Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular across the globe. They are famous for gathering new knowledge, learning about things & topics that interest you, & having company when you are alone. Several highly rated Best Podcast Apps are available for both iPhone & Android smartphones.
A good podcast can take you to a different world of politics, entertainment, comedy, literature, & much more. Podcasts have a vast collection of topics, so whether you are searching for quick news or want to learn about medieval literature, you will find something of your choice.
Many Best Podcast Listening Apps, including numerous free apps & a few subscription-based platforms with exclusive programming, offer access to thousands of podcasts.
Best Podcast Apps
1. Apple Podcasts
It is probably the most talked-about collection of podcasts worldwide. It is a platform where every voice matters, from the most renowned brands to the most authentic independents. Therefore, it is one of the Best Podcast Apps for iPhone.
With Apple Podcasts, you can start listening to your preferred podcasts right away & subscribe to stay informed. The best thing about Apple Podcasts is that its in-built app is available on iOS, tvOS & macOS. Therefore, you can stream millions of podcasts on various devices, from the most famous to the most innovative podcasters.
It also offers a subscription plan, buying which you can listen to a range of premium podcasts without ads. You can find podcasts of popular creators on this app. Also, you can follow your preferred podcasts & save them to your library to listen to them later.
2. Google Podcasts
It is probably the Best Podcast Listening Apps worldwide, which is free. Users can use Google Podcasts to listen to the most popular podcasts depending on their favourite topic & popularity. The app has a pleasant user interface & is relatively user-friendly.
Reality podcasts can easily be downloaded & subscribed to for offline or later listening. The podcast app lets users keep track of their listening history, preferences, downloads, & subscriptions. It also comes with an explore topics section that uses Google’s search technology to find podcasts based on your keywords. It is an ad-free app. Therefore, it is the best podcast app for anyone who wants a free podcast app with a simple UI (User Interface) & good features.
3. PodBean
With more than ten years of experience, PodBean boasts 650,000 podcasters on its platform. PodBean offers users easy-to-understand analytics like downloads by time & day, trends, top 10 episodes, listener recommendations, & user retention.
This platform also allows you to live stream to your audience & allows the audience to call in to listen or participate. When your podcast is launched, PodBean can share your episodes on your connected social media accounts, helping you to endorse your show.
Regarding marketing, PodBean comes with native advertising, premium podcast, & patron features. These will let you offer paid access to supplementary content or directly match your podcasts with the right sponsors. This platform is an excellent option for new & experienced podcasters looking for a vast collection of tools.
4. Spotify
Though Spotify is basically known as a music streaming service, the platform also provides podcasts, including several special titles. Spotify has a free option, but you must have a paid subscription to have ad-free streaming & download feature.
The app’s podcast homepage features selected collections & genres, including highlights on some of its original podcasts you won’t find in any other app. Once you find a podcast of your choice, you can “follow” it from the app. You can also save particular episodes of podcasts without following the show as a whole; these episodes get saved in a folder named “Your Episodes.”
Similar to Apple Podcasts, you can listen to your favourite podcasts on Spotify through any Alexa-supported device, just like the Amazon Echo. You can also constantly stream from one device to another, sharing the same Wi-Fi network.
5. Audible
Audible is famous for its collection of audiobooks, but this Amazon-backed app also offers many podcasts, including Audible Original shows. The “Podcasts” category features a lot of content based on comedy, relationships, tech, & many more.
Once you pick a show, like “A Promised Land by Barack Obama,” you can read reviews from listeners. These reviews include star ratings for the narrator’s performance, the story, & the general podcast. This makes Audible one of the most user-friendly platforms for audience reviews.
While playing a podcast, you can skip ahead or go back by 30 seconds, connect to a Bluetooth device, & change the speed. You can also see how much time is remained; you can switch to CarPlay for a minimalist interface, & choose episodes by a list at the bottom of the screen.
6. Snipd
Podcast apps are quite similar nowadays. They are simple as they only need to meet key parameters. Like beautiful & easy interfaces, you must have the capability to source podcasts from the chief networks & offer decent & easy controls.
Snipd meets all these features & adds one feature that often remains unnoticed, the capability to transcribe podcasts. This makes Snipd remarkable, particularly for people with hearing disabilities.
Snipd uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to transcribe the podcast & depending on the length of the episode, it can take between 10-15 minutes to do that. This one is a must-have podcast app for accessibility users, which may be the only true option for such users.
7. Stitcher
Unlike Spotify & Audible, Stitcher focuses precisely on podcasts. Its user interface is also one of the sleekest & most simple among podcast apps.
Once you sign in, you can check Stitcher’s top picks of the week with collections of playlists celebrating the preferences of women, Black Americans, independent artists, & many more. Stitcher’s homepage also offers a collection of podcasts of different genres.
There are several Stitcher original podcasts. Some podcasts & episodes are exclusive to Stitcher’s Premium tier. Premium also offers you early access to specific new episodes. Other benefits for paid subscribers are ad-free listening & monthly giveaways.
8. Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts is a feature-rich app that provides an easy, intuitive interface, customizable playback speed, & the capability to cut silence from episodes. It also has a robust search feature & the capability to sync your subscriptions & playback progress across all your devices.
This is one of the few paid audio platforms for listening to podcasts. With features like customizable playlists & the capability to sync progress across all devices, this is crafted for avid podcast listeners because a casual listener won’t consider spending money on other platforms that provide the same podcasts & features without ads or many limitations.
9. TuneIn Radio
TuneIn’s basic focus may be radio, but it also offers some popular podcasts. There are lots of genres to explore by the app’s search option. The service also hosts several new podcasts on its homepage, so you can easily navigate different collections as per your choice.
While ad-supported playback is free, mobile users can buy TuneIn Pro for $10. Compared to the free version, TuneIn Pro eradicates some commercials, such as pre-roll ads & visual display ads. There is also TuneIn Premium for $10 per month, which allows subscribers to listen to music, podcasts & radio stations without any commercials.
Why Listen To Podcasts On An App?
- Best Podcast Apps make it easy to organize your podcast library, download new episodes, bookmark episodes, & browse your preferences.
- You would never miss a thing using a podcast app, subscribe, & get notified when a new episode is launched. With some apps, such as Apple Podcasts, you can become a paid member & get access to exclusive content.
- With the huge collection of podcasts, getting a new favourite can feel like an impossible task. Podcast apps make it easy to broaden your listening sphere. Apps like Google Podcasts & Apple Podcasts use your listening history to recommend new podcasts that are in line with your preferences.
FAQ
Q: How to choose the Best Podcast Apps?
A: There are several Podcast apps out there. You can select anyone on this list.
Q: Can I listen to them for free?
A: You can listen to some of them for free, but for exclusive content, a paid subscription is needed.
Q: What device should I have to install these apps?
A: Any up-to-date android device or iPhone will serve the purpose.
Q: Can I have more than one Podcast app?
A: Yes, you can & it’s entirely your choice how many apps you will install.