{
  "slug": "pocket-casts",
  "category": "media-players",
  "name": "Pocket Casts",
  "description": "Podcast player from Automattic for Android, iOS, the web and desktop, with syncing across devices, discovery and a paid Plus tier. The mobile apps are open source.",
  "website": "https://pocketcasts.com",
  "source": "https://github.com/Automattic/pocket-casts-android",
  "license": "MPL-2.0",
  "platforms": [
    "android",
    "ios",
    "web",
    "windows",
    "macos"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "F",
  "score": 25,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Pocket Casts scores 25 out of 100 (grade F) on the media and podcast players criteria. It partly meets open source and no ads or data sales. It does not meet no trackers or telemetry and independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/media-players/pocket-casts/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/media-players/pocket-casts/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/Automattic/pocket-casts-android/blob/main/LICENSE.md",
      "note": "The Android and iOS apps are MPL-2.0, but the sync server and web player are closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/au.com.shiftyjelly.pocketcasts/latest/",
      "note": "The Android app contains Google Firebase Analytics and Sentry. In-app analytics can be turned off in settings."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://support.pocketcasts.com/article/privacy-policy/",
      "note": "The free app shows banner ads that Plus removes, and the privacy policy states personal data is not sold or shared for targeted advertising."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:00:00.648Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}