Now that Google Podcast has officially shut down and migrated to the YouTube Music app, you might be wondering if there are any other viable alternatives that actually provide the fundamentals. The short answer is yes. There are plenty of alternatives, and while many users have moved over to cross-platform services like Spotify and YouTube Music, both lack essential features that make them a no-go for many podcast aficionados.
Spotify would’ve been my go-to recommendation. However, given that the company still doesn’t include the plain essentials, it’s hard to justify it on this list. Most notably, the Spotify app lacks features like the ability to show seasons and has a confusing and non-user-friendly user interface, just to name a few.
8 best podcast apps on Android in 2024
Our selection to listen to the news, captivating stories, or to learn something new
1 Pocket Casts
The top choice for many podcast listeners
Pocket Casts is loved by millions of users, and it’s easy to see why. It has an intuitive user interface, and most importantly, it’s free — sort of. The user interface makes it easy to use and search for your favorite podcasts, and it includes all the essential features and more by default. Episodes can easily be organized by season and downloaded manually and even automatically.
Pocket Casts offers speed controls, the ability to trim silence, a volume booster, and like most apps, the option to set a sleep timer. The only downside of the app is that you’ll have to pay a modest $1 / month to get 10GB of cloud storage, and, most importantly, the option to use the desktop and web apps. The subscription will also provide you access to themes, and a few additional features that could make it an ideal alternative that could support the developers.
2 Audible
There’s more than audiobooks on the service
Audible might not be the first choice for many users, as many people associate the service with audiobooks. However, the Amazon-owned service has been pushing podcasts more in recent years, making it a viable alternative to YouTube Podcasts. The service even has a few exclusive shows that are only available on this platform, and it’s a perfectly suitable alternative.
If you’re already an Audible user, you’ll get access to thousands of Podcast channels and even more episodes. The app lets you fast-forward and go back 30 seconds, change the speed, set a timer, and bookmark, and it even has a dedicated car mode — which provides a larger user interface, ideal when traveling or commuting. It does require an Audible Plus subscription, which will also enable you to listen to audiobooks, making it an excellent alternative for avid listeners.
3 Castbox
Free and ad supported, if you’re into that
Castbox might not have the same intuitive interface as the likes of Pocket Casts, it’s simple simple enough to understand and navigate. The free version is supported by ads, still, it has all the fundamentals you might want. Users can also comment and interact with each other, creating a unique community for their favorite channels.
The free version allows you to follow 100 podcasts, which is plenty for most people. The paid version costs $5 / month and enables you to follow an unlimited number of podcast channels, removes ads, and even provides more personalized content. It’s one of the most feature-packed podcast services out there, and while it might cost more than other services, it offers even more features tailored towards power users.
4 Podcast Addict
An oldie but a goodie
Podcast Addict might have a slightly dated user interface, but it’s completely free, and comes with all the essential features you need. It has a sleep timer, advanced search features, auto-download settings, and even the ability to export and import your libraries. If you can overlook the dated design, and want to get access to your favorite shows, Podcast Addict might be an excellent alternative.
When it comes to pricing, Podcast Addict is a cost-effective alternative to other solutions. It’s completely free, and even its $0.99 / month subscription tier only adds features such as the ability to time-stamp bookmarks, playback statistics, and a few advanced audio settings. Unless you’re a power user, the free tier will provide everything you need to start listening to podcasts.
5 AntennaPod
For many, open source is the way to go
If you love open-source projects, AntennaPod might be right up your alley. It’s an open-source service that lets you see your favorite shows and episodes in an orderly fashion. The app can even surprise you with a random episode, and users can manage their downloads easily within the app.
Furthermore, the app is completely free without ads, and users can even import and export RSS feeds using URLs. It has all the basic playback settings you need on the go, such as the ability to change the playback speed, skip introductions and ending credits, and bookmark episodes.
Don’t sleep on these fantastic Podcast apps
Whether you’re looking for a free podcast app, an open-source project, a community-based platform, or a cross-platform service, there are plenty of viable alternatives to YouTube Podcasts that cost very little, or nothing at all. You might also want to check out our very own AndroidPolice podcast show, where we discuss the latest trends, smartphones, and personal experiences in even more detail.
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