To some extent, podcasts owe their name to the iPod but, of course, you don’t need a kit using Apple to listen to them – they’re just as accessible on a multitude of other devices than your desktop or computer. portable. There are also many apps and services looking to help you. Here are the best podcast apps for Android.
On Android, there is an impressive selection of solutions for podcasting apps. They all offer a similar set of features, but you’ll find some differences, so it’s worth doing your research before you stick with just one – and this list of the best options will give you some advice.
Google Podcasts (free)
It took a long time for Google to get into the podcast game, but it eventually released its own dedicated android podcast app . The app had time to study its competition and used third-party apps to be successful. It’s super easy to subscribe and download your favorite podcasts, and its discovery features work well after spending a little time growing your library.
One of the biggest bonuses of the Google Podcast app is the ability to listen on all your devices using Google Assistant. You can listen to a podcast at the Subway House, and as soon as you walk through the front door, tell your Google Home device to pick up exactly where you left off.
SoundWaves Podcast Player (free)
SoundWaves is the best Android podcast app for those who are tired of being spammed with ads. This open-source alternative is completely ad-free and there are no in-app purchases available. Of course, the user interface isn’t the prettiest on the market, but it’s designed to be quick and easy to use. There’s also a web player that lets you listen to podcasts in your browser on a desktop or laptop – perfect for listening at work!
SoundWaves Podcast Player also syncs with Sonos, so you can add podcasts to your speaker system to listen to your favorite podcasts throughout your home. It will also work with Chromecast or Chromecast Audio if you want to listen that way.
Pocket Casts ($ 3.99)
Pocket Casts has been part of the podcasting game for quite a while and is widely regarded as one of the best apps of its kind on iOS and Android (it also recently launched a web portal). One of the great things about Pocket Casts is the way it syncs your listening across multiple devices and platforms.
The app includes some nifty tips for speeding up podcasts (like adjusting speed and the ability to mute silences) and the discovery tools are also well designed. It supports Android Wear and has been updated to Google’s hardware design standards.
BeyondPod ($ 6.99)
Like Pocket Casts, BeyondPod comes with a clean and attractive interface and syncs your content to the cloud so you can keep listening from different devices. Accessing the app is an expensive touch, but you have the option to try it free for 7 days to see if you like it first.
One of the areas where BeyondPod excels is managing your podcasts and being able to browse them easily. A widget is also available for quick access to the home screen. There is also smart playlist support if you want to group particular types of podcast together to listen to wherever you are.
Podcast Republic (free)
The interface isn’t as neat as some of the other options here, but Podcast Republic is packed with features and can meet almost all of your podcasting needs with minimal fuss. You can use all features for free and accept some ads or pay ($ 1.99) to remove them.
The app is well-designed and intuitive, allowing you to browse by category as well as quickly create unplayed, favorite, and recent podcasts. There is also the option to create custom playlists as well. There’s a Dropbox-powered sync feature, along with a companion widget and a handy car mode view.
DoggCatcher ($ 2.99)
You’re going to have to pay for DoggCatcher, but if you’re serious about your podcasting, you might consider such a worthwhile expense. There are all kinds of useful features here, including an automatic deletion mechanism that can free up space by erasing podcasts once you’ve heard them.
The app was not found in the store. 🙁
The discovery aspects of the app are particularly well done, and audio and video can be cached on your device for offline listening. Like all of the other apps we’ve mentioned here, Chromecast support is included, and another feature we love is the sleep timer, so you can head over to a podcast.
Spotify (free)
Pocket Casts has been operating for years, but Spotify has just dipped its feet in the waters of podcasting. Even though it’s new to the podcast scene, whatever’s put on the table means it’s right at the top of the list when it comes to the best podcasting apps for Android.
The only problem is this: The podcasting functionality has not yet been deployed. It shouldn’t be too long but there is no official date. Still, depending on how good the Spotify app is as it is, we recommend that you give podcasting features a roundup when you access the Android app.
What’s your favorite Android podcast app? Share your chosen services in the comments below.
