Castro
Castro is a podcast player for Apple devices, with tools for organizing episodes and listening across devices.
What Castro is
Castro is a podcast player for Apple devices, with tools for organizing episodes and listening across devices. Its Queue lets you add and reorder episodes, then play them automatically; queued episodes can download over Wi-Fi for offline listening. Playback speeds range from 0.8x to 3x, and Trim Silence can shorten listening time by 10–20% without changing audio quality. You can use transcripts, podcast chapters, private feeds, episode sharing, and per-podcast options such as intro skipping and audio filters. Castro also supports importing personal audio from iCloud Drive, listening through CarPlay, and controlling playback or browsing the queue on Apple Watch. It is available on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Apple Watch, with a free plan. Castro Plus adds advanced playback, sideloading, Night Mode, custom icons, and device synchronization. Paid plans include $3.99 per month, $24.99 per year, and family subscriptions at $39.99 per year.
Good
- Queue supports reordering and automatic playback.
- Wi-Fi downloads allow offline listening.
- Playback speeds range from 0.8x to 3x.
- Supports transcripts, chapters, and private feeds.
- Apple Watch controls and CarPlay are supported.
Watch out
- Platforms are limited to Apple devices.
- Some features require a paid Plus plan.
- Family annual subscription costs $39.99 per year.
Who it suits
Castro suits podcast listeners using Apple devices who want queue management, offline downloads, transcripts, or cross-device sync. Its private feeds and personal-audio imports may also suit listeners with podcasts or audio outside the standard queue.
Verdict
Castro combines episode queueing with playback controls, offline downloads, transcripts, and Apple-device support. The free plan is available, while Plus adds advanced features and paid subscriptions start at $3.99 per month.
Plans and prices
From Castro's own pricing page, checked 28 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Castro Plus Monthly | $3.99 a month | Pricing listed in the pricing update · Advanced podcast playback features · Device synchronization · billed monthly |
| Castro Plus Quarterly | $9.99 a month | Pricing listed in the pricing update · Advanced podcast playback features · Device synchronization · Quarterly subscription |
| Castro Plus Annual | $24.99 a year | In-App Purchase · Advanced podcast playback features · Device synchronization · Annual subscription |
| Castro Plus Family Annual | $39.99 a year | Family subscription · Family annual subscription |
| Castro Plus Family | $39.99 a year | Family annual tier · billed annually at $39.99 |
| Free Castro | Free | Free plan |
The facts
Each one read from Castro's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Apple Watch
- Apple Watch users can control playback and browse the queue.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Cross-device sync
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Supported platforms
- iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watchchecked 20 Sep 2026
What it does
- Audio sideloading
- Users can import their own audio by adding files to iCloud Drive.checked 28 Sep 2026
- CarPlay support
- Castro provides a CarPlay app for listening in the car.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Chapter support
- Users can play, select, skip, and pre-select podcast chapters.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Discount policy
- Castro discontinued discounts and C2 early supporter specials.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Email support
- Castro directs users to [email protected] for questions or concerns.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Episode sharing
- Episodes can be shared from the player or through Castro for iMessage.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Episode transcripts
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Offline downloads
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Paid from
- 3.99checked 20 Sep 2026
- Per-podcast settings
- Settings include auto-queue, audio filters, playback speeds, and intro skipping.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Playback speeds
- Custom playback speeds range from 0.8x to 3x.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Plus features
- Castro Plus adds advanced playback, sideloading, Night Mode, custom icons, and more.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Private feed support
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Queue management
- The Queue lets users add, reorder, and automatically play episodes.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Silence trimming
- Trim Silence can save 10-20% of total listening time without changing audio quality.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Subscription extensions
- Existing subscribers received extra time: 30 days monthly, 45 quarterly, and 90 annual.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Wi-Fi downloads
- Queued episodes download automatically on Wi-Fi to save cellular data.checked 28 Sep 2026
The company
- Company description
- Castro describes itself as an iPhone podcast player for podcast fanatics.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Brooklyn, New York, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Castro offers a free version of the podcast app.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Price update
- Castro lowered its standard subscription prices in April 2024.checked 28 Sep 2026
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