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Downcast Positive Reviews

Use it above other appsBut I still have feature request that seems to go no where: episode queuing. I subscribe to WAY more podcasts than I can actually listen to, and I seldom listen to every episode of any podcast. I go through my new episodes every time I update looking for new episodes and decide which ones I might be actually interested in hearing. I would like to be able to instruct the app to play any episode NEXT while I’m listening, thus building a queue of various episodes to play from different podcasts based on what I am most interested in hearing. Currently, I have no way to note or designate what I want to listen to next in the app - the best I can do is note what podcast and episode to play next in Notes or jot it down. The lack of such a simple convenience mystifies me. It seems like such a simple thing to be able to string together a queue of episodes to play in desired sequence without having to stop and hunt for a new episode to play after the one I’m listening to ends. I like to listen when I’m doing other things, often with my hands, and it is annoying to interrupt my flow repeatedly to search for and start the next episode I want to hear. Please give me this feature!.MBryanAZVersion: 2.11.12

Downcast is all you need for Podcasts!I have been using Downcast for over 5+ years, and it is the only Podcast software I use! It is so easy, and the it provides the User a robust amount of app Settings that allows them to customize their listening experience to what best meets their needs. Some of the podcast I listen too require Passwords, and the “Downcast” App makes it very easy for the User to access their paid podcasts using the Username/Password features. I give the App 5-Stars because I think it is by far the best podcasting App out there. But, it is not perfect - as if I could add of change one thing, I would make the Search for new podcasts feature more robust and show more podcasts than what it provides by default. Sometimes if you do not have the RSS URL link, searching for popular podcasts may not show up in the “Search for new podcast” features. Even though this is annoying, what “Downcast” does overall - this little annoying issue isn’t enough for me not to still give the Overall App 5-Stars. If you want a very customizable podcast listening experience, you cannot go wrong with using this App. Again - I use this App everyday and it really has stood the test of time!! This is my one and o lt podcast listening software experience, and I want to thank the Developers for their awesome work on the App..BigDawg1973Version: 2.11.27

Been a User for YearsI have been using Downcast for years and I mean years. It is the best app for listening to podcasts and organizing them. However, I hate I updated to the this very last update. I am so annoyed with the addition of this grey search bar fading when you go type the name of a episode or podcast. I can’t tell if this is a bug or if the app is getting stuck and that’s why the gray area appears when you go to search, but now I think the gray area is an intentional addition and I hate it. You have to close it out and it gets stuck, please remove this and go back to simple interface to search, I absolutely hate the gray fade out step and to close it. Leave well enough alone, simple really is best. I will echo others, the playlist is indeed helpful and yes you can sort the order of podcasts to play within the current playlist, but also having an option to also cue up random podcasts to play next, not in the current list would be a much welcome addition. In addition, I have 100s of podcasts, I really wish I could put a star by podcasts shows I really like and individual episodes I really liked. Currently I have to lock the individual episode I enjoy and for the actual Podcasts show I have to create a Go to Podcasts playlist of shows I really like and a “Try Out”playlist to see if I like or dislike the show. Could you please create a star or rating system for both the Podcasts and individual episodes for the individual user. Thanks!.Mel C5Version: 2.11.24

Great for organization & customization. Poor sound quality.Downcast is the best for customizing and organizing your feeds. It's always easy to know when you have new episodes waiting. Power user features like deciding which episodes to stream and which to download, starting episode later in to skip ads, and especially the ability to save an episode's audio file to the cloud make this my current choice for podcasts. It can be a little buggy at times, but my only two complaints are difficult to read screens (small text makes quick glances while driving difficult) and poor sound quality, especially at high-speed. I just spent several months using Overcast and fell in love with its sound quality and easy to read screens. Unfortunately that app's organization is horrible. For example, you have to delete an episode in order for it to be considered "played". Because I listen to & save episodes from several Podcasts, this made it impossible to tell when a new episode was available without looking at each and every podcast episode list. This annoyance alone is what finally forced me to give up on Overcast and return to Downcast. I wish I could have Overcast's sound quality merged with Downcast's organization & customization tools. I would gladly pay top price for that..DJ RizzoVersion: 2.9.16

Best feature set for power users, but....I've been using this app on and off for 2~3 years. Usually interchanged with Overcast. Overcast's polish has always been much better than anyone's else's but its feature set is weaker than Downcast. For a while feature set (queue for download vs queue for stream, chromecast) and better management interface has won over overcast's polish. Now however, particularly with the batter drain issue; which they claim to have fixed but clearly haven't, is making this app unusable. I can't play podcasts for too long without power connected to the phone, and if I need to be away from an outlet I better not use this app and it better not be on in the background or eat my battery alive. I'm on an iPhone 6 with a new battery, not that that was the issue in the first place because you could feel how hot the phone was getting even though it was locked and playing downcast in the background. I'm switching to overcast because I can't have this keep happening. Fix the issue downcast, or I'm staying with overcast..Storm_hammerVersion: 2.9.16

No Steers Toward Paid PodcastsThe thing I like best about Downcast is it does not steer me toward 'for pay' Podcasts. I tried the included app when I first bought my device several years ago. I have been using Downcat instead since then. I like the setting options that allow me to download different numbers of podcasts automatically so they are just waiting. Also the option to mark a podcast as 'listened to' is nice if I decide the subject doesn't entice. Suggestions to the developers would be: A)option to set up a playlist by individual podcast rather than the current option which only allows you to select all of the lined up podcasts of a particular source and B)a better search function. Sometimes I do a search for a particular podcast I know is available but the Downcast search comes up empty. I then have to copy and paste the exact URL. All in all it is a workhorse app for me. I use it all the time. I recommend it without hesitation..DanhammangVersion: 2.9.16

My most used app everI’m really not sure how long I’ve used this app… I think since 2011. It’s a great podcast app and I have had no need to look for anything else. But recently I got an Apple Watch and was looking for a standalone watch app (this is not that, but where this leads is my review) and I was looking at podcast app reviews for other podcast apps and I was surprised to see the multitude of issues that users reported with other apps. I’ve used this app for over a decade and only rarely has there ever been a problem and the problem is almost always caused by my phone running out of storage and then the app not opening (I long ago discovered that if it gets stuck on the opening screen that I need to delete something because my phone is out of space… can’t claim the app is at fault for that). But yeah… made me glad that I’ve used downcast for the past 13 years instead of anything else..LvanderzVersion: 2.11.28

Good, But BuggyI had this a few years now and for awhile there it looked like abondonware. Lately it seems like the developer has been updating to bring it back to life. But it feels like an app that needs to be rewritten from the ground up because it’s pokey as all get out, syncing is slow as molasses, the search function doesn’t really work, and God help you if you want to AirPlay to external speakers because that is more unreliable than you can possibly imagine. Sometimes if you pause the player will stop everytime your screen auto-locks. On the plus side, it’s a better app than the stripped down one that bundles with iOS, it’s nice to be able to export your podcast list for backup, and if you’re willing to create custom playlists it can save you heartache looking for something to listen to when your podcast list inevitably gets long in the tooth. I’d like to be as enthusiastic about Downcast as I was when I bought it, but the developer *really* needs to roll up their sleeves and open the hood on this thing before it can win a race anymore..Evatar2Version: 2.9.50

The best power user podcast app for iOS, but frustratingly buggy.I listen to podcasts at least 3-4 hours per day on a light day. The features in this app are the best available. It does however have an issue where is crashes very regularly and more so as time goes on. iOS 10 seems to have made this issue worse. Using an iPhone 6 and been using the app for a year. Started crashing relatively early on, but now it happens half a dozen times in a day.... And despite this huge hang up I'd rather use Downcast than any others simply because of the power behind it. Also the companion Mac app is a major plus! Everything since to the degree you choose. Pretty great!! If you are looking for something solid and reliable but with fewer bells and whistles then go for Overcast instead. It's easy to use and still fairly customizable..HarimundirVersion: 2.9.16

Has every feature except recommendationsI started using Downcast YEARS ago when it was the only (or at least, the first) podcast app I could find that allowed episodes to be downloaded for offline listening. I LOVE it. The app has so many features and is so customizable, with frequent upgrades and improvements. The developers have always been very responsive when I’ve had issues. It’s been my go-to for years. But I finally realized that it’s missing something I really need/want: podcast recommendations/the ability to discover new podcasts within the app. My listening over the last several years has consisted mostly of “podcast versions of already-broadcast NPR shows, NPR podcasts, and other podcasts I’ve discovered by happenstance”. True, I’ve found a few gems via the “Top Podcasts” lists and by searching on particular subjects, but it’s clunky and not very intuitive. So I’ve started trying out some other highly-recommended podcast players specifically because they DO have a recommendations feature and make it easy to discover podcasts similar to the ones I already listen to. None come anywhere close to Downcast when it comes to the ability to fine-tune subscription, download and playlist settings, but they’ve also turned me onto several podcasts and podcasters I’d never have known about otherwise. Any chance of an improved “discovery” feature, or is that not within the scope of what the developers want Downcast to do?.GingerishkittenVersion: 2.9.50

Best Podcast Player, PeriodI've been using Downcast since I carried an iPhone 4. I'm now on an iPhone 14 and I've never found anything better. Downcast gives you the power to control exactly how podcasts play and what a playlist contains, and it does it LOCALLY ( i.e., no streaming) so you can continue to listen when you're hiking or biking in rural areas with no cell coverage. AND it does everything without the annoyance of "subscriptions". Yes, you need to learn how the options work, and you may need to read a Help page, but in return you get a player you can use across all your devices: phone, tablet, iPod, watch, and laptop. I have a "Daily" playlist I use most mornings, and a "News Only" one that lets my wife listen to the news without being bored by all the tech stuff I listen to; we both appreciate that. Keep up the good work, y'all!.SeñorBubbaVersion: 2.11.24

Back to fabulousBack to 5 stars! I had downgraded this one for some time due to problems with incompletely downloaded podcasts causing interruption in continuous-play of playlists, but this is now fixed, and it's back to wonderfully useful. I easily manage subscriptions to dozens of podcasts (now between 60 and 70), keep several different playlists going at once for different listening situations, and this app just works. The 2 minutes fast forward is great when a podcast has multiple segments and one of them is uninteresting to me. Love this app. Great for hands-off time on the road, in the garden, or other situations where hands get messy or too busy to keep tapping on buttons or on screen, and is back to doing a great job of making sure only downloaded files are put on playlists (if so instructed), so playback is never interrupted because of a wi-fi problem..NitNicked in LAVersion: 2.9.16

Best podcast app hands downA year ago I had trouble with my Downcast podcasts not downloading for hours or days, so I looked into other apps. For a while I tried Overcast, and for 6 months I tried Pocket Casts. While the Pocket Casts syncing between iOS devices is nifty, Downcast is just better. Why? Because I want to easily listen to different things depending on my mood. Pocket Casts has just one playback queue ("Now Playing"). Like Downcast, you can specify which new podcast episodes are automatically put there. But each one of Downcast's playlists functions as a separate, subject-specific queue. If I'm in the mood to listen to current events, I can choose my news playlist. If I want to listen to something lighter, I can listen to my humor playlist. In Pocket Casts, my Now Playing queue is usually full of news podcasts. If I'm in the mood to listen to something else, I have to go into an individual podcast, select an episode and add it to the Now Playing queue. And I have to repeat this for each episode I want to listen to. This is time consuming, and next to impossible when I'm using my hands for something else. The way that Downcast allows me to have different subject/mood-specific playlists/queues is why I love it, and will no longer use anything else!.Renarde3Version: 2.11.24

A very important piece of software.Downcast is my most used application. It keeps thousands of episodes organized for me in a pool of subscriptions that hits 100GB on my mobile at times. It also syncs with my laptop, my server, and with some massaging, my stable of various media players. Can I jump around and control an app processing a catalog that large on a mobile device seamlessly and quickly with the watch app? Yes. Is it for power users? Yeah. Is it for casual NPR listeners? Hell yeah. Is it for people that don't care? Obviously not. But I usually don't care for those people. Downcast is not just a podcatcher. It is a research tool, lifestyle app, and a seamless portal into the enormous and fertile world of decentralized multimedia. Sound Hyperbolic? My first ever review sounds preachy? Then find me a single app that comes close to this. Be careful though: you can lose your soul while searching..AlphaprobeVersion: 2.9.16

Buggy, but the power-users only choiceI'm obsessed with podcasts. I'm usually subscribed to 40+, and I must spend at least 20 hours every week listening to them. When you have so many podcasts, you probably want a lot of control over how you listen to them, store them, and organize them. Generally, Downcast is the best in all of these areas, especially the latter two. Unfortunately, the power also comes with a fair share of bugginess and general weirdness: downloads corrupt / mess up more than any other app, I've experienced syncing arrows, and there are semi-frequent crashes. Despite all this, I still use it, because no other podcast app provides the same feature set. That said: presently, iOS 10 support is pretty much nonexistent. It's so buggy that I have had to switch to Overcast, which is killing me. The GUI seems to be laggy and getting downloads to work is a serious issue..CucucumburVersion: 2.9.16

Best Podcast App That Fits Most of My NeedsUpdate to my update: I downgraded to 4 stars because of Downcast’s clunky interface. I tried Overcast again and found the newest version to be a better fit for my workflow with its dark interface and better control over podcast priorities. Downcast was taking too long to check my 60 to 70 feeds and it took too many clicks to go between the now playing screen and my playlist. Update: A few weeks ago I gave this app a low rating because it couldn’t read my iTunes playlists. After struggling with the hot mess that Apple made of the stock app and trying nearly every other third party podcast app, I find the Downcast meets most of my needs. Downcast in conjunction with the Mac app pretty much means I don't have to mess with iTunes anymore and after proper setup I can have my daily playlist automatically sorted and ready for me with minimal manual adjustment. I finally can wrap my head around the concept of direct downloads completely untethered to my Mac which means I can update my playlist away from home if needed. A few of my favorite features: O The ability to stay on while plugged in O Gestures to control pausing,and skipping O a volume slider on the player interface O podcast priority levels.SrornatVersion: 2.9.20

Love this appI have used this app faithfully for over 4 years now. I don’t even remember when I started to use it. But it’s been seem less and awesomeness. I don’t recall any glitches or imperfections. They always update and it just works. Very reliable. I have over 100 different podcasts on my list (I’m a driver) I listen usually at 2x speed but I can change. I can automatically download or do it manually it even has an awesome Apple Watch app that works great. I can control the app or listen through my watch ( I think- I always have my phone so I’m. It sure). But it displays the album art on phone and watch! This is one of those apps that I use so often and it works so well I never thought about leaving a review. But I highly recommend this time tested partner of mine.RightlanedVersion: 2.9.31

Hasn’t been downloading all eps lately (July 12, 2020)Before the pandemic of 2020 started, I loved this app. I downloaded it because the latest version of the iPhone podcast app was extremely confusing to use. I suddenly had to hunt down where to find the new episodes with that app. The iPhone app was no longer intuitive, so I gladly paid for the Downcast app which was intuitive. A few weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic began, I noticed that the Downcast app was missing new episodes from a few of my podcasts. I opened up the iPhone podcast app, and there were the new episodes! I don’t know what happened, but I’m sure it has to do with low employee staffing during this pandemic like we’re seeing in many industries. I hope they can fix the issue soon. That’s why I included the date in the title of this review. My rating for Downcast pre-pandemic: 5/5 stars During the pandemic: 2.5/5 stars.PhyreLight83Version: 2.9.51

Time buttons too small and forgets settingsI do love the app however after this last update the time buttons to skip forward /backward became even smaller. I drive while listening and it makes it even harder to skip while driving. Would be nice if there was a "driving" mode display with large buttons. I also had some issues with the next podcast not being heard when it was finished with the previous episode and showing that its playing. I had to disconnect usb to my car radio then reconnect and hit play again. Secondly I had to delete and reinstall and it lost all my setup podcast list! At minimum you should be saving the list of subscribed podcasts either in the keychain or in some user subscription that the server can re download.AzpilotVersion: 2.9.16

Excellent App Missing Play Next QueueI’ve used this feature-rich app for a long time. It’s remarkably well laid out, highly customizable, and has everything I need *except* for a way to queue up episodes to play next. If you’re familiar with the app, you may be aware of a cumbersome workaround that get’s close to a Play Next queue (“locking” episodes and creating a playlist that shows locked episodes), but it’s a tedious process, and having to remember to later unlock episodes is a pain. I highly recommend this podcast app and look forward to labeling it a total package when this feature is implemented. Until then, I keep my eyes open for something that checks all the boxes..Anonymous49803Version: 2.11.19

Simply the best podcast experienceThis is my 11th year using downcast. In the beginning it was one of the only decent options. I’ve continued to try the “next app” as they’ve come out, but the one podcast app you need and the one I use every single day is still Downcast. It is easy to search and add podcasts. It is easy to organize the episodes into playlists. It is easy to search descriptions and titles for the episode you know you listened to but can remember which one it was. And the ability to adjust the speed, pick up where you left off and go to links with a touch is absolutely perfect. It has been bullet-proof for more than a decade and I still give it 5 stars..CeruleanSpyVersion: 2.11.25

Missing 1.75x speed, but otherwise excellentI have waited approximately six years for incorporation of 1.75 times normal plane speed. I have contacted the developer at least two times about it. The first time that I did, I was told that the next version would have increments of 0.1 for the play speed. I said that was too much, but said that 1.75 was drastically needed. Still, nothing has been done. Otherwise, I have loved the application and have used it since 2012. I especially like that you can have it the access password restricted podcasts. I subscribe to two podcasts which require a paid subscription. Those cannot be accessed for people that do not have a membership. Therefore, access scene password restricted podcasts is really a wonderful capability..DexPenVersion: 2.9.39

Perfect on iOS onlyHave beenUsing downcast for years and it is my favorite podcast app on the iPhone. It is especially beneficial for navigation through the different episodes while driving in my car. But, I just deleted Downcast from both of my Mac’s.It has always been very buggy and many times including recently it will delete a complete podcast and all episode’s when it syncs with the iOS version. I have to re-subscribe and download everything available and delete the previously viewed episodes. It’s not a problem with the specific podcast because I do not have any of that kind of issue with apples podcast player. Great for iOS and I will continue using, never again on macOS..Ski542002Version: 2.9.61

So good! I keep it on my home screenI’ve listened to literally hundreds of hours of podcasts using Downcast and have only good things to say about this app. The offline download option is perfect since I do a lot of listening while on the road in rural areas where cell service and internet connections are spotty at best. Downcast has good fast forward and rewind options as well as the ability to speed up the pace of playback. The podcast management options mean I don’t miss episodes of the series I follow. I can’t believe it has taken me so many years to sit down and review Downcast, but this app really deserves all five stars. It blows Apple’s podcast app out of the water and I like it even more than Stitcher..Island LifeVersion: 2.9.33

Robust, granular feature set. Incomparable.Tried overcast for a couple days and came running back to Downcast. There's no comparison. The level of customization and organization possible in Downcast is exhaustive. The gesture based controls are invaluable. The sleep timer can be set for any number of minutes instead of just preset increments. The fact that it's available for a low-cost, one-time purchase versus the subscription model of other apps is also fantastic. That said, I've been using this app for years and just noticed the "tipping" feature in the settings. Happy to send a few extra bucks to the developer for a product that I've been using every single day for about 5 years..Brian M.Version: 2.9.16

Love this app for several years (but battery killing me)I could not give this app anything less than 5 stars for all of the amazing use I got out of it. This app is simple, reliable and has been improved over the years. My only issue has been with the battery drain. Perhaps this is a necessity to get the data to know whether there are new podcasts available to download. But it feels like this just takes my iPhone down considerably. That said, this is the only complaint and I've used just about all of the major apps including Apple's Podcast app, Instacast, Overcast and others. But I am strongly considering Overcast because of the battery issue. Please address this if you can..Devron8Version: 2.9.16

Great app - 1 suggestionSo far, this app is very nice. It’s well worth the price and I’ll probably use the tipping option in the future. I only have one suggestion to add. Certainly not worth taking out a star, so I maintain my 5 stars. There is a global setting for new episodes to be marked for download. This should have an override option per playlist. I have 3 playlists with all episodes of fiction drama podcasts starting from the beginning and working to the end. I don’t want to download new entries to those. I only want automatic downloads to my main Queue, which has a variety of podcasts in one playlist. I don’t see any way to override the automatic download setting for this one playlist..DannythetwoVersion: 2.9.43

The Dom Perignon of Podcasting AppsDowncast works like a dream. Every feature you might want or need is threaded into the design. And you can modulate how intricate you'd like the app to be. You can manually create detailed playlists and download schedules or you can just line up subscriptions and leave it automated. My favorite unique feature has to be the Find Podcasts search bar, which is crazy useful especially when some podcasts are up to hundreds of episodes now. The bookmark feature while the podcast is playing is killer as well, letting you skip to different chapters when the podcast is formatted thay way. It's the perfect podcasting app, I'd recommend it to every podcast lover..Nina ChopVersion: 2.9.16

The only podcast app you need!I’ve been using Downcast for years and it is everything I need it to be. The UI, while maybe not as “pretty” as some others, is highly intuitive, practical, and allows for a high degree of flexibility in how episodes are downloaded, organized and played back. I love having variable playback speeds and being able to customize media skip intervals, so you can quickly get past any ads/commercials within a podcast with a single gesture. There are no pop up ads, and in my experience it’s super light on battery usage. Overall a powerhouse of an app and in my opinion should be a no-brainer for the dedicated podcast listener..MPenderVersion: 2.9.42

The best podcast playerI believe this to be the best podcast player. I have used Downcast now for several years, it has never let me down. It does everything I needed to do. And one of the things I like the most, it still plays videos podcasts the other thing I really like about Downcast, is that it is inclusive for people with disabilities. As a legally blind person I greatly appreciate this application. It has everything I need to be included while using Downcast, a great big thank you to the developer, I would recommend this podcast application to anyone looking to enjoy the multitude of podcasts out there..KBrodeckiVersion: 2.11.27

WHAT!? (Updated)No obvious way to access the homepage to discover and add new podcasts, which wouldn’t be an obstacle for me if the search function worked (it doesn’t, at all). So now I’m caged into only one podcast with no clear option to add more. I’d regret this even if it were a freebie. So it’s back to Podbean, at least it worked and the price is right (free). UPDATE: I am amending my original review from one star to four on the basis of not being able to access the homepage was my own oversight after finally locating it with the “+” button, but still subtracting one star because the search function is still a bugger. My apologies to the good Downcast people. 🙃.Gr8 weatherVersion: 2.10.3

Yup, buggyLike other reviewers, I have long loved this app but it is now acting weirdly. Specifically, problems with the download function. Downloading from two separate, related podcast today demonstrates the problem. On the screen listing available episodes, on one podcast, touching the episode caused it to download, as usual. But with the second podcast, it would only play, and not download. Since I use Downcast almost exclusively to play already-downloaded episodes, this is a major, major problem. Next to each episode description, there is a series of icons showing possible actions, but these are totally useless because they are tiny. You would need a toothpick to click on one. I have contacted support about this twice, and received no answer..Nvh9Version: 2.9.16

Can’t beat itI’ve been reading some of the reviews on here saying that the app is buggy and drains your battery. I’ve found that not to be the case in my personal usage. Sure the app will crash every now and again (same as any other app) but your progress through a podcast is always saved so overall it’s a non issue. Organization is great and as mentioned in other reviews there are many great options to customize how and when podcasts are downloaded/streamed or feeds refreshed. I’m subscribed to over 30 podcasts and can set different options for all of them or they obey a “global setting”. Worth every penny. Love this app..BigBoss1679Version: 2.9.33

Kendra SchaberI have used this app off and on for the last two years or so. I sometimes run into bugs with Downcast. The latest of which is that I’m having it update some of my podcast feeds but not update the actual podcast itself during the times when I would refresh all feeds. I think it’s a bug with the latest update because I have not incountered it before this update. I find it annoying because I have even delieted one feed, resubscribed to that same feed, have it work good once but not refresh itself except to update the publishing date. I rated Downcast a 4 star rating because of my luck with strange bugs with this app..Screaming Eagle 7Version: 2.9.40

Heavy podcast listener? this is for youI work in an office with no internet access. So needless to say I need to have a podcast manager to handle downloading and organizing my many podcasts for a full day of work. This is the one for me. It seamlessly updates all the podcasts before I get up, ready to go. This is FULLY customizable. Globally or per podcast! I love that! Some podcast ramble for roughly the same amount of time on their podcast. So I will set that podcast to jump in a set amount every time. You can also trim the ending as well. I also use this in my vehicle with Apple CarPlay. Works well. This definitely will be my only podcast app! Very nice!!.Baplayr2uVersion: 2.9.43

Options!!!I had only ever used the Apple podcast app, and was pretty satisfied with it, until a friend showed me Downcast, and frankly, it's a game changer. There are so many options, and the intricacy of how podcasts are managed through the app, it's absolutely stunning. At this point, podcasts are almost completely replacing radio for me now, and having the option to have tailored downloads, or streaming episodes, timers, which subscriptions to keep after play and which ones to delete, makes managing a fairly vast subscription list, very easy. I also very much appreciate the interface design. Highly recommended..DevtankVersion: 2.9.16

Downcast is a powerful and capable app.I appreciate all of the many features that Downcast allows one to personalize podcast playlist, and other settings. I had been using stitcher for years, just because it was easy to access online besides in the iPhone app, but they recently closed. The only question questions I have are around linking my MacBook Air Downcast with the iPad Downcast in the cloud. It would be cool if they were synced. However, I am worried my iCloud will lose too much storage if the podcast go to iCloud. There is probably a solution I can figure out. Thanks, Downcast, Paul in Oregon.Pjl890Version: 2.11.27

Powerful features.. buggy usageI switch between this app and Overcast because neither do it all. Overcast is in general easier to navigate, less buggy, and has more reliable playback. It also seems to get new podcasts faster than Downcast. Overcast also easily allows you to use the mic remote button to skip around. Downcast has a "remote media skip" setting but I can't get it to work. There is one powerful feature that really sets Downcast apart from competitors - the ability to search through old podcasts. So if I am interested in a specific topic from my favorite podcast, I can use search terms to find it. It lets you search titles and/or descriptions. This feature alone makes Downcast worth having..Eisenhower303Version: 2.9.16

So great!I gave up on apple’s built-in podcast app after being forced to update to ios11; imagine my surprise to discover that, with DOWNCAST, the ff/rw buttons on my smart watch, now skip 10 seconds instead of jumping all the way to the end or beginning of the track! Only a very slight exaggeration to describe this discovery as LIFECHANGING! Ad time on your podcast? BLIP gone! Oh crap what did that character just whisper on my audiobook (that’s right, import whole audiobooks with this app)? BLIP {repeats exactly what you missed} Best podcast app, bar none. THANK YOU (The “title card” (?) was stuck on one podcast I played a week ago, in the pop-up / widget / Control Center window?!? Restarted my phone, that fixed it).Ro6otVersion: 2.9.34

Best for Playing Podcasts Without Fuss and BotherWant podcast which simply downloads entire podcast, sorts either ascending/descending, plays the cast in that order without having to mess with playlists or obscure settings. Have tried many other podcast apps. Some have amazing audio settings to eliminate dead-air and selectively boost volume for clarity (OverCast). DC has none of this But DC does not require that one add casts to some global playlist. A playlist which limited in the number of individual episodes that can be played. Pocket Casts sets this limit at 100 Have many podcasts each of which is over that number. Have several over 200. One (Skeptoid—check it out) with over 800 So keep coming back to Downcast with its clunky but clear interface, primitive audio and most importantly with straightforward and reliable podcast playing Would love to give 5-Stars, but lack of dead-air elimination does not allow. Downcast is, hands-down, the overall best podcast app.AppleBobblesVersion: 2.11.11

Great app and good for podcast integration just wish it had a couple features from meInstead of downloading the episodes I wish I could just stream them all that way I could keep space on my phone for apps and it wouldn’t take up oh I don’t know 12 to 15 GB in podcasts of course I am a podcast fanatic and subscribe to over 100 yeah I know but some of them are only out once a month and some haven’t been updated in years so I need to pair it back a little bit but what I don’t like is that downcast download several episodes at a time of different podcasts not just the most recent.Lights rageVersion: 2.9.20

The best for podcast junkiesI listen to lots of podcasts (25 of them!) and create lots of playlists, many of which I keep for years. I’m also an experienced podcast producer. I find that the Downcast feature-set allows me to keep track of it all with very little fuss. After initial configuration it runs great on autopilot, and can be trusted with your archived podcast episodes. I also prefer the sound of the audio in this app because it generally has less bass and more treble. That’s the right mix for most folks with hearing loss and hearing aids such as me. I have been using Downcast for at least 8 years..FlamdaddyVersion: 2.9.51

App is so great I could cry!After the latest Podcasts app update ruined it for me, I purchased Downcast. It is so terrific I am kicking myself for waiting so long. This does everything I wanted the Podcasts app to do and more things I never even thought of. It is so customizable that it must certainly be able to accommodate everyone's needs. THANK YOU FOR CREATING THIS APP!!! Update: I still love the app, but it has become very touchy. It is not stable when switching applications. It frequently hangs and dies and must be restarted. Back to five stars. My previous complaint has been fixed for a long time now..KingBWVersion: 2.9.32

Been using for years. Love it - couple of improvements.IPhone. Scrubbing bar red and small. Difficult to see. Ux can be improved by analyzing workflow and placing buttons more logically. Have problems with continuous play. Sometimes if activated in a playlist, regular podcasts also play continuously. Don’t want that. Be good if continuous play can be activated solely in a podcast group and not flow into other groups..CM-MAVersion: 2.9.49

Should have been Apple's podcast appI just love it- it's the only podcasting app I use (and have used for many many mths)..Recon447Version: 2.9.16

Downcast and I are best friends.We spend hours together. My favourite is that you can set global options like 1.25 speed, and save 2 unplayed episodes, but override that per podcast, so you can listen to your music podcasts at normal speed, or grab all podcasts for the title you are binging on, and reset it later. Love it..A CanuckVersion: 2.9.16

PerfectFeature rich. It’s as if someone who really listens to podcasts put all the tools and needs into one program. Many podcasts have an ad tacked on at the end, but at a high volume. You can auto trim he playback start and stop per podcast. No more being woken up at the end of a podcast by someone shouting at you to get something delivered via their new app..Marshy459Version: 2.11.9

GreatExactly what I want in a podcast app..Dave564Version: 2.9.16

ExcellentI’ve used Downcast for several years and have found it to be one of the best. The options are extensive, and any small issues have been dealt with quickly. I would highly recommend this podcast player..KroekergVersion: 2.11.27

The bestI love downcast.Albert1867Version: 2.11.27

My favourite podcast app!I switched over to downcast in 2014 from the iOS default app and haven’t looked back since! The app is reliable and stable; media management works great (including no episodes deleted or subscriptions dropped like the default iOS podcast app does), listening experience is great with multiple options for speed, multiple skip or rewind options, streaming, etc: CarPlay works great, and Downcast even has granular listening and media management settings that you can either set globally or per podcast feed. For almost ten years now the app allows me to quickly set up my listening preferences, and for ten years the app has never let me down. Downcast is great!!!.ILikeIkeVersion: 2.11.27

The best, but with serious flawsWhat Apple's Podcast app should have been; too bad that if your network connection resets so do your downloads - start all over again!.ATDT +++Version: 2.11.24

Always My FavouriteI try new apps every once in awhile to see if I’m missing anything, but I always come back to Downcast. I love my handmade playlists, some for different genres, some for show frequency, and I love being able to keep one list by length of episode, and another by date. I’ve also started using the feature to adjust playback speed for specific shows, and I love it. The only thing missing is being able to cast to by Google Speaker at higher speed..Cinn48Version: 2.11.24

Volume via Apple Watch (Series 8) is erraticAdjusting volume using my Apple Watch Series 8, while listening to Downcast is just awful. Pretty much useless..YellowcowsVersion: 2.11.24

Still the one for meA solid, feature-rich app that has served me well for many years through many iOS versions. I’d like to be able to delete episodes from the player screen, and navigate to the episodes list from the player screen but these are minor wants..RSG9Version: 2.11.12

A superior podcast appI have used this app for years, downloading from 200+ podcasts daily and maintaining a library of 5000 episodes. It is has never failed me. 30 second skip is easy (double click on the headphones), or controls show on the Lock Screen. Playlists are customizable and intuitive to create, and manage (auto delete or keep). Best of all you can export the audio files from phone to Mac via Airdrop for later listening. Playback speed can be adjusted faster and slower for time pressed listening or language learning. Use a built-in podcast search or add streams manually. The range of options leave me in control of how I use podcasts..88828Version: 2.11.10

Great podcast appI love this app for listening to my podcasts. It’s very powerful and customizable. You can create multiple dynamic playlists, with lots of different ways to sort the podcasts. I particularly like that the playback speeds are customizable for each podcast, as is the number of episodes you keep for each podcast. I’ve been using it for 7+ years and it has always worked super well!.Luc-RockVersion: 2.11.8

Best podcast appGreat app and even better support..DrMartin666Version: 2.10.3

Love the playlist priorityThe Priority setting allow each new episodes to be sorted by preferred podcast so that news show are always on top of your playlist. Great feature!.GoozakVersion: 2.9.57

The Best Podcast AppSeptember 30 update: - Watch volume control from the app is so awesome! I was definitely excited to see this. July 15, 2020 update: Latest release fixes a lot of previous issues! - downloads are working again - podcast icons display properly - larger text - so far, no crashes Still the best podcast app! Original review I try new podcast apps when they’re released but none ever compare to Downcast. It’s just so well organized and allows for such granular configuration of your feeds and playlists! I recommend it to everyone I know who likes podcasts..LynncelineVersion: 2.9.55

Great for me (had been using iPod nano)I used to download podcasts on iTunes and transfer them to an iPod nano. Thought it would always be like that, because Apple’s podcast app isn’t intuitive. Downcast is a godsend, love it for downloading podcasts. I have about half my storage free on my 256GB iPhone, so it’s easy to keep all my podcasts downloaded and up to date. They aren’t out of date like they were on iPod, a lot of my favourite podcasts are current events (business, news). The immediacy is great. Can also control playback with the Apple Watch app, but in case the developer reads this, I would love to be able to control volume from the Apple Watch app too, and not have to switch to the Watch app “Now Playing”. 5 stars!.Gene2uVersion: 2.9.54

Best podcast playerAnd much underrated when sites review podcast apps. I have been a user of Downcast for, it must be 7-8 years and though I have tried others (Castro, Overcast, Apple’s Podcast app, for example), I come quickly back. Downcast may not be as visually appealing and work as other ones do; but if you want a powerful podcast player that allows both readily known podcasts as well as manually entered URL ones to be handled, in a clear, well thought out way, DC is it. I am also glad that Downcast is reasonably priced and hasn’t gone the subscription model..BlackMacXVersion: 2.9.54

Great app that is packed with useful featuresThis is an excellent application for podcast management. You can synchronize your playlists between your Mac and your iPhone and it supports a lot of useful features the more you poke around the more things useful you will find. It is definitely good for intermediate to advanced users. Plus I really like the support a back catalogue: you can import your files from your computer that are no longer hosted on podcast servers if you have previously downloaded them..TK427.1138Version: 2.9.52

It’s good folksI like how you can side load eps to it and the simplicity of using it. Great app..No nicknames leftVersion: 2.9.50

Crashes today please fix!The update says it prevents a possible crash but the update broke my app. Please fix this is my favorite podcast app! I will try reinstalling..S.mae.kVersion: 2.9.47

Thank youI just want to thank you. This is the only podcast app I use. It is a feature complete, to me, it is perfect. I cannot see, but when I use this app, it feels like coming home. it is a tremendous comfort to me and it brings me many, many hours of joy. It helps me to reach out to others, so that I may experience the things they do. Thank you so much for making this app. It is a real blessing to me. Thank you. Thank you so much for another update....BallieheadVersion: 2.9.49

Better way to listenMuch easier to use than Apples standard podcast app. I can listen to many episodes of one podcast in a row, sorting them by recent or oldest; or I can create a playlist with all my podcasts and listen to a mix sorted by date. I love the 30 sec go forward/back - always accessible quickly. Works well on Car Play. The search function isn’t as good as Podcast’s as it doesn’t seem to search in episode details, just in podcast titles. So if I’m looking for interviews with a certain guest on any podcast, I have ended up searching elsewhere. But great for actually listening..BikepaddleVersion: 2.9.43

Best podcast app. Highly recommend it.Canceled satellite radio and only listen to podcasts with this app..CJM-CAVersion: 2.9.46

RecommendedIt works and works well. Good search, great file handling..ExreverendVersion: 2.9.43

Best Podcast everThis is the only podcast app you need..Great Guido (Guy)Version: 2.9.43

Good!Downcast is by far my favourite podcast app. Lots of handy features and it usually runs smoothly. The only negative I’ve seen is the battery drainage. I have to constantly charge my iPod when I’m listening and it can become inconvenient..HauntedyamVersion: 2.9.37

Fixed for iOS 13Latest update seems to have fixed the crashing that came with iOS 13!!! Would be nice to be able to dynamically reorder episodes in a playlist but otherwise I’ve been using it for years without issue..Firehawk12Version: 2.9.42

The bestThis is the best podcast app ever. The video interface is better than any video player. So many options to customize. Apple should buy this and make it the Apple Podcast native app.HuertajaVersion: 2.9.42

Consistently the best podcast appThis has consistently been my podcast go-to app on the iPhone and iPad since it came out. It has great functionality and seems to keep ahead of the various iOS upgrades. Great app..Welsh-travelerVersion: 2.9.41

Auto unsubscribes for no reasonThis is my fav podcast app. But for some reason various podcasts (Planet Money, NPR Politics) automatically unsubscribe randomly for me, Even if I am in the middle of listening to it! It will delete and unsubscribe from it. I can’t be the only person this is happening to. There needs to be a fix or update put out addressing this, or I will be forced to find another Podcast app..DannymaltVersion: 2.9.41

Outstanding......app! Can’t praise highly enough!.TomHampVersion: 2.9.41

Really GoodI got this app years ago. It gets updated and works... works really well 👍.BlindcellVersion: 2.9.39

Excellent app - worth the investmentThis is a very, very good podcatcher - far superior to iOS’s built-in one, which I found constantly downloaded podcasts that I had already listened to and deleted. Downcast does everything right. It is clearly being updated regularly and I have found the service to be extremely responsive. Late 2018 addendum: unfortunately getting a lot of crashes over the past couple of months. Yesterday it crashes 3 or 4 times in as many minutes. Hopefully this will be fixed soon..A Cat Called SneezeVersion: 2.9.37

Works great for iPhone but need a better Watch appIt’s a great app with a lot of features and settings that can be synced over cloud. However with the recent update on WatchOS 5, Apple’s Podcast app now lets you sync music to the watch. A feature I’ve always wanted from Downcast. I’m hopeful it will come one day. Thanks for all the great work on this app!.WassamzVersion: 2.9.35

Great AppI’ve been using this app for years and it is wonderful! The best feature is being able to swipe to skip forward and back. No need to find the small buttons..Jewel107Version: 2.9.37

Dont use on ios 12Been using downcast for 3-4 years and have loved it, but it’s completely unstable since the ios 12 update.MattGunn18Version: 2.9.35

My go to Podcast AppI have been using Downcast for years. Works great. Currently running in an iPhone 7 Plus with latest version of iOS 11. No issues at all. No crashes or burps. If you looking for a great podcast app give Downcast a chance. I have tried several other podcast apps and keeping coming back. All the features I ever needed. Very good user interface. No subscription fees. (I notice there are a lot of negative reviews based on issues with iOS 10. It may be time to move past these reviews that are 1 or 2 years out of date).Edit GuyVersion: 2.9.34

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Downcast Negative Reviews

It’s not as great as it used to beAmazing organizational options and fantastic customizability for each podcast download and playback settings. I absolutely love that... unfortunately the app has become almost unusable! Constantly crashes on start-up, I can’t cast to chrome-cast like anymore because the casting will disconnect randomly and the podcast will play simultaneously on the phone and the Chrome Cast OR it will just stop and the app will crash and I will have to restart. Sometimes it takes minutes to get past the loading screen, app won’t remember episode playback status so It’ll play them again from the beginning, the application will also crash as I skip forward to another episode. When I plug in my headphones and press play it’ll take over a minute for the app to continue and when it does it immediately stops playback after a couple of seconds and I’ll have to return to the app to resume playback. I keep waiting for updates that might fix the issues or better it, but each update is making it worse. I’ll have to look for something else in the meantime but I really hope they get the issues fixed. I do love this app otherwise.GibbigooberVersion: 2.9.41

Used to be good, lots of bugsI bought this app a few years ago because I was tired of ads but now there a lot of issues. Any time I receive a call on Bluetooth either from my headphones or my car and return to my podcast it doesn’t auto play I have to restart. downcast says it’s processing things a lot before it plays but basically I need to force quit to get it going again. Turn by turn navigation effects the audio playback just the same as a phone call does. downcast can only show the first few podcasts on Apple CarPlay. On Google Home the app will often start playing the podcast from the phone after 20 minutes while keeping it playing on Google Home. And playlists make little logical sense. I’m gonna have to shop around for a new audio app because I listen to podcasts often when I’m driving and I can’t be fiddling around like this. I was hoping they’d fix these bugs after years but they haven’t. Disappointing..BirdcallingVersion: 2.9.21

Could be better at playing podcastsThis app is everything I’d want in a player - it has all the features I want. Sadly, however, it’s very bad at playing podcasts. It is one of *the* buggiest pieces of software I’ve run across. It consistently starts playing episodes of other podcasts, instead of the one I just chose. Or, sometimes it plays different episodes of the same podcast. It doesn’t remember what podcast I was in when I leave the app, so I have to scroll through a dozen to find what I’m looking for. Sometimes playback gets a “glitch” where it starts repeating the same 15 seconds until I force-quit. It handles changing networks, like switching from Wi-Fi to cellular because I walked out to my car, particularly ungracefully, by throwing a modal dialog box about playback errors. These errors will persist, *even* after the connection is restored, until I force-quit the app. It’s like it caches a error state somewhere then forgets to re-check connectivity. The UI makes it very difficult to scrub to the beginning or end of an episode because the start and end points and right up against the edges of the screen. But mostly, this app is incredibly maddening because it simply is bad doing the job of playing back an MP3 file from a remote server. They should really try to get that part right..Cwpkzwpb19Version: 2.11.10

ICloud sync has never workedThis is a great podcast app, I have been using it for at least 3-4 years. The only problem I have had ever since the first time I downloaded it has been iCloud sync. At first when there were problems with it, I just blamed them on Apple and didn’t think there was a problem with this app. But lately, iCloud sync has become extremely good, all the other apps that I use that support it, are able to sync perfectly. But for whatever reason, Downcast still has terrible problems when it comes to iCloud sync. Today after a long time, I figured I should enable iCloud sync so that I could sync the podcasts I have on my iPhone to my iPad, but the app won’t even let me enable the sync. When I enable it, go back to the previous screen, and then come back, the switch is disabled, and the status still says ‘Last synced: never’. Please fix iCloud sync! If all other apps can do it right, why cant Downcast? If you are unable to figure out how to properly implement iCloud sync, could you at least add an option to use some other cloud sync service like Dropbox? Even though I have used this app for a long time, and I love it, I am still giving it only one star because the iCloud sync portion of this app has been broken for years and they haven’t bothered fixing it..JakkuraVersion: 2.9.16

Buggy, unsupported, and can’t importI used to love this app Did everything I needed in a podcast app. For the last six months to a year, it has been randomly crashing. That’s not too big of a deal, because it’s quick to reload. I have been distressed by the lack of updates from the developer and no place to turn for tech support. The developer’s website has only a few articles on it. But now, the last straw has dropped. The app can no longer import podcasts. I have a lot of archived podcasts on my computer that I want to listen to. I used to be able to upload those to iCloud, download them to the phone via Files, and then import them to Downcast. Cumbersome, but that’s apparently the result of how Apple sandboxes files on iOS for security purposes. Downcast now refuses to accept those files. The app is now 50% unusable to me. Time to find something that works..MojosamVersion: 2.9.38

Downcast used to work greatOverall I have always liked Downcast. It was one of the first Podcast apps that I downloaded to try and it quickly became my favorite. However, recently the newer versions are having problems both on my iPhone and iPod. Virtually every time I pause a podcast (say while running into a store) the app crashes. I have sent several support requests to the developer without any good resolution so far. I receive an automatic email reply that has some links to the Beta Test Program, but these links do not work. It also seems that the last twitter post by Downcast was back in November 2016. If you read the feed for this last tweet, it seems that Downcast is no longer a supported product. I really hope that I am wrong on this but it does not look good. Caveat Emptor..JRO_1Version: 2.9.16

Easy To Use - But DisappointingI really just listen to 2 podcasts. Each of them are 3 hours in length. When these are downloaded to my device(s), one of the podcasts, Downcast gives me the first hour of each day. The other podcast, I only get the “Best Of” version, which that podcast provides as a service. This is NOT what I want. The iHeart App gives me all 3 hours (plus the Best Of feature) for each Podcast. As I look at the downloads of the iHeart podcasts, I noticed that the Best Of is listed first. My assumption would be, Downcast takes the first item, sends it to me, and moves on. Again … NOT what I paid for when I purchased Downcast. Yes. It’s easy to use; however, I would rather have ALL the content that I get with iHeart..Alponi in DublinVersion: 2.11.28

Used to be awesome...Downcast used to be awesome until about 6 month ago when it became unstable, crashing 3 to 4 times in the first 10 minutes of play and then multiple times through the night. Totally unreliable since then. I've complained to Downcast support and I haven't heard back from them. Shame on you Downcast!!.MyHazelnutVersion: 2.9.16

TerribleLots of customizations but not intuitive and a terrible user interface! Trying to add a single episode to a playlist is unnecessarily complicated and verging on impossible. Just give me an add to playlist option.Black_yjVersion: 2.11.9

Please update to iOS 10 or fix the app! It became a huge battery drainer!Please, please, I beg you, update your app to to iOS 10 or do something to fix it! Downcast used to be my favorite podcast app and I still love it for the functions, UX and customizability but after I updated my iPhone 6s plus to iOS 10 it became pretty much unusable because it just sucks my battery dry in 3.5-4 hours with normal use and also uses up almost all of 2GB of my phone's memory which is not normal. And while playing my phone all the time stays burning hot, I probably couldn't hold it without the case on. That's how hot it is. I checked many times, it's absolutely Downcast's doing. Other apps, including native Podcasts app don't do anything even close like this. Thank you..MxrudenVersion: 2.9.16

No Manual playlist supportI’m disappointed because of the lie. You say you support playlists, which is a LIE! You don't! You propose some ridiculous work around until the next “major version 3”. Ok that would have been fine if that promise was not made 2 years ago!!! I’ll contact Apple to have my money back! This is scam level!.PatGarettVersion: 2.9.63

Detestable RecommendationsI paid for a premium version, which to me means no ads, only to have my podcasts continuously interrupted by by “recommendations.”.Call my own shotsVersion: 2.9.43

Used to swear by it....What happened to my downcast!? It’s soooooo slow! Used to be miles ahead of the apple podcast app but now I need to wait forever for my podcasts to start.... so what do I do? I just use the apple app:/ Get back in the game guys!!!.M.r. F.Version: 2.9.38

Crashes and no reply from supportBeen using for years. But the last few months it’s been crashing multiple times a day. Emailed support, no reply. It’s been a few days. Deleted it and had to pay for another app..MikemcmllnVersion: 2.9.35

Recent updates made app super glitchyWas a great app, but now the podcasts skip and stop uncontrollably without even touching any buttons. Please fix!.Sad rVersion: 2.9.35

Keeps Crashing!!Have been using this app for years. Loved it, relied on it, had zero complaints. For the past week or so a podcast that is playing will stop every few minutes. It’s so incredibly annoying! I have checked often to see if there is an update to no avail. Please fix this!!!.7FrecklesVersion: 2.9.35

Oh ohThis used to work well, but recently my battery drained in a few hours. This stopped happening as soon as I deleted Downcast..Pmf13Version: 2.9.32

CrashesTime to look for a replacement. I have used downcast for years but now it is unusable. It crashes constantly..FlysnoutVersion: 2.9.32

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