Pocket Casts is giving listeners a new way to enjoy their favorite shows with a feature that feels long overdue. The podcast app, now under Automatic, has introduced a simple playlist tool that lets you build a collection of episodes you love and play them in any order you want. It feels like a small update at first glance, but the experience actually changes how you discover, save, and enjoy podcasts.
The idea behind the new Pocket Casts playlist feature is straightforward. You create a list, add episodes to it, and listen without jumping back and forth across different shows. Some people will use it to group their favorite episodes around a topic. Others may use it to follow a guest they enjoy across different podcasts. It also works well when you’re planning ahead for a long flight, a long drive, or even a slow weekend.
Pocket Casts is betting that personalization is the key to growing its paid user base. The platform has around 60,000 subscribers at the moment, which is tiny when compared to Spotify’s massive 281 million. That gap puts pressure on the brand to introduce features that feel fresh, flexible, and actually useful.
The new playlist tool helps you do exactly that. Creating a manual playlist is simple. You open the main screen, tap the Playlists tab, and hit the “+” icon if you’re on mobile or “New playlist” if you’re using the web version. From there, you can browse your favorite shows and pick the exact episodes you want to add. The flow is clean, and the process feels almost like building a music playlist, only this time you’re working with long-form conversations instead of songs.
Pocket Casts also understands that not everyone enjoys managing lists manually. For listeners who want something more automatic, Smart Playlists do the heavy lifting. With a quick tap on the “Smart rules” button, you can set filters that gather episodes for you. It might be episodes under 25 minutes. It might be unplayed content. It might be downloaded shows only. Once those filters are set, Pocket Casts updates the playlist on its own, making it perfect for days when you want to hit play and keep going.
This is especially helpful for people who struggle to find the time to organize what they want to hear. Instead of sifting through hundreds of episodes across dozens of podcasts, you get a clean lineup that matches the rules you created. It saves time, keeps your listening routine fresh, and helps you discover episodes you might’ve skipped otherwise.
The playlist feature is already available on the web version and desktop apps. Android users have started receiving access, and iOS users will get the update soon. It’s a staggered rollout, but it signals how Pocket Casts is trying to expand across all platforms without forcing users to wait too long.
This update also arrives shortly after Pocket Casts made its web player free for everyone. That move created a bit of buzz, especially as more platforms push content behind paywalls. By unlocking the web player at no extra cost, Pocket Casts positioned itself as a friendlier, more open option for listeners who want full access without constantly upgrading to premium tiers.
The playlist feature builds on that momentum. People love discovery. They love convenience. And they love tools that remove friction from everyday habits. Pocket Casts seems to understand that listeners want an app that adapts to their routines. Whether someone listens during workouts, cooking, commuting, or working late, a playlist that matches their mood feels like a simple but powerful upgrade.
Another subtle advantage is how the feature helps people get intentional about what they consume. Podcast queues often get messy. You subscribe to a show, get behind on episodes, and the backlog becomes overwhelming. Playlists let you step back and pick only what matters at that moment. You’re not drowning in new releases. You’re listening with intention, which can make the whole experience more enjoyable.
For creators, this could also become a win. Curated lists make it easier for listeners to share episodes with friends and introduce new audiences to a show without expecting them to commit to an entire feed. It’s a discovery channel that feels more organic than algorithms that push the same shows to everyone.
Pocket Casts is doing this at a time when the podcast market is shifting. Big players like Spotify dominate, but smaller apps are carving out their own space by focusing on quality, control, and user experience. People who love podcasts tend to be loyal to apps that give them flexibility. This playlist feature fits that mindset.
As the update continues rolling out, more users will get a chance to play with manual lists or Smart Rules. And while it doesn’t feel like a groundbreaking change, it gives listeners something they actually use every day. Pocket Casts wants to be more than just another app where people hit play. It wants to become a personalized audio environment where listening feels curated and intentional.
With new features, a growing base, and a focus on openness instead of paywalls, Pocket Casts is quietly shaping its own identity in the podcast world. The playlist update is another step in that direction, giving long-time listeners more control and giving new users a reason to stay. As competition grows, small touches like this can decide where people choose to spend hours of listening time every week.
