Podcasts, stories and poems
Pick a format and a length: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 or 12 minutes. Short enough for the school run, long enough for bedtime.
Three formats
The HootPODS iPhone app
Turn any topic into an audio episode made for your family.
Ask a question from the dinner table, snap a photo of something you found on a walk, or pick a museum nearby. HootPODS writes, narrates and illustrates a podcast, story or poem around it in about a minute, at the reading level you choose.
Free to download, with 200 free credits to start. No card needed.
Ready in about a minuteStart listening while it is made
This week's wordsblue · big · go · funny
How HootPODS works
- 1
Pick a topic
Type a question, take a photo, paste a link, or browse ideas.
- 2
Choose who is listening
Pick a child profile or a general audience, then a format and length.
- 3
Press play
The episode is ready in about a minute, and we let you know when it is.
Make an episode from anything
Create anything your family wonders about.
From a dinner-table "why?" to this week's science unit, every episode fits who is listening.
Two hosts or one narrator
A lively two-host conversation or a single calm storyteller, with standard voices or premium ones.
3 pairs and 6 narrators, plus premium pairs
Personal, if you want it
Add a first name, age and interests to a child profile and episodes are written for them. It is always optional.
Unlimited child profiles
Ideas when you need them
Explore Ideas has 30 categories, from space and animals to myths and holidays. Or tap Surprise Me.
One tap to a topic
Photo to topic
Snap a leaf, a bug, a shell or a statue. HootPODS suggests questions about it, and you pick the one to explore.
Turn a walk into an episode
Nearby places
Find museums, libraries, zoos, aquariums, parks and historic sites around you, and make an episode about where you are.
Your location is not sent to HootPODS
Episodes in 15 languages
English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Turkish.
Or paste a link to an article and turn it into an episode.
Premium voices
Meet the hosts.
Premium episodes are two-host conversations with expressive voices, up to 7 minutes long.
Pops & Finn
Grandpa wisdom meets young chaos.
Sage & Pip
A wise storyteller and a curious questioner.
Luna & Kai
A poetic observer and a high-speed explainer.
For early readers
Read along and practice sight words.
Turn on sight words for a child and their episodes become reading practice. The transcript follows the audio and makes this week's words glow as they are spoken.
Read-along transcript
Follow the line being spoken, with sight words highlighted, so listening and reading happen together.
Your school's list, in seconds
Start from the Dolch lists, pre-primer to grade 3. Or type the words, paste them, or scan the list from school with the camera.
This week, and what they already know
Episodes use this week's words the most and keep known words in the mix for review.
After the episode
Keep the conversation going.
Every episode comes with a few extras for the grown-ups and something for little hands.
For the grown-ups
What the episode covered, the new words in it, and two questions to ask at dinner. Plus book suggestions from our sister site HootRated.
A coloring page from the story
Get a black-and-white page drawn from the episode. Print it, save it to Photos, or AirDrop it.
Your library, offline
Episodes are saved on your iPhone, so they play on a plane or in the car. Turn on iCloud backup if you want a copy.
Share with family
Send a link by Messages or WhatsApp, or post a 15-second Instagram Story clip of the episode.
Listen while it is made
Start listening before the episode is finished, or get a notification when it is ready.
HootPODS Originals
Hear what an episode sounds like.
The Emperor's Notes to Himself
The most powerful man on Earth sits in a freezing army tent and writes himself a note: be nicer to the annoying people. Hosted by Luna and Nova.
Privacy
You stay in control.
You decide what HootPODS knows, and you can change your mind.
Consent first
Before your first episode, HootPODS shows exactly what it shares with the AI services that write and narrate, and asks for your OK. Withdraw any time in Profile.
A parents-only check
Sharing, printing and links that leave the app ask a quick grown-up question first.
Delete any time
Delete your account and its data from Profile in the app.
No ads
There are no ads and no ad-tracking code in HootPODS.
Pricing
Start free. Add credits when you need them.
Standard narration uses 10 credits a minute and premium narration 40. You always see the price before you create.
Free
$0
200 credits to start
- About 20 minutes of standard audio
- Topped back up to 100 credits each month
- No card needed
Story Time
$4.99/month
600 credits a month
- About 60 minutes of standard audio
- Or about 15 minutes with premium voices
- Every format, voice and feature
Our pick
Dream Weaver
$9.99/month
1,500 credits a month
- About 150 minutes of standard audio
- Or about 37 minutes with premium voices
- Every format, voice and feature
Story Vault
$16.99/month
3,000 credits a month
- About 300 minutes of standard audio
- Or about 75 minutes with premium voices
- Every format, voice and feature
Story Master
$24.99/month
6,000 credits a month
- About 600 minutes of standard audio
- Or about 150 minutes with premium voices
- Every format, voice and feature
Need a few more? A Credit Pack adds 300 credits for $3.99, once. No subscription needed.
US prices. Plans and credit packs are bought in the app with your Apple account. Subscriptions renew monthly until you cancel them in your Apple Account (how to cancel).
From the HootPODS family
Know what is inside a book before you hand it over.
HootRated gives children's books age ratings and plain-language content guides, so you can see the themes before bedtime. It also picks the books suggested after each episode.
Questions
Good questions, short answers.
More help is on the support page.
What is HootPODS?
HootPODS is an iPhone app that turns any topic into a short audio episode for your family. Type a question, snap a photo or pick a place nearby, choose who is listening, and HootPODS writes and narrates a podcast, story or poem in about a minute.
How much does HootPODS cost?
The app is free to download, and new accounts get 200 free credits. Free accounts are topped back up to 100 credits each month. Monthly plans start at $4.99 for 600 credits, and a 300-credit pack is $3.99. You buy them in the app with your Apple account.
How do credits work?
Standard narration uses 10 credits a minute and premium narration uses 40. A 5-minute standard episode costs 50 credits. The app shows the price before you create anything.
Which devices does HootPODS work on?
HootPODS is built for iPhone and needs iOS 18.6 or later. There is no Android version right now.
I already have a HootPODS account. Do I need a new one?
No. Sign in on your iPhone with the same Apple, Google or email account, and your credits come with you.
What does HootPODS share with AI services?
HootPODS uses outside AI services to write, narrate and illustrate episodes. Before your first episode, the app shows exactly what it sends, such as the topic and any first name, age or interests you choose to add, and asks for your OK. You can withdraw consent in Profile. The privacy policy has the details.
Which languages can episodes be in?
Fifteen: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi and Turkish. The app itself is in English.
Are there ads?
No. HootPODS has no ads and no ad-tracking code. Some book suggestions link to Amazon or Audible, and we may earn a commission if you buy.
How do I delete my account?
In the app, go to Profile and tap Delete Account. You can also email support@hootpods.com.
Make tonight's episode.
Pick a topic, press create, and listen together in about a minute.
Download on the App StoreiPhone · iOS 18.6 or later