best podcast apps for Android
Podcasts seem to be making a return as a main source of information gathering in the age of the Internet. It’s a great way to listen to experts talk about the topics you care about and it’s relatively easy to find great podcasts. If you’re a fan of the medium and are in the market for a new podcast app, here are the best podcast apps for Android
Castbox is one of a few free podcast apps. It boasts a collection of over one million podcasts scrubbed from places like iTunes and others. The app also includes support for 70 languages, language learning podcasts, Chromecast support, Amazon Echo support, and more. It also includes cloud syncing for multiple device support. The free version comes with everything and has no ads. The in-app purchases are basically optional.
DoggCatcher is one of the older podcast apps. However, the app does get frequent updates. It currently has support for things like Android Wear, Android Auto, and Chromecast. Additionally, it boasts a massive library of podcasts, playlist support, variable speed playback, themes, and various automation and customization features. The app even has Material Design. You do have to pay $2.99 up front. However, there are no ads and no additional in-app purchases.
Google Play Music is an interesting podcast app. The main function of the service is for music streaming. It's among the top three or so best music streaming platforms. However, the service also supports podcasts. Thus, you get a wicked good one-two punch for music and podcasts if you want to. The music part requires a $9.99 per month subscription. That includes an ad-free experience on YouTube (another decent spot for video podcasts). This is a great way to consolidate several apps into one. The only downside is podcasters have to add their podcast to the service themselves if they want people to hear it here.
Pocket Casts is definitely one of the best podcast apps. It has a ton of features, including cloud syncing support, automation features, variable playback controls, Chromecast support, Android Wear support, and even smaller stuff like a sleep timer. It can even automatically download podcasts on Wi-Fi or mobile data (your choice). There really isn't much wrong with this one. It just works. There is a $3.99 charge up front. However, the app contains no ads or in-app purchases.
Podcast Addict is one of the most popular free podcast apps. It contains a massive library of podcasts, audiobooks, live streaming radio, and more. It even has support for YouTube and Twitch channels. The app also features variable playback speed, skip silence options, Chromecast support, and SONOS support. The app is free but it also has advertising. However, free options like this one are few and far between. It shouldn't have any problem playing your podcasts.
Podcast Go is one of the up and coming podcast apps. It features the basic stuff like downloading podcast episodes, variable speed playback, sleep timers, and more. It also has a delightful design with Material Design. The app boasts over 300,000 available podcasts. You can search or browse at your leisure and subscribe. Otherwise, it's a fairly basic experience. The app is free with advertising. You can pay $2.99 to remove the ads.
Stitcher Radio is one of the most popular podcast platforms out there. It boasts a bunch of shows from some very big names. It has a basic set of features. Thus, it's not going to blow your mind. However, it does work pretty well most of the time. It does offer a subscription service. The service removes ads, gives you access to things like comedy albums and special shows, and more. The app is slowly improving and the service isn't terrible.
SoundCloud is one of the better free podcast apps. Technically, there is a subscription service. However, you don't have to pay anything to listen to podcasts. The app is for music. Thus, the design isn't overly friendly for podcast listeners. The app does allow you to download tracks for offline use, subscribe to channels, and more. It can't compete with a podcast app, but it's a good free option for those who already use SoundCloud or want to.
Spotify is one of the world’s best and most popular music streaming services. It also started doing podcasts in early 2016. There aren’t a lot of available podcasts there yet because the service is relatively new but we’ve no doubt that the number of available podcasts are going to skyrocket over time. You can download and use the service for free as long as you don’t mind some audio adverts or you can fork out $9.99/month for the full, ad-free experience. If you already use Spotify, there will likely come a point where a second podcast app will be redundant.
TuneIn Radio is among the best radio apps out there. Its focus is mostly live talk radio. However, the app also includes podcasts, audio books, radio stations (both AM and FM), and even live sporting events. The podcast owners have to make their podcasts available for this one. It doesn't do things like scrub iTunes for podcast content. Otherwise, it's a very serviceable podcast app. The premium subscription gives you access to live NFL, MLB, and other sports games along with other features. We might not recommend this as a standalone podcast app. However, those who also like listening to radio shows from other platforms may find this one to be better than just a regular podcast app.
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