Sidecaster: Podcast Sideloader

Audio & video, private podcast

Only for Mac

Free · In‑App Purchases

Mac

New: point a show at a folder and Sidecaster imports new files on its own, then keeps your feed running from the menu bar. No cloud, no account, just your files. Sidecaster turns your MP3, M4A, MP4, M4V, and MOV files into a private podcast feed you can follow in Apple Podcasts — no publishing, no cloud service, no account required. If you have audio or video you want to consume as a podcast — lectures, recordings, screencasts, audiobooks, or anything else — Sidecaster makes it simple. Import your files, fill in the details, start the built-in server, and copy the feed URL. Your podcast is ready in minutes, and everything stays right on your Mac. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Import MP3, M4A, MP4, M4V, and MOV files with drag-and-drop • Monitor a folder for each show and import new files automatically • Keep Sidecaster running in the menu bar after you close the window • Create audio or video podcast feeds • Edit show metadata: title, author, artwork, description, category, and more • Edit each episode: title, summary, artwork, episode number, season, and type • Start a local HTTP server that streams your audio and video on demand • Copy the private RSS feed URL and follow it in any podcast player • Switch to Local Network mode to listen from your iPhone or iPad on the same Wi-Fi NEW EPISODES, HANDS-FREE Choose a folder in a show's settings, and Sidecaster watches it for you. When a script, recording app, or any other tool drops a new file there, Sidecaster waits until it has finished copying or downloading, imports it into that show, and updates the feed. Files that were already in the folder are left alone, and nothing is imported twice. If Sidecaster was quit, new files are imported the next time you open it. ALWAYS ON, FROM THE MENU BAR Closing the main window no longer quits Sidecaster. It keeps running in the menu bar, so folder monitoring and the server stay on and new episodes are ready for Apple Podcasts as soon as they're imported. The menu bar shows whether a folder is being watched and whether the server is running, lets you start or stop the server, and opens Sidecaster or Settings. Prefer a cleaner Dock? Turn on Hide in Dock in Settings. Want your shows on the go? Pair Sidecaster with a private mesh network like Tailscale, give the server a custom hostname, and Apple Podcasts on your iPhone can download new episodes wherever you are. YOUR MEDIA STAYS YOURS Sidecaster never connects to the internet. There are no accounts, no subscriptions, no analytics, and no data leaves your Mac unless you deliberately share the feed on your local or private network. COMPATIBLE PODCAST PLAYERS Because the feed is served from your Mac, it only works with podcast apps that connect to your feed directly — not apps like Overcast or Pocket Casts, which route requests through their own external servers and require a publicly accessible URL. Apple Podcasts works great on both Mac and iPhone (via Local Network mode). Downcast also works. Other apps that fetch feeds directly from the URL you provide should work too. BUILT FOR SIMPLICITY No external dependencies, no setup wizard. Sidecaster is a single Mac app powered by Apple's own frameworks. The built-in HTTP server supports range requests, so scrubbing and seeking work correctly in every podcast player.

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• Folder monitoring: choose a folder in a show's settings and Sidecaster imports new MP3, M4A, MP4, M4V, and MOV files into that show once they finish copying or downloading. Files already in the folder are left alone, and nothing is imported twice. • Menu bar mode: closing the main window no longer quits Sidecaster. It keeps running in the menu bar, so folder monitoring and the server stay on. The menu shows folder and server status, starts or stops the server, and opens Sidecaster or Settings. • New Hide in Dock option in Settings → General. • More reliable in-app purchases and bug fixes.

Version 1.3

The developer, Renewal Software, LLC, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

  • Data Not Collected

    The developer does not collect any data from this app.

    Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

    The developer indicated that this app supports the following accessibility features. Learn More

    • Supported Features

      • VoiceOver

      • Dark Interface

      • Differentiate Without Color Alone

      • Reduced Motion

    Information

    Seller
    Renewal Software, LLC
    Size
    5.7 MB
    Category
    Utilities
    Compatibility
    Requires macOS 26.4 or later.
    • Mac
      Requires macOS 26.4 or later.
    Languages
    English and 5 more
    • English, French, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish
    Age Rating
    4+
    In-App Purchases
    Yes
    • 7-Tage-Testversion $0.00
    • Vollversion freischalten $9.99
    • Learn More
    Copyright
    © 2026 Renewal Software
  • Developer Website
  • Privacy Policy

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