They say video killed radio apps, and that was absolutely true in the early 1980s, when we got rid of radio and became TV-only zombies. Thirty years later, radio was reborn in the form of podcasts.
Podcasting became popular in late 2004, but ten years later, with the successful podcast series of 2014, we analyzed the best apps on the market to find the ideal podcast addict, but what is the real difference between each app and how to choose the best one for you.
Free Apps
If you’re on a student budget and don’t have the extra money to pay for your podcast addiction, try Stitcher Radio. This on-demand radio service focuses on news, informational radio, and podcasts and is available for Android and iOS. Since Stitcher Radio is free, it includes the inevitable ads, but it still features some of the biggest names in podcasting. Founded in 2008, the company has received praise and was one of TechCrunch’s top 20 apps. The app lets you access news while you’re online, and if you have specific interests, you can set notifications on your device. The app lets you create your own stations and playlists for any situation.
Overcast, another free app, is easy to use. It’s great and perfect for casual listeners. It’s only available for iOS; you can download it on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. There are a lot of great features, like Smart Speed, that eliminate long pauses in the radio, saving you valuable time and ensuring a seamless listening experience. Voice Boost ensures that you hear all shows at the same volume, so you don’t have to waste time constantly adjusting them. You can also create smart playlists with filters, priorities, and sorting rules. Another useful feature is that Overcast lets you stream episodes if you prefer not to download them, which is a plus for those with limited space on their devices.
Seamless User-Friendly Interface
If you like intuitive and attractive interfaces, there are some great apps that will meet your needs. Pocket Casts is a great way to find and download popular podcasts. Available for $3.99 on Android and iOS, it has a modern and technologically advanced interface that allows you to sync your subscriptions and preferences across all your devices. Additional options let you manage your download preferences, which is useful when you have limited data. Pocket Casts offers both video and audio podcasts, and you can easily search for new podcasts. It has tabs for popular podcasts, featured podcasts, and most popular podcasts, as well as a search box so users can search for specific shows. The $3.99 download fee is a one-time fee, so once you download the app, you’ll have full access to features like volume boost, which increases the volume of your playback without changing your device’s volume.
The BeyondPod app is known for its impressive interface and unlimited podcast selection. It’s free for Android in its basic version, but the premium version costs $6.99, which includes a variety of volume settings. You can configure the app to schedule new podcast downloads at times that work best for you so you don’t miss an episode of your favorite shows. You’ll also have access to smart playlists that let you create a queue of shows in the order that best fits your schedule. So, if you want to listen to them before bed, you can set the app to stop playing them after a predetermined amount of time or automatically delete episodes after listening.
For the Apple Lovers
If you’re a loyal Apple fan, the Downcast app offers excellent features and download options for your iPhone. It has a sleek interface and unique features that enhance your download experience. The app lets you search for and subscribe to audio and video podcasts. If you subscribe to a podcast episode, the app automatically adds the latest episode to your playlist. You’ll have the option to download the most recent episodes or mark new ones for streaming and saving space by downloading them instead. One of the most valuable features is gesture support, which is very useful if you’re searching elsewhere. Whether you’re in bed or on the go, you can use gestures to change playback, skip forward or backward in a podcast, and mark an episode as played or unplayed
If you’re new to podcasts, Castro ($4.99 for iOS) is a good option. It’s also useful if you don’t have a lot of podcasts to keep. The app offers features like continuous playback, various data management settings, a sleep timer, and gestures that make it easy to manage them on the go. The app also lets you skip downloading and playing podcasts, which is useful if you’re short on space on your device. The app has a simple interface with a night mode.
As you probably know, iCatcher is another iPhone-only podcast app. It syncs podcasts and is a cheaper alternative for all your Apple devices at $1.99, making it a more affordable option. iCatcher has an intuitive podcast search interface that makes it easy to find hidden podcasts thanks to advanced search technology, including four different playback speeds. It also supports both large and small podcasts.
For the Die-Hard Android User
If Apple products aren’t your cup of tea, the DoggCatcher podcast app might be perfect for you. Available exclusively for Android for just $2.99, the app lets you do simple searches to find new podcasts, which are divided into three sections: audio, video, and news. The app has been around for a long time, which proves that it’s still a trend. Some of its great features include the ability to adjust the size of the audio player and a handy sleep timer for those who prefer to fall asleep while listening to audio. The app also lets you control the playback speed. It has no in-app purchases, so for $2.99, you’re getting a great deal.
Another great app for Android users is Podcast & Radio Addict, which is completely free. It’s compatible with Pebble, AR, and Android Auto devices. It lets you listen to audio and video podcasts, as well as your favorite radio station, which is very convenient if you’re a radio fan.
If you like this completely free app, then this is for you. This completely free app includes your favorite radio player, which is connected to the radio player. It also connects to the Google Play app, so it can be activated by voice, which is a big advantage if you are usually busy.
Technology has advanced. Each of these apps has competitive features that will likely meet your expectations, no matter which one you choose. Whether you use Apple or Android, the prices are so low that you won’t spend all your money and will be subscribed to countless podcasts and shows.
