Podcasts are a great way to learn new things and keep yourself informed while doing chores or during long commutes. Having the best podcast app on your Android enhances this experience manifold.
With the internet serving numerous podcasts on different genres and new titles being added daily, having a potent dedicated app has become an absolute necessity for podcast lovers. In this blog, I have compiled a list of the 10 best podcast apps for Android based on their features, library, and efficiency.
1. Spotify – Editor’s Choice
It’s no surprise that Spotify has made its place in the world of music apps for Android. However, the app also features an extensive podcast library that you can listen from. The app is best for users already using Spotify for their music needs. Have all your podcast and music needs covered at a place.
The app has a collection of numerous podcasts of several genres, catering to all your moods. Whether you are looking for something informative, serious, or light-hearted, or in for some horror stories or some science talk, Spotify’s got you covered.
Moreover, the app is famous for its personalized recommendations. Based on your listening habits, the app recommends podcasts you might like – and trust me, this feature keeps you hooked to the app. This enables you to discover more podcasts that can catch your interest.
Pros
- Extensive and exclusive collection
- Personalized recommendations
- Option for offline listening
Cons
- Lacks advanced features of a dedicated podcast apps
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $4.99)
2. Podcast Addict – Feature-rich podcast app
If you’re looking for the best free podcast app for Android, Podcast Addict would be my top recommendation. This app offers all the basic and advanced features you might look for in a podcast app. Advanced search options, auto download feature, sleep times, etc., are some major selling points of Podcast Addict.
The best part is that the app offers most of its features for free. However, the free version of the app has ads. You’ll have to pay a nominal amount to get the app’s pro version. This would give you an ad-free experience and offer several other advanced features.
For instance, you’d get detailed insights into your listening habits and use alarms, bookmarks, and custom audio effects. One downside of the app is that its interface is a bit dated and clunky. However, it is pretty user-friendly, and the navigation through the app is a breeze.
Pros
- Easy-to-navigate
- Extensive library
- Offers most features for free
Cons
- UI could have been better
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
3. Pocket Casts – Cut out silences from episodes
This one’s my personal favorite on the list. I find Pocket Cast to be the best podcast app for my Android. I am absolutely in love with how clean and sleek the interface is. It makes the entire navigation of the app so much easier. Everything looks organized and uncluttered.
I have fallen in love with how the app renders the subscriptions in tiled format and enjoy watching the podcast’s interface change to compliment the podcast’s thumbnail. I could also customize the theme of the app as per my choices.
The trimming silence feature of the app is also something that makes it perfect for me. It helped me finish my podcast episodes faster. The app offers a variable speed feature, which starts as low as 0.5x and goes up to 3x. Additionally, the boost volume feature reduces the background noise to make the podcast voices clearer.
Pros
- Sleek and friendly interface
- Allows theme customization to add personalized touch
- Playback stats – keep track of listening habits
Cons
- Folders feature available only on paid plans
Price: Free (In-app purchase starts at $3.99)
4. Castbox – Discover podcasts
Castbox is another podcast player app that I enjoyed using on my Android phone. The app has so many podcasts of several genres. I found something that piqued my interest in every genre. Moreover, you can download the episodes and create custom playlists based on your interests.
It’s more than just a podcast player app. Here, you can interact with a true community of listeners and even avail yourself of the benefits of Castbox’s podcast hosting feature! However, one aspect that the app needs to work on is the amount of battery it consumes.
Pros
- Interactive podcast app
- Millions of podcasts on one platform
- Super clean layout and easy navigation
Cons
- Consumes a lot of data and battery life
Price: Free (In-app purchase starts at $0.99)
5. Audible – For popular podcasts and originals
We all know that Audible is one of the best apps when it comes to audiobooks. However, the podcasts and originals of Audible are no less. The app is perfect if you want all audiobook and podcast requirements to be met in one place.
The best part about Audible is its extensive collection. Whether you’re into horror, fiction, romance, information, politics, technology, space, self-help, or crime-thrillers, there is something that will surely interest you.
One of the unique features of the Audible podcast app is its car mode. This feature allows you to connect your podcast to the car’s stereo and listen to the stories on the go. However, keep in mind that Audible doesn’t offer any free plan. You’ll get one month of free trial of the premium subscription, and charges will be levied thereafter.
Pros
- Extensive collection, including exclusive originals
- Personalized recommendations for enhanced experience
- Offline feature and car mode
Cons
- No free plan after the trial
Price: Free one-month trial (In-app purchases start at $0.49)
6. Podbean – Best Android podcast app
Podbean is another popular podcast player app that I have enjoyed using. This app made it to the list primarily because of its intelligent playback speed feature. The feature automatically adjusts the speed of each podcast based on the host and content.
This advanced podcast feature comes in handy, given that we often listen to podcasts from different hosts, resulting in varying playback speeds. Thanks to this feature, I didn’t have to adjust the podcast playback speed with every episode.
Other go-for features of Podbean include the mini-podcast player widget support on the home screen and its interactive platform where you can listen to live podcasts and interact in real-time. The downside, according to me, was its clunky interface, which made app navigation slightly difficult.
Pros
- Intelligent playback speed
- Supports Android Auto, Chromecast
Cons
- Cluttered interface
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
7. Amazon Music – Comprehensive podcast and music player
Trusted by over 100 million users worldwide, the app features the most extensive catalog of ad-free top podcasts. I have added this app for users seeking an extensive collection of free podcasts. Famous for its fantastic music services, podcasts are a lesser-known feature of this amazing music and podcast Android application.
You can take your pick from the largest catalog of ad-free podcasts and download the episodes for offline listening. This is perfect if you wish to save data while traveling. The high-quality audio-streaming feature of Amazon Music ensures that every podcast you listen to is rendered in the best possible sound quality.
Amazon Music seamlessly integrates with the Amazon Echo devices. With this, you can easily control your podcasts on the app by giving voice commands to Amazon Echo. However, juggling the music and the podcasts on the app can be inconvenient at times.
Pros
- High-quality audio listening
- Integration with Amazon Echo
- Vast library of various podcasts
Cons
- Inconsistent and glitchy UI
Price: Free with Prime membership (In-app purchases start at $10.99)
8. Player FM – Cloud-based podcast app
Player FM, a cross-platform podcast player, is the perfect choice if you are looking for a cloud-based podcast app. All you have to do is sign up, and all your subscriptions will be synced to the apps on various devices. The podcast app works with several devices, including Chromecast, Android Auto, WearOS, Samsung Gear S, and LG QuickCircle.
While checking this app, I was impressed by the overall seamless experience. For instance, I found the interface quite simple and easy for the new users to get used to. I didn’t need to sign in to browse and listen to the podcasts. However, the cloud syncing process would require a user to be signed in.
Player FM is the best podcast app for travelers who wish to save data on the go. It allows users to download audio content like podcasts, interviews, and audiobooks to listen offline on the way. Additionally, it also features the downloading and viewing of video content. However, ads and app crashes post-recent updates are some of its downsides.
Pros
- Cloud-based podcast app
- Hassle-free offline listening experience
- Compresses podcast files to save space
Cons
- Ads in the middle of the podcast
Price: Free (In-app purchase starts at $0.99)
9. iVoox – Podcasts and radio stations in one place
I have added this app to my recommendation list as I found it to be one of the most comprehensive podcast apps available at the Play Store. It combines podcasts and live stations in one platform to ensure that all your listening needs are catered to. It gives a broader range of audio content without having to switch between apps.
The versatile platform renders several features to enhance your listening experience. For instance, with the flexible subscription management feature of iVoox, you can easily change your subscriptions.
The app gives you full control of the audio. Its variable playback speed allows you to customize the playback speed as per your preference. Along with it, you can skip or rewind the content, turn on the sleep timer, use the playback queue, or switch to car mode. You can also interact with other listeners and creators.
Additionally, the app uses advanced algorithms to learn from your listening habits. Thanks to this feature, you will get smart recommendations for podcasts and radio stations specifically tailored to your preferences and listening habits.
Pros
- A combined platform for podcasts and radio
- Personalised recommendations
- Interactive platform
Cons
- Limited free availability
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $2.99)
10. AntennaPod – Lightweight and ad-free
While researching the best podcast apps for Android, I came across this lesser-known app, which has immense potential. The app is ad-free and renders all the advanced features that you might expect from any popular podcast app.
AntennaPod is quite lightweight and doesn’t consume a lot of storage or battery life. Plus, it also results in faster app processes. Moreover, the customizable interface option of the app is also worth admiring. It helps add a personalized touch to the application, thus enhancing the user experience.
With AntennaPod’s playback queue option, you can arrange podcast episodes or different podcasts to be played in your preferred order. It also features several other features like offline listening, automatic update of the episodes, playback speed control, sleep timer, skip silence feature and whatnot.
Pros
- Ad-free experience
- Lightweight
- Customizable interface
Cons
- Play/pause button didn’t work on the Lock Screen
Price: Free
Take your pick!
After researching several podcast apps, these were the best podcast apps that I tested on my Android device. I am sure this list would suffice for all your podcast needs.
However, if I missed a podcast app that should have been on the list, comment below!
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