Overcast | Pocket Casts | Castro | Castbox | AntennaPod | Snipd | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Free | Freemium | | Starts at | $14.99 | $3.99/month | $3.99/month | $3.99/month | Free | $6.99/month | | License | Proprietary | MPL-2.0 | Proprietary | Proprietary | GPL-3.0 | Proprietary | | Platforms | iOS | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web | iOS | iOS, Android, Web | Android | iOS, Android | | Cross-device sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Trim silence / speed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | ? | | Chapters support | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | | Transcripts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | | Queue management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Downloads & auto-delete | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | OPML import/export | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | | Open source | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | | No account required | Partial | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | | Watch app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ## Sources Sources for Overcast. Each alternative is sourced on its own page. - **Starts at**: $14.99 — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: App Store IAP tiers $14.99 and $29.99; billing period not stated. - Quote: “Overcast Premium $14.99” - **Platforms**: iOS — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: availableOnDevice":"Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, iPod"" - **Pricing model**: Freemium — (verified 2026-07-10) - Quote: “Overcast is funded by ads that promote other podcasts. If you choose to purchase Overcast Premium to hide these ads, payment will be charged to your iTunes account, and your account will be charged fo” - **Status**: active — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: primarySubtitle":"Version 2026.5","secondarySubtitle":"Mon Jun 01 2026 19:01:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)"" - **License**: Proprietary — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: No public source repository for the app; github.com/overcast-fm 404s. - Quote: “Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved. © 2014–2026 Overcast Radio, LLC” - **Cross-device sync**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-10) - Quote: “Overcast stores some of your data in Apple’s iCloud service, such as login tokens for your account(s), to enable some sync features between all devices signed into your Apple ID.” - **Trim silence / speed**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-10) - Quote: “Smart Speed saves time without distorting the audio or sounding unnatural.” - **Chapters support**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: Stated in release notes. - Quote: “Swipeable now-playing screen for info and chapters” - **Transcripts**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-10) - Quote: “Text can now be selected in transcripts” - **Queue management**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: Queueing via main queue plus custom Playlists. - Quote: “Create custom Playlists with smart filters and per-podcast priorities, and rearrange the list whenever you want.” - **Downloads & auto-delete**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: Auto-delete via 'Episode Limits' in release notes. - Quote: “Download podcasts for playing anytime, even offline.” - **OPML import/export**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-10) - Quote: “Added Import/Export OPML in settings” - **Open source**: No — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: No public source repository for the Overcast app. - Quote: “Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.” - **No account required**: Partial — (verified 2026-07-10) - Note: Anonymous account auto-created for sync; terms note some functionality requires registration. - Quote: “New Overcast accounts are created anonymously, without email addresses or passwords.” - **Watch app**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-10) - Quote: “Apple Watch app with standalone playback and cellular streaming.” --- Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/