Pocket Casts, the podcast application acquired by Automattic in 2021, has announced that its web player is now available for free. According to the company, this move provides an alternative to the dominant platforms’ closed ecosystems, where algorithm-driven content is prioritized and podcasts are often behind paywalls.

The foundation of podcasts is built on open technology, specifically the decentralized standard RSS, which enables online audio and other content like news and blog posts to be freely accessible on the web. In line with this open nature, Pocket Casts is making its web player free to use, starting Tuesday.

This means that anyone can visit the Pocket Casts website and stream any episode without incurring a subscription fee or creating an account, offering unparalleled access to podcast content.

However, users who wish to personalize their experience can create a free account, which unlocks features such as syncing playback across various devices, managing queues, and saving subscriptions and preferences, thereby enhancing their overall listening experience.

In addition, the company’s paid subscription, Pocket Casts Plus, will continue to offer advanced features that provide users with greater control over their listening experience, including access to tools like folders, smart shuffle, bookmarks, wearable and cloud support, extra themes, and icons, among others.

Notably, Pocket Casts has chosen not to incorporate AI-powered discovery into its platform, instead allowing users to decide for themselves what they want to listen to, free from algorithmic suggestions.

This approach may appeal to users who feel overwhelmed by the pushy recommendations on platforms like Spotify, which can make it challenging to keep track of their preferred shows. By giving users full control over their listening experience, Pocket Casts is positioning itself as a more user-centric alternative.

The introduction of free web streaming may also enable Pocket Casts to challenge other major players in the market, such as Apple Podcasts, which introduced web streaming in August 2024. This move could potentially disrupt the status quo and provide users with more flexibility and choice.

Furthermore, free streaming will also be available on Pocket Casts’ Mac and Windows apps as part of this update, ensuring a seamless listening experience across all platforms.