Pocket Casts vs Qobuz
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Pocket Casts is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 8.3. Pocket Casts wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Qobuz on 0.
Podcast listeners who move between Android, iPhone and a computer
Audiophiles and album listeners with good headphones or a hi-fi system
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Pocket Casts | Qobuz |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Music & Podcasts | Music & Podcasts |
| Category rank | #4 of 10 | #7 of 10 |
| Developer | Automattic | Xandrie SA |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Subscription |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Pocket Casts better than Qobuz?
Pocket Casts is the better app overall, scoring 8.8 to 8.3. Pocket Casts wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Qobuz on 0.
Which is cheaper, Pocket Casts or Qobuz?
Pocket Casts: Free; Plus is $3.99/month or $39.99/year in the App Store. Qobuz: Studio Solo is $12.99 a month, or $10.83 a month billed yearly; students pay $4.99. On value for money, Pocket Casts scores higher.
Do Pocket Casts and Qobuz work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Web.
Which is more private, Pocket Casts or Qobuz?
Pocket Casts scores higher on privacy (8.2/10). No tracking per its App Store label. Contact info, identifiers, usage data and your content are linked to your account if you sign in. The mobile apps are open source.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pocket Casts
- Excellent cross-platform sync of queue and progress
- Smart Playlists make a big library manageable
- Free tier covers mobile, desktop and web
- Folders, bookmarks and watch apps require Plus
- Interface feels busier than Overcast
Pocket Casts is the podcast app to get if you switch between platforms. A free account syncs your queue and progress across iPhone, Android, desktop and the web, and Smart Playlists, Trim Silence and speed controls tame a long subscription list. Recent updates added transcripts that highlight words as they're spoken. Plus adds folders, bookmarks, watch apps and cloud storage for your own files. The open-source apps are a bonus.
Full Pocket Casts review
Qobuz
- Hi-res lossless audio on every plan
- Rich credits, reviews and liner notes
- Buy downloads you keep forever
- No free tier, only a trial
- Catalog can be thin for lesser-known artists
- App Store label lists tracking identifiers
Qobuz is the streaming service for people who care how music sounds and who made it. Every plan streams lossless FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz, and the app is packed with credits, reviews, digital booklets and editorial writing. You can also buy hi-res downloads to keep. Qobuz Connect controls hi-fi gear from brands like Naim and Denon. There's no free tier, and some listeners find the catalog thin for lesser-known artists.
Full Qobuz review
