Stitcher for Podcasts 12+

Has best options for viewing, but missing a lot of shows

I like a lot about how this app 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 the app 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.

This app 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 the app a whole lot less useful for me.

Freezes and looses place with Sonos

The app 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. This app 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 the app and restart it if I want to use it. Not fun.

Additionally, I got the app specifically because it advertises its ability to sync with Sonos. Specific content is hard to find on Sonos and the app 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.

Needs work

While I enjoy a number of Stitchers premium podcasts, this app has a number if issues. Sometimes it hangs. Other times it skips episodes. Stitcher’s servers seems to have a number of connection issues at times.

One of the newest “features” of this app is that it now resumes playing as soon as it disconnects from Bluetooth sources (no other music or podcast app I have does this). Getting out of your car? The app resumes playing in your pocket. Headphones or speaker disconnected when you turn it off? The app resumes playing even if your phone is tucked away in a bag or case somewhere. This is incredibly annoying and wasn't an issue on previous versions.

The app makers could learn a lot from Overcast and it’s features such as voice boost, smart speed and more. Even Overcast’s simple assignment of the forward buttons working as the skip ahead (fast forward) and rewind instead of stitchers decision to have these buttons function as skipping entire episodes (this means you can’t even use this function while driving unless you pull your phone out just to move past an ad, podcast intro, etc.). Unless you need the stitcher app for you stitcher exclusive podcast, you’ll be happier with Overcast and it’s superior features.

Developer Response , 11/08/2018

Hi there - thanks for your review and sorry to hear you're having trouble with this. Can you reach out to our support team directly, so we can look into this? You can contact us from the app by going into your Account Settings - Tap on Help - Tap Contact Us on the top right corner. Looking forward to hearing from you!