How PigeonPod cloud storage works
PigeonPod cloud storage is your personal audio library in the cloud. Think of it like a reusable personal drive for your podcast feeds: whenever PigeonPod converts and prepares an episode from YouTube, high-quality audio is stored in your cloud space. When you delete an episode or unsubscribe from a channel, that storage is immediately freed up for new episodes.
Updated 2026-10-12
The core principle: reusable capacity, not a monthly quota
Your cloud storage limit (e.g., 1GB on Free, 10GB on Pro, 100GB on Max) is a capacity pool, not an expiring monthly download allowance.
This means you are not restricted to converting a fixed number of episodes each month. As long as your total simultaneously stored episodes stay within your plan's storage limit, you can prepare, listen to, and delete as many episodes as you want over time.
- Storage is a reusable pool, just like a cloud drive or USB stick
- There is no monthly reset date or expiring quota to worry about
- Deleting an episode immediately restores that space to your available balance
If I download episodes and then delete them, what happens?
This is one of the most common questions from listeners. The answer depends on WHERE you delete the episode:
1. If you delete a download inside Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or Overcast:
This only removes the offline audio file from your phone's internal storage. It does NOT delete the episode from PigeonPod cloud storage or free up your PigeonPod quota. PigeonPod keeps the audio stored in the cloud so your podcast feed remains complete and accessible across all your devices.
2. If you delete an episode inside PigeonPod:
When you click “Delete” on an episode in the PigeonPod web app (or when Pro/Max automatic cleanup removes it), the stored audio file is removed from your cloud library and your used cloud storage drops immediately. You can now use that freed space to prepare new episodes right away.
3. If you unsubscribe from a channel or playlist:
When you delete a subscription from PigeonPod, all stored episodes associated with that channel are immediately removed from your cloud library, freeing up all of their storage at once.
What counts toward your cloud storage
Only actual media files stored for your account consume your storage quota:
- Episodes you manually prepare using “Prepare episode” in the app
- Episodes automatically prepared by auto-sync for your subscribed channels
- Episodes currently being processed and converted (a temporary space reservation during download)
What does NOT count toward storage
These items are completely free and never consume your storage quota:
- Episode metadata: titles, descriptions, show notes, timestamps, and cover artwork
- Episodes listed in your feed that have not been prepared yet
- Streaming or listening playback: playing an episode never uses extra storage
- Downloading audio to your phone inside podcast apps (uses your phone's memory, not PigeonPod cloud storage)
How feed filters differ from storage cleanup
It is important to understand the difference between filters and storage cleanup:
Feed filters (such as duration limits or keyword include/exclude rules) only control which future incoming videos will be automatically prepared into your cloud storage. Modifying a filter prevents unwanted future videos from using your space, but it does not retroactively delete audio files you already prepared in the past.
If you want old episodes automatically removed over time to keep your storage predictable, use Automatic Cleanup (available on Pro and Max).
Automatic cleanup in Pro and Max
Pro and Max plans include automatic cloud storage cleanup so you never have to manage your library by hand.
You can set a retention rule for each feed (such as “Keep latest 5 episodes” or clean up after listening). As new uploads arrive, older stored episodes are automatically removed and their cloud space is returned to your account seamlessly.
What happens when storage is full
If you reach your plan's storage limit:
- Existing episodes in your podcast app will continue playing normally without interruption
- New uploads will pause automatic preparation until space becomes available
- You can restore full operation at any time by deleting listened episodes in PigeonPod, enabling automatic cleanup, or upgrading your plan
FAQ
If I delete a downloaded episode in Apple Podcasts, will it free up my PigeonPod storage?
No. Podcast apps save audio files locally to your device. Deleting an episode in Apple Podcasts or Pocket Casts only frees up your phone's internal storage. To free up PigeonPod cloud storage, delete the episode inside the PigeonPod web app or let automatic cleanup remove it.
If I delete an episode on PigeonPod, can I reuse that storage right away?
Yes, immediately. PigeonPod storage is a capacity limit, not an expiring monthly allowance. The moment an episode is deleted from PigeonPod, its space is instantly returned to your available quota, ready to prepare new episodes.
What happens to my storage if I unsubscribe from a channel or playlist?
All episodes stored in your cloud library for that channel are immediately cleared, and their storage space is 100% returned to your account.
Do episode titles, descriptions, or cover images count as cloud storage?
No. All episode metadata—including titles, show notes, descriptions, timestamps, and cover images—is stored without counting against your cloud storage quota.
Does changing my feed filters automatically delete existing stored episodes?
No. Changing filters only affects which future videos qualify for automatic preparation and which episodes appear in the current filtered view. It does not automatically delete already prepared audio files. To remove existing episodes, delete them manually or use automatic retention rules.