When Spotify gave the Joe Rogan Podcast an exclusive deal for $200 million, it was clear that podcasts are the big thing on the internet right now. You can find podcasts on many different topics, but to listen to them easily, you need a platform with a lot of features. Don’t be afraid. With this list of the best Podcast Apps for Android, you won’t have to worry about anything.
All of the apps on the list have gotten good reviews over the years and are free to use, but you might have to pay extra to get more out of them. As you read this article, you’ll learn what each app has to offer. Let’s get started.
1. GOOGLE PODCASTS: COMPLETELY FREE Podcast Apps for Android
Google Podcasts is the standard app for Android that lets you listen to podcasts. Even though it doesn’t have many features, it gets the job done well. If the app had a familiar interface, it wouldn’t take you long to figure out how it works. It looks the same as all the other Google apps on your Android device, which is another reason why.
This app would work best for people who already know what podcasts they like and which ones they listen to most often. If you want to use the app to find new podcasts, this might not be the right one for you.
But you can search for your favourite shows, add them to your library, subscribe to them, set up alerts for new episodes, or even download them to watch when you don’t have internet access. So, it’s not hard at all to keep track of shows.
Oh, and what’s best? No annoying ads from outside sources. Also, the app works with Android Auto and works well with Google Assistant and Google Home. In general, it is one of the best free Android podcast apps.
Pros
- Simple, no-frills user experience.
- No intrusive ads.
- Smooth and optimized user interface.
- Reliable playback.
- Easy to track your shows.
Cons
- Playback controls are restricted to basics.
- Not best for new show recommendations.
- Doesn’t allow a playlist of episodes.
- Issues when casting episodes on other devices.
Price: Free
Get Google Podcasts For Android
2. POCKET CASTS: Podcast Apps for Android WITH EXCELLENT PLAYBACK CONTROLS
Pocket Casts is one of the best podcast apps for Android that doesn’t have ads. It has been downloaded over a million times from the Play Store. Like Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts has a pretty easy-to-use interface. But it’s easy to find new content because you can find shows by using different filters.
It has also been praised for being a great app for putting on shows, automating downloads, and managing them. Also, Pocket Casts doesn’t have any ads and works well with both Chromecast and Android Auto. But our favourite part is the playback controls, which are unheard of in other apps. For example, you can change the playback speed and cut out silence.
The performance, on the other hand, is choppy, and there were times when it automatically stopped and started again. But this could be because of restrictions on the battery, which you can turn off. But you have to pay for Pocket Casts Plus if you want to use features like the web player, organising folders, extra themes, etc.
Pros
- Great features to sort and organize your library.
- Excellent playback controls.
- Simple user interface.
- The Discover tab helps users find new content.
Cons
- Misses out on the playlist feature.
- Need to pay for advanced features.
- Doesn’t have the smoothest user interface.
- Multiple user reviews highlight the app crashing, and playback stopping suddenly.
Price: Free | Pocket Casts Plus costs $0.99/month
Get Pocket Casts For Android
3. SPOTIFY: BEST TO DISCOVER NEW PODCASTS
Spotify is probably the best way to listen to music on a phone or tablet. But it has taken advantage of how popular podcasts are and keeps making a lot of exclusive content that is worth listening to. Spotify is great at putting together playlists and helping you find new shows.
Also, it has a great selection of shows, and we don’t think there’s anything else like it. Popular podcasts like the Joe Rogan Experience and the Michelle Obama podcast are now only available on Spotify. One feature that doesn’t get enough attention is that you can switch between devices and control playback on multiple devices. For example, if you’re listening on your PC, you can control playback on your phone.
On the other hand, the free version of Spotify is annoying because it has a lot of ads. So, if you don’t want to see ads, you have to pay for Spotify Premium.
Pros
- Best for discovering new shows.
- Boasts one of the largest podcast catalogs.
- Great user experience.
- Ability to create multiple playlists.
- Control and manage playback on multiple devices.
Cons
- Free version packs in advertisements.
- Lacks light mode.
- Not exclusive to podcasts.
- Basic playback controls in comparison to Pocket Casts.
Price: Free | Spotify Premium starts at $4.99/month
Get Spotify For Android
4. CASTBOX: BEST TO DISCOVER INDIE PODCASTS
Castbox is one more simple app for listening to podcasts. It is easy to use and has a user interface that is easy to get used to. Castbox lets you discover a few indie podcasts and you can find some hidden gems. It also makes the list because it has almost all of the most popular podcasts on the internet. On the Play Store, the app has been downloaded more than ten million times and has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
It’s different from most apps because you can also make your own playlists and share them on social media. Also, it works perfectly with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Android Auto. Castbox is also a place where you can find audiobooks and radio.
But one of the biggest problems is that the ads are annoying. Even the art on the show was covered by a commercial when we were there. You will need to sign up for its premium plan to get rid of ads, use advanced playback settings, and use other features. The user interface is also not as polished as some of the other apps on this list, even though it is simple.
Pros
- An extensive list of indie podcasts.
- Easy to use interface.
- Search and download podcasts for offline listening.
- Create custom playlists
- Listen to audiobooks and radio.
Cons
- Many intrusive ads.
- The user interface stutters a little.
- Playback sometimes stops midway.
- Complaints regarding battery drain.
Price: Free | Premium starts at $0.99/month
Get Castbox For Android
5. STITCHER: CLEAN USER INTERFACE Podcast Apps for Android
Stitcher is one of the oldest apps for Android that lets you listen to podcasts. It looks good and works well. The user interface is very polished and also does a great job of helping you find new content. Like with Castbox, you can choose from a wide range of podcasts, not just the most popular ones.
The features that help you sort podcasts make it one of the best podcast apps for Android. One of our favourite things about podcasts is that you can group them by topic or any other header. The layout is also easy to use, and you can quickly jump to the most recent episodes from your subscriptions, episodes you liked, or episodes you downloaded.
There is also a car mode that lets you connect to Android Auto or play it directly on a smart audio system. The free version also has an offline mode (like Castbox) that lets you play downloaded content without an internet connection.
But you can’t use the app unless you make an account. You can sign up for Stitcher with your Google or Apple account, but this might make some people not want to use it.
Pros
- A clean user interface
- ‘Show Groups’ to organize your shows.
- Offline mode in the free version.
- Ability to adjust playback speed and set a sleep timer.
Cons
- Can’t use the app without signing up.
- Issues with autoplay.
- Occasionally restarts episodes.
- You need to buy premium to access exclusive shows and an ad-free experience.
Price: Free | Stitcher Premium costs $4.99/month
Get Stitcher For Android
FAQS RELATED TO PODCAST APPS FOR ANDROID
Actually, no. Google has an app called “Google Podcasts,” but it won’t be on your Android device by default. You will need to get it from the Play Store and install it.
Spotify has been the most used platform to listen to podcasts in the recent past.
Yes, you can listen to shows like The Joe Rogan Experience that are only on Spotify with the free version. Even though there will be ads during the playback.
BEST PODCAST APPS FOR ANDROID FOR THE BEST LISTENING EXPERIENCE
These are some of the best free podcast apps for Android that we think you should try. We hope that this guide helped you figure out what to do. So, which app are you going to use to listen to podcasts, and why? Tell us what you think in the comments.