The Best Podcast Apps for Android

August 05, 2024

With a plethora of podcast apps available in the Play Store, discovering a good one can be challenging. We've done the hard work for you and curated a list of some of the most popular podcast apps that we believe deserve your attention.

1 Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts is a go-to podcast app loved for its sleek design and impressive playback features. Its simple interface makes managing subscriptions and playlists a breeze, catering to both newbies and podcast aficionados.

For casual listeners, Pocket Casts automatically downloads episodes and syncs seamlessly across devices, ensuring you never miss a beat while on the move. But it doesn't stop there. With features like variable speed and noise cancellation, you can customize your listening experience to perfection.

Pro users will dig Pocket Casts' ability to tweak skip intervals and set different playback speeds for various podcasts. Plus, it plays nice with Chromecast, Wear OS, and Apple's WatchOS, making it a versatile companion.

And if you're craving more, there are premium tiers. "Plus" gets you 20GB of cloud storage, extra themes, and a year of exclusive content from Slumber Studios for $20 in the first year. Go even further with the "Patron" tier, which throws in 100GB of cloud storage, a supporters profile badge, and special Pocket Casts app icons on top of everything in the Plus tier.

2 Podcast Addict: Podcast player

For Android users hungry for a feature-rich podcast experience, Podcast Addict serves up a smorgasbord of options. It's more than just a podcast app—it's a podcasting oasis, offering a vast library, extensive playback customization, and even integration with other media sources.

If you're cool with ads, Podcast Addict is a very powerful, fully-featured podcast client. It's loaded full of content, with thousands of different podcasts available along with discovery features to help you find new stuff to listen to. It even tailors recommendations according to your subscriptions, which is a nice touch. Like Pocket Casts, it also allows you to import your favorite podcasts through RSS or ATOM feeds.

Podcast Addict also offers advanced playback controls, like variable speed control and automatic silence removal. Pretty much everything else you'd want from a podcast client is also along for the ride here—automatic downloads, podcast management, Chromecast support, and the like.

If at any point you decide you love Podcast Addict but hate the ads, there's also an option to remove them for $0.99 a month.

3 Podcast Player App - Podbean

Podbean wears two hats in the world of Android: it's a podcast app for listeners and a platform for creators to publish their own shows. While the listening experience might not be the most feature-rich, PodBean offers a unique advantage—seamless integration between listening and creating.

The listening experience offers the basics: browse podcasts, subscribe to your favorites, download episodes for offline listening, and adjust the playback speed. Plus, Podbean has a social side. Discover new shows through recommendations and browse by category. You can even interact with other listeners by leaving reviews and ratings for podcasts you love (or maybe not so much).

But when it comes to customization, Podbean keeps things a bit more straightforward compared to dedicated podcast apps. Features like chapter navigation, fancy sleep timers with tons of options, or in-depth audio adjustments beyond playback speed might be missing here.

However, here's the twist: Podbean becomes your one-stop shop if you ever get bitten by the podcasting bug. Feeling creative? You can record, edit, and publish your own podcast directly within the app. No need to juggle multiple apps or platforms—Podbean streamlines the entire process.

So, who should consider Podbean? Imagine you're a listener who's ever thought, "Hey, maybe I could create my own podcast someday?" Podbean offers the perfect all-in-one solution: listen to shows and then, when inspiration strikes, create your own. Plus, if you enjoy interacting with other listeners and discovering new shows through recommendations, Podbean's community features might be right up your alley.

But for the hardcore listeners out there? The ones who crave in-depth playback customization, chapter navigation, advanced sleep timers, and cloud storage? Podbean might leave them wanting more. The same goes for those who just want a streamlined interface for listening—the creator tools might make things feel a little cluttered.

4 AntennaPod

For Android users seeking a powerful, customizable podcast experience, AntennaPod stands out as a great option. It goes beyond just listening to podcasts—it lets you curate your audio journey precisely how you like it.

AntennaPod gives you control over your podcast experience. Want to catch up faster? Double the speed. Tired of those silent intros? Skip them with a tap. Noisy surroundings? Boost the volume for clear listening. And for some podcasts, jump straight to specific chapters for easy navigation, whether it's revisiting a favorite interview or sharing a funny segment with a friend.

But AntennaPod goes beyond just playing podcasts. Its sleep timer offers more options. You can set it to fade out after a certain time or even choose to stop after the current chapter, perfect for falling asleep without interruptions.

The best part? it's completely free and open-source. No hidden agendas, no corporate overlords—just a community of volunteers who believe in transparency and giving you the reins. Plus, it plays nicely with other apps, letting you switch between devices seamlessly.

Stream episodes to save space, or download them for offline listening—the choice is yours. AntennaPod caters to both camps.

Who should consider AntennaPod? Power users. The customization options and vast library are exceptional. Privacy-conscious listeners will appreciate the open-source nature, and budget-minded podcast fans will love the free price tag.

There's a bit of a learning curve—AntennaPod packs a punch with its features. But unlike some apps with fancy premium tiers and exclusive content, AntennaPod focuses on giving you everything you need for free.

5 Spotify

Spotify, the music streaming giant, has become a familiar face in the world of podcasts. It might not be the most hardcore podcasting app out there, but for Android users already rocking Spotify for their music, it offers a convenient option to keep everything under one roof.

Plus, your existing Spotify login works for podcasts, too. Bonus: Spotify's recommendation algorithms can introduce you to podcast gems based on your music taste.

The basics are covered: play/pause, rewind/fast-forward, and variable speed listening. Subscribe to shows, build playlists, and download episodes for offline listening. But for customization, Spotify is more basic. Forget fancy features like chapter navigation, silence skipping, or audio adjustments.

The interface prioritizes music, so finding podcast features might feel clunky. The sleep timer is limited to fade-out duration, and there's no integration with podcast-specific services like cloud storage syncing across devices.

So, who should use Spotify for podcasts? If you're already a Spotify user curious about podcasts, it's a convenient way to explore. Casual listeners who don't need extensive customization might find Spotify sufficient.

But power users craving in-depth controls, chapter navigation, advanced sleep timers, and cloud storage will likely look elsewhere. The same goes for those who enjoy interacting with other fans—Spotify doesn't have dedicated features for podcast discussions.

6 Amazon Music: Songs & Podcasts

For Android users already subscribed to Amazon Prime or using Amazon Music for their music, the prospect of listening to podcasts within the same app might seem like a match made in audio heaven. But hold on to your headphones—while Amazon Music offers podcast access, it might not be the promised land for dedicated listeners.

Sure, the basics are covered. You can find and subscribe to podcasts, manage them alongside your music library, and download episodes for offline listening. Play, pause, rewind, and fast-forward controls are there, along with variable playback speed (though with fewer options compared to dedicated podcast apps).

But when it comes to exploring the vast world of podcasts, Amazon Music can feel a bit like a maze. Discovering new shows you'll love can be a challenge—the app doesn't offer personalized recommendations or intuitive browsing by category. Finding that hidden gem of a true-crime podcast might take some serious searching.

And for those who like to navigate within episodes precisely, Amazon Music throws another hurdle. Unlike dedicated podcast apps, you can't jump to specific sections. Want to revisit that insightful interview or hilarious segment? You're out of luck. The sleep timer situation isn't much better. You can only set a fade-out duration, not a specific end time for the episode. It's not ideal if you like to drift off to sleep listening to podcasts without the worry of your phone playing all night.

The user interface prioritizes music, and it shows. Finding podcast-specific features and managing subscriptions can feel less intuitive compared to a dedicated podcast app.

So, who might find Amazon Music sufficient for podcasts? Casual listeners who listen occasionally and don't crave extensive features might be okay with the basic functionality. Plus, if you're already a Prime member using Amazon Music, it can be a convenient option to keep things under one roof.

7 YouTube Music

YouTube Music, the platform known for its massive music library, has recently dipped its toes into the world of podcasts for Android users. While it offers some basic functionality, it's not quite a podcasting paradise.

The good news? You can find and subscribe to podcasts within the YouTube Music app, eliminating the need to juggle multiple apps. Plus, you get the playback essentials—play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, and even variable speed listening (although with fewer options compared to dedicated podcast apps). And for those times you're offline, you can download episodes for on-the-go listening.

But for podcast enthusiasts, YouTube Music might leave you wanting more. Discovering new shows can feel like a treasure hunt—the app doesn't offer dedicated podcast recommendations or intuitive browsing by categories.

Another hurdle: jumping to specific parts within an episode, a feature most podcast apps offer, is missing in YouTube Music. And the sleep timer? It only allows you to set a fade-out duration, not a specific end time for the episode. It's not ideal if you like to drift off to sleep listening to a podcast.

So, who might find YouTube Music okay for podcasts? Casual listeners who listen occasionally and don't need a ton of features might find its basic functionality sufficient. Plus, if you're already heavily invested in the YouTube ecosystem and use YouTube Music for your tunes, it could be a convenient option to keep everything under one roof.

But for the power users out there? The ones who crave in-depth playback controls, chapter navigation, a sleep timer with more options, and cloud storage? YouTube Music might leave you feeling shortchanged. The same goes for those who enjoy interacting with other fans of their favorite shows—YouTube Music doesn't offer features for podcast discussions.

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