Pocket Casts Champions have lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus features if they purchased the web app before September 18, 2019. If you’re unsure if your past purchase qualifies you for Pocket Casts Champion status, please check the support article for more information.
Before August 19, 2024, Pocket Casts Champions were previously known as Pocket Casts Lifetime Members.
When Pocket Casts first launched in 2010, each app—iOS, Android, web—was its own purchase.
In September 2019, we switched to offering the iOS and Android apps for free. Access to the web and desktop apps was then limited to those with a Pocket Casts Plus subscription.
Since the web app used to be a one-time purchase and we were moving it to a subscription, we then gave lifetime Pocket Casts Plus access to users who had previously purchased the web app. These users have Pocket Casts Champion status.
To determine if your previous purchase grants you Pocket Casts Champion status, it’s important to look at the following details:
- When was the Pocket Casts purchase transacted?
- Before September 18, 2019 – you likely purchased one of the following: the web app, the iOS app, or the Android app; please move to step 2.
- On or after September 18, 2019 – you subscribed to Pocket Casts Plus; you do not qualify for lifetime Plus.
- If you made a purchase prior to September 18, 2019, which app did you buy?
- Android app – base price of USD 4.99; this does not qualify you for Pocket Casts Champion status, but you’ll still have access to the mobile app features you paid for; see: I bought the Android/iOS app. Do I qualify for Pocket Casts Champion status, which includes lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus?
- iOS app – base price of USD 4.99; this does not qualify you for Pocket Casts Champion status, but you’ll still have access to the mobile app features you paid for; see: I bought the Android/iOS app. Do I qualify for Pocket Casts Champion status, which includes lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus?
- Web and desktop app – base price of USD 9; this qualifies you for Pocket Casts Champion status; see: I purchased the web app. Why don’t I have lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus?
How do I know if I qualify for Pocket Casts Champion status, which includes lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus?
To know if you qualify for Pocket Casts Champion status, please review the following: Checking Purchases for Pocket Casts Champion Status.
In short, if you purchased the web/desktop app prior to September 18, 2019, you’re a Pocket Casts Champion, and you’ll have lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus.
To help you check which app you purchased previously, check any invoices, order confirmation emails, and Google Play Store/Apple App Store transaction histories you might have for “Pocket Casts.” The standalone apps had the following prices:
- Android app – base price of USD 4.99
- iOS app – base price of USD 4.99
- Web and desktop app – base price of USD 9
I paid for Pocket Casts years ago, and now it’s subscription-based. How can I use the features I paid for?
Regardless of which app you purchased previously, any features you paid for should still remain accessible to you. So, it’s important to determine which app you bought exactly.
For example, any purchases made through the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store were solely for our mobile apps, and not the web app. All the mobile app features you paid for previously are now available for free.
I bought the Android/iOS app. Do I qualify for Pocket Casts Champion status, which includes lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus?
Purchases of the Android or iOS app prior to September 18, 2019 do not qualify for Pocket Casts Champion status, which includes lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus. However, you’ll still have access to all the mobile app features you previously paid for, even without Pocket Casts Plus. We’ve also continued to release new features in the mobile apps for free.
I purchased the web app. Why don’t I have Pocket Casts Champion status, which includes lifetime access to Pocket Casts Plus?
If you purchased the web app prior to September 18, 2019, but you do not see Pocket Casts Champion status in your account, please get in touch.
In your message, kindly include as much information as you can to help us locate your web app purchase. These can include:
- Any email addresses you may have used for the purchase, including the email address you currently use on your Pocket Casts account
- An order number
- Screenshots of an order confirmation email
What will happen to my lifetime membership with the change from “Pocket Casts Lifetime Member” to “Pocket Casts Champion”?
The renaming of Pocket Casts Lifetime Members to Pocket Casts Champions does not change anything about your membership.
We’ve renamed Pocket Casts Lifetime Members to Pocket Casts Champions because we felt the new name does a better job of showing just how much we value your early support. While it’s just a change in terminology, “Champion” isn’t just a title for us. It’s our way of saying thanks for being a pivotal part of our journey early on.
We’ve renamed Pocket Casts Lifetime Members to Pocket Casts Champions because we felt the new name does a better job of showing just how much we value our early supporters. While it’s just a change in terminology, “Champion” isn’t just a title for us. It’s our way of saying thanks to those who have been a pivotal part of our journey early on.
The renaming of Pocket Casts Lifetime Members to Pocket Casts Champions does not change anything about lifetime membership.
This support article is based on the following blog post from September 18, 2019: We’re now free, and here’s why.
