Pocket Casts, You Altered the Deal, So I Will Alter Your App
6 hours ago
- #monetization
- #podcast-apps
- #open-source
- Pocket Casts initially offered a pay-once model but switched to a subscription model after NPR's acquisition in 2018.
- In 2024, Pocket Casts introduced ads, upsetting users who were grandfathered into lifetime memberships.
- The app's open-source nature allowed users to modify the code to remove ads by altering feature flags.
- Pocket Casts' monetization strategy lacks transparency, raising concerns about its financial sustainability.
- Alternative podcast apps like PinePods and AntennaPod offer self-hosting options for users considering leaving Pocket Casts.