The dictionary definition of a podcast is “a digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer.” Simply put, a podcast is an audio (or sometimes video) recording, often episodic in nature that can be listened to on a variety of devices. Whether for education or entertainment, they cover all genres and allow the listeners immediate access to content from all around the world.
We have made a list of the 29 best podcast apps for you. These apps will make it easier for you to listen to your favourite podcast episodes, wherever you are!
1. Spotify
Spotify is becoming an increasingly important player in the world of podcasting. Its recent acquisition of Gimlet Media has only further advanced its role. Spotify can be downloaded on both Android and iOS phones, and can be used both online and offline while listening to podcasts. To listen to music offline, a premium version needs to be bought.
2. Google Podcast
Google Podcasts is a new podcast player for Android users, where they can discover and listen to the world’s podcasts. All that you’re listening to is automatically synced across devices so that you can pause on one device and resume on another with the Google Assistant.
URL: https://podcasts.google.com
3. Castro
The best advantage of Castro is the simplicity of its design and ease of use. The episodes are compact and easily visible. Silences have also been trimmed in the third and latest version of Castro. It is however only available in the App Store for iOS phones.
URL: https://supertop.co/castro/
4. Podcast addict
Podcast addict has the simplest interface of all podcast apps. The sound is optimal, glitches or stuttering is rarely if ever experienced, and most podcasts are found easily. The recommended podcasts feature is also very helpful, and spot-on in regards to the user’s interests.
5. Spreaker
Spreaker is a one-stop-shop for all kinds of podcasters, from the beginner to the professional podcaster who is focused on monetizing their entire catalog. With the Spreaker CMS, you can upload and distribute your podcast to all the main listening apps in easy steps. This hosting provider also has a desktop and a mobile app called Spreaker Studio, in which you can record and do live podcasts. Spreaker’s paid subscription goes from $7 to $50/mo.
URL: www.spreaker.com
6. Overcast
Overcast offers a great combination of clean design, powerful audio and podcast management features. Overcast deftly handles episode playbacks and downloads, sends notifications of new episodes, and can play offline or through streaming in case of a shortage of space. It is, however, only for iOS phones.
URL: https://overcast.fm/
7. Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts is a powerful, easy-to-use app for managing and listening to your podcasts across android, iOS, and on the Web. You can also sync your subscription across all accounts. To use the Pocket Casts app, you need to pay a one-time fee of $3.99. To use it on the web, a fee of $9 must be paid.
URL: https://www.pocketcasts.com/
8. Breaker
Breaker brings to you more than 500,000 podcasts. What is unique is that Breaker can be used as a mode of social media. It allows you to make friends, and share the podcasts with them. It also allows messaging from the app. It is available in App Store and will be coming soon on Google Play.
URL: https://www.breaker.audio/
9. Castbox
Castbox is one of the best free podcast apps with over 95 million volumes of content on Android, Apple iPhone, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Carplay and Android Auto. It broadcasts in 70 different languages, and is among the top 3 apps on Google Play.
URL: https://castbox.fm/
10. RadioPublic
RadioPublic not only allows you to listen to podcasts but also to create and sell podcasts and earning money from tips by fans. It helps create a beautiful, simple, self-customizable podsite. There are no contracts, signup fees, and if you don’t love it, you can cancel at any time.
11. iCatcher
iCatcher is available in the App Store for iPhones, iPads and Apple watches. It is a paid app, costing $2.99. iCatcher seems to be one of the best apps, with very high reviews. It has an age limit however, and can only be used by people 17 years and above.
URL: www.iCatcher.com
12. Downcast
Downcast allows you to search, subscribe to and download audio and video podcasts of any size, manually subscribe to podcasts via URL and download podcasts automatically. It is only available in App store for iOS devices, for Rs. 249.
URL: http://www.downcastapp.com/
13. Podcast republic
Podcast Republic is a top quality Podcast App on Android with over 4 million downloads, more than 74 thousand authentic reviews, 600,000+ podcasts and 40 million episodes worldwide. Podcast Republic allows you to manage your Podcasts, Radios, Audio books, YouTube channels, SoundCloud channels and RSS news/blog feeds within a single app. Its features are completed and highly customizable. It can only be used on Android devices.
URL: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/
14. Player FM
Player FM has built a curated catalogue with over 500 niche topics to make sure you always have something to play. You can manage and play your podcasts on both your phone and the web. The app costs nothing to install, is free of ads, and uses minimal permissions.
URL: https://player.fm/
15. Doggcatcher
Doggcatcher was found to be “The Best Podcast Manager for Android” by Lifehacker. It makes it easy to subscribe new podcasts/feeds, auto downloads and cleans up of media files, and allows offline playback of audio and video. It creates customizable audio playlists and supports devices of all sizes.
URL: http://www.doggcatcher.com/
16. TuneIn Radio
TuneIn Inc. is an American audio streaming service delivering live news, radio, sports, music, and podcasts to over 60 million monthly active users. TuneIn Radio is completely free to use. TuneIn Radio Pro will be available for a one-time fee.
URL: https://tunein.com/
17. Podbean
Podbean is a revolutionary podcast player to stream content or download anywhere anytime. You can enjoy your podcasts just the way you like them with auto-update, new episode notifications, customized playlists, and fresh recommendations. Podbean is available on the App Store and on Google Play.
18. Anchor
Anchor is completely free to use, and also helps you get paid for your podcasts. It is among the ‘Best Apps of 2018’ on Google Play and has won ‘App of the Day’ on App Store.
URL: https://anchor.fm/
19. Podcast Go
Podcast Go is an elegant podcast player for Android phones and it is absolutely free. It allows you to find, download, and listen to podcasts offline any place and any time. This app is Chromecast-ready. You can subscribe to your favourite artists so you will be always up to date.
URL: www.podcastgo.com
20. Audecibel
Audecibel is a free podcast (net cast) audio listening app to listen the trending popular podcasts. It has more than 50,000 podcasts and 5 million episodes on various topics to choose from. Podcasts are available in more than 50 languages including English, German, Korean, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Italian etc.
21. AntennaPod
AntennaPod is a free and open-source podcast aggregator for the Android operating system. It includes all the features we would want and rejects all those we wouldn’t. It has beautiful widgets and almost all 5-star reviews.
22. Bullhorn
Bullhorn is completely free. It hosts no in-app ads or premium versions. The most unique feature is the calling feature, which allows you to place data free calls from your smartphone. No other app has come up with this yet.
URL: https://bullhorn.fm/
23. Snovel Podcast
Snovel’s podcast is essentially catering only to Marathi listeners, to begin with; but is open for all other Indian languages. It is completely free, but only works when the device is connected to the Internet.
URL: https://snovel.in/podcast
24. Playapod
Playapod allows you to sync all your podcast subscriptions and episode progress between multiple devices and across all platforms. A unique feature is its sleep timer which allows you to listen at night while the app slowly fades the audio out to silence which reduces the chances of waking up.
URL: www.playapod.com
25. Castn
Castn, a simple and modern podcast player, has a good-looking interface with some useful features that include browsing the latest episodes in the timeline, downloading podcasts for playing when offline, searching and discovering new podcasts and getting notified about new episodes. Castn is still in beta and new features will be added over time.
URL: www.castn.com
26. Pandora
Pandora is available on Google Play and Android Auto. It can also be used through its website online, but only in the US as for now. For more features, you will need to subscribe to Pandora Plus at $4.99 a month or Premium $9.99 a month.
URL: www.pandora.com
27. Procast
Procast is only available in the App Store for iOS devices. It has very high ratings (all 5 stars). It is one of the few podcast apps that are free to use for iOS devices.
URL: www.procast.com
28. Omni podcast
The Omni Podcast app lets you manage and play your podcasts easily. Its features include its ease to subscribe & unsubscribe Podcasts. There is no need to copy and paste URLs of RSS feeds. Search by podcast name or keywords. The search is iTunes & Gpodder based.
URL: www.omnipodcast.com
29. Stitcher
Stitcher provides the easiest way to listen to podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, Android, PC or smart speaker – or even in your car – absolutely for free. Bonus and ad-free content will be available with Stitcher Premium for $4.99 monthly.
