Side by side
Downcast vs Newsboat
Both stand on podcast apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid iPhoneMac
Downcast combines podcast discovery, downloads, playback controls, and cross-device iCloud syncing for Apple users. Buyers should account for the separate 2.99 USD iOS and 4.99 USD Mac purchases.
Visit Downcast
Free plan LinuxMac
Newsboat combines terminal-based feed reading with local article storage, search, and connections to online feed services. Podcast playback depends on a separate media player, and NetBSD is unsupported.
Visit NewsboatThe facts
| Downcast | Newsboat | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | iPhone, Mac | Linux, Mac |
| Lowest paid plan | Downcast for iOS: $2.99, paid once | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | downcastapp.com | newsboat.org |
| On podcast apps | #53 of 55 | #49 of 55 |
Downcast: what it does well
- Audio and video podcast support
- Offline and automatic downloads
- Private feed support
- iCloud synchronization
- Smart playlists and OPML tools
What to know first
- Paid with no free plan
- Separate iOS and Mac purchases
- Background downloads follow iOS restrictions
- Apple-device platform coverage
Newsboat: what it does well
- Imports subscriptions from OPML.
- Keeps downloaded articles locally for later reading.
- Searches article titles and content.
- Connects to multiple online feed services.
- Can download, save, and stream podcasts.
What to know first
- NetBSD is currently unsupported.
- Podcast playback requires an external media player.
- OPML online subscription sync works one way.
Alternatives to Downcast Alternatives to Newsboat The whole list