Podcasts are a major source of entertainment, allowing you to learn about new things or just follow the lives of your favorite entertainers. But which free apps are the best for finding and listening to podcasts?
Here’s our list of the best free podcast apps you can try out today.
Let’s start with the obvious—Spotify. This app offers more than seemingly endless music; you can also find all the podcasts you can dream of and then some. It’s especially useful if you want to listen to podcasts on your mobile device but also your computer.
It’s also a popular app for podcasters, meaning that you should be able to find the shows you’re interested in unless they’re platform-exclusive.
Spotify is free to download, but there is a paid version with a Spotify Premium subscription. While the base plan is priced at $10.99, there are ways to save on your Spotify Premium subscription.
Download: Spotify for Android | iOS | macOS | Windows (Free, subscription available)
If you’re an iPhone user, Apple Podcasts might be your go-to solution for a podcast app. You can listen to podcasts for free on the app (with ads), but some publishers also offer premium benefits for a monthly subscription fee.
The app also curates and recommends podcasts for you to listen to. Since it’s solely focused on podcasts, it’s also quite user-friendly without the clutter that comes with apps that host multiple types of audio content.
Download: Apple Podcasts for iOS (Free, subscription available)
If you’re looking for an ad-free experience that doesn’t require a monthly subscription, AntennaPod is an open-source podcast player available for Android.
The app doesn’t insert ads into the podcasts like many other free podcast apps, but you may still encounter ads that are part of the actual podcast. For example, Grim & Mild podcasts often include ads for other shows within the network.
The audio quality is good and the app includes useful features like the ability to download shows to listen to offline. When choosing to add a podcast, you can also explore the Discover section to find new shows to listen to.
With its clean and simple interface, it also makes a useful alternative to Google Podcasts, which has been discontinued.
Download: AntennaPod for Android (Free)
Pocket Casts is an easy-to-use podcast-specific platform. It works well with smart speakers, so if you have Sonos or Alexa ones at home, you can enjoy your podcast around the house with no problem.
It also has excellent filters that you can manage and find exactly what you’re looking for. There are filters like Top Casts, Morning Run, and Daily Grind. So, whatever you’re doing, the platform will help you find an appropriate podcast to enjoy. You can even create custom filters.
Pocket Casts is free, but it also offers the Pocket Casts Plus service that grants certain perks to members. Plus subscribers get access to desktop apps, cloud storage, new themes, and more.
Download: Pocket Casts for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
Audible is a great place to find podcasts, among other goodies. I would suggest it over using Amazon Music as it appears to be available in more regions in comparison.
You can download Audible free-of-charge and listen to the free podcasts to your heart’s content. You don’t need to get a subscription to enjoy them. However, it’s worth considering an Audible Plus membership if you want to listen to Audible Original podcasts.
Audible is a useful app if you want to keep your audiobooks and podcasts in one place. However, the user interface can be a bit cluttered when trying to switch between audiobooks and podcasts.
Download: Audible for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
Player FM is a podcast platform that allows you to both stream and download your favorite shows. It offers a library of over 20 million podcasts and videos, so you’re not likely to get bored quickly.
Player FM is free to download. However, if you want to avoid getting ads, you can get a Premium Subscription. If you have a Google Play Pass subscription, you can also use the app with no ads or in-app purchases.
If you like to discover new podcasts, Player FM makes it easy to do so. However, its notifications and popups can also be distracting for users who want a more streamlined app.
Download: Player FM for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
Castbox is a dedicated podcast platform that has a focus on podcast discovery, similar to Player FM. It allows you to enjoy podcasts either by streaming or downloading them. One of its best features is the ability to import your subscriptions from another podcast app if the old app supports OPML exports.
It offers an extensive library and a ton of variety in categories. You can enjoy Castbox for free (with ads embedded in the app) or subscribe to a Premium plan for an ad-free experience.
Download: Castbox for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
YouTube Music has made it easier to discover podcasts on the platform and add them to your library, making it a useful cross-platform podcast app that you can use for free.
Expect interruptions from ads unless you have a YouTube Premium subscription which will give you an ad-free experience. While YouTube Music isn’t dedicated to podcasts, it is one of the easiest apps to export your old Google Podcasts subscriptions to.
However, when trying out the app I noticed a few of the podcasts I am able to find on other platforms weren’t available. This included Vox’s Unexplainable and Grim & Mild’s Noble Blood. But you can also add a podcast using an RSS feed link.
Of the podcasts I did find, some of the episode lists were not up-to-date with the most recent episodes. I would mostly suggest YouTube Music for its convenience factor if you already use the service.
Hopefully one of these apps will provide you with the podcast experience you need. Despite being free, they are feature-packed and you’re sure to find something that suits your taste.
