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It’s official: Google is shutting down Google Podcasts as of April 2, 2024, adding the app to the pile of dead Google services and leaving many Android users without their podcatcher of choice. iOS users aren’t doing much better either. While Apple Podcasts has improved a bit lately, especially with the introduction of automatic transcripts in iOS 17.4, they’ve never recovered from the disastrous overhaul they experienced in 2021.
Fortunately, podcasts are still extremely popular, and there are more great podcast managers on Android and iOS than ever before. Read on to discover your best option for managing podcasts on your mobile devices—and consider a few backup suggestions if you’re looking for a newer podcast app experience.
Pocket Casts is a podcast app
Credit: Pocket Casts
Platforms: Free on iOS and Android; Plus subscription ($40 per year) or Premium subscription ($100 per year) on iOS, Apple Watch, Android, Mac, Windows and web.
Pocket Casts combines almost all the useful features found in almost every other podcast manager, plus plenty of unique ones. The app also delivers them through a sleek, easy-to-use interface—and best of all, it’s free (though paying for a membership does get you some extra perks).
A few features that stand out include audio enhancement capabilities: a built-in “volume boost” makes it easier to hear people’s voices while reducing background music or noise; “trim silences” cuts long pauses; and you can adjust the playback speed anywhere from 0.5x to 3x (and it doesn’t affect the pitch).
Credit: Joel Cunningham
Pocket Casts users can sync their subscriptions and play position across multiple devices, and the app has powerful options for finding new podcasts (including the ability to search by episode), so you can find all the podcasts that covered a certain topic, and view your listening history. You can also play third-party media files stored on your device and set sleep timers to pause your podcast when you listen to it before bed.
While the free version is packed with features, it’s not perfect. For example, the playlist and filter options could be more robust. You can queue a playlist or filter your podcast subscriptions and list of downloaded episodes using a small selection of preset categories, but you can’t sort your subscriptions by topic or create your own self-updating playlists. Considering how many features Pocket Casts packs in, it’s odd that it lacks this type of customization.
Despite that nagging problem, I love how Pocket Casts looks and feels. Not only does the app cover all the basics, but it also has a few customizable gesture options (like setting your left finger to archive episodes) and even a dark theme.
The free version of Pocket Casts is available on Android and iOS and includes all the features I’ve discussed so far, but there’s also a premium Pocket Casts Plus option if you want access to more features and wider device support. For $40 a year, Plus subscribers get access to the Mac, Windows, web, and standalone Apple Watch versions of Pocket Casts, plus 20GB of cloud storage that can be accessed on all your connected devices. If you really If you like the app, you can also sign up for a Patron membership ($100 per year) that increases your cloud storage and gives you early access to new features.
The best of the rest
While PocketCasts remains my recommendation for Android and iOS, I’ve selected a handful of alternatives that deserve recognition for their reliability and features in case PocketCasts doesn’t suit your needs. I’ve included both Android and iOS apps, although some are only available on one platform.
Procast (Android/iOS)
Procast is a great choice if you like to tweet or share your thoughts on your favorite shows. The built-in clip feature allows you to clip a portion of a podcast as an attachment to a tweet or text. It also has a handy “swipe to inbox” feature that lets you add episodes to your queue with a simple swipe. Procast is a solid choice for iOS and Android users.
Overcast (iOS)
Overcast is an iOS-exclusive app that packs a ton of features, including Apple Watch support. You get playback controls like adjustable playback speeds, volume boost, and auto-cut silence, and the app automatically saves your place when you stop listening to the end. Overcast also lets you create custom playlists in a few taps or listen to every podcast you’ve downloaded in a continuous stream. There are also welcome quality-of-life options like the ability to add Siri shortcuts and customize the controls of the headset, remote and car dashboard. The main drawbacks are its poor visibility for new shows, and the free version is supported by ads, but you can pay $10 a year to remove them and unlock other features like sideloading audio files saved on your iPhone. You can download Overcast from the iOS App Store.
Podcast addict (Android)
Podcast Addict is a free Android app packed with handy features like customizable playlists and customizing unique listening preferences per podcast. You can also prioritize your favorite shows to listen to and even rate and review episodes in the app, much like you can with Apple Podcasts. In addition to the millions of podcasts available in the app, Podcast Addict also features over 120,000 radio stations and over 20,000 audiobooks. It also supports Android Auto and Chromecast. The free version shows ads (just a simple banner ad on certain screens), while the premium version costs $0.99 per month or $9.99 per year and gives extra features like playlist widgets and additional app themes. You can download Podcast Addict from the Google Play Store.