Reviews of Podkicker - Podcast App Player

By: Maple Media App

List of user reviews and ratings for Podkicker - Podcast App Player

Total ratings

1.57 (Rating count: 6,254)

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Review summary

Podkicker was once a highly regarded, simple, and reliable podcast app with a clean interface and useful features. However, recent updates introduced ads and sponsored podcasts even in the paid Pro version, causing dissatisfaction among long-time users. The app also suffers from frequent crashes, bugs, and removal or malfunction of key features like automatic next episode playback and episode management. Poor developer communication has compounded user frustration, leading many to seek alternative ad-free podcast players.

Pros

Simple, clean, and user-friendly interface.
Feature rich with good library management including auto-download and cleanup features.
Long-term reliable functionality and essential for podcast listening.
Effective playback controls with nice, straightforward design.”,
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Cons

Paid pro version now includes ads and sponsored podcasts, which users find intrusive and inappropriate.
App has become unstable with frequent crashes and bugs affecting playback and usability.
Lack of developer communication and slow or non-existent bug fixes frustrate users.
Features like automatic next episode playback and mass episode deletion have stopped working or been removed.
Introduction of ads in premium version leads users to switch to alternative apps.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 2.20

All time rating average: 1.57

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25% (5)

Date	Author	Comment
2024-08-30	No*****	Feature rich and does the job. Now that Google has abandoned its podcast app (damn you Google!), I have found this to be the best substitute. Only problem I have is it drains my battery even when I am not using it. Background seems to run continuously after I listen either on headphones or via Android Auto. I have to force quit it to stop the drain.
Feature rich and does the job. Now that Google has abandoned its podcast app (damn you Google!), I have found this to be the best substitute. Only problem I have is it drains my battery even when I am not using it. Background seems to run continuously after I listen either on headphones or via Android Auto. I have to force quit it to stop the drain.
2024-07-31	Ji*****	I bought this app because it allowed me to play podcasts easily, and without ads cluttering up the interphase. Now "sponsored" podcasts are listed when starting the app and are listed in my list of podcasts. I'd be fine if this was a free product, the developers need to get paid. But this was a purchased. Would not purchase again and would encourage others to not purchase either.
I bought this app because it allowed me to play podcasts easily, and without ads cluttering up the interphase. Now "sponsored" podcasts are listed when starting the app and are listed in my list of podcasts. I'd be fine if this was a free product, the developers need to get paid. But this was a purchased. Would not purchase again and would encourage others to not purchase either.
2024-06-07	Ba*****	I have used Podkicker happily for years and years. I even paid for the Pro version (which has not started me from paid promotions, recently). I used to love this app because it was simple, streamlined, and did the one thing I wanted it to do -- play podcasts. It is now failing to do that. Recently, this app has really gone downhill. It crashes multiple times during regular use. Podkicker Pro can no longer play podcasts. Also, there's promoted ads for unwanted podcasts, and other annoyances.
I have used Podkicker happily for years and years. I even paid for the Pro version (which has not started me from paid promotions, recently). I used to love this app because it was simple, streamlined, and did the one thing I wanted it to do -- play podcasts. It is now failing to do that. Recently, this app has really gone downhill. It crashes multiple times during regular use. Podkicker Pro can no longer play podcasts. Also, there's promoted ads for unwanted podcasts, and other annoyances.
2024-04-30	Ve*****	4/30/2024 I've been using this app for well over a decade. It used to be a joy to use, but now there are "sponsored" podcasts in the listing. I bought the Pro version to avoid ads! Also, the app no longer automatically goes to the next podcast. This is a royal pain in the rear, especially when I'm driving long distances. I see other users are having issues, and I'm going to check out their alternative app suggestions.
4/30/2024 I've been using this app for well over a decade. It used to be a joy to use, but now there are "sponsored" podcasts in the listing. I bought the Pro version to avoid ads! Also, the app no longer automatically goes to the next podcast. This is a royal pain in the rear, especially when I'm driving long distances. I see other users are having issues, and I'm going to check out their alternative app suggestions.
2024-04-08	An*****	I've used Podkicker Prod for about 8 years now, and I've always loved the simple, user-friendly experience. But I paid up for an ad-free version, and now there are "sponsored" podcasts cluttering up my feed list. Not cool, guys. That, with along with a few bugs that haven't been fixed in years, is making me switch once and for all.
I've used Podkicker Prod for about 8 years now, and I've always loved the simple, user-friendly experience. But I paid up for an ad-free version, and now there are "sponsored" podcasts cluttering up my feed list. Not cool, guys. That, with along with a few bugs that haven't been fixed in years, is making me switch once and for all.
2023-11-20	Sc*****	Worth the small price. Lean and clean, an essential tool for over 3 years. Some podcasts start a few seconds in, sometimes miss a few words. Overall an essential tool for my podcast pleasure. That was my 5 star review from 5 years ago for the PRO VERSION. Dropping a couple stars for the inclusion of sponsored podcasts in my subscription list and an ad that is the first thing I sometimes see [and have to close] when I start the app. What I said before still applies, the app works well.
Worth the small price. Lean and clean, an essential tool for over 3 years. Some podcasts start a few seconds in, sometimes miss a few words. Overall an essential tool for my podcast pleasure. That was my 5 star review from 5 years ago for the PRO VERSION. Dropping a couple stars for the inclusion of sponsored podcasts in my subscription list and an ad that is the first thing I sometimes see [and have to close] when I start the app. What I said before still applies, the app works well.
2023-09-02	Sh*****	5+ year user here that got the paid version a long time ago. It now has ads. Ad free was the primary reason for upgrading to pro. So it's really annoying to see that change. UPDATE: have now moved to AntennaPod, which is 100% free, ad-free (besides embedded adds from podcast feeds) and is honestly a lot better than podkicker.
5+ year user here that got the paid version a long time ago. It now has ads. Ad free was the primary reason for upgrading to pro. So it's really annoying to see that change. UPDATE: have now moved to AntennaPod, which is 100% free, ad-free (besides embedded adds from podcast feeds) and is honestly a lot better than podkicker.
2023-08-17	Mi*****	I have been a die-hard fan of Podkicker Pro for many years, suffering even through unwanted suggested podcasts in my list of subscriptions. Perhaps a one-time payment is unsustainable for the devs, but I find it obnoxious seeing ads in a paid app. Still, I soldiered on as it was working well for me and switching apps is always painful. When it couldn't properly parse the Linux Matters RSS feed, I was done. I switched to AntennaPod today and it is more complicated, but is functional and FOSS
I have been a die-hard fan of Podkicker Pro for many years, suffering even through unwanted suggested podcasts in my list of subscriptions. Perhaps a one-time payment is unsustainable for the devs, but I find it obnoxious seeing ads in a paid app. Still, I soldiered on as it was working well for me and switching apps is always painful. When it couldn't properly parse the Linux Matters RSS feed, I was done. I switched to AntennaPod today and it is more complicated, but is functional and FOSS
2023-07-31	Br*****	Ads in the premium experience 👎 I love this app - it's been my go to podcast player for nearly a decade now, I've recommended it to a dozen friends, and paid for the pro version because I hate ads and like supporting good developers. It's been stable and hasn't changed much, which is rare! The dev recently put ads in a couple of places in the paid version. I complained to support the first time thinking it was a mistake, and got no response. Time to find a new app.
Ads in the premium experience 👎 I love this app - it's been my go to podcast player for nearly a decade now, I've recommended it to a dozen friends, and paid for the pro version because I hate ads and like supporting good developers. It's been stable and hasn't changed much, which is rare! The dev recently put ads in a couple of places in the paid version. I complained to support the first time thinking it was a mistake, and got no response. Time to find a new app.
2023-07-28	Na*****	Can't select multiple episodes to delete from downloads. Still slightly outdated UI, but has always had good library management features Needs finer speed control. Also now there are ads, which is pretty normal for audio feeds and isn't because of the app developer as I understand it, but there are now suggested podcasts in the feeds.
Can't select multiple episodes to delete from downloads. Still slightly outdated UI, but has always had good library management features Needs finer speed control. Also now there are ads, which is pretty normal for audio feeds and isn't because of the app developer as I understand it, but there are now suggested podcasts in the feeds.