Stitcher for Podcasts Reviews

by AmandaGriffiths

Good luck using this if you follow more than five podcasts or so. Every three days Stitcher decides to un-sort all of my podcasts and I spend about 10 minutes manually re-programming them. On top of that, it can be impossible to find a podcast or episode you like, even if you type in the title verbatim—it won’t show up even if the podcast is on the platform. No way to sort search results either. Definitely the least sophisticated, buggiest podcast platform out there—and this is coming from someone who switched from Apple podcasts.

by Reviewer100000000000

The navigation is clunky. Since the last update it’s better but I don’t find it to be very intuitive. There is just too much going on in the user interface. You can’t download series in bulk. You have to download individual episodes. By biggest complaint is that episodes I have already downloaded will not play unless I’ve connected to wifi. So why bother downloading if that’s the case? When I do connect to wifi Stitcher just says “waiting”.
I came to this app in search of an alternative to Apple’s native podcast player which is even worse. But now I have found that I need an alternative to the alternative. I’ve completely moved my listening experience to Overcast, at least until they manage to mess up that user experience too.
All I want is, 1 a robust library of podcasts. 2 a simple user interface where I see my shows in the play order I choose. 3 easy to download and play from anywhere. Streaming is fine when wifi is available and or good cell coverage.
Keep It Simple Stupid!!!

by Can Not Stop Walking!

Much to like about this app but their search fir podcasts is absolutely atrocious. Example (and this has been going on for months in various ways): I search for the actual name of a podcast - I also try using quotes - I add in the word podcast - I remove the quotes. There are substantial times that nothing comes up. Then I scroll and scroll down and there it is twenty podcasts down the line - the exact name. The only accurate one but way down the list. I recently searched and could never find the podcast under any name or combination. When I scrolled through my actual personal list of saved podcasts there it was. Shocking search. How can they survive such a basic simple need. Reply to this this app.

by Mongolian Bbq

A couple of weeks ago THREEDOM ep had ads. this app tech solution was for me to delete app, and reinstall, losing all downloads. Now the latest episode of HOW DID THIS GET MADE has an ad right at the top of the show. If I have to uninstall and reinstall every week, losing all my downloads in the process, what’s the point? You need a better solution than telling paying customers “oops.”

UPDATE March 16
The new THREEDOM (Murder on the Moon) episode has an ad at the top of the show. Again. I’m a Premium member and THREEDOM is a Premium show with the little badge, but for the third week in a row there’s an ad. Your previous “solutions” have been for me to delete Stitcher and re-download, thus losing all my downloads and just being a general inconvenience. Please engineer a permanent fix.

by RetroUltraModern

After this app foisted the worst app redesign on all of their loyal users, I was forced to make a decision: either stick with the new version even though it lacked many of the useful features the old one had, or find a better alternative. Thankfully, I found Pocket Casts, which has been thoughtfully designed to include the features and simplicity that every podcast listener desires and deserves. I still have this app installed on my iPhone, but I use it less and less since there is no benefit to using it instead of Pocket Casts.

by CassieClara

I really can’t stand Stitcher.
Playlists have to be built manually episode by episode in one single “Likes” list. It’s truly ridiculous.
The “List” option only shows the most recent episode of each podcast and once that episode is played the podcast drops off completely instead of at least bringing up an older unplayed episode.
You have to check each podcast feed to be sure you’re not missing any episodes.
I’m not sure how anyone would enjoy listening to podcasts this way.

by Sotired11

The entire reason I purchased a premium subscription was so I could download a stash of podcasts to listen to while I deploy to places without cell service or wifi. Now that this app has released this updated version they’re so proud of, Stitcher needs to check with a server somewhere that I have an active premium subscription before it will play anything I’ve downloaded…meaning that I can’t listen to podcasts while I’m deployed to places without cell service or wifi.

Stitcher used to be less than ideal, but still functional. Now it’s completely pointless. What a waste.

by ChoqlitQT

The 5 start reviews must be from people who are new to podcasting. Stitcher is not for power users. I subscribe to a lot of podcasts and Stitcher can't handle it. It hangs for nearly 10 minutes while updating podcarts. There is no load indicator so that you know it's working or not and often it crashes before it's done. Stitcher routinely crashes 3 to 4 times before I can use it. I have complained with every update but the developers only answer positive reviews. I will likely move on to Overcast or Downcast. I've been testing them and they load fast. Plus, dark mode and responsive developers.

by Jeffinition

An alluring perk of being a this app Premium subscriber is enjoying a whole raft of shows ad free. Unfortunately, Stitcher is such a shoddy, poorly cared for hellscape of inconvenient (and long neglected) tech quirks, you’ll wonder what pact with Satan your favorite podcast network made in order to deal in its midst. For one, don’t get too excited about listening to your favorite pod’s latest episode the day it’s supposed to come out, because new episodes often won’t update or appear in your feed until a day (or several days) after they’ve been released on all other platforms. Also, take note to recall where you are in an episode should you dare press pause, because once you resume, you’ll find the audio has lurched ahead by a minute or two (pro tip: just tap the back 15 button once or twice to land in the general vicinity of where you were). Two stars — I pay for Premium because Stitcher ’s inconveniences aren’t as bad as a ten minute ad break.

by OBLAD2031

Some truly great podcasts, but a very poor app experience. I have a paid annual premium sub, but can’t log in to app. When I try, I get a “No Internet connection” message even though I absolutely have internet and am using internet with other other apps. I’ve tried updating, reinstalling, closing all other apps, etc., to no avail. I have a paid premium subscription that I can’t use to listen to the EXCELLENT Andy Daly PPP & Bonanas for Bonanza. Disappointed

by GimmeDangerStranger

App constantly tells me my connection is slow. The phone is on a gigabit Wi-Fi connection. Episodes takes multiple attempts to start playing.

There is no playlist support. There is a “play next” queue type of list which is difficult to actually get too. Adding episodes to it isn’t easy either.

The web app is even worse, as it seems to clear your “play next” queue on a whim.

by Stella Belikiewicz

First of all, I see that this app seems to have somehow scrubbed their previous terrible ratings, which is extremely bad form! Second, Stitcher used to be so well designed, had intuitive navigation, and really just did everything I could want it to do, and then with one major update became clunky, unintuitive, confusing to navigate, and over all just a pain to interact with. It’s really too bad, and I hope they do some course correcting. I’ll be happy to adjust my rating if they do.

by AJW990

I love Stitcher , but I have to restart it constantly. Something weird happens with the ads, plus it just randomly jumps back or forward a few seconds sometimes. If I leave it open for a day, it’s basically non-functional, even if I’ve been listening all day. No idea what that’s about. I’ve updated regularly and switched phones and I still have this problem.

PS, this might sound weird for podcasts, but some kind of shuffle or random episode option within a podcast would be amazing.

by Annama0101

I love this app but the search feature is ridiculously literal and worthless. Typical example: I heard of a podcast called “The End of The World” mentioned on another podcast (Stuff You Should Know), so I searched for it. No luck. Found another pod by that name but not the one I was looking for. Googled it instead & discovered the full name is “The End of the World with Josh Clark”. this app did find that. I mean, come on. The lack of whatever technology this app is unwilling to pay for is seriously hurting them.

by DisneyLouisiana

I’ve been using this app for podcasts for as long as I can remember. It was the first app I ever used to listen to podcasts and it’s been great since day one. The interface is easy to use and the content is always good. With everyone else getting into the podcast game this app is still the best .

by MWbwana82

Switched over from Apple Podcasts to keep my kids’ shows separate from my own and am I glad I did.

Stitcher is easier to navigate, is much more pleasing to the eye (I really notice this whenever I open Apple’s version after using this app), and can be easily customized to meet your needs.

by CalicoEthel

I’ve been using this app premium for a while now and the one thing that’s missing is being able to sync episodes to my Apple Watch. I hope they add this feature in the future!

by Serenityb2001

I used apple podcast since 2016, and with the recent iOS update, I just couldn’t take it any more. I switched to this app and I’ve had a much better experience so far. On all the reviews that I saw, you guys are working on the search limitations on Stitcher , so I won’t bog y’all down with another comment about it. I would, however, love to see a dark mode feature one day!

by Tanman.03

Very minimalist and easy to use. I also like the large buttons while driving. Does it have Apple Carplay support? I switched to this app because the Apple Podcast app wouldn’t sync across my devices! this app does. Also, please come out with an iMac app!

by Alexander Cook 007

I rarely if ever write app reviews, but Stitcher is SO much better than any other podcast app that I had to write one. Stitcher is incredibly intuitive and easy to use. Ditch any other podcast app you have and switch to Sticher.

by Chrisstevie

The last week or so I have been experiencing problems with the downloading of podcasts. Usually when I open Stitcher and go to MyFavorites, any new podcasts are automatically downloaded in seconds. The last week I’ve experienced intermittent downloading issues. Today has been the worst. I have been trying to get one podcast downloaded for the past four hours. If I leave Stitcher , the downloading either stops or starts over again. When it is downloading, the green downloading line at the top moves at a snail’s pace. With the latest attempt, the podcast is barely 50% downloaded, and it has been cranking for the past hour and 10 minutes (and the green line has not moved in 23 minutes). What is up with that? Am frustrated enough to try another podcast app. And I agree with others about Stitcher interface - it is not intuitive or user-friendly and I have resorted to Google to try and find answers to how to do something or where something is in Stitcher .

by ____ayyyyyyyy____

Finally caved and switched over from howl since that app isn't being updated anymore. Instantly regretted it after seeing this clunky, horrible interface. In order for Stitcher to be usable there needs to be several changes made. I don't listen to my podcasts in playlists (which Stitcher seems to push heavily) just give me a feed that shows me what's new. There has to be navigation buttons added to the bottom of the screen to let me get around easier like in howl and apple podcasts. I shouldn't have to be hitting the back button five times to get back to where I started after looking through podcasts from categories. Seriously if you want to be the be all, end all podcast app, take a look at other apps and find out what they're doing that works. Howl and apple podcasts were far from perfect, but this is easily the worst podcast app I've used from a navigation standpoint (I haven't even had the chance to listen to anything yet because this thing gave me such a headache). It really bums me out that howl is dead and got merged into this. I'll probably just cancel my subscription and go back to apple until this gets sorted out. Because as of right now, this is absolutely not worth paying for.

by Tandtrom

I use this app 100% ONLY because of all the Earwolf this app Premium shows but half the time the episodes don’t release at the right time OR (like today with the Andy Daly Podcast Pilot Project) they show as released but are unplayable, which seems to be due to a server error but the error that comes up makes sure to blame the podcast provider and not this app itself. I don’t understand how errors like these are still COMMONPLACE - like in a way you’re doing SOMETHING because the baseline bare minimum function of Stitcher now works about 75-80% of the time instead of 60% like it was when I signed up but WHAT exactly are you fixing when you work on updates if it’s not these catastrophic problems? HOW is this still happening??

Also Hollywood Handbook: Pro Version is the best podcast on Stitcher or anywhere else for that matter, please don’t be so jealous that you take their show away just because you know the damage it could do to all the other shows if it really got out there about how good it is.

by Shannabanna08

The only reason I keep Stitcher is to access premium content from earwolf. I otherwise find it extremely frustrating to use and not intuitive. The playlists are not very customizable in my experience. I can’t erase episodes from the list only mark them as played so the lists end up being very long and unwieldy. If I listen to one second of a podcast, it then shows up below any unplayed episodes so I have to scroll down the list to see it. You cannot manually reorder episodes to your preferred play order or set priorities so your favorite shows always show up first in the list. I also downloaded old episodes of a show since the archives are only on this app but then had to manually scroll back through years of podcast episodes to find the ones I downloaded since they only show up by order of release and don’t prioritize downloaded episodes. Either that or manually search for them or take the time to mark hundreds of episodes as played in order for the episodes to show up on the top of the list. I don’t want to have to go to a separate downloaded episodes list when I’ve taken the time to make a playlist for a specific podcast. The downloaded episodes of that podcast should show up first. These are just a few reasons why I strongly prefer Overcast as my go to podcast app. If this app made some of these changes I at least wouldn’t be actively angry anytime I tried to listen to threedom.

by Joe3754

Stitcher has some benefits and some premium content I enjoy. That being said, an app I’m paying a subscription price for should work better than the free apple podcast app. Stitcher constantly freezes if it does not remain open. I’ll move from another app back to it to fast forward or start a new podcast and a grayed out version of the screen appears and none of the functions work. What I am listening to continues to play but I have to hard shut down Stitcher and restart it if I want to use it. Not fun.

Additionally, I got Stitcher specifically because it advertises its ability to sync with Sonos. Specific content is hard to find on Sonos and Stitcher no longer keeps track of where it is. I have to try and remember exactly where I’m at in a podcast if I am listening through Sonos, find the podcast on my phone through the sticher app, and then fast forward to where I was to continue listening. This is necessary in reverse as well going from the phone to Sonos. The apps controls in Sonos also do not include any fast forward or rewind buttons other than the buggy option of trying to hold the forward or backwards buttons down. Feels like I’m using a tape player.

Not very premium for the price.

by NOLAdoo

I like the this app content, but the interface is clunky and disjointed.
First and foremost, why can’t I listen to a podcast, pause it (or have it automatically pause upon closing Stitcher ), and have it there waiting for me to pick up where I left off upon reopening Stitcher ? Seems like this should be a basic/fundamental feature. Instead, with the new update, I’m now forced to search for the episode once again to replay.
What’s more, why is there not a “recently listened to” section. Another feature which would seem fundamental.
It would also be nice to have a setting - and maybe it is in there but I haven’t figured it out yet - whereby I can automatically download certain shows into selected playlists upon their release.
Bottom line, I like the this app content and still prefer it relative to other podcast apps, but I feel I spend far too much time fiddling with the unnecessarily confusing interface - which has plenty of room for improvement.

by Leiter82

Granted, Stitcher is way better than it used to be, however, there are tons of much better podcast apps out there. I only use it for this app Premium which is well worth the cost. I know this app wants people to use their own app but I would love to see them do what Wondery does with Wondery+. They let you pick and choose what shows you want to listen to and they’ll provide you with a URL so you can listen in whatever app you want. I don’t plan on renewing my plan once it’s up because of Stitcher but if this app does what Wondery does I will gladly renew for years to come.

ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK: In addition to the feedback above, it also takes a lot longer for new episodes to be available compared to other podcast apps. New episodes will be available immediately in other apps but it may take house for the same episode to be available in this app. Also, there are many podcasts that aren’t available in Stitcher.

I’m giving it two stars because it’s a vast improvement over what it used to be. Otherwise it’s a one star app. I doubt the developers will improve Stitcher because they know people are forced to use this subpar app to listen to the premium content and they still get their money.

by Cdavida

I like a lot about how Stitcher works. I like being able to go through my shows, pick the episodes, and have them appear in a list of saved episodes. I can sync between my devices so that I don’t have to add them to multiple devices manually. I can even save stuff I have already listened to in an archive. The “My Front Page” is a useless mess, but Stitcher gives me the option to start with my Favorites so that I don’t have to see it if I don’t want to. Oh, and I can add it to Sonos and play through Sonos.

Stitcher loses two stars, and maybe should lose more, for one reason. It’s missing several of the shows that I want in its directory, and there’s no way to add a feed URL that I can find. If they don’t have it in their database, I can’t add it. This means that I have to have another app just to hear some of the shows that they do not carry. It’s not just one or two missing, it’s several . . . Bioethics on Air, The Jennifer Fulwiler Show, Catholic Answers Focus, The Catholic Cafe, The Doctor is In (Ray Guerendi), and Stephen Herreid. With that many shows not available, it makes Stitcher a whole lot less useful for me.

by Jasmin193

I’m not particularly enchanted with Apple’s native podcast app so I decided to try this app having heard it was far superior. I also wanted to check out a few this app premium shows. I’m annoyed because apparently I can’t just pick up where I left off. I usually listen to podcasts before and after work and on breaks, so there will be a few hours in-between when I use Stitcher . The play/pause button on the bottom goes away by the time I want to continue listening so I have to search for the episode all over again. It seems so fundamental to be able to easily go back to the latest played episode especially when I’m still in the middle of it.

Also, I stream just like with Apple’s podcaster, but this one quits on me way more easily if I lose service. It plays that creepy sound over and over (the sound of a finished record on a record player I think). Both the lack of functionality to keep streaming and the use of that sound effect are annoying. I’ll finish out my free trial but I’m reluctantly going back to Apple!

by Waltzing With Cookies

Great function but dangerously confusing for use by drivers (who will, despite any advice, use Stitcher). The icons, which are just slightly lightened white-ish superimpositions on the podcast owners’ logo, are nearly invisible and require a long time to find, especially if you are changing your focus from an intense, bright light activity like driving. To compound the problem, basic function buttons are initially offscreen and require scrolling to find. Having to find invisible buttons by scrolling around so much makes Stitcher a major, potentially multi-second distraction for a driver. There is a “car mode” for an in-progress show but those particular controls are the least distracting in the main UI. Since the majority of app use is starting new, saved or favorite shows, the “car mode” does not make this any safer. Fixing the invisible buttons would be an easy and possibly life saving first fix. Fixing the scroll heavy navigation should also be a priority. This review is for the iPhone version.

by AlvisWords1964

I got this app, and went Premium, so I could get the entire back catalog of “How Did this Get Made”. If I had known how terrible the player and streaming engine is I never would have signed up. I listen on a very fast WiFi connection with great cellular data backup. I can’t Get through an episode of anything without it hesitating, stopping, repeating and ultimately bombing out of the episode. It disappears from my playlist and I have to go track it down if I want to hear more. I try to download...even when an episode shows as downloaded, it still will bomb out. Frustrating and maddening. If I find the same content on my iOS podcast app, I will stream with commercials to avoid the frustration of using this player. And, on the same WiFi connection my iOS podcasts playback beautifully without a stop or a drop. The issues are entirely with the shortcomings of this player/streamer.

by Ryandogulus

As the top review states, this app is great for how it displays podcasts and its versatility when it comes to organizing podcasts. I recently got a new phone and had to download Stitcher again, and since downloading it again I have had one significant complaint: my sorting settings reset every time I close Stitcher . I organize my podcasts into folders by genre, and within each folder I like to have them sorted by most recently updated. That way I can choose what genre I’m in the mood for, then immediately see which podcasts of that genre have fresh content. I have tried deleting Stitcher and downloading it again, and still it insists on sorting all my folders by custom order, aka the order in which I added them to the folder. It’s a simple nuisance to get around, just click settings > sort > recently updated, but it is a nuisance nevertheless. This used to not be an issue.

by KentCZ

Update: Thank you this app for fixing the Up Next and my ability to customize on the go. I love Stitcher will continue to be a loyal customer.

I have been using this app premium for many years and Stitcher has always been my go-to. I like the features until recent changes. However, since the recent updates on IOS I can no longer change my up next play list or delete podcast episodes within the cue, this is very annoying! I sent support an email about this issue and was told to create custom playlist and they are looking into this concern. This doesn’t work, come on this app. I am now looking into other podcast app players to replace this app. I hope the developers at this app take this concern seriously, I can see other longtime users are have the same challenges. Please do something!

by Jadekatt47

I have used Stitcher for about 2 years quite successfully (free version), however with the most recent update I have been having issues with playback. Sometimes when an ad plays before I listen to a show, the show doesn’t start and i have to hit play again. Also, sometimes when I restart an episode, the play button won’t work, and I have to change screens to the downloads page to get it to start. I have enjoyed using Stitcher and have found new podcasts that I enjoy, but I hope these bugs can get fixed soon.
Edit: the most recent update has resolved these issues and Stitcher works smoothly! I have preferred the design of Stitcher and will continue happily to use it for my listening needs.

by SongDuck™

Updated April 2018:
this app is the most convenient way to listen to audio podcasts and live radio. I've been using this app over 6 years. I started with a Free subscription. Several years ago I upgraded to Premium subscription, which eliminates ads between podcasts and allows you to access Premium content. I think it’s well worth it. However, you can subscribe for free, if you don’t mind commercials, or want to try this app.

this app is easy to use. It enables you to place favorite podcasts into playlists, order them as you like, and then play a playlist’s stitched podcasts straight through from beginning to end. You can download via wifi to listen to later. Another nice feature is selecting one playlist to play immediately upon opening Stitcher , which I use for my news playlist. This is my go to podcast app. I use it every day. Highly recommend.