Metacast
Metacast is a podcast app for iOS, Android, and the web that makes episode content searchable and easier to skim through transcripts.
What Metacast is
Metacast is a podcast app for iOS, Android, and the web that makes episode content searchable and easier to skim through transcripts. Listeners can read, search, bookmark, save transcript material to notes, and share it. Automatic chapters and summaries help users move through episodes, while transcript search can surface points of interest. Metacast says its catalog includes podcasts available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Users can add private podcasts through RSS links, including member-only feeds such as Patreon and Substack, and download episodes for offline listening. The Free plan costs nothing and includes web transcripts, limited chapters and summaries, 25 episodes in listening history and standard playlists, and up to 3 private RSS feeds. Free users can see 10% of a transcript, usually about 5 to 10 minutes, while the rest is blurred. The free web app supports searching and playing public podcasts, but login, playlists, and followed podcasts are unavailable there. OPML import is not self-service; Premium subscribers can request manual import by email.
Good
- Transcripts can be searched, bookmarked, and shared
- Automatic chapters and summaries
- Private RSS feeds, including member-only podcasts
- Episode downloads for offline listening
- Free plan includes 3 private RSS feeds
Watch out
- Free users see only 10% of transcripts
- Web app has no login, playlists, or followed podcasts
- OPML import requires a manual request from Premium subscribers
Who it suits
Metacast suits listeners who want to search, skim, or save ideas from podcast episodes. It can also fit listeners of private RSS feeds who want offline downloads across mobile and web platforms.
Verdict
Metacast offers transcript-focused listening, private feeds, and offline downloads on mobile and web. The Free plan has transcript and web limitations, while Premium’s listed price is unavailable.
Plans and prices
From Metacast's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | iOS, Android & web · web transcripts · limited chapters and summaries · 25 episodes in listening history and standard playlists · up to 3 private RSS feeds |
| Premium | $19.99 a year | transcripts for any podcast · chapters and summaries · unlimited listening history and playlists · up to 10 private RSS feeds · private-feed transcripts, chapters and summaries up to 10 hours/mo · $19.99/ year |
The facts
Each one read from Metacast's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Chapters and summaries
- Automatic chapters, summaries and transcript search let users jump to interesting parts of episodes.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Data location
- Metacast states that its servers are located in the United States.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Episode transcripts
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Intended audience
- Metacast describes itself as a tool for thinkers, learners and knowledge seekers, and says it is used by professionals and lifelong learners.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Offline downloads
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Offline listening
- Users can download episodes for offline listening.checked 11 Oct 2026
- OPML import
- Self-service OPML import is not available in the app; Premium subscribers can request manual import by email.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Podcast catalog
- Metacast says podcasts available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify are available in the app too.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy and security
- Metacast says it has organizational and technical processes to protect personal information, while noting it cannot guarantee complete security of internet transmissions or storage.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Private feeds
- Users can add private podcasts via RSS links, including member-only feeds such as Patreon and Substack podcasts.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Private feed support
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Support
- The company directs users to contact [email protected] with questions or service issues.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Transcripts
- Metacast provides transcripts for podcasts, which users can read, skim, search, bookmark, save to notes or share.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Web limitation
- The web app is free and supports searching and playing public podcasts, but login is not supported and playlists and followed podcasts are unavailable on web.checked 11 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Metacast is a podcast app that makes podcasts searchable and skimmable with transcripts so listeners can find, retain and share ideas.checked 11 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Free transcript limit
- Free users can see 10% of a transcript, usually about 5 to 10 minutes of an episode; the rest is blurred.checked 11 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Supported platforms
- iOS, Android, webchecked 22 Sep 2026
Alternatives to Metacast
- 1
Pocket Casts
Free planAndroidiOSWebmacOS8.6From $39.99 a year - 2
Podbean
Free planAndroidiOS8.4From $17 a month - 3
Podimo
Free planAndroidiOSWeb8.4From €49.99 a year - 4
Apple Podcasts
Free planiOSWebmacOSWindows8.3Free plan - 5
Podverse
Free planAndroidiOSWeb8.1From $18 a year - 6
FluidCast
Free planAndroidiOSWebLinux8.1From £2.49 a month