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Pugpig Bolt November 2025 updates – smarter discovery, a cleaner web experience & future-ready apps

We’ve made some exciting updates to Bolt, our mobile app platform. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the new features and improvements and what they mean for our customers.

28th November 2025

This month’s Pugpig Bolt updates focus on strengthening the foundations of the platform. We’ve improved the core reading experience, prepared your apps for upcoming OS changes and given product teams more reliable, flexible tools to keep users engaged. In practice, that means smarter content suggestions, a cleaner Bolt Web experience and behind-the-scenes updates that keep your apps running smoothly.

With the latest changes coming to Android 16 (API 36), we’ve already updated Bolt Android to ensure your apps stay fully compatible, secure and optimised as the new version of Android rolls out. On the Apple side of things, we’ve introduced Apple Connected Podcasts support for eligible publishers, giving you fresh flexibility in how you monetise audio. We’re continuing to explore further improvements to help you unify access, simplify podcast workflows and make the most of premium listening across platforms. Plus lots more… read on for full details.

Read on to explore everything that’s new, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your Customer Success Manager if you’d like help configuring any of the features below. If you’d like to arrange a demo of our mobile app platform, reach out to our team.

You can also view the full Bolt release notes.

Recent Pugpig Bolt release dates

Web design update | 18th Nov | Web 6.7

Toasts | 10th Sept (iOS), 24th Sept (Android) | iOS 4.11.0, Android 4.9.0

Android API 36 + icons| 1st Sept |Android 16 (API 36)

New feature: Relaunched recirculation module – smarter, more relevant content suggestions

Useful for: Your editorial team

The updated Recirculation Module – the “Read More” list shown at the bottom of articles – is now live.

This enhancement gives readers smarter, more relevant suggestions by surfacing articles from the same section, contributor or related topics.

We’ve also added new API-powered modes like Most Popular, Editor’s Picks and Recommended for You.

These options can be powered by API for Enterprise customers, giving teams more flexibility and control over how related content is selected and displayed.

Who’s affected: Bolt customers who want to surface links to related articles.

What you need to do: Reach out to Support to set this up if you don’t already have it.

New feature: Paid-for podcasts in Apple Podcasts

Useful for: Your product team

We now support Apple’s Connected Podcasts functionality.

This enables paid podcasts in Apple Podcasts to use your app’s in-app purchase flow (note: this requires IAPs and membership of the Apple Podcasters Program). Users can either purchase directly in-app to unlock access in Apple Podcasts, or link their existing subscription to get access.

Who’s affected: Bolt customers who have been invited to use Apple’s Connected Podcasts.

What you need to do: Reach out to your Customer Success Manager to discuss the integration.

Improvement: A fresh look for Bolt Web

Useful for: your product team

We’ve given Bolt Web a modern visual refresh to bring it closer in style to our mobile apps. It’s cleaner, more polished and easier to use. The update improves consistency across the platform, makes key actions like signing in and sharing clearer, and delivers a smoother reading experience, all without changing the familiar layout your readers already know.

It’s also now much easier for teams to configure and maintain going forward. More improvements and features for web are coming soon, so keep an eye out.

Who’s affected: All Bolt Web customers, or anyone interested in an easy to set up web solution.

What you need to do: Nothing. The update is rolling out automatically. Let us know any feedback.

New feature: Introducing Toasts – responsive and reliable interactions

Useful for: Your product team

We’re introducing Toasts, a new way to give users quick, unobtrusive confirmation of their actions. Whether they’re saving an article or adding audio to their queue, Toasts appear briefly at the bottom of the screen to confirm what’s happened, keeping users informed without interrupting their flow.

This small interaction makes the app feel more responsive, reliable and polished.

Who’s affected: All Bolt customers, especially those with audio.

What you need to do: Update your Bolt app to 4.11 on iOS and 4.9 on Android, then let support know if you’d like to change the copy.

Maintenance: Future-proofing your apps

Useful for: Your product team

Every year, Google releases a new Android SDK alongside the latest version of Android, and 2025 is no different, with Android 16 (API 36) introducing new features and platform changes.

To keep things seamless for you, we’ve already tested Bolt against the new SDK and updated Bolt Android to target API 36. This ensures your apps remain fully compatible, secure and optimised for the latest Android releases, without you having to worry about maintenance or compatibility issues.

Who’s affected: All Bolt Android customers.

What you need to do: Nothing specific, your next app update will be on a compatible version.

In case you missed it…

Good Housekeeping Kitchen recipe app launches on Pugpig Bolt

Good Housekeeping UK has launched Good Housekeeping Kitchen on Pugpig Bolt – a new recipes app that makes everyday meal decisions simpler with a swipe-to-discover flow inspired by popular dating apps. Smart search and saved lists organise 4,000+ triple-tested recipes, with a new cook-along mode for step-by-step cooking. Catch up on the launch.

Register for the Pugpig Customer Summit – 4th December

Our favourite event of the year is nearly here! Join the Pugpig team, along with publishers from across the industry, for an afternoon of ideas, demonstrations and conversation, plus food, drinks and plenty of time to connect. Here’s a look at what’s on the agenda:

• How AI is reshaping audiences & search with David Buttle, AI & platforms expert

• Subscriptions & billing models mini-masterclass with Sam Lockwood (Stripe)

• The future of media technology with Pugpig CTO Jon Marks

• Pugpig product update + 2026 roadmap prioritisation with Pugpig Product Director Emillie Ruston

• In conversation with Katie Vanneck-Smith, CEO of Hearst UK – sharing how Hearst is focusing on value over scale, identifying their most loyal readers and building deeper relationships through engagement, subscription and membership

• Drinks & networking with The Media Collective to close the day

Whether you’re joining in London or online, we’d love to have you there! RSVP here to reserve your place.

Reason Magazine launches a new mobile app on Bolt

Reason Magazine has launched a fresh, personalised app on Pugpig Bolt, bringing its journalism, commentary and strong podcast line-up into a premium mobile experience. A new push preference centre and built-in podcast player help deepen engagement and build stronger return habits. Take a look at the launch.

Pugpig Media Bulletin: How Finansavisen rebuilt its homepage around reader behaviour

Our latest Media Bulletin looks at how Finansavisen rebuilt its homepage around how different readers actually use it, with one version for subscribers and another for non-subscribers. The changes have boosted both engagement and subscription sales, showing how small, thoughtful tweaks can work for both the newsroom and the business. Read more here or subscribe to get these bi-weekly insights directly to your inbox

And there we have it! Take a look at all Bolt product release notes for more details. And if you’re a customer, don’t forget to reach out to your Customer Success Manager if you’d like help implementing anything featured here. If you’d like a demo of our mobile app platform, you can reach out to our team. We also send these product updates out in an email newsletter – get in touch if you don’t receive it and would like to.