The low size of an app is a nice bonus – shows that the person behind it actually cares. At least it’s possible to use Shortcuts for file uploads. I also enjoy the uploads feature though I wish it was changed to utilise iCloud. I also really like Smart Speed, that’s an absolute must. I’m a heavy podcast user (I had to put a personal limit at 100 GB of downloads) and as such reliable sync and real time notifications are important for me. However, Pocket Casts just said they’re readying a major redesign so there may be another switch in my near future. I want to stop bouncing between podcasts apps. You can create lists of podcasts, lists of episodes, and lists of both. Overcasts playlist system is actually rather sophisticated. Castro doesn’t seem to support playlists at all, and Pocket Casts does but they’re lists of podcasts-not lists of individual episodes. I usually just have one playlist but it seems like a couple of times a month I have reason to break out one or two more, and Overcast makes it easy to do that. And, truly, the UI is good once you realize that Overcast is one of those apps where you’re better off doing things the app’s way than you are trying to make the app perform exactly how you want it to.

Overcast has some UI quirks, but I realized that I’m spending far, far more time listening to podcasts than manipulating the app, so I live with the quirks. This is all subjective and I have some hearing loss, so take my recommendation on audio quality with a grain of salt. I often listen to podcasts at 2x, and Overcast seems more understandable and pleasant at higher speed.

I perceive Overcast’s audio quality on fast-play to be better than the alternatives. I’ve bounced regularly between that, Castro, and Pocket Casts for years.

Sonos pocketcasts