Pocket Casts is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users, including people with disabilities. We continuously improve our products and apply relevant accessibility standards. In line with the EU Accessibility Act (effective June 28, 2025), we aim to remove barriers and provide equal access to our services. This means our apps and web experiences are designed and updated to be usable by everyone.
In compliance with the EU Accessibility Act, our accessibility efforts have been focused on specific user flows that involve consumer transactions. This includes the purchase and management of Pocket Casts Plus subscriptions on mobile apps and the web, as well as advertising purchases on our Pocket Casts Blaze platform. The scope is defined as follows:
- iOS and Android apps:
- Subscription upgrade, subscription management and cancellation flows.
- Web:
- Pocket Casts player (www.pocketcasts.com/play). Subscription upgrade, subscription management and cancellation flows.
- Pocket Casts Blaze (blaze.pocketcasts.com).
Each of these flows has been reviewed and updated to meet the WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. While our compliance efforts have focused on these specific flows, other areas of our apps and website may also meet accessibility standards to varying degrees as a result of best practices applied more broadly.
We adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 level AA standard. As W3C notes, WCAG defines three levels of conformance: Level A, AA, and AAA. Pocket Casts is built to fully meet WCAG 2.1 AA criteria in all purchasing and subscription management flows across our platforms. Where practical, we also implement some Level AAA best practices.
Accessibility compliance includes:
- Text & Media Alternatives: All icons and non-text UI elements include accessibility labels. Non-decorative images have descriptive text alternatives.
- Keyboard Navigation & Focus: Fully navigable using external keyboards. Focus indicators are visible on all actionable elements.
- Contrast & Visual Clarity: Updated text and background color combinations meet 4.5:1 ratio. High contrast themes available.
- Resizable & Adaptable Text: Dynamic Type support ensures text resizes up to 200% without layout breakage.
- Clear & Descriptive Labels: All controls have meaningful accessibility labels.
- Error Handling & Feedback: Validation errors and status messages are announced via VoiceOver.
- Forms & Interactive Elements: Semantically labeled fields tested with assistive technologies.
- Assistive Technology Compatibility: VoiceOver support verified for content structure and interaction.
- Touch & Interaction Readability: Tap targets meet minimum size and function in dark and high-contrast modes.
Accessibility compliance includes:
- Text & Media Alternatives: Images and icons labeled using content descriptions.
- Keyboard Navigation & Focus: External keyboard navigation supported with visible focus indicators.
- Contrast & Visual Clarity: Color adjustments ensure WCAG-compliant contrast ratios. High contrast themes available.
- Resizable & Adaptable Text: Respects system font scaling; layouts remain intact.
- Clear & Descriptive Labels: All interactive components labeled for TalkBack.
- Error Handling & Feedback: Announcements for validation errors and confirmations.
- Forms & Interactive Elements: Inputs labeled and operable via assistive tools.
- Assistive Technology Compatibility: Tested with TalkBack, including gestures and focus consistency.
- Touch & Interaction Readability: Tap targets meet accessibility size and spacing guidelines.
Accessibility compliance includes:
- Text & Media Alternatives: alt attributes and ARIA labels added to all relevant visual elements.
- Keyboard Navigation & Focus: Full keyboard access across flows; visible focus states implemented.
- Contrast & Visual Clarity: Interface elements updated to meet WCAG ratios.
- Resizable & Adaptable Text: Scalable up to 200% using browser settings without layout breakage.
- Clear & Descriptive Labels: All controls and fields clearly labeled for screen readers.
- Error Handling & Feedback: Accessible inline feedback and status messages.
- Forms & Interactive Elements: Accessible form labeling and keyboard-friendly submissions.
- Assistive Technology Compatibility: Verified with major screen readers using semantic HTML and ARIA.
- Touch & Interaction Readability: Tap/click targets enlarged and spaced to meet guidelines.
Accessibility compliance includes:
- Text & Media Alternatives: Semantic alternatives applied using ARIA roles.
- Keyboard Navigation & Focus: Entire workflow navigable via keyboard with consistent focus management.
- Contrast & Visual Clarity: Contrast ratios improved across UI components.
- Resizable & Adaptable Text: Zooming up to 200% supported without disrupting layout.
- Clear & Descriptive Labels: ARIA labeling used for all interactive controls.
- Error Handling & Feedback: Accessible inline validation and messaging.
- Forms & Interactive Elements: Form fields properly labeled and assistive-technology friendly.
- Assistive Technology Compatibility: Structure and naming compatible with screen readers.
- Touch & Interaction Readability: Tap areas expanded to meet mobile usability thresholds.
We welcome feedback on accessibility. If you encounter barriers or have suggestions, please contact us at support@pocketcasts.com.
Our products support the latest versions of major browsers and operating systems. The web player has been tested on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge (desktop and mobile). The iOS and Android apps support current OS releases and common assistive tools. We verify compatibility with leading screen readers like VoiceOver or TalkBack.
We build our services using modern technologies and accessibility standards. Our web interfaces are authored in HTML5, styled with CSS, and scripted with JavaScript. We apply WAI-ARIA roles, states, and properties where needed. In the native apps, we use each platform’s accessibility APIs to provide accessible labels, hints, and traits. All new code is reviewed for accessibility.
Our iOS and Android apps are open source, and we welcome contributions that improve accessibility or general usability. Developers can audit, propose, and submit changes through our public repositories on GitHub (iOS repository, Android repository).
While we have addressed virtually all WCAG 2.1 AA criteria, a few minor issues may remain in edge cases. Some third-party login flows or embedded content might not fully expose elements to assistive tech. On older browsers, some features may degrade. When content cannot be made fully accessible, we strive to provide alternatives or support.
This accessibility statement was approved by the Pocket Casts product team on June 5th, 2025.
