Recommendation Best podcast apps

[danny la rouge]

I’ve used Podbean for a while, but it’s not great these days. It doesn’t integrate well with Apple Car Play, and loses all its useful functions when trying to do so. Which is a shame as I mainly listen to podcasts in the car.

I’m trialing Castro.

But what else is there?

• integrates well with Apple Car Play
• allows you to set up a playlist for long journeys
• isn’t clunky

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Spotify (free)

 

[danny la rouge]

Spotify (free)

I find it clunky for podcasts. But thank you.

 

[magneze]

Pocketcasts? Not sure about CarPlay but worth trying.

 

[Lord Camomile]

I'm a PocketCasts guy.

One of those where I have been for so long that I don't know if I'm missing out on amazing developments in podcasting app technology, but it works for me

You can queue up a bunch of episodes, but I don't think it has 'saved playlists', as such. So as long as you're happy queuing everything up as you set off (you can move them about in the queue), then you're grand.

 

[Crispy]

On iphone, Overcast is probably the best regarded 3rd-party podcast app. It's just had a major rewrite so might be missing a feature or two.
On Android, Pocket Casts.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I've had podcast addict installed for years now - it works OK for what I need. No idea whether it can be synced to a car though.

 

[Elpenor]

Sounds like I’m doing podcasts wrong by using the iPhone app provided rather than something else

My car doesn’t allow Bluetooth except for calls so use the aux for listening, but much prefer music when driving anyway

 

[xenon]

I just use the default iPhone app not sure what I’m missing out on. I can subscribe to Podcasts, they’re in there, I can play them. What else is there.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

There is no wrong.
Just different.

It's all about personal preference and usage patterns with this kind of thing.

The OP finds some apps don't suit them. Same for me. The main thing is you find it easy to use and can listen to what you want to listen to.

As always, try the free ones first, use reputable app stores etc etc

 

[shifting gears]

Switched to Pocket Casts recently from the Apple app, as I was finding when I tried to resume podcasts I was halfway through they often weren’t loading and just giving the ‘spinning wheel’ which was highly annoying. PC seems good so far

 

[Throbbing Angel]

OT: Can any pocket casts users confirm how good this 'trim silence' facility is?

 

[Crispy]

OT: Can any pocket casts users confirm how good this 'trim silence' facility is?

It works as advertised and you don't notice it, but it doesn't save you a ton of time unless it's a particularly slow speaker. I just tested it on medium on a scripted, single speaking voice, no music podcast and it saved a grand total of 14 seconds over ten minutes of source material.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

It works as advertised and you don't notice it, but it doesn't save you a ton of time unless it's a particularly slow speaker. I just tested it on medium on a scripted, single speaking voice, no music podcast and it saved a grand total of 14 seconds over ten minutes of source material.

Cheers for that - very kind.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Happened across this [Neuecast] on my internet travels danny la rouge
Looks like it is iOS only, but I assume you're on an iPhone after mentioning Apple Car Play.

• Neuecast. I actually like the new Overcast design, but evidently, not everyone’s a fan. And if, for whatever reason, you’re looking for a new podcast app, this is a gorgeous, simple one that’s remarkably full-featured for being so new. I’ve been testing it for months, and it’s been good basically the whole time.

from: The app for taking better photos — with no AI

 

[danny la rouge]

Happened across this [Neuecast] on my internet travels danny la rouge
Looks like it is iOS only, but I assume you're on an iPhone after mentioning Apple Car Play.

• Neuecast. I actually like the new Overcast design, but evidently, not everyone’s a fan. And if, for whatever reason, you’re looking for a new podcast app, this is a gorgeous, simple one that’s remarkably full-featured for being so new. I’ve been testing it for months, and it’s been good basically the whole time.

from: The app for taking better photos — with no AI

I’m trying Overcast and Castro. So far Overcast has what I want. I don’t remember it before the refit, so what I don’t know isn’t harming me.

But Neucast sounds worth a punt too!

 

[farmerbarleymow]

There is no wrong.
Just different.

It's all about personal preference and usage patterns with this kind of thing.

This really. In my case it's solely inertia as the one I've got on the phone was one I first downloaded years back (two previous phones back I think), and it does what I need of it so no need to change.

 

[girasol]

I use YouTube Music, because we have a YouTube subscription. Used to be Google Podcasts, which was really good. Then that died and YT Music was offered as an alternative. This is more of a non recommendation . Hopefully it'll get better once they iron out the various issues & add functionality. For example, the ability to add podcasts via rss feed was only added in April!

YouTube Music rolls out manually adding podcasts via RSS [U]

With Google Podcasts shutting down in 2024, YouTube Music is getting the ability to add podcasts via RSS feed. This is now rolling out...

9to5google.com

But bc I listen to music there and I don't want yet another app - Imma stick with it. It's ok now I got used to it and, like I said, slowly, features are being added. I tried PocketCasts but it made my phone really hot! . Worrying! And it didn't seem that much better than YT to be honest.

p.s. I have an Android phone.

Another funcionality still missing from YT is the ability to import podcasts from *opml.xml file (this can easily be done on PocketCasts), but I've complained and requested it enough times. Hopefully it'll be there soon.