One of the great things about smart phones is the ability to download and listen to to the latest episodes of your favorite podcast.
Before we begin, it’s important to mention that podcast listening apps that allow you to subscribe and listen to podcasts are also called podcatchers – the most popular being iTunes.
So what are the best podcast listening apps for iOS and Android? Read on to find our top recommendations!
Best Podcast Listening Apps for Both iOS and Android Devices 📱
- Amazon Music – If you have Amazon Prime, you can download the Amazon Music app to iOS and Android devices to gain access to more than two million songs, as well as thousands of stations and playlists including podcasts. Learn how to submit a podcast to Amazon Music.
- Audible – With the Audible app, you can start listening for free, without a subscription. Currently, there are thousands of podcasts available on the directory.
- Castbox – The award-winning podcast app allows you access to more than 50 million podcasts. Create customized playlists, download episodes for offline listening, and enjoy one-button subscription options. It’s free with ads, or you can bypass the ads by paying a small monthly fee. It also includes a sleep timer, allows you to adjust playback speed, and more.
- Goodpods – Goodpods calls itself a social podcasting app that gives users the ability to recommend their favorite podcasts to others. With this free platform you can connect with friends, listen to your favorite shows, and see what your connections are listening to as well.
- Google Podcasts (Android, iOS)- Access millions of podcasts in the easy-to-use podcast app. Its clean appearance makes searching, browsing, listening, and downloading simple. It may not have every feature that other apps offer, but new features are always in the works. Learn how to submit your show to Google Podcasts here.
- Himalaya – This paid app is mainly geared towards “short actionable audio courses,” and the podcasts that are on the platform are created by thought leaders who have been approved to publish lessons. According to Resonate Recordings however, the app also allows you to import podcasts from other applications so you can access your content in one location.
- Laughable (Android, iOS) – The free app is geared towards comedy enthusiasts, but podcast lovers may also be able to find their favorite show hosts there as well.
- Luminary – This subscription-based app features podcasts within their own network, and promises that the content you find here, isn’t available anywhere else.
- PlayerFM – One benefit of this free podcast app is that you can use it to play podcasts on your TV with Chromecast as well as Android devices such as Android Wear and Android Auto. What they are known for is their “fresh recommendations” feature with more than 50 niche topics to choose from so you can find shows that fit your unique interests.
- Pocket Casts – Called “the best podcast app for Android in 2021” by Android Central, and the “best podcast app for iPhone” by iMore. This podcatcher offers beautiful design, the option to trim silence from your episodes (get through them faster), the ability to stream instead of download (save storage space), and more. There are three pricing tiers available, free, monthly and annual so that you can choose the plan that works best for you. If you have an Apple Watch, you can control the app from it as well. The app features artist profiles, recommendations, search, playback speed, and offline listening.
- PodBean – This free podcast app connects you to any podcast that has submitted its RSS feed to the directory. The app also removes silence from episodes without distorting the audio, and gives you the ability to boost and normalize the volume of shows so that they are easier to listen to regardless of how it was loaded.
- Procast (Android, iOS) – The entire shtick of this app is that it’s supposed to be fast, intuitive, and easy to use. The developers said it’s made with the novice in mind, but still offers features that an experienced podcast listener would enjoy as well.
- RadioPublic – RadioPublic is a free podcast app that allows you to stream and download episodes, add private RSS feeds, import and export using OPML, and more.
- SoundCloud – The free SoundCloud app allows you to listen to any show that has been submitted to their directory. However, if you want to listen without ads, you will have to pay for the premium version of the app.
- Spotify – There are more than 299 million listeners using the Spotify app which has both a free and premium version available. You can stream audio on smartphones, tablets, in cars, on TVs, and via smart speakers. Click here to learn how to submit your podcast to Spotify.
- Spreaker Podcast Radio – Curate a listening list, find new podcasts, save your favorites, and create a personalized listening experience. Compatible with some Chromecast and Airplay devices.
- Stitcher (Android, iOS) – Stitcher’s podcast directory features the top niches people are looking for including politics, news, true crime, comedy, sports and more. The free app gives you instant access to any podcast that has been submitted to the platform. Learn how to submit your podcast to Stitcher here.
- TuneIn Radio (Android, iOS) – TuneIn Radio is considered a radio app, but it’s also home to an overgrowing directory of podcasts as more hosts add their show to the platform in an effort to be listed on Alexa and Amazon devices. Users of TuneIn can also access their subscriptions on smart watches, Google Home, and their desktop. Learn how to submit your podcast to TuneIn here.
Best Podcast Listening Apps for iOS Devices 🎧
While the Apple Podcasts app is the default podcast app for iPhone, there are other great podcatchers to choose from including:
- Breaker – Breaker refers to itself as the “social podcast app” because it allows you to like and comment on episodes, chat with your friends about what they are listening to, and get podcast recommendations based on your listening habits.
- Castaway 2 – Castaway is perfect for the minimalist who just wants to listen, and doesn’t care for all the bells and whistles. Download this app and listen to or download your favorite podcasters’ latest episodes without having to subscribe.
- Castro – With a free and paid version, Castro allows users to drag and drop podcasts to personalized queues so they can listen to episodes in the order they choose. The big difference between the free and paid version is that with the paid one you can trim silence, enhance voices, mix a podcast from stereo to mono, and skip podcast intros.
- Downcast – PC Magazine said, “Downcast is among the best podcast apps for iPhones and Macs.” The reasoning is it’s “a streamlined podcast player that isn’t littered with ads and recommendations.” The catch is it isn’t free. At the time of writing the app is $2.99.
- iCatcher – Another app coming in at $2.99, this podcatcher offers support for Password Protected fees, and features custom playlists similar to Castro. But unlike Castro, iCatcher doesn’t have a free version.
- Listen App – What draws users to this free app is the fact it separates music from podcast audio files. It also enables podcasters to chat directly with their listeners.
- Overcast – This app calls itself the only podcast listening app that was written by one individual. No corporations or venture capitalists footing the bill – just one podcast enthusiast, who wanted to create a simple listening app with an intuitive interface.
- PodCruncher – PodCruncher is another $2.99 app that promises no hiccups or crashes. Users have said they like the simplicity and layout, and that it’s much better than the Apple Podcasts app.
- Pod Wrangler – The app claims to “take out all the fuss and complexity of enjoying podcasts,” in that you can download the app, and start listening immediately to your favorite shows. There are both free and premium pricing options available.
- RSSRadio – RSSRadio is a free listening app that promises to remove silence, and to deliver clear audio with it’s equalizer and compression features.
✨ Learn how to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts here.
Best Podcast Listening Apps for Android 🎧
The reason there are less apps in the Android list is that many of the podcatchers that are downloaded by Android users are also iOS compatible.
- AntennaPod – AntennaPod is an open-source and ad-free podcast listening app built and maintained by volunteers. They say that because they have no commercial interest, you can have full control without signing over your right to privacy.
- Podcast Addict – The Podcast Addict listening app has more than 10 million downloads, and offers the ability to manage podcasts, YouTube channels, radio stations and more from one application. Their customer service is also swift on their Google Play page.
- Podcast Go – This podcatcher is perfect if you want to stream podcasts to a Chromecast device. There aren’t many options with this application either, making it great for the user who prefers simplicity.
- Podcast Republic – Similar to Podcast Addict, Podcast Republic allows you to manage multiple types of audio including audio books, podcasts, and online radio from one application. As far as free listening apps go, it’s convenient, well-designed, modern, and easy to use.
- Podkicker – There is a free and paid version of this app. The free version does contains ads, and the paid version is $33.99 at the time of writing. The removal of ads appeared to be the only difference between the two versions, however.
- Sonnet – Sonnet refers to itself as a free, simple podcast player. It offers the basic functions most users are looking for in a podcatcher.
