Customer Reviews (500)

DryBnz • 2025-03-07T07:57:44-07:00

So many ads not related to the podcast I was listening to on the app. Tried the same podcasts on Apply player and all those ads went away. Use to love this app but something has changed.

Washingpolo • 2025-02-27T10:08:39-07:00

Does not sync between iPad and iPhone

Jonathan M.C. • 2025-02-26T08:54:14-07:00

Old episodes (played before) which I manually re-download to listen again are being removed (deleted) during auto-refresh. This is a problem after a recent update of the app; it used not to delete re-downloaded episodes until fully played again. I’m trying added step of “lock” but that’s a pain to have to do extra step to prevent delete.

Downcast App Review Analysis

1. Summary of Key Insights

  • Downcast is a long-standing podcast app with a dedicated user base, praised for its customizability and feature set. However, recent reviews reveal significant concerns regarding stability (crashing), broken search functionality, and lack of modern features.
  • Strengths: Highly configurable, feature-rich, no subscription model, good playlist management, reliable download/playback (when working).
  • Weaknesses: Frequent crashing, broken search functionality, syncing issues, outdated UI, lack of "play next" queue, increasing ads (mentioned by some), and lack of podcasting 2.0 features.
  • Overall Sentiment: Mixed. While many long-time users remain loyal and give 5-star ratings, a significant number of recent reviews express frustration and disappointment, reflected in the high number of 1 and 2-star ratings. There are periods of high satisfaction followed by periods of issues.
  • Quantitative Metrics:
    • Overall Rating (implied): Approximately 4.15 stars (weighted average based on review counts)
    • Score Distribution:
      • 5-star: 48%
      • 4-star: 13.2%
      • 3-star: 10%
      • 2-star: 12.2%
      • 1-star: 16.6%

2. Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews span a considerable period, from early 2010s to early 2024, but recent reviews (last few months) are emphasized due to their relevance to the current app state.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Manual assessment of review tone (positive, negative, neutral).
    • Keyword Extraction: Identification of frequently used terms and phrases to determine key themes and pain points.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counting the occurrences of specific issues and feature requests.

3. Key User Pain Points

  • Crashing/Instability: The most frequently mentioned issue, particularly in more recent reviews. Users report crashes occurring randomly, during playback, when refreshing feeds, or even upon opening the app. This significantly impacts usability and drives users to seek alternatives.
  • Broken Search Functionality: A recurring issue where users are unable to search for new podcasts or episodes. This severely limits the app's ability to discover new content and subscribe to new podcasts.
  • Syncing Issues: Inconsistent syncing of subscriptions, playlists, and playback positions between iOS devices and the Mac app. This frustrates users who expect a seamless experience across their devices.
  • Lack of "Play Next" Queue: Many users request the ability to create a queue of individual episodes to play in a specific order, rather than being limited to playlist-based playback.
  • Volume Issues: Some users report issues with volume inconsistencies between content and ads, or sudden volume changes.
  • Automatic Episode Deletion: Users report unexpected deletion of previously downloaded episodes.
  • Podcast Refresh Issues: Some users state that the app does not automatically refresh podcast feeds, even when set to do so.
  • Difficult to unsubscribe: Some users have difficulty unsubscribing from podcasts.

4. Frequently Requested Features

  • "Play Next" Queue: The ability to add individual episodes to a queue for playback in a user-defined order.
  • Podcasting 2.0 Support: Implementation of features like live tags, comments, streaming sats (Bitcoin), and boostagrams.
  • Improved Apple Watch App: Standalone Apple Watch app with the ability to download podcasts directly to the watch, volume control via the digital crown, and better integration with workouts.
  • Dark Mode: A consistent dark mode across all app screens.
  • Favorites/Star Rating: The ability to mark favorite podcast episodes or shows for easy access.
  • Equalizer: An equalizer to tweak the output sound.
  • Silence Removal: Feature to automatically skip silence, similar to Overcast.
  • More Playlist Options: Ability to queue individual episodes into playlists.
  • Ability to favorite podcast episodes: Users would like to be able to save favorite podcast episodes.

5. Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Highly Customizable: Users appreciate the extensive settings and options for tailoring the app to their specific needs, including playback speed, skip intervals, download settings, and playlist management.
  • Feature-Rich: Downcast offers a comprehensive set of features that many other podcast apps lack.
  • No Subscription Model: A significant advantage over subscription-based podcast apps. Users appreciate the one-time purchase price.
  • Playlist Management: Robust playlist creation and management capabilities, including smart playlists and customizable sorting.
  • Reliable Download/Playback: When the app is working correctly, users praise its reliable download and playback performance.
  • OPML Support: The ability to import and export podcast feeds via OPML is a valuable feature for users who want to migrate their subscriptions.
  • CarPlay Support: CarPlay integration is generally well-received.
  • VoiceOver Accessibility: Downcast is fully accessible with VoiceOver.

6. Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Crashing Issues: Thoroughly investigate and resolve the root causes of the frequent crashing. This is the most critical issue and must be addressed immediately to retain users.
  • Restore Search Functionality: Repair the broken search functionality to allow users to discover and subscribe to new podcasts.
  • Improve Syncing: Address the inconsistent syncing issues between devices to provide a seamless user experience.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement "Play Next" Queue: Add the ability to create a queue of individual episodes for playback in a user-defined order.
  • Modernize UI: Update the user interface to improve its visual appeal and usability. Consider a more modern design aesthetic and better information architecture.
  • Address Volume Issues: Investigate and resolve the reported volume inconsistencies between content and ads.
  • Implement Automatic Episode Deletion Fix: Correct the unexpected deletion of previously downloaded episodes.

Low Priority:

  • Podcasting 2.0 Support: Implement podcasting 2.0 features to stay competitive with other podcast apps.
  • Enhance Apple Watch App: Improve the Apple Watch app with standalone playback capabilities and volume control.
  • Add Dark Mode: Implement a consistent dark mode across all app screens.
  • Implement a Favorites/Star Rating System: Allow users to favorite podcast episodes or shows for easy access.
  • Add an Equalizer: Implement an equalizer to allow users to tweak the output sound.

7. Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Podcast App with Advanced Playlisting: A podcast app that focuses on advanced playlist creation and management, with features like episode-level queuing, dynamic playlists based on keywords and topics, and collaborative playlists.
  • Podcast App with Enhanced Audio Quality: A podcast app that prioritizes audio quality and offers features like noise reduction, volume leveling, and customizable EQ settings.
  • Podcast App with Community Features: A podcast app that integrates community features, such as episode-specific comments, user reviews, and social sharing.

8. Trends and Observations

  • Recurring Cycles of Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: The reviews suggest a pattern of periods where the app is well-received, followed by periods of instability and bug reports. This indicates a need for more consistent quality assurance and testing.
  • Long-Time Users vs. New Users: Long-time users tend to be more forgiving and appreciate the app's core features, while new users are more likely to be critical of its outdated UI and lack of modern features.
  • Importance of Stability: Stability is the most important factor for user satisfaction. Even users who appreciate the app's features are quick to abandon it when it becomes unstable.

9. Conclusion

Downcast is a powerful podcast app with a loyal user base, but its recent issues with stability and lack of modern features are putting its future at risk. Addressing the high-priority issues of crashing, broken search, and syncing is essential to retain existing users and attract new ones. Implementing frequently requested features like a "play next" queue and podcasting 2.0 support will further enhance the app's appeal. A renewed focus on quality assurance and consistent updates is crucial to ensure Downcast remains a competitive podcast app.

Overall Recommendation: Prioritize stability and bug fixes, then focus on modernizing the UI and adding frequently requested features.

10. Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/downcast/id393858566?uo=2