Best podcast apps for Android : Podcasts are a great way to listen to your favorite content at leisure through a pair of great podcasting headphones. And with the number of podcasts available increasing with each passing day, choosing the right podcast app has never been this important before. Selecting the right podcast app matters because these apps determine the topics you can listen to podcasts on, features you require (for instance, playback speed controls), etc. So what are the best podcast apps for Android? The following are your options.
Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts is the best podcasts Android app in most people’s books. When people try answering the question, “what are the best podcast apps for Android”, Pocket Casts invariably hits their thoughts first. The app has multiple features, which includes automation features, cloud syncing support, Chromecast support, variable playback controls, Android Wear support, sleep timer, etc. It could also be set to download podcasts automatically when connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi. There is almost no drawback to this app, but the fact that it doesn’t come free. Once you pay the fee, there will be no ads to deal with (quite obviously) and also zero in-app purchases.
Podcast Addict
Podcast Addict is an extremely popular podcast app. It comprises a huge library of audio books, podcasts, live streaming radio, etc. Also, it supports Twitch and YouTube channels. There are other features such as skip silence options, variable playback speed, SONOS support, and Chromecast support. Podcast Addict is free but it covers its costs and makes money through in-app advertising. Fortunately, the ads aren’t that obtrusive.
Stitcher Radio
Stitcher Radio is another popular podcast platform that boasts a plethora of big name shows. The feature set is pretty basic – something that shouldn’t necessarily blow your socks off. But the thing is that it works as per advertised almost every time. There is also a subscription service that gets rid of the ads, offers you access to special shows and comedy albums, etc.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a name most people outside of the podcast world would be familiar with. Needless to say, it is among the best free podcast apps out there. SoundCloud is essentially a paid subscription service that offers a lot more than podcasts. But listening to podcasts is free. If only podcasts are on your mind, then this app is practically free. Since the app is for other audio media such as music, the user interface isn’t the most straightforward. Habitual podcast listeners would initially stumble finding their way in the app.
You should try Best Music Apps for Android
The app does permit downloading tracks for use offline, subscribe to channels, etc. Long story short, SoundCloud may not truly take a dedicated podcast app head-on, but people who already have SoundCloud on their Android phone will not have to download a separate app for podcasts.
Spotify
In case you didn’t know, Spotify is considered one among the world’s most popular and best music streaming services. And, in early 2016, it forayed into podcasts. As far as the number of podcasts on the app go, there aren’t many, especially when compared to dedicated podcast apps. But you can certainly expect the number of titles to increase exponentially in a short period. Spotify can be used for free, provided you do not mind audio advertisements. There is an ad-free experience on offer too but that’s a bit on the expensive side. Like SoundCloud, Spotify would render a dedicated podcast app redundant if you’re already using the app.
Castbox
Castbox is a free podcast app that’s home to more than a million podcasts. The app has support for close to 70 languages, Chromecast support, language learning podcasts, Amazon Echo support, etc. Also, it offers multiple-device cloud syncing support. The best part is the app is free and you do not have to put up with ads in return too. There are in-app purchases, but those are not mandatory.
TuneIn Radio
TuneIn Radio, as the name indicates, is a radio app that focuses primarily on live talk radio. But the app also offers audio books, podcasts, radio stations, and live sporting events. Unlike quite a few other podcast platforms, TuneIn Radio doesn’t scrub other apps for podcast content. This means podcast owners would have to upload their podcasts to the app. If it hadn’t been for this feature, TuneIn Radio would be more than just a serviceable app.
Despite this major shortcoming, the app has made it to this list because there is a lot of potential here. Moreover, TuneIn Radio can choose to scrub podcast content any time. The app has a premium subscription service that provides access to live MLB, NFL, etc. and a host of other features. This app is certainly not your dedicated podcast app, but the other services on offer make the app a well-rounded package.
Podbean
Podbean feels more like an app store and less like a media player. The top episodes, recommendations, featured shows, and several other categories feature prominently on the home page. It is quite clear that the app is focusing more on curating things. If you can unsee these aspects, Podbean is definitely another potent podcast player. It comes with all the playback controls and basic features that make it one among the best apps for podcasting.
