# Free alternatives to Pocket Casts Plus

> Pocket Casts Plus (Plus) costs $39.99 a year. Free alternatives: Audiobookshelf and AntennaPod. Data checked 2026-10-17.

- Page: https://stoprenting.dev/apps/pocket-casts-plus/
- Category: Media (https://stoprenting.dev/categories/media/)
- Vendor: Automattic
- Plan: Plus
- Price: $3.33/month, $39.99/year
- Billing: yearly (monthly option exists)
- Price quote from the vendor's page: "Plus 1 Month Free Trial $39.99 /year"
- Price source: https://pocketcasts.com/plus/ (checked 2026-10-17)

## Alternatives

### Audiobookshelf

- Website: https://www.audiobookshelf.org
- Repository: https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf (14,662 stars, last push 2026-10-05)
- License: GPL-3.0
- Open source: yes, OSI-approved license
- Type: server app
- Linux: self-hosted server; web UI
- Self-hostable: yes
- Note: A server you host; podcast tools are basic, and on iPhone you use the TestFlight beta or a third-party app.
- More: https://stoprenting.dev/alternatives/audiobookshelf/
- Checked: 2026-10-17

### AntennaPod

- Website: https://antennapod.org
- Repository: https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod (8,224 stars, last push 2026-10-13)
- License: GPL-3.0
- Open source: yes, OSI-approved license
- Type: mobile
- Linux: n/a (phone app
- Self-hostable: no
- Note: Android only, with no web or desktop player like Plus offers; syncing devices needs gpodder.net or Nextcloud.
- More: https://stoprenting.dev/alternatives/antennapod/
- Checked: 2026-10-17

## FAQ

### Is there a free alternative to Pocket Casts Plus?

Yes. The 2 free alternatives are Audiobookshelf (open source, GPL-3.0) and AntennaPod (open source, GPL-3.0).

### How much does Pocket Casts Plus cost?

Pocket Casts Plus's Plus plan costs $3.33 a month, which is $39.99 a year (yearly (monthly option exists)). Source: the official pricing page at pocketcasts.com, checked Oct 17, 2026.

### Which Pocket Casts Plus alternatives run on Linux?

Audiobookshelf (self-hosted server; web UI).

### Can you self-host a Pocket Casts Plus alternative?

Yes. Audiobookshelf runs on your own server. AntennaPod is a mobile.

### Are these Pocket Casts Plus alternatives open source?

Yes. All 2 use OSI-approved open-source licenses: Audiobookshelf (GPL-3.0) and AntennaPod (GPL-3.0).

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Source: Stop Renting (https://stoprenting.dev). Methodology: https://stoprenting.dev/methodology/