We make Guestrell, so it's listed first. Everything below was checked on 2026-10-30; sources are at the end.
Apple Podcasts is already on your iPhone, free with no in-app purchases, and it has transcripts too. Guestrell adds following people across shows, a New tab for new episodes, intro and outro skips per show, and OPML import and export, with free transcripts, a free Apple Watch app and CarPlay.
The apps, one by one
Guestrell
A podcast player for iPhone and iPad, with an Apple Watch app and CarPlay. Follow guests across all shows. Every transcript is free, including the ones made on your device. Each new episode waits in New until you send it to Up Next, Shelf, Someday or Skip.
Following up to 3 people is free. Guestrell Pro is $3.99 a month, $29.99 a year (with a 7-day free trial on the yearly plan only) or $99.99 once for Lifetime. No subscription needed for your Watch or CarPlay. Imports and exports OPML. No account, no ads.
Worth knowing: Guestrell is only on Apple devices, and its Apple Watch app works with your iPhone.
Overcast
A long-running podcast player, free and funded by ads that promote other podcasts; Overcast Premium hides those ads. Smart Speed shortens silences and Voice Boost evens out volume. It supports CarPlay and transcripts, its Apple Watch app has standalone playback, and it needs iOS 18 or later.
Strength: an Apple Watch app that can play on its own.
Pocket Casts
Free, with OPML import, collection export, CarPlay and an Apple Watch app. It's also on the web and other platforms. Pocket Casts Plus is $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year, and listening on the Apple Watch without your phone nearby is a Plus feature.
Strength: it's on more platforms than iPhone and iPad.
Castro
New episodes land in a New tab, and you add the ones you want to a Queue that downloads them. It has CarPlay, transcripts and a free Apple Watch app for controlling playback. Castro Plus ($24.99 a year, with a one-week trial) adds Trim Silence, Enhance Voices, sideloading and per-podcast settings. It runs on iOS 16 or later.
Strength: a New tab and Queue for deciding what to listen to.
Apple Podcasts
Apple's own podcast app, free, with no in-app purchases. It works with CarPlay and Apple Watch, and shows transcripts that follow along as an episode plays.
Strength: it's already on your iPhone and costs nothing.
Apple Podcasts alternatives: common questions
How do I move my shows from Apple Podcasts?
Build an OPML file of your shows with the Shortcuts app (Guestrell's welcome screen has a short guide), then import it under Settings ▸ Your shows ▸ Import OPML.
Does Guestrell charge for the Apple Watch app or CarPlay?
No. No subscription needed for your Watch or CarPlay. The Apple Watch app works with your iPhone: play, pause, skip, change speed and pick chapters from your wrist, with Up Next and complications for what's playing.
Are transcripts free in Guestrell?
Yes, all of them. Guestrell uses the show's own transcript when it has one and otherwise makes one on your device with Apple's on-device speech recognition. Reading and searching transcripts is free; nothing is uploaded.
Is Guestrell on Android?
No. Guestrell is for iPhone and iPad, with an Apple Watch app and CarPlay.
More questions? See the FAQ.
Prices and features change; check each app's listing. All trademarks belong to their owners. Guestrell isn't affiliated with any app listed here.
Guestrell
