So, if you’re bored of binge-watching Youtube or want some content to listen to on the go, we’ve put together a list of the best podcast apps on the market right now.
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | PodBean | Laughable | Google Podcasts | Castbox
Spotify
Spotify is one of the world’s most popular music streaming apps, with the option to listen to songs for free, or subscribe and create your own playlists on the go.
But Spotify also has a section dedicated to podcasts. You can browse for recommendations, search for specific people or shows, subscribe to podcasts and download episodes to listen to when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi.
There are a range of topics to choose from depending on your interests - audiobooks, educational podcasts, comedy, self-help, and more. Celebrities and non-celebrities alike create and host their own podcasts on the platform.
One feature that’s sadly missing is push-notifications for when new episodes are released. Still though, Spotify is a great podcast app thanks to its massive library and ease-of-use.
Subscription cost
- Option for free membership
- Subscription: £9.99 per month OR £4.99 per month for students
Apple Podcasts
For iOS only, Apple Podcasts is a free app that is automatically installed on all iPhones, iPads and Apple watches.
Similar to Spotify, it offers a number of stories and topics that you can listen to both online and offline. With more than 750,000 shows available to freely download, this Apple app is a solid option for those who aren’t looking to spend any money.
When you subscribe to a podcast, you’ll get notified whenever they upload a new episode, so you’ll never miss the next instalment of your favourite show.
And as with all Apple products, they work together harmoniously, so you can pick up where you left off on all compatible devices.
Subscription cost
Free
PodBean
If you’re interested in hosting podcasts as well as listening to them, then PodBean could be the app for you.
PodBean is a podcast hosting platform that also has its own app for listening to podcasts on iPhone and Android. So not only can you use this app to publish your own content, you can also explore other podcasts out there as well.
With simple technology and features, it’s never been easier to start and distribute your own audio work. You can analyse statistics to measure your success and start earning money from your podcasts.
After a decade, nearly half a million people use the PodBean platform for their podcast needs.
There are a variety of monthly plans you can choose from, depending on your wishes and budget.
Subscription cost
- Basic - Free
- Unlimited Audio - £7.21 / $9
- Unlimited Plus - £23.22 / $29
- Business - £79.27 / $99
Laughable
Available for both iOS and Android, the Laughable app focuses primarily on comedy podcasts. So if you know you prefer funny shows over any other genre, this might be the best podcast app for you.
You can subscribe to your favourite podcasts, as well as your favourite people - comedians, actors, musicians, authors, politicians, athletes and journalists - so you’ll always be the first to know when someone you like listening to has released new content. Laughable will even alert you if the person appears as a guest on another podcast.
Browse all of their profiles and download content to listen to offline, so even bad signal or lack of WiFi can’t stop you from listening to your podcasts.
Some other features like adjustable playback speed, real-time alerts, CarPlay and a sleep timer will also come in handy for personalisable listening.
Subscription cost
- Option for free membership
- Subscription: £2.39 per month / $2.99
Google Podcasts
Exclusively for Android, the Google Podcasts app was released in 2018 to give Android users their version of Apple Podcasts.
Like the other podcasts, you can browse a range of genres and topics, and subscribe to your favourite podcasts. Google will also recommend similar podcasts you might enjoy based on your preferences, so the task of finding new content to listen to won’t be as difficult.
You can customise your listening experience with adjustable playback speeds to skip over silences, speed up slower stories, or slow down fast talkers. You can also set up a queue so your next episode or show will play automatically without you wasting time searching.
All of your Android devices can work in unison, so you can listen on anything, both online and offline.
Subscription cost
Free
Castbox
Castbox can be downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play Store for both iOS and Android devices.
This popular podcast app allows you to do all of the basics: subscribe, download, play offline, adjust playback speeds, browse topics, but some of its other features set it apart from the rest.
With access to over 95 million podcasts, audiobooks, FM radio recordings, white noise, and guided meditation content, Castbox offers a wide variety of options for free.
While standard podcasts and audiobooks are a common service on other apps, not all offer the same level of meditation as Castbox. You can use the Zen mode to reduce stress and anxiety for better sleep.
There is also a large Podcast community to encourage communication between people with shared interests, and a Livecast option for live audio streaming.
You can connect Castbox to your apple watch, Car Play, and smart speakers at home.
Subscription cost
- Option for free membership
- Subscription: £0.79 per month / $0.99 for unlimited subscriptions and no ads
So if you find yourself more intrigued by audio content over reading, why not download one of these podcast apps and try it out for yourself? To really get the most out of the podcasts, take a look at our list of top smartphone headphones.
If you’re on the lookout for a new iPhone or Android to download these apps on to, you can browse a wide selection of mobile phones on our online store and find an amazing bundleto go with it!
