Podcasts come in all kinds and genres, but there is also a wide range of podcast apps. In this article, we compared six popular apps that let you listen to your favorite podcasts for free. Find out which podcast app is right for you.
Allow us to get straight to the point. If you want a podcast app that is bursting with functionalities and possibilities in the first place, then Podcast Addict is the right place for you. This is the most complete app of this quintet that also has ambitions as an excellent internet radio player, a feed for YouTube and RSS and as a player for video podcasts.
Yet the fact that the app is so versatile is also its biggest weakness, because many users will no longer see the trees for the trees in this app. The app is packed with menus with complex settings that ensure that Podcast Addict does exactly what you want. There are even extensive menus that allow you to adjust settings that in turn override the settings from other menus. Complex? It is. Furthermore, there is also no good discover function that helps you to get to know new podcasts. Podcast Addict doesn’t have a paywall, but it does have an ad banner at the bottom that you can remove with a single donation.
Pros and cons
+ Many possibilities
+ Google Cast and Android Auto support
+ Works in conjunction with Google Drive
– Difficult English language interface
– Not a good discover function
- Podcast Addict on the Play Store
2. Google Podcasts
Do the many functionalities of Podcast Addict not appeal to you? You can almost think of Google Podcasts as the complete opposite, because this app comes without unnecessary settings and options. Advanced features like different themes and the ability to adjust playback speed aren’t there, but Google Podcasts can automatically download episodes and create playlists.
By default, the ‘Home’ tab shows current subscriptions and the latest available episodes. If you go to ‘Explore’, you can get to know new podcasts per genre and it is striking that Google strongly prefers local content. In addition, you will see your playlists in ‘Activity’.
Pros and cons
+ Most user-friendly interface
+ Google Cast and Android Auto support
+ Lots of Dutch content recommended
– Missing some advanced features
- Google Podcasts on the Play Store
3. Pocket Casts
The following apps feel like a middle ground between Podcast Addict and Google Podcasts. Pockets Casts got major changes two years ago and the app came with a completely new interface that looks great. The app combines all the advanced features of a good podcast player with an interface that is clear and customizable at the same time. Pocket Casts has a good ‘discover function’ that helps you discover new podcasts by category, along with local content. You’ll also see ‘Trending’ podcasts.
You can also choose from different themes and even the icon on your home screen can change color. In addition, the ‘Filter menu next to the ‘Podcast menu’ where all your subscriptions can be found also seems redundant. The ‘Filter’ menu lets you filter podcasts, but that only really comes into its own if you’re subscribed to numerous channels. The option could also have been integrated into the ‘Podcast’ menu without any problems.
Pocket Casts is free, but there is also a paid version that works with a paid subscription. Still, you don’t feel like you’re missing out on important features with the free version, unless you really want to save podcast episodes in the cloud. Although you can turn to the free podcast Addict app for such a function, which you can connect to Google Drive.
Pros and cons
+ Beautiful interface
+ Good ‘discover function’ with local content and categories
+ Google Cast and Android Auto support
– Filter tab
– English interface
- Pocket casts on the Play Store
4. Podcast App: Free&Offline Podcasts from Player FM
Don’t be fooled by the terrible name of this app that the developers use to make it more discoverable in the Google Play Store. Player FM is an excellent podcast player that has been around for a while. The app has an interface that is not only beautiful, but also very smart due to the use of tabs at the top and bottom. There are also plenty of free themes to choose from.
Player FM shows your subscriptions by default with the different categories at the top so that you can search for a nice podcast episode per topic. On the other hand, you can also switch to a list view with the most recent episodes and there is also a filter option. In addition, the app comes with a handy ‘Download tab’ so that you can immediately see which episodes are saved on your device.
There is also a clever ‘discover’ function that also shows local content and the Video tab also leads you to video podcasts such as those from the NOS. The discover functionality is better compared to Pockets Casts as the app also suggests podcasts based on your interests. Play Later lets you create a handy playlist of episodes that download automatically over Wi-Fi. Player FM comes with rich functions, but the app does put a number of skills behind a paywall. For example, the free app cannot boost volume of podcasts or change playback speed.
Pros and cons
+ Handy and beautiful interface
+ Best ‘discover feature’ with local content by category
+ Google Cast and Android Auto support
+ Many themes
– Interesting features behind paywall
- Podcast App: Free&Offline Podcasts from Player FM in the Play Store
5. Castbox: podcast player
Castbox has an attractive and functional interface. The app manages to offer a variety of functions while still presenting them in an accessible way. Although the interface of the app is in English. Castbox has a good discover tab that also leads you to audiobooks, Dutch content and categories. You just don’t get smart recommendations based on your preferences.
Castbox likes to be more than just a podcast app, which is why there’s the somewhat odd community tab. You get to read random comments on podcasts from people you don’t know, and you can also write a status update yourself and add tags in the app.
You could say that Castbox is very contradictory. The app contains advanced functions and can, for example, boost the volume or change the playback speed of podcasts, but Castbox repels a part of the users by putting a limit on the number of subscriptions. If you want to subscribe to more than 100 podcasts, you should opt for a premium formula.
Pros and cons
+ Beautiful interface
+ Full of functionalities
+ Good ‘discover function’ with local content per category
+ Google Cast, Waze and Android Auto support
– Community aspect not working
– Limited number of subscriptions.
– English interface
- Cast box on the Play Store
6. Spotify
Spotify has made a lot of efforts in recent years to position itself as a podcast app in addition to a music streaming service. In addition, the brand also follows Apple that offers subscriptions for podcasts.
Listening to podcasts in Spotify is especially recommended for those who only follow a small selection of podcasts and who are already subscribed to Spotify. You no longer have to leave your app to switch from a music track to a podcast and vice versa. The service also works for free users, but then you have to deal with advertising and other restrictions. For example, you cannot download episodes for offline use.
Spotify also lacks a well-functioning Discover function, a place where you get to know a wide range of podcasts. Spotify does have such a feature, and what the app does well is push local content forward, but the range in the discover section is very limited, as are the genres available to browse.
One asset that the app does have is its compatibility with Google Maps, Waze, Android Auto and Chromecast. On the other hand, we miss a lot of extra functions from the other apps, and in the media player of the app. Podcasts in Spotify still feel like an extra to the music service, no matter how much Spotify wants it to look different.
Pros and cons
+ Useful for Spotify user
+ Google Cast, Waze Maps, and Android Auto support
– Lacks advanced features
– Community aspect not working
– Discover function not very nice
– Less attractive if you are not a Spotify (Premium) user
- Spotify in the Play Store
What is your favorite podcast app? Do you use multiple apps to listen to podcast episodes? Are there any podcasts you’d like to recommend? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of this article.
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