Introducing the new Tortoise app

If you have the existing Tortoise app:
Find the Tortoise app in your app store and press “update”.

If you do not have the existing Tortoise app:
You can download the app for free by scanning the QR code or clicking the relevant download link below.



Download from the App Store →
Download from the Google Play Store →

You’ll be able access our entire library of audio journalism, from our daily and weekly shows to multi-part investigations. Here’s what’s new:
– A seamless listening experience. Now with all the core features you need when you’re out and about, plus plenty more to come. Download and add episodes to your queue, and pause and restart from where you left off. 
– Personalised feed. Discover more of what you want by following your favourite journalists, topics and shows. 
– Editorially curated playlists. Let our journalists curate a feed for you.
– Uncompromising audio quality. All our podcasts are now available in high-fidelity audio.

Yes! With the Tortoise app, you can listen to all our audio journalism free of charge, supported by ads. To unlock early and ad-free access, you can subscribe through the app for £4.99 a month or even better, become a member over on the Tortoise website to get our Sensemaker newsletters, tickets to live events in the Tortoise newsroom and much more.

If you’re already a member, you’ll be able to use your existing account details to login to the new app. As with the old app, you will continue to get early and ad-free access to our audio journalism, as well as all your existing entitlements.

If you join through the App Store or Google Play, you’ll unlock early and ad-free access to all our audio journalism. To add on our written journalism, tickets to live events in the Tortoise newsroom and the Tortoise print edition, join us as a fully-fledged member on our website.

If you’ve already created an account through the Tortoise app or website, you’ll be able to sign in with your existing account. 

Please note, if you subscribe through Apple Podcasts/Tortoise+, you won’t be able to use your Apple ID to sign in as the app is offered by Tortoise rather than Apple. However, you’ll be able to create an account and access our content for free.

Yes, the app supports accessible navigation as well as voiceover and talkback. Users will also be able to adjust the text size and access transcripts where available.

Our new app will be replacing the older version, meaning if you’d like to continue using the Tortoise app you will need to upgrade. We will continue to service the previous version of the app for a limited time, to give you time to upgrade to the new app.

As our app becomes the home of listening, the Tortoise website and your inbox remain the places for reading. The Sensemaker newsletters will continue to be delivered straight to your inbox if you’ve signed up, and as I hope you’ve noticed, our website has had a freshen up as well.

At 11am London time every weekday, you’ll find that day’s Tortoise edition. Every Friday at 5pm, it switches over to the weekend edition. You can also head to the website to book tickets to Tortoise events and manage your membership there.

Please let us know what you think! To send us feedback, simply press the little Tortoise button in the top right corner of the Tortoise app, and navigate to the ‘Give feedback’ section. This will put you in touch with our lovely member services team.

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