Apple Podcasts vs YourPods

Apple Podcasts is a podcast app and service for finding, following, and listening to shows across Apple devices, the web, Windows via iTunes, CarPlay, HomePod, smart speakers, and supported car systems. Millions of shows are free, and episodes can be downloaded for offline listening; new episodes from followed shows can download automatically. It supports video podcasts and private feeds, with listening synced across devices. Transcripts in select languages can be read and searched, navigated by chapter, or used to jump to a point in an episode. Premium shows, episodes, and channels may have monthly or annual subscriptions, with prices set by creators. Subscriber benefits can include ad-free listening, bonus or unreleased content, and other subscriber-only material. Subscriptions can be shared with up to five people through Family Sharing. Creators have production, analytics, audience connection, and subscription tools. They receive 70% initially and 85% after one year of paid service, excluding applicable taxes; other podcast revenue, including advertising, goes to the creator.

YourPods is a podcast player built in Swift and SwiftUI, with offline downloads, episode transcripts, and private feed support. Playback controls include silence trimming, variable speed, smart skip, sleep timers, and per-podcast Listening Profiles. AutoPilot can add new episodes to Up Next, move priority episodes to the top, and apply those profiles. The app supports iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay, Android, Windows, Linux, and modern web browsers, with Siri and Shortcuts and Handoff in the Apple ecosystem. Sync options include Nextcloud gPodder Sync, NextPod, RePod, custom gpodder.net server addresses, and other compatible servers. The maker says the app has no analytics, ads, or data harvesting. Vault Mode keeps subscriptions, queue, and listening history on-device; P3 removes 39 tracking prefixes across 25 analytics services before playback or downloads. YourPods Sync stores account and listening data on US infrastructure, transmitted over HTTPS/TLS. Sync users can export JSON data or delete accounts through the account portal. The app is listed at $4.99 a month as a one-time purchase; YourPods Pro costs $30 a year after trial. Its optional media proxy is limited to 25 episodes per calendar month.