The best podcast app is the one that fits your phone and your listening habits: a built-in player if you like things simple, an independent player for finer control, or a cross-device app if you switch between phone and computer. Check download and auto-delete settings early. Ten listening apps follow in no particular order.
Most people stick with whichever podcast player came on their phone, and that's fine until episodes start vanishing, downloads eat storage or the queue turns into chaos. A different player won't change the shows you love, but it can change how easily you keep up with them.
These are listening apps, not hosting services for podcasters. The ten below are sorted alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the app's own website, re-checked today. If you listen while you work or revise, my list of shows to play while you study might give you something new to follow.
Podcast players compared at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site describes free listening or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated. Several free apps here also sell an optional upgrade with extra features.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| AntennaPod | Open source podcast player | Android listeners wanting no ads | Yes |
| Apple Podcasts | Built-in podcast app | iPhone, Mac and CarPlay listeners | Yes |
| Castbox | Cross-platform podcast app | One app across many devices | Yes |
| Castro | iPhone podcast player | Queue-based listening on iPhone | Yes |
| iHeart | Radio and podcast app | Live radio alongside podcasts | Yes |
| Overcast | Indie iPhone podcast player | Smart Speed playback on Apple devices | Yes |
| Pocket Casts | Cross-platform podcast player | Syncing across phone, web and wearables | Yes |
| Podurama | Multi-device podcast app | Free sync between desktop and mobile | Yes |
| Podverse | Open source podcast manager | Making and sharing clips | Yes |
| Snipd | AI podcast app for learning | Saving highlights as notes | Yes |
Ten podcast apps for listeners
AntennaPod
Best for: Built for Android listeners who want an open, volunteer-made player with no ads that subscribes to any RSS feed.
Apple Podcasts
Best for: Apple device owners who want a preinstalled app that syncs across iPhone, iPad, Mac and CarPlay, with millions of free shows.
Castbox
Best for: People who want one free app across phone, car and smart speakers, with a large catalogue of shows to browse.
Castro
Best for: Keen iPhone listeners who like to sort new episodes into a queue, starting on the free tier before deciding on Plus.
iHeart
Best for: Listeners who want live radio stations, music and podcasts together in one free app rather than switching between several.
Overcast
Best for: Apple users who want an award-winning independent player with Smart Speed and don't mind small visual ads in return for free listening.
Pocket Casts
Best for: Those who switch between phone, web and wearables and want folders, curated recommendations and a free app that syncs across all of them.
Podurama
Best for: Listening on desktop and mobile alike, with free sync across unlimited devices and search by episode as well as by show.
Podverse
Best for: Open source fans who want to make and share clips from episodes, with a free tier and a premium tier for more.
Snipd
Best for: Learners who want to capture podcast highlights with a tap and read short summaries, starting on the free plan with unlimited listening.
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Why finished episodes disappear from your phone
This one's confusing for a lot of listeners. Apple Support's page on downloading and deleting episodes says that in Apple Podcasts on iPhone and iPad, following a show downloads its newest episode automatically, and played episodes delete themselves 24 hours later unless you turn off Remove Played Downloads in Settings.
So if a player seems to lose episodes you wanted to keep, it's probably a cleanup setting doing its job. Whichever app you choose, open its download and storage settings on day one and decide how long played episodes should stay on your phone.
Setting up a podcast player in five minutes
- Pick the app that runs on every device you listen on, including your car or watch.
- Import your current shows, using an OPML file if your old player can export one.
- Set downloads to Wi-Fi only so new episodes don't drain your mobile data.
- Choose what happens to played episodes: keep them, delete them or archive them.
- Set your default playback speed and skip intervals before your next long listen.
- Build one queue for the week instead of scrolling the full list every morning.
Features that change everyday listening
- Speed and silence trimming: handy for talk shows, though music-heavy episodes can sound odd.
- Queues and inbox views: useful if you follow dozens of shows and only want some episodes.
- Cross-device sync: picks up where you left off when you move from phone to laptop.
- Clips and notes: worth having if you listen to learn and want to keep the best bits.
Before you switch podcast players
- Can you export your subscriptions if you leave later?
- Does the free version show ads, and where do they appear?
- Does it work offline on a flight or a long commute?
- Will it keep your listening position across devices?
If you listen on a smart speaker at home, my walk-through on playing podcasts through an Alexa speaker covers the voice commands and default player settings.
Do you make a podcast app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice for choosing a podcast app
If you're happy with the player on your phone, fix its download settings before you switch. Plenty of frustration comes from one setting, not the app itself.
If you're following lots of shows, try an independent player with a queue for a fortnight. If you listen across a phone, laptop and car, you'll want sync first. And if you listen to learn, choose an app that lets you save clips, because you'll forget the useful bits otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free podcast app?
Most podcast apps are free to download, and many free versions cover everything a casual listener needs. Optional upgrades usually add extras such as customisation or advanced sync.
Why do my podcast episodes keep deleting?
Many players remove played episodes automatically. Apple Support says its own app deletes played downloads after 24 hours unless you switch that setting off.
Can I move my podcasts to a new app?
Usually, yes. Many players can export and import an OPML file, which carries your subscriptions across in one go.
Do podcast apps use a lot of data?
Streaming does, so it's worth setting downloads to Wi-Fi only and download episodes before you travel.
Is there a podcast app with no ads?
Some open source players have no ads in the app itself, though the shows can still carry their own ad reads.
Can I listen to podcasts on a computer?
Yes. Several apps here work in a web browser or on desktop, and some sync your place between devices.
