Podcasting service Pocket Casts is making its web player free for all users. The company said it made the decision because the future of podcasting should be free, open, and accessible to everyone on any device and without restrictions.
From now on, users will only need to go to the Pocket Casts website, choose an interesting podcast and start listening. The company will not require a subscription or even creating an account. The same changes apply to the separate application on Windows and macOS.
"We’re not just making our Web Player open, we’re making a statement. Podcasting is one of the last open corners of the internet, and we’re here to keep it that way. With this move, sharing podcasts is easier than ever. No paywalls, no closed platforms, just open links that work anywhere. Whether you’re sending a must-listen episode to a friend or embedding a show on your website, Pocket Casts remains committed to giving all podcasters, big or small, the tools to reach their audiences freely and without barriers," the company said in a statement.
If users decide to create an account, they will gain access to additional features such as syncing podcast playback across devices, managing their playback queue, subscribing to podcasts, and customizing their preferences.
Pocket Casts also offers a Plus subscription, which gives you access to several exclusive features. For 202.42 hryvnia per month, users will be able to create folders, shuffle episodes, bookmark highlights, and listen to podcasts on their smartwatches. Additionally, while most podcasts are available for free, the Plus subscription gives you access to exclusive content from Slumber Studios.