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Podliner

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What Podliner is

Podliner is a free, GPLv3-licensed podcast player that runs in a terminal on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It downloads episodes, resumes playback, and manages a queue for listening offline. Keyboard controls, Vim-style navigation, and mouse input are available, while a terminal is needed for the full-screen interface. Chapter controls read Podcasting 2.0 chapter JSON and ID3 CHAP frames. Subscriptions and play history can synchronize through gpodder.net, compatible self-hosted gPodder servers, or Nextcloud’s gPodder-Sync app. OPML import and export help move subscriptions between players. Playback engines include VLC, mpv, ffplay, and Windows Media Foundation, with controls varying by engine. Linux systems can expose MPRIS controls and status. Podliner states that it has no telemetry and stores configuration in the user profile.

Who it suits

Podliner suits listeners who prefer terminal-based controls, offline downloads, and synchronization through gPodder services. It also fits users wanting OPML portability and chapter navigation.

What it does well

  • Free and open source under GPLv3
  • Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows
  • Downloads episodes for offline listening
  • Syncs subscriptions and play history
  • Supports keyboard, Vim-style, and mouse controls

What to know first

  • Full-screen interface requires a terminal
  • Playback controls vary by audio engine
  • Plaintext credential fallback if keyring unavailable

Verdict

Podliner combines terminal navigation, offline playback, chapter support, and gPodder synchronization across three desktop platforms. Check its terminal requirement and audio-engine control differences before choosing it.

Facts from Podliner's own pages

Audio engines
It can use VLC, mpv, ffplay, or Windows Media Foundation; the README notes that Media Foundation has no playback speed control and ffplay has coarse seeking without live speed or volume control. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Chapters
It reads Podcasting 2.0 chapter URLs and ID3 CHAP frames, with controls to navigate chapters. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Credential storage
Sync credentials are stored in the operating system keyring when available, with a plaintext fallback if the keyring is unavailable. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Cross-device sync
Yes · github.com, 22 Sept 2026
Feed sync
It syncs subscriptions and play history with gpodder.net, compatible gPodder servers, and Nextcloud using its gPodder-Sync app. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Import and export
It supports OPML import and export for moving subscriptions between podcast players. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Integrations
On Linux, it supports MPRIS media controls and status for tools such as playerctl and KDE/GNOME widgets. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
License
The repository identifies Podliner as licensed under GPLv3. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Maker background
Tim Kicker describes himself as a computer science student in Austria. · tim.kicker.dev, 12 Oct 2026
Navigation
The interface supports keyboard controls, Vim-style keys and commands, and mouse interaction. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Offline downloads
Yes · github.com, 22 Sept 2026
Offline use
It can download episodes, resume playback, and manage a listening queue. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Playback
It supports VLC, mpv, ffplay, and Windows Media Foundation audio engines. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Privacy
The project states that Podliner has no telemetry and keeps configuration in the user's profile. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Purpose
Podliner is a podcast player designed to run in a terminal. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Support
The README directs users to file bug reports with version, operating system, reproduction steps, and logs; it lists [email protected] for security-sensitive issues. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Supported platforms
Linux, macOS, Windows · github.com, 22 Sept 2026
Sync
It syncs subscriptions and play history with gpodder.net, compatible self-hosted gPodder servers, and Nextcloud's gPodder-Sync app. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Terminal requirement
Podliner needs a terminal to draw its full-screen interface; its version and help options work without one. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026

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