One of the most popular podcast apps, Overcast, recently got a huge update. As a result, many things work differently and there are (hopefully temporarily) many bugs. A good reason to look at alternatives.
Overcast update is (still) disappointing
Ever since its first release in 2014, Overcast a very popular app for listening to podcasts. This is mainly due to how fast and intuitive the app works. You can build your own podcast profile in no time, listen to episodes via smart playlists, and get suggestions for new podcasts to subscribe to.
But now a major update is throwing a spanner in the works. To ensure that Overcast can survive the next ten years, the developer has rebuilt the app from the ground up. That may have been necessary, but as a result, Overcast now has fewer features and is quite buggy. And the ability to stream podcasts – without downloading them first – has even been removed altogether. Are you tired of the update? Consider it a great opportunity to explore some other podcast apps. We’ve got a few ideas to get you started.
Podcasts: The Apple Way to Listen
When Overcast launched ten years ago, Apple’s Podcasts app was still in its early stages of development. Apple had launched Podcasts as a standalone app in 2012, and eventually made it a standard iOS app. The Podcasts app was met with some criticism in the beginning, but over the years, Apple has given its listening app a lot of love. Where the interface used to be quite complicated, Apple has now opted for a simpler structure. Podcasts is also the best integrated with iOS. From Shortcuts to Siri – pretty much every gadget in the operating system works with Podcasts.
In short, have you switched from Podcasts to Overcast in the past? Then now might be a good time to switch back. Especially since iOS 18 also has a lot of new features that make Podcasts just that little bit better.
Also read: Podimo discount code: this is how you listen for 30 days for free
Castamatic: Overcast as it used to be
Castamatic is a relatively unknown podcast app, but it doesn’t really deserve to be. Do you long for the way podcast apps used to work? With simple (automatic) downloads, few bells and whistles, but with an advanced audio engine? Or, to put it another way, do you want an app like the first version of Overcast? Then Castamatic is perfect for you. It has everything you expect from a podcast app, but nothing more.
For example, you will miss recommendations for new podcasts, as well as advanced sorting options. Furthermore, the app is not polished everywhere. The CarPlay app, for example, has some minor bugs. But for the rest, it is definitely recommended to try out.
Pocket Casts: If You Don’t Only Have Apple
Maybe you have not only Apple devices in your home, but also a Windows PC or – panic! – an Android phone. If you use all those devices to listen to podcasts, it’s nice to keep your listening profile the same everywhere. So you need an app that works on all your devices. That’s what Pocket Casts does. There’s an iPhone and Android app, and on desktop you use the web app.
Pocket Casts is developed by Automattic, the company that also makes WordPress. So there is a lot of manpower behind it, which ensures that new features are added often and quickly. But of course money also has to be made, and that is why Pocket Casts is the only app on this list for which we also recommend the associated Plus subscription.
Do you have a suggestion?
If your favorite podcast app isn’t listed here, let us know in the comments below what you use to listen to audio programs and what you like about it.