The future of podcasting shouldn’t be locked behind walled gardens. It should be free, open, and available to everyone—on any device, without restrictions. That’s why we’re excited to announce that the Pocket Casts Web Player is now accessible to all, no subscription required.

Why This Matters

Podcasting was built on an open, decentralized standard, RSS, which means that anyone can create, share, and listen to content freely, without needing a specific platform’s approval. But today, major platforms are shifting away from open standards, moving creators into proprietary systems that limit distribution and control discovery through algorithms.

At Pocket Casts, we stand for the open podcasting ecosystem. We believe:

• Podcasts should be freely accessible everywhere. No barriers, just open access.
• 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.
• Listeners should have full control over their listening experience. Playback speed, customization options, and organization tools should work the way you want them to.

By making our Web Player available to everyone, we’re reinforcing our belief that podcasts belong to the people, not corporations.

How It Works

Starting today, anyone can stream any podcast episode directly from our Web Player, no account or subscription needed. Just visit the site, hit play, and enjoy.

For those who want a more personalized experience, creating a free account unlocks additional features like:

• Syncing playback progress across devices
• Managing your podcast queue seamlessly
• Saving subscriptions and preferences

These changes also apply to our Mac and Windows Desktop Apps, giving you more ways to listen on your terms.

Going Further with Pocket Casts Plus

If you want to elevate your experience, Pocket Casts Plus offers exclusive features designed for podcast enthusiasts who want total control over their listening experience.

• Folders – Organize your podcasts your way.
• Smart Shuffle – Pick a random episode to play next.
• Bookmarks & Chapter Preselection – Save key moments and skip straight to what matters.
• Wearable & Cloud Support – Listen on Apple Watch & Wear OS, and store your personal media with 20GB of cloud storage.
• Exclusive Content – Enjoy 1 year of premium content from Slumber Studios.
• Customization – Access extra themes and icons to make Pocket Casts truly yours.

The Bigger Picture

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.

If you believe in a future where podcasting remains open, and accessible to all, join us.

— The Pocket Casts Team