FluidCast vs PinePods
FluidCast
fluidcastapp.comPinePods
pinepods.onlineSide by side
| Figure | FluidCast | PinePods |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £2.49/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Spec score · Podcast apps | 8.8 (#6) | 8.6 (#13) |
| Cross-device sync | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Offline downloads | Yes | Yes |
| Security | The privacy policy says account passwords are hashed and not stored in plain text. | The site lists multi-factor authentication and OpenID Connect integration. |
| Support | The site lists [email protected] as its contact email. | The maker directs users to Discord and GitHub to request device support or report issues. |
| Supported platforms | Web, iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Linux | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API, self-hosted server |
| Sync | Pro syncs subscriptions, playback position and settings across devices. | Listening position, settings, themes, and subscriptions sync across devices. |
| Transcripts | Users can read full episode transcripts, search their content and navigate through them. | Yes |
Plans
FluidCast
- FluidCast FreeFree
- FluidCast Pro Monthly£2.49 a month
- FluidCast Pro AnnualPrice not published
- FluidCast Pro£2.49 a month
- FluidCast Lifetime£89.99, paid once
In their own words
FluidCast
FluidCast is a podcast player for listening across devices, with search for podcasts and episodes, curated categories, and cross-device sync on Pro. Playback controls include variable speed, silence skipping, a sleep timer, and chapter support. Listeners can read, search, and navigate full episode transcripts. Voice Lift boosts quieter voices, and the app can play audio files stored on a device without streaming. The Free plan includes offline downloads, background playback, playback history, transcripts, Voice Lift, local file playback, and CarPlay and Android Auto support. Pro adds cloud sync for subscriptions, playback position, and settings, plus queue editing, bookmarks, podcast folders, and Apple Watch support. Its on-device AI ad skipping may be inaccurate and use more battery; on iOS it requires Apple Intelligence on iOS 26 or later. FluidCast is listed for web, iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Pro Monthly is £2.49 per month with a one-month free trial; Lifetime is listed at £89.99 per month.
PinePods
PinePods is a free, self-hosted podcast server with clients that synchronize across devices. Users can subscribe to shows, search through Podcast Index and iTunes, or follow YouTube channels and receive audio-only downloads as podcasts. Listening position, settings, themes, and subscriptions sync across devices. Playback and library tools include offline downloads, video podcasts, transcripts, custom RSS feeds, OPML import and export, speed controls, and per-podcast start and end cutoffs. PinePods has its own gpodder server and also supports external gpodder servers and Nextcloud gpodder sync. Separate libraries are available for multiple users, with multi-factor authentication and OpenID Connect integration. The maker documents Docker Compose and Kubernetes deployment with Helm. User settings, podcasts, and episodes are stored in MySQL or Postgres; the database API connects web, desktop, and mobile clients, which authenticate with API keys. A public demo is available, though accounts may be deleted and are not meant for permanent use. Support requests and issue reports are directed to Discord and GitHub.