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Podcast App & Player - Castbox App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024
Podcast App & Player - Castbox app received 110 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using Podcast App & Player - Castbox? Can you share your negative thoughts about podcast app & player - castbox?
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Podcast App & Player - Castbox for Negative User Reviews
✓ I’ve given upI have ended up with multiple accounts due to log in issues. Even when I got access sorted I was unable to comment using the ‘say something’ feature. I know lots of other people make it work just fine but I’ve given up. Thanks and sorry..Version: 8.26.1
✓ Nightmarish lack of organizationI am a serious podcast listener and when I imported in just a fraction of the shows I subscribe to, I knew immediately that this app was not built for me. The podcasts display with no discernible organizational scheme, and after having to google organization (because it’s not intuitive) it seems that podcasts can only be sorted by last update—even alphabetical is not available. There is also not way to organize playlists by category, which is a vital option when you have well over a hundred podcasts that you listen to. At the very least, having the option to sort podcasts alphabetically is essential when you like to listen to backlogs, or prefer to save podcasts for a certain mood or task. This seems like it was built for algorithms, not practical human use. Maybe its suggestion algorithm and search are great, but the UI is unusable for me..Version: 4.3.1
✓ UnusableI was a happy using, paying subscriber for years. Now, whenever I get these pop up ads (often) the app then gets glitchy and won’t play unless the app is open on screen (can’t do anything else on my phone). I have to force close and reopen for it work. Every time. The final straw is seeing political ads for Craig Kelly - a man who pollutes the earth with dangerous misinformation. Deleting..Version: 8.32.0
✓ Issues with 8.5.1Ever since updating to the latest version 2 days ago the app has been very buggy - it no longer shows up on the lock screen on the control panel and requires navigating back to the app itself to pause, or fast forward. It also is prone is shutting down, and requires a longer start up time. Is there any way to revert to an older version that worked much better?.Version: 8.5.1
✓ I used to really like Castbox…Castbox used to be my go-to for podcasts but it recently has become riddled with bugs and it’s become unusable. I have tried restarting my phone, checking for updates, and even deleting/reinstalling the app. It still stalls upon opening, crashes at random intervals, and freezes. It’s easier just to go to the podcasters own site to listen. I’m actually sad because it feels like the end of an era..Version: 10.11.0
✓ Fine but ads are over the topThe app itself works absolutely fine, 5*. however they started using full screen invasive ads that can't be skipped and last 5-6seconds. that was after adding delays on your podcast start so you look at your screen longer while an ad is playing. i deleted it and moved to another app..Version: 9.1.0
✓ Usually a great app - ads are now too aggressiveI have used this app for years, really like the range of podcasts and search functionality. Recently the ads have been encroaching on listening experience - not just appearing in the app, but forcing you to watch before you can access the podcasts or controls, and I even had one ad stop my podcast halfway through until I reopened the app and responded to the ad asking if I wanted to follow a link to open audible. This is seriously impacting the listening experience. There also seems to be a glitch at the moment that means the app won’t work when you lock your phone or open another app - again seems to be linked to the ads they currently have in place, as it tends to happen after viewing one of these videos or pop up’s..Version: 9.0.0
✓ It’s gotten mehInitially enjoyed this app because of how the episodes of shows are ordered but now it’s just ads within ads within ads constantly and I’m over it. Think I’ll switch to a new platform tbh..Version: 9.1.1
✓ FreezesI’ve been using this app for years but lately it seems to be really glitchy and doesn’t allow you to fast forward. When you try it just freezes and continues to start from the beginning. Extremely frustrating.Version: 8.30.0
✓ Good, but not greatA podcast app’s only job is to be a good and reliable media player. Most of the time, the app works great. But far too often, the app exits when I have it playing in the background and buffers more than usual (my Internet connection is fine, it is only while using the app that I experience issues). It makes the app pretty unreliable sometimes. In addition, I find that the queue of episodes is not very user-friendly. I have been listening to the same podcast in reverse order and I find that if I listen all the way through Episode 112, for example, the queue will play Episode 455 afterwards instead of continuing down the list. Overall, however, the app works well enough that I still use it to listen to certain podcasts..Version: 8.5.1
✓ Ads take over screen and soundI had been using this for 5 years but over the last year it has gone downhill. Ads take over the screen and audio. They also are extremely intrusive and make using the app difficult. The ads are also very low quality often in Mandarin with no obvious way to close them. I tried to stick with it while they figured out the ads but its been a year and it has only gotten worse. Now the last few months there seem to be more bugs than fixes with each update. When I select an episode to play it immediately skips it and plays the next. It can take quite a few tries for it to finally work. This has been happening the last five months or so. For the last two months the app’s audio will just cut out (except for ads of course) forcing you to close the app multiple times for it to work again. And recently the app no longer remembers what part of an episode you are at and starts the podcast from the beginning. I’ve reported bugs in the past but the answer is always the same “please record the app not functioning correctly and send the video file to us”. I’m not your debugger or beta tester. I don’t record my phone screen all day so I can capture the 5 seconds this app stops working. This has gone on for too long. I’m moving on..Version: 9.6.0
✓ Intrusive adsI had switched to Stitcher and then back because I wanted to try this app again. Tried playing a podcast only for the app to start playing ads during playback that needed to be clicked out of (I was driving so completely inappropriate). I don’t mind ads if they are not video, I have honestly never bought an advertised app and never will. I’d be happy to pay a small yearly fee but your prices are ridiculous. Will try another app and if not will return to Apple Podcasts over this app..Version: 10.9.0
✓ Latest version stops podcast playback in backgroundDon’t know what happened but last time I updated it stopped playback in the background which is so annoying.Version: 9.0.0
✓ Too many adsUpdate: This app just keeps getting worse. Now, everytime I open the app, I get a fullscreen ad for a podcast Ive never heard of or have listened to anything remotely related to. The X to close it is so far in the top right its barely visable. I know you want us all to subscribe to the paid version but this is convincing me to leave the app. I used to love this app. It was my go to for podcasts but there are so many ads all of a sudden. Everytime I open the app or select a new podcast I get ads I have to wait to close. If this gets any worse Ill be leaving this app in the bin Update: ads have become even more frequent. So close to finding another app to listen to the few podcasts I listen to. Not only do I get ads as before, I now get ads in the episodes. Are you trying to drive people away? If I could give zero stars I would😡.Version: 10.5.0
✓ Video ads playing while listeningThis app was really top notch for a long time. Really I enjoy it and think has an amazing ui. However now you guys added video ads that destroys the whole app unfortunately I moving to another app..Version: 8.14
✓ It suddenly stops playing whileThe app is great. I use it to improve my understanding of the language and it’s helping a lot, but since the last update it suddenly stops playing and starts again after a few seconds while listening to a podcast. Quite annoying I would say. Please sort out the issue and then I’ll give you the 2 missing stars....Version: 4.27
✓ Normally my go to podcast app, but lately downloads will fail frequently.Under normal circumstances this is an easy 5/5 podcast app and my go to service, but lately episodes will fail to download for no apparent reason, regardless of how many times I try again. Additionally there is an odd glitch that cause the audio to stop playing if you exit the app/lock your phone. When these are fixed, it will be 5/5 again..Version: 9.0.0
✓ Used to be good.It keeps downloading the episodes that I marked not download again and again. Sick and tired deleting them. Funny thing is that it downloads the previously subscribed channels episodes as well even though I'm not subscribed anymore. Advertisements became annoying as well since it's too much..Version: 9.10.1
✓ Not great with Apple CarPlayWith the latest update I now find that it does not work well through Apple Car play. Eps still play but you cannot control on the screen so it’s pointless for the car. Any chance you can look into this and fix? Thanks.Version: 8.26.1
✓ Decent appIt’s okay. I liked it a lot at first, but right now it’s consuming 17 GB on my phone with no way to reduce how much space it uses without deleting episodes individually. Also they added ads. Playing most recent podcasts is also a weird two-step process (Library-> Downloads). I need something simpler and easier to manage..Version: 9.0.1
✓ Annoying featureOnly annoying feature is that it doesn’t like you relistening to an episode you’ve already listened to. If you pick that “listened to” episode to listen to again, it just skips to the next unplayed. This is a really annoying feature that I’m unsure of the user story - why would this be written in!!?.Version: 10.0.1
✓ Solid Design, Unreliable PerformanceI’m a big fan of the design of this app. In (almost) every way it is a solid improvement over Apple Podcasts. You can make playlists, create categories, and even “like” an episode of a podcast to add it to your favorites. All of these are welcomed innovations. Sure, there are ads, but the developer should make money somehow. My main gripe is the unreliability of it all, at least on my phone. Castbox frequently crashes, forcing me to reload the app. The app is also slow to load in general, so I’m often left waiting long periods of time to simply play a podcast that suddenly stopped playing. Additionally, and this is pretty minor, it won’t let me press play from my iPhone’s lock screen or the little menu that appears when you swipe up. I may stick with it, I may not. I really like the design and features, but can’t bring myself to pay a premium price tag for a slow app that constantly crashes..Version: 8.20.1
✓ Could be betterI listen to a lot series in my car. Takes a while to find last episode played as there is no resume. Once the episode has played it plays the first episode in the series. So have to select the next episode before the previous has ended to avoid this. The app has now stopped playing through my alpine car stero. So going to find a new podcast app.Version: 8.18.1
✓ Once was good . .Undoubtedly a great concept and used to work brilliantly. Unfortunately it no longer functions. Despite countless attempts to reinstall the app, clear space on the phone etc, it just doesn’t download podcasts. Perhaps, if extremely lucky something might come down, but typically I’m left sitting in frustration as nothing ever downloads. Don’t waste your time..Version: 8.5.4
✓ AdsI really enjoyed the app until intrusive ads started appearing. I understand that this is how you make money, however, this is ruining experience as when you resume listening to a podcast after the app, it stops as soon as you get out of the app, so I have to completely close it and open again. Very buggy and I will have to explore other platforms now..Version: 9.0.1
✓ Podcasts glitch frequently, too many adsI wanted to like Castbox. I love the multiple playlist feature. What I didn’t love were how many ads are built into the app. Not in the podcasts themselves, in the actual app. I go to a playlist, and have to wait for an ad to finish. I select an episode, and have to wait for an ad to finish. If I accidentally touched the screen anytime during the ad—except to X out at the end—it would freeze the entire app and I’d have to shut it all down and reopen…which, you guessed it, more ads. I could live with this, but what finally made me delete the app was the podcast glitches. Podcasts (different podcasts, this wasn’t an issue with a single episode or even a single podcast) would randomly jump to points seconds or even minutes in the past while playing, then later would jump forward. I felt I was constantly backtracking to hear what I’d missed, or fast forwarding to get back to where I should be. These constant glitches were the dealbreaker..Version: 9.7.0
✓ Ok but nothing specialI’ve been subscribed for a couple of months but this app hasn’t really delivered. The ‘Watch’ app is merely a remote, the content doesn’t transfer over to the watch like the Apple podcast app. I’m now unsubscribing because in the last few weeks I’ve not been able to download certain podcasts. I keep getting download errors despite, device restarts etc. However I can download the same podcasts on other apps so it’s clearly an Castbox issue. I’ve mentioned my issue a few times on Twitter, however those messages have been ignored..Version: 4.24
✓ Can you have a lists of trending episodes by category?Rank the episodes by how many people listened/liked/how many people finished the episode without a second missing, under each category would be very helpful for users to choose episodes to listen to Update: Also I am a bit annoyed at Apple App Store that this wonderful app with a similar rating by users (4.4 stars) with Castbox, is so far behind in the search results when I search “podcasts”, which does not make sense, some lower rated app ranked in front of Breaker..Version: 8.4
✓ Needs workSo much to like about this app but there are several key issues which need to be addressed especially for a premium app. The biggest and most important is that the app has trouble picking up new episodes and showing them in the new releases section. Maybe it’s because I have a lot of subscriptions but I went through my shows individually and found seven new episodes that the app had not surfaced. Of all the features a podcast app must get right, this is number one. Until this is fixed, I can’t recommend people trust the app. Secondly, if you share the link to an episode and the person opens it on a computer, they get a nice web interface to listen in. This is a great way to share and to get people curious about the app. Unfortunately, they’ve taken the opposite tactic on mobile. If some one open the link on their phone it forces then to download the app. This is just bad user experience. I can promise that no one ends up downloading the app from a tactic like this. This just click out of the link and never listen to the episode. And as almost 100% of what we share is opened on a phone not a desktop, this makes the user stop sharing. I have. Make the web app available on mobile browsers. More people will share and hence more people will know about castbox..Version: 4.19
✓ Audio from adverts are now playing over the audio of the podcastsI fully appreciate that the free version needs adverts to support the app. Like others I have noticed the frequency of adverts has increased and the ‘x’ button takes longer to appear and it is sized and placed to almost force you to indicate that you are interested in the app. I understand that this is the way of the world with an advert supported free app. But today the app is playing a constant loop of a video game audio OVER the sound of the audio of the podcast (without the screen being shown to cancel the advert) rendering the app unusable on my iPad. Will monitor for a while and will consider making a note of where I am in my podcast library and moving to another service. Really poor..Version: 10.12.0
✓ Love playlist abilityNot many podcast apps offer the “playlist” ability, which is oh so essential in my life. There is a big difference in function between playlist and play next. So I love this app for its playlist option. Unfortunately the player randomly speeds up play, sometimes to the point where you can’t make out what’s being said. Reinstalling does not solve the problem. And The same thing happens on all my devices. Sadly I may have to bail from this app soon if the speed up issue doesn’t get resolved..Version: 9.12.0
✓ Really annoying ad noise keeps running in the backgroundEvery time I open the Castbox app there’s a really annoying noise running in the background - drums and music - as if there’s an ad running in the background. it keeps playing during the playback of podcasts that I’ve added to my playlist. The only way I can stop it is to force stop the app but it randomly starts again during playback. It’s REALLY ANNOYING and is making the app basically unusable. :-( (ps tried to raise a ticket in the app and kept getting an error message. Lost the will to live).Version: 10.12.0
✓ SHAME, SHAME Castbox!! 🤮👎🏼🤮👎🏼🤮I am a podcast junkie so I use several apps to organize my shows. I recently cycled-back to Castbox and noticed that it no longer continued to play when I opened other Apps. After reviewing the Castbox Help Option, Checking my Settings, Searching the Internet, and Restarting My Phone (all without a success), I returned to my Castbox Settings and out-of-curiosity, selected the option, “Allow Tracking.” IMAGINE MY SHOCK TO REALIZE THAT THE APP WAS SUDDENLY CONTINUING TO PLAY, EVEN WHEN I OPENED OTHER APPS. Yes, I checked this several times to verify that my observations were correct. 1). Castbox— Are you telling me that you are requiring customers TO ALLOW SPYING/TRACKING in order for them to multi-task with your App?!? None of my other podcast Apps do this. 🤮👎🏼🤮 2). Apple— Are you telling me that you would ALLOW mandatory tracking from one of the Apps FEATURED in your “Store?!?”🤮👎🏼🤮 3). Clearly, NEITHER CASTBOX NOR APPLE has ANY RESPECT for their customers. This is a dealbreaker for me and hopefully a dealbreaker for ALL of your other customers too. 4). SHAME, SHAME, SHAME 🤮👎🏼🤮👎🏼🤮.Version: 8.32.0
✓ Updates not workingUsed to be great, but recently it seems to skip episodes, or not play the one I click on - it doesn’t seem to log which ones I’ve listed to or not properly, so it’s almost random. Worse though is that after the latest update, I can’t download or play podcasts - it just sort of flips quickly between play and pause and does nothing! What’s happening there?.Version: 9.6.0
✓ Downgrading my ratingI have use this app literally for years. I tried other apps, but I’ve always come back to this one. I drive a truck for a living, so I need apps that are reliable, and are easy to use while I’m driving. requiring no more interaction than I spend on my instruments or controls. This app used to be it... I don’t mind ads running on the bottom, nor do I mind the podcast picture being replaced by an ad. Not that big a deal, brings in revenue for the developer. However, they have started running interstitial ads. Full page advertisements that are unskippable in many instances. Again, as a truck driver I rely on ease of use. This app is no longer easy for me to use while I’m driving. I now have to wait for the ad to run its course, and/or search for a little tiny X in the corner, or the word close, or the fast forward button, just to skip the interstitial ad to be able to get to the podcast. Often times, the ad will not clear itself, requiring searching out that little X or skip button. I can’t do that while I’m driving. This app now requires me to stop my truck to change podcasts or episodes, and that is unacceptable. I don’t begrudge the right to try to make money, however, this app is simply not usable for me now because of the new ad structure. Beyond that, it’s a fantastic app..Version: 9.0.1
✓ It’s fine.The pros: you can select which podcasts automatically download episodes to your phone and how many eps are downloaded - excellent for older phone owners. There is a great selection of podcasts, too. You can even access patreon podcasts! The cons: the main interface adds too much crap you dont need, such as: the Discover page where you can see podcasts youve never heard of and will never care about or podcasts you cant get away from. The most egregious part of the main interface is the “Community” page where you can find out what every Trump-loving uncle has to say about everything and anything. In addition to those annoyances, there is an actual technical issue where episodes will almost always restart after the ep finishes instead of moving along to the next episode in the queue. The castbox website says to make a separate playlist to circumvent this issue but that seldom works, either..Version: 8.10.1
✓ Crashes every now and thenDisappointing.Version: 4.31
✓ UPDATE: Still best of the worst but not gre. Want to love it but it constantly crashes and freezesUPDATE: Went to listen this morning and it forced me through this ridiculous 10 step swipe thing and then I realized that somehow I had been logged out- assuming the app updated and kicked me out. So I logged back in and NONE of my 100 subscriptions are there. Nothing. So now I’m really annoyed and looking for another app. ORIGINAL: Title says it all. Better than apple podcast app, but it constantly freezes if you leave the app open while it’s streaming. It also does this thing where it will show it’a still playing by the timer but no volume for a few seconds to a few minutes and then suddenly it comes back. This is not due to switching to other Bluetooth devices because I turn that off if I’m not using it. Wish they would fix it. I have an iPhone XS Max and 200mbps Fios so it’s not connection speed or old devices- it’s the app..Version: 8.18.3
✓ App & Website Makes Claiming Ownership Extremely DifficultHello, I am the owner of a podcast and would like to claim ownership of it on this site. In order to do that, I need to create an account-that’s fine. I made an account with my Apple ID but there is still no option to get to the “Creator Studio” once the account was made. I deleted that account and want to use my email instead, but there’s no option to even “Sign-Up”. There’s only options to “Login”. But even when I had logged in, there was no option to claim my podcast. This app and website is a huge mess. The only saving grace is that my podcast is already on the website to begin with. Besides that I can’t even claim it! Not a good design and it gives you the run around. This platform is not podcaster friendly at all. You can have our content on there just fine but when we need to access it properly-there’s no dice. Please fix it so that me and other creators can properly grow our podcasts. Thank you for your time..Version: 10.7.0
✓ App freezes all the timeCastbox is pretty much unusable now for my 14 pro, 512 gb phone. It freezes every minute or so ..Version: 9.17.0
✓ Downloads often difficultErratic downloading content..Version: 8.20
✓ Apple Bluetooth IncompatibilityI tried this app out (long term, like 5 months) because one of my top podcasts endorsed it. I liked the layout better than apple podcasts. There were issues with the badges that each podcast gets (for new episodes)…I repeatedly tried to turn them off and they always came back, whether I wanted them or not. But the issue I absolutely could not get over is the (intermittent) problem of pausing on bluetooth. Sometimes it just simply wouldn’t pause at all, then I had to go find my phone (while working) to pause when someone was trying to talk to me. Other times it was even worse, where it would pause but it would play my itunes at the same time. The music was usually louder than a podcast. So here I am trying to listen to someone talk at work, trying to pause a podcast, and even louder music plays. I contacted them twice on this issue and all they could say is swipe my itunes app away. That is not convenient because I listen to it in the car 3xs a day. An audiobook app had the exact same issue, and it was fixed at their next app update. This app has consistently had this issue, and they don’t care to fix it. So I quit it, which is very inconvenient after you’ve listened to hundreds of podcasts, because you have to manually update your other app on each episode you’ve already listened to, unless you want to accidently relisten to them all. Yes I tried several bluetooth devices..Version: 8.26.1
✓ It’s fine at bestI only switched to this app after there were problems with the apple podcast app. It does play podcasts with few issues but the sheer number of ads it shows in a clear attempt to pressure me into their paid subscription is infuriating. Some of these ads even stop podcasts that are currently being played. I don’t think they realize that I would sooner set my phone on fire than pay for the non-ad version of their mediocre app. I would rather give up on podcasts all together and talk to strangers on the bus. Please, for all that is decent, chill out on the number of ads you show in on your app!.Version: 10.11.0
✓ Foreign languageAds in a foreign language so I can’t click the right spot first time is a new low.Version: 9.7.0
✓ Used to be goodI loved this app for many years. Never had any issues whatsoever. But lately whenever I try to play a podcast it just doesn't load. I've tried clearing my cache and all that, doesn't work. And if I want to skip ahead through ads on an episode or something it'll restart the episode even when the play bar shows it's at 19 mins through. So annoying. May be looking for an alternative podcast app..Version: 8.31.0
✓ Switched from Acast. Be be moving on again.This is the 3rd podcast app so I've used since Acast dropped their app and I'll soon be trying a 4th. Main reason is entire episodes being skipped for no reason. If I press play on an episode, I want to listen to that one not the one after it. Also too many ads and random skipping backwards within episodes as others have pointed out..Version: 9.3.0
✓ App suddenly decided it wasn’t going to open anymoreThe app was working just fine for years and now all of a sudden it won’t open at all. Immediately crashes within 0.5 sec of clicking on it. And now I’ve lost all my subscribed podcasts, just great..Version: 9.15.0
✓ OMG the robot verification process OMG !How to design a non user friendly app. The robot verification process is utterly stupid. Granted I am happy to verify I am not a robot one or two times but to make me go through this 8 times then verify my email address which I did then again be asked to verify the fact that I am not a robot over and over. Did it 4 more times. Stopped then deleted the app. Do not waste time or your life on this app. Stop being lazy people use the generic apple podcast app it is actually very good once set up. Arghhhhh!.Version: 4.17
✓ GlitchyI’ve been using this app for over 2 years and it’s started to get very glitchy and crashes daily.Version: 8.32.0
✓ Ruined after updateWhen I first started using this app (when a certain other native app updated and ruined its interface) it was great. Quick, simple, easy to use, with the occasional ad to pay the bills - no problem. Then it updated. Now it’s constant ads every time you try to change screens, it’s laggy and crashy. Don’t even bother with this app..Version: 9.5.0
✓ MontrealThe application is very bad, when you open the application, the screen freezes, in addition to that the application turns off by itself, some podcasts are not loaded..Version: 10.7.0
✓ Want to loveWant to love this app, been using it a while. But it’s so so glitchy. It never loads properly, images never load, and often doesn’t download properly, and playback is often spotty. So annoying, since I pay for it... It’s so janky 😭.Version: 8.7.2
✓ Podcast stops when you lock the screenThis used to be a great app but the recent update ruined it. Podcast stops when you lock the screen.Version: 8.27.1
✓ Wanted to replace Apple Podcasts but NopeReally wanted to like this app. Mostly because some podcasts I listen to are partnered with Castbox, so it would benefit them to listen through Castbox instead of Apple Podcasts. Anyway, here is why I am going back to Apple podcast and deleting Castbox: 1.) If you’re in the car and listening to a podcast on Castbox, the podcast will not pause during the Maps instructions. So you can count on every 1-3 mins missing about 5 words of what your podcast is saying if you’re not on the highway. I looked through the settings and couldn’t find a way to pause the podcast during Map instructions. 2.) First two pages are “discover pages”. I like the “Subscribed” but it would be nice if the “Listen” page showed your recently updated podcasts. Also, “Subscribed” is not in order from most recent uploads, so it’s easy to miss a new podcast if you don’t scroll down and look for the tiny orange “1”. Also, if you want to change the discover page or anything you have to pay. Overall, good app but is not a replacement for Apple podcasts. You don’t have to pay for Apple Podcasts, and you don’t have to discover new podcasts unless you want to. In app purchases is a no-go considering podcasts are free.Version: 4.3.1
✓ Was great until recentlyCastbox was pretty good when I started using it 8 months ago. However, since that time they have started using popup ads which are incredibly annoying, and the app crashes all the time. Adding to the frustration is the fact that the podcasts almost never download automatically, the way they are supposed to. So I always have to check and see what is current, and I *always* have to go to the downloads and watch them come in - a huge waste of time - if I don’t want to use cellular data and/or battery life in situations where I can stream wirelessly. That’s a total failure. I see now that there is a "premium" version being offered, so go figure. I'm sick of companies pulling this sort of bait and switch. Definitely gonna switch to another app once I get a free hour to laboriously transfer all my podcast subscriptions over yet again..Version: 8.4.1
✓ Where is the airplay and chromecast streaming supportYou are claiming in your description you have airplay and chrome cast support but it’s not available? I have tried this on my home wifi and work wifi where I have chromecast and airplay a viable devices but your app doesn’t ever display the symbol to stream it or even have it in the settings of the app. Castbox you really should look into this feature and fix it I understand it could be a premium feature but it’s not included in the premium features list under the subscription in your app. I look forward to your response and feedback..Version: 4.25
✓ Poorly designed, check alternatives firstI’m staggered this app gets so many good ratings. It’s dreadfully unintuitive and lacking in basic functionality. It may be that the features you would expect are available on the premium version but there’s nothing about the free version that makes me want to find out. To create a playlist you have to download episodes then rather than add episodes directly you have to open each episode up and then select a playlist. If you try to add an episode from the show listing it chooses for you what playlist to add the ep to. The basic Apple iOS podcast player offers all Castbox does and more. Best avoided..Version: 8.24
✓ What’s Going On???Ever since the last update in april 2022, every podcast you go into to download an episode will result in an annoying 5 sec ads!!! and when you get out of the podcast to another location of the app, another 5 sec ads!!.Version: 9.0.0
✓ A Clunky Mess Hellbent on Streaming EverythingNever mind I’ve got got 10,000 hours of free RAM on my phone, this app will insist on streaming everything live so you end up paying $5 per podcast on expensive cellular service. Controls are on multiple screens, forcing you to pull over to the side of the road and fiddle around with the clunky interface. Clearly the money is made in the promotion of podcasts — this app should be free. There’s no way to build your own playlist (if there is, it’s so cryptic you’d never figure it out). There’s no way to tell at a glance if the podcast has been downloaded or is streaming. I want to be able to sit down on Sunday night and download a whole week’s worth of programming on my cheap home WiFi network and not burn up my expensive cellular data plan. I bought this program because it is supposed to sync with my iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch but that feature does not work. If you’re a developer who wants to make the next “killer app,” design a podcast player with a clean, intuitive interface. This is not it and no one else has figured it out either..Version: 8.8
✓ Great, but not intuitiveI love Castbox and have been using it for years, except for One. Thing. Whenever I want to add another podcast to one of my previously created tags, I have to Google how to do it every single time. It’s not intuitive at all to click on the title, especially when there’s no indicator to let me know that it can be clicked on. I’d assume the action to “add or remove podcasts from my tag” would be under the plus sign or the three dots at the top. I nearly stopped using Castbox a while ago because of this problem. I just find it incredibly frustrating. The three dots should include “layout, sort, clear badges, edit list.” I really enjoy the app, but this one thing really drives me crazy..Version: 8.26.1
✓ App crashes after last updateApp is unusable at the moment, following most recent update. It crashes after about 1 minute of opening it. Please fix!.Version: 10.1.0
✓ I used to love this appI’ve been a power user for the past three years, with thousands of listening hours. Recently add that can’t be closed started popping up (I didn’t use to see ads) and now they pop up within minutes of using the app at random times, which make the app unusable. I’m leaving if this isn’t fixed in the next update..Version: 8.32.0
✓ New adsNew ads make app not work correctly in background. Plez fix. iPhone x.Version: 8.32.0
✓ Gone downhill fast…This app has been wonderful for years running with virtually no issues plus it’s a fairly intuitive (easy) layout. Unfortunately recent updates have really disappointed! Ads are more often & recently becoming very intrusive-claiming the screen while you’re in the middle of interacting with the app. This has really taken away from the experience! Now today as I open the app an ad immediately took over. After finally finding it’s close button I think “well, at least the ad is out of the way” thinking I won’t have to deal with another for awhile. BUT swear-to-God another ad pops up just seconds later! I understand ads help pay the developers but this is too much. Recent updates also ended the ability for the app to play in the background. Why would a developer allow their good app to fall to this level? Podcast apps are in great supply & I’m starting to try out others. Just check out all the recent bad reviews this app has received. DO NOT download this app. There are better alternatives. This used to be a 1st class app but now it’s just another bloated glitchy waste. :( Edit (2 months later): checked back to see if developer responses meant things would improve-NOPE! They haven’t fixed anything. Judging from all the negative reviews this app is simply unusable. I’ve found another app that works fine & deleting this app..Version: 9.0.1
✓ I’ve never known an app not work in so many ways simultaneouslyI chose this app specifically because I have an RSS Feed from a Patreon. It let me import it but just chose a completely random order to import it in. Even then, trying to play it in order doesn’t work. It just chooses random episodes to play in whatever order it wants. And that’s only when it wants to play them. Most of the time when it goes to the next episode it just flat out refuses. The play button icon flicks between play and pause and just nothing happens until you start a different ep and come back..Version: 9.10.1
✓ TO MANY ADSIt's a shelf for podcasts. I already have to listen to endless ads in the podcasts, I can only put up with so many popping up in the app. Peace Out Castbox ✌🏼.Version: 9.11.0
✓ Locked DownDid you just make changes so that the podcast no longer plays if another window on my iphone is open?.Version: 8.32.0
✓ Good player, but...Good search function that has allowed me to find some of my more obscure podcasts, but three short comings: 1. Subscriber function doesn’t allow you to open on “New Episodes” screen; 2. Played episodes disappear from “New Episodes” list - I’d like an option to keep them there; and 3. I can’t find a way to turn off automatically playing next episode..Version: 8.24
✓ Needs iPad appGreat on my iPhone so far. However, there really needs to be an iPad app. I can’t even use the castbox website on my iPad as you can’t login on the site in mobile/tablet view (it just pushes you to download the iPhone app). There are a lot of users, like me, who solely or additionally use an iPad to play music and podcasts..Version: 2.2
✓ Lost all my settingsI had to redownload the app after it randomly stopped playing every time my screen would turn off or it would be put in the background. I checked all settings and it had nothing to do with the phone settings, and all other playback apps worked. I deleted and redownloaded. That fixed the issue but all of my settings were wiped out including manual sort order of podcasts, download settings, auto delete settings, and playback settings. Why would these settings not be linked to the account? Additionally, the ads are much more in your face than they used to be, often taking up the whole screen and frequently without an “x” button to close. In those instances, I have to close the app and reopen for the ad to go away. What was a really good app has become a terrible user experience..Version: 8.32.0
✓ Use to be the bestThis app use to be my go to for podcasts but within the last year or so it has gotten really buggy. There are some podcasts i subscribe to that I just can’t download any of their episodes no matter what, they just instantly fail no matter how many times I try. There are a lot of times where it will just delete episodes I have downloaded already and then won’t let me redownload them. There has also been times where double downloads of the same episode will so up so I will just have multiple of the same episode..Version: 10.9.0
✓ Really want to like this appThere’s a lot this app does really well but a couple of things that really frustrate me. Podcasts constantly get moved to “a new place” and the use is required to click through to the new link and resubscribe. It’s so annoying! Would love to search within a podcast (e.g. for specific guests) No way queue episodes Rather than play through I listened episodes, when an episode finished it just starts again..Version: 8.12.1
✓ AppUnfortunately its stack on iPhone doesn’t work correctly..Version: 10.16.1
✓ CarPlay Users BewareThe app works well and is nice to use in many ways but not for Apple CarPlay users. In CarPlay mode there is no option to fast forward the podcast. If I pick up my phone I can jump 15 seconds at a time but not on CarPlay mode which is a problem for me as I listen to all my podcasts in the car. Seems such a simple thing to be missing. Perhaps you can do it another way but I cannot find it. So I’m ditching the app and moving on to another..Version: 4.20
✓ Annoying visual advertisingToo many annoying visual ads. I’m out!.Version: 10.15.0
✓ Close, but not quite rightAdvertising hangs the application forcing an app restart. Advertising also interrupts user interaction at important times..Version: 9.7.0
✓ Used to be ……Was a great App. But like so many, since the new updates, is buggy and freezes and crashes after almost each podcast now. So you have to get your phone out. Close the app more than once some times, to clear the creche and then hopefully you reopen the app, you can play the next episode. A real pain when walking with airbuds in on my way to work..Version: 9.5.0
✓ App FreezesCastbox plays ads before beginning the podcast episode. This frequently freezes on the last episode, with a spinning animation around the Pause button instead of playing the next. I have to close the app, then restart it. One podcast show refused to play at all when I went back to the beginning rod, when previously, there was no issue..Version: 10.9.0
✓ Too many ads. Too buggy.All the interstitial ads are creating a buggy experience. Playback of a podcast won’t even get paused, and won’t even resume after the ad is done. Time to move to another podcast app..Version: 8.32.0
✓ No good for downloads or locationUpdate: I downloaded this on the strength of the positive reviews. But after persevering for months, I finally ditched it and moved to Stitcher. And what do you know, every thing works! Podcasts actually download. I should have made the move ages ago! Castbox could learn a thing or two about podcast players by looking at Stitcher. Original review: Castbox is a great streaming client, but a lousy podcast player if you’re looking to play downloads. You would think that downloading would be a simple matter, but it almost never manages to download anything (it streams perfectly, so evidently it has no trouble accessing the internet). I can leave it turned on all night, ready to go out running with a full load of podcasts, but in the morning there will be 7 downloads in the cue with nothing actually downloaded. And it has serious issues with location. I can set the location to Japan, but if I happen to be currently in Australia, the ads are for Australia (!). I am happy for Castbox to be supported by advertising, but what is the point of subjecting me to ads from a location different from my location setting!?.Version: 9.4.0
✓ Annoying adsI actually really like this app and I respect the need for ads, but the newer ones are like the sneaky ones from shady websites (difficult to find out how to get rid of them so you accidentally end up clicking into them). Will be looking for a new podcast app..Version: 9.5.0
✓ Better than most but missing obvious featuresI’ve searched for a good podcast platform and so far this is my favorite However, it’s missing obvious features that may push me to continue my search. For example: there are no settings to be able to change the play settings. No option to choose skip forward or backward time. Most apps let me choose between 15 and 30 seconds. It also has no option for me to turn off the auto play next episode. This one drives me crazy It also does something super funky when you share an episode with others - it shares the image of the podcast, then the title, then the link so it looks like I’ve just sent 3 separate obnoxious texts to someone instead of just the link which includes all of that data anyway Finally, I wish that when I click on listen, the page below my options for downloaded, playlist, and new releases that it listed my subscriptions there instead of a separate tab. It feels counter intuitive and I’m still getting used to the strange navigation. Why I’m using this one over other apps - it’s a cleaner design, has the sleep timer, playlist etc. The main game changer - this is the only app I could find that let me mark something as played without downloading the episode first or playing it and skipping it to the end and letting it play out..Version: 4.2.2
✓ The macbook app is total messWhen I open the app (even after update to the latest version) every 3 4 seconds, it sounds of several hover sound(like your mouse is hovering a button). share button is not working, 3 dots menu in the subscription page is not working, I think you didn't even test this application..Version: 10.13.1
✓ Cool discovery but confusing UIDefinitely one of the better apps that has a relatable feed to help you discover new/interesting Podcasts. What I like: 1. Easy to discover new podcasts 2. UI/UX in some ways is better than Stitcher and the Apple podcasts app 3. Episode and podcast descriptions are easy to read through 4. The user comments for episodes and podcasts are useful Current gripes with the app: 1. I can’t figure out how to set it to auto download x number of episodes for each podcast I subscribe to. Super useful feature I love on Stitcher since it auto downloads on WiFi 2. The UI is confusing. I get that you’re trying to focus on discovery but more often I am opening the app to simply listen to a few new episodes of what I’m already subscribed to vs looking for new podcasts. Way too many taps to figure out what new episodes have been released. Why can’t I simply see a feed of all episodes from my subscriptions sorted by newest up top. I should be able to more easily go to the “new releases” button in the Listen tab 3. Unsure of the benefits of the paid subscription, I’m on the 7 day free trial but see basically no value lol. Feels extremely forced by fixing users onto the “discover” tab 5. No way to access my subscriptions via the desktop.Version: 4.5
✓ Bad free experienceThey’ve recently updated the app to include video ads that make the app non-functional. It’s a free version, so fair enough that there are more ads, but they’re unskippable and break the app. Once a video ad is over you can start listening to a podcast, but as soon as you switch apps or lock your phone it will stop playing. The only fix is to restart the app, which sometimes will bring on another unskippable video ad! You can get stuck in this loop of not being able to listen to any podcasts. I understand the need for ad revenue, but this makes the app unusable. Wish there was a way to keep my played history because it looks like I’m switching today..Version: 8.32.0
✓ Long time listenerI’ve been using this app daily for years. The last 6 months I have seen a huge uptick in ads for trash mobile games and the like, most of which last at least 20 seconds and require 2 separate taps to exit from. Often these ads come up after every other tap within the app. The frequency is maddening. I get how ad revenue works but this change has really cheapened my experience. However, in the last 2 months or so I have been getting ads for a fake university that won’t allow me to navigate away from. I have to close the app and restart it. Then I’ll reopen the app, tap "library", and it’s the same ad! Close. Restart. Library. Tap on the podcast I want. Same ad… Close. This is infuriating and needs to be changed..Version: 10.18.2
✓ I'm not a robotThe sign up process is terrible! The recaptcha system has been set to "ultimate annoyance" mode, so to create an account you have to spend 10 minutes just proving you're not a robot. And then AGAIN to login.. On the plus side the ui looks okay and finding podcasts is easier than any other app. It doesn't seem possible to mark episodes played or unplayed all at once for a show. Something a lot of people would want to do if switching from another app..Version: 4.19.1
✓ Great for podcasts (but)No complaints about the service and the subscription is more than affordable. However, if I’m paying for this service it would be great to get this as an iPad app instead of a dumbed done iPhone app experience..Version: 4.21
✓ Ads are very pushyEvery little touch on the app pops up a sneaky little ad and somehow takes a bit longer to go back. Used to be good. Uninstall..Version: 9.0.0
✓ The ads are atrociousThe ads in this app, are absolutely pathetic and horrendous. Look, I get it, don’t get me wrong, I understand apps have paid tiers: one with ads, and one ad-free. But my goodness, the ads in this app make it insufferable and almost to the point that you dont even wanna use the app anymore. They’re distracting and slow down the experience. It’s really too bad, cause this was my hands-down favorite podcast app ever. And now, the ads have made it so annoying to use, i just decided to move on to another app. Just absolutely terrible. Cause the app was NOT like this. The app always had ads, but at least it was very feasible. The ads didn’t interfere with the experience or usage of the app. Now? It almost seems like the developers decided to make the ads so insufferable to practically force you to upgrade to their paid tier. Whereas before, you were pretty well off with either the ad or ad-free tier. Absolutely pathetic. And i know 1st hand. I've been using this app for so long, I literally saw it in real time practically getting worse & worse & worse..Version: 10.1.0
✓ Functional but in bed with big techFine if you want to throw away your privacy, constant push to go pro, many support features not working, will ditch when find privacy supporting better app.Version: 10.15.0
✓ GlitchyCast box crashes when I download a few titles. Especially the ones im binging on. Have installed and reinstalled but hasn't fixed problem..Version: 8.4.1
✓ Terrible appTerrible app. It used to be good years ago when I first downloaded it. Since then the ads have increased to the point it’s almost unusable. It’s also really buggy now. The playback speed keeps increasing on its own. Today, every time I tried to access the playback speed to turn it back down the app would crash and I’ve finally decided to delete the app and try something else..Version: 10.16.1
✓ AdsI tried paying for the ads removal membership and the ads wouldn’t go away. The help support was confusing and directed me to Apple support which didn’t do anything. The end..Version: 9.2.0
✓ Can’t cancel subscriptionIPad Air can’t cancel subscription after expired credit card payment.Version: 8.29.0
✓ Decreased QualityCastbox was always my go-to app because it had such a broad variety of free podcasts available. The ads were only a minor inconvenience considering the access I had to phenomenal podcasts. There have been periods where the app has some annoying bugs, but they were fixed relatively quickly. Now, the most annoying thing about the app are the intrusive ads. Sometimes multiple ads pop up only seconds after being closed. This has been going on for well over a month without any hope of having them go away (or become less invasive). Furthermore, the app developed a bug where an episode will be skipped when you hit play on your list of downloads..Version: 9.3.0
✓ UninstallingAdds every 2 minutes it's way too much..Version: 10.0.1
✓ Too many adsI enjoyed using the categories to organize the podcasts but the developer pushes to hard for the premium and the ads are relentless and jams up the app sometimes so you have to restart the app…i’m out..Version: 9.7.0
✓ This app killed my storageI have a 64 Gb phone, and this app took up most of it. The response of tech support was essentially to start over. I didn’t want to lose the podcasts I followed, so I didn’t start over, but tried to manage to make sure episodes were marked as played (to be deleted). Well one too many times, I ran out of storage and my phone has just died. Stuck on the Apple screen. Needless to say, I won’t be going back to this podcast app once I get a new phone (writing from my husband’s account, since my phone is dead).Version: 8.26.1
✓ New bugNew episodes don’t show up.Version: 10.1.0
✓ DissapointedI have been using this app for over a year. Recently it had become slow and glitchy and despite regularly updating the app, these faults never went away. I would have still stuck with Castbox regardless, however since the last update full screen ads have been appearing at random. These ads require me to click out of them in order to continue using the app which makes it almost unusable as a platform and has really impacted my experience as a user. I have deleted Castbox and am now using an alternate podcast app..Version: 8.20
✓ Full of ads.This app has gotten worse and worse over the years. It was great in 2018 when I first got it. Now, if I want to download a podcast, I need to watch an add first. When I play a podcast, my screen doesn’t say what I’m listening to, it’s, yep you guessed it, an ad. Use pocket cast, use anything, he’ll, even use the awful Apple podcast app. But not this..Version: 9.3.0
✓ OK if you don't mind streamingIt doesn't work very well if you opt for downloading rather than streaming. Also it is pretty much unusable if you turn off mobile / cellular data altogether. The playlist only sort of works in as much as it seems that it is easily interrupted. The app also has the annoying habit of prompting you to play the last podcast you just completed rather than the next podcast in the playlist. All in all, I think the developers would have done better to get the basics right before trying to add all the pretty things. Unfortunately there seems to be a dearth of good basic podcast players around. Everyone seems to have a different angle to monetise their apps and none of those really seem to serve the need for basic user convenience and offline performance very well..Version: 4.25.2
✓ Recent updates are making this app crappyI have been using this app for soo long now….. at one point it was the best app and I’ve tried others but always preferred this app and kept coming back but these recent updates have really made this app annoying and dislike for the app now. Every ad now makes the podcast stop and can’t continuing playing after ad. The only way to continue playing is to force close the app and restart it. These updates and add are for song me to find a new podcast app…. This one was great but the developers have ruined this app for me.Version: 9.0.0
✓ I like it, but it needs updatingUpdate: still doesn’t auto-download subscribed podcasts and the latest update now causes my phone to get very warm and depletes the battery quickly. One of the better podcast apps out there. It has a few niggles; once you have over a certain number of subscriptions it stops auto-downloading new content, for example. iOS 15 has also broken CarPlay support, so it needs an update..Version: 10.0.0
✓ Prefer to go to list of episodesI’d really like it if it would go to the list of episodes I’m listening too, and if it could be much easier to see what episode is next, that would be great. I hate that I can only tell what I’ve listened to, based on the %played (which is a really light font!).Version: 2.0.1
✓ Airplay problemsGreat app been using it for about a year, use to be great with airplay to a sonos speaker but now days it's hit or miss. If it doesn't work I have to swap to a different podcast app. Very annoying it's super laggy and quite often just won't play anything. If this was fixed it would be a 10/10!!.Version: 8.9
✓ Lacks several featuresNeeds several features to catch up with other similar apps: - Skip intro option - Voice enhancement option - Conditional auto download (e.g. skip all podcasts containing x in the title - Option to add new episodes from a particular subscription to either the top or bottom of a playlist.Version: 8.7
✓ Previous review deletedNot sure how that happened. Would not recommend at all. Loads of issues and support team is absolutely useless. And it hasn't been working at all since the beginning of the month and the last two updates (which were presumably to fix this) haven't made any difference. So all my painfully slowly downloaded episodes (despite excellent fibre optic Wi-Fi) are just taking up room on my phone without any possibility of listening to them..Version: 4.12.2
✓ It is okHave downloaded on several devices. Great on Apple and if you sign in. Not great on latest device where it has auto deleted played episodes when auto delete is off. Have downloaded again and liked, so hopefully they will stay on now. Please do not auto subscribe when app is downloaded. We should not have to manually unsubscribe to podcasts we did not want in the first place..Version: 8.20
🙂 Podcast App & Player - Castbox Positive Reviews
Podcast App & Player - Castbox works most of the time. If it is not working for you, we recommend you excersise some patience and retry later or contact Podcast App & Player - Castbox.
⛔ Podcast App & Player - Castbox Problems
