They say video killed radio apps, and that was absolutely true in the early 80s, when we gave up on radio and became TV-only zombies. Thirty years later, radio was reborn in the form of podcasts.
Podcasting became popular in late 2004, but it took another decade for it to grow, with the successful podcast series of 2014. We’ve analyzed the best apps on the market to find podcast addicts, but what’s 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 cash to satisfy 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 the podcasting world. Founded in 2008, the company has received critical acclaim and been named 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 up 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 your 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 storage space on their devices.
Seamless User-Friendly Interface
If you like intuitive and attractive interfaces, there are some great apps that will suit 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 ones. It has tabs for popular, featured, and top podcasts, plus a search box so users can find 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 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 wide range of audio settings. You can configure the app to schedule new podcasts to download at the most convenient time for you so you don’t miss an episode of your favorite shows. You also have access to smart playlists, which 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 after a predetermined time, or even 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 features 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 latest episodes or mark new ones for streaming and save space by downloading them instead. One of the most valuable features is gesture support, which is very useful if you’re looking for something else. 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 just getting started with 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. It includes features like continuous playback, various data management settings, a sleep timer, and gestures that make it easy to manage on the go. The app also lets you skip downloading and playing podcasts, which is useful if you don’t have a lot of storage space on your device. The app has a simple interface with a night mode.
iCatcher, as you probably already know, is another podcast app for iPhone. It syncs podcasts and is a more affordable alternative for all your Apple devices, priced at $1.99. iCatcher has an intuitive interface for searching for podcasts, and thanks to its advanced search technology, it makes it easy to find hidden podcasts, such as those that play at four different speeds. It also supports both large and small amounts of podcasts.
For the Die-Hard Android User
If you don’t like Apple products, the DoggCatcher podcast app might be ideal. Available only on Android for just $2.99, the app lets you easily search for new podcasts, which are divided into three sections: audio, video, and news. The app has been around for a while, which shows its popularity. Some great features include the ability to adjust the size of the audio player and a handy sleep timer, which is perfect if you like to fall asleep while listening. The app also lets you control the playback speed. It has no in-app purchases, so at $2.99, it’s a great deal.
Another great app for Android users is Podcast & Radio Addict, which is completely free. It’s compatible with Pebble, Android, 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 integrated into the radio player. It also integrates with the Google app, so it can be activated with your voice, which is a big plus if you’re often busy.
Technology has come a long way. Each of these apps has competitive features that will likely meet your expectations, no matter which one you choose. Whether you’re an Apple or Android user, the prices are low enough that they won’t break the bank, and you’ll have access to countless podcasts and shows.
