The Best Podcast Apps for Android of 2024
Written by: BestApp.com App Testing Team - Updated: Mar 11, 2022
For Android users who enjoy listening to podcasts, we recommend downloading Pocket Casts as it offers exceptional playback, search, and discovery features alongside a robust content library and great customization tools. But if Pocket Casts doesn’t suit your needs, we found nine other great podcast apps to check out. Here are the 10 best podcast apps for Android.
Top 10 Podcast Apps for Android to Try
- Pocket Casts — Top Pick
- Google Podcasts — Best Free Podcast App
- Spotify — Best for Music & Podcasts
- Podcast Addict — Most Customizable Podcast App
- Castbox — Most Variety
- Anchor — Best for Making Podcasts
- TuneIn Radio — Best for Radio
- Podbean — Best for Live Shows
- SoundCloud — Best for Supporting Independent Creators
- PlayerFM — Best Offline Podcast Player
How We Chose the Best Podcast Apps for Android
To create our list of the 10 best podcast apps, we focused on a selection of important features that help users personalize their listening experience and even create their own podcasts. The best podcast apps should offer customizable playlists, variable speed playback tools, podcast analytics, and podcast hosting services.
Choose the podcast app that’s right for you
Depending on your needs, some of these podcast apps may be a better option for you than others. Pocket Casts and Google Podcasts are great for users who want access to a large library of podcasts with powerful playback tools, while apps like Podbean and Anchor are great for users wanting to record and host their own podcasts. We recommend trying out several apps for yourself to find the best one for you.
Download podcasts for offline listening
Most popular podcast apps allow users to download podcasts for offline listening. This is a great feature for commuters as it ensures you can listen to your podcasts uninterrupted if your connection drops.
Our Podcast Apps for Android Reviews
Pocket Casts — Top Pick
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Pocket Casts is one of the most popular podcast apps available on Android thanks to its large content library, powerful playback features, and great customization tools. Users can browse podcasts, get curated recommendations for easy discovery, and customize their app with different themes. One of the app’s more unique features is its automatic playback queue, which builds a playlist from your favorite shows, so you always have something to listen to next. To improve playback, you can trim silence, change playback speed, jump between chapters, skip intros, and more. You can set up auto downloads for your favorite shows, and Pocket Casts supports CarPlay, AirPlay, Chromecast, and Sonos, making it easy to listen to your favorite shows wherever you are.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Plus: $0.99/month
- Support available: Email, Support Articles
| Pocket Casts Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Great discovery features | No hosting services |
| Powerful playback tools | No custom playlists |
| Automatic playlists | |
Google Podcasts — Best Free Podcast App
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Google Podcasts is a completely free-to-use podcast app that makes it easy to customize your listening experience. The app features a robust content library, and if your favorite show isn’t already included on the platform, you can add it via RSS feed. You can discover new shows with episode recommendations based on your preferences or by browsing popular shows in different genres. Google Podcasts also features the unique Your News Update smart audio playlist, which features timely news chosen just for you. Users can take advantage of powerful playback tools like variable playback speed and silence trimming to customize their listening experience and can also auto download episodes for offline listening.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: None
- Support available: Email, Help Center, Community Help
| Google Podcasts Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Great playback tools | No analytics |
| Curated recommendations | No hosting |
| Create custom playlists | |
Spotify — Best for Music & Podcasts
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Spotify is the best all-in-one option for users who enjoy listening to both podcasts and music. Instead of juggling multiple apps, users can subscribe to Spotify to instantly stream countless songs, albums, and podcasts spanning a variety of genres and categories. You can enjoy playlists made just for you, generate radio stations based on your favorite artists, and browse community playlists to discover new artists. Spotify also hosts thousands of podcasts, including originals that are only available on Spotify. The app offers a free ad-supported version, and users can upgrade to Premium for an ad-free listening experience and the option to download songs and podcasts for offline listening.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Individual: $9.99/month; Duo: $12.99/month; Family: $15.99/month; Student: $4.99/month
- Support available: Email, Help Center, FAQs, Community
| Spotify Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Stream music and podcasts | No hosting services |
| Curated playlists | Free version is ad-supported |
| Offline listening | |
Podcast Addict — Most Customizable Podcast App
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★
With over 10 million downloads, Podcast Addict is one of the most popular and customizable podcast apps for Android. The app features more customization options than other podcast apps on our list, including the ability to manage podcasts, YouTube channels, radio stations, RSS news feeds, and more from a single app. You can customize your experience further by creating custom playlists, using different settings for different podcasts, setting alarm clocks to wake up to your favorite podcasts, customizing the theme, using widgets, and more. Podcast Addict also features powerful playback tools like variable speed playback, volume boost, silence trimming, shuffle mode, and sleep timers.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Premium: $0.99/month
- Support available: Email, FAQs
| Podcast Addict Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Very customizable | No podcast hosting |
| Manage everything from podcasts to audiobooks | |
| Flexible playback features | |
Castbox — Most Variety
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Castbox is a feature-rich podcast app that offers users access to unique content they won’t find on other podcast apps. Aside from podcasts, Castbox’s unique content offerings include audiobooks, FM radio, white noise, fan noises, guided meditations, and livestreams. Castbox features a great selection of popular podcasts covering various topics, ranging from news and politics to music and TV shows. The app’s intuitive podcast player includes features like variable speed playback, daily top podcast lists, volume boost, device syncing, CarPlay support, and sleep timers. Castbox also features a podcast community where users can follow other users and interact with fans of their favorite shows.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Premium: $0.99/month
- Support available: Email, FAQs/Help Center
| Castbox Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Great variety of content | Free version includes ads |
| Powerful and intuitive podcast player | |
| Podcast community | |
Anchor — Best for Making Podcasts
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
While most of the apps on our list function primarily as podcast players, Anchor is the only one dedicated to helping users make and host their own podcasts. Developed by Spotify, Anchor lets users record audio with other users; add full tracks, background music, and sounds directly from Spotify; edit audio; and manage recorded episodes. When you’re ready to publish your podcast, the app helps you distribute it across major listening apps, and you can view analytics to track your growth. Anchor also provides 100% free hosting services, making it a great option for people new to making podcasts. With Ads by Anchor, you can also earn money every time someone listens to your show.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: None
- Support available: Email, Help Center, Ticket
| Anchor Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Record and edit podcasts | No built-in podcast player |
| Distribution support | |
| Free podcast hosting | |
TuneIn Radio — Best for Radio
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
TuneIn Radio is the best option on our list for users who enjoy listening to live radio shows. Unlike any other app on our list, TuneIn Radio gives you access to 100,000 global radio stations, making it easy to listen to live sports, news, and music. You can listen to breaking news with no ads, and aside from radio, TuneIn also hosts a great selection of popular podcasts that users can stream on demand. You can access most of the app’s content for free, and with a Premium subscription you can listen to curated music stations with no commercial breaks, live home sports broadcasts, and more.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Premium: $9.99/month
- Support available: Email, Help Center
| TuneIn Radio Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| 100,000 global radio stations | Doesn’t offer variable speed playback |
| Great selection of popular podcasts | No podcast hosting services |
| Live sports | |
Podbean — Best for Live Shows
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Podbean is a popular and high-quality podcast player and audio livestream app available on Android and iOS. You can use the app to search, download, and listen to your favorite podcasts, live shows, radio stations, and audiobooks at any time. You can browse trending podcasts to discover new shows and get curated recommendations based on your listening history. Unlike other podcast apps, Podbean also offers a selection of free bestselling and classic audiobooks. When listening to live audio shows, users can engage with hosts, talk to other listeners, call in to share their thoughts, and send gifts to hosts. For creators, Podbean also includes a podcast recorder with powerful post-production tools.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Unlimited Audio: $9/month; Unlimited Plus: $29/month; Business: $99/month
- Support available: Email, Help Center/FAQs, Ticket
| Podbean Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Engaging live shows | Requires subscription for ad-free experience |
| Built-in podcast recording and editing tools | |
| Great discovery features | |
SoundCloud — Best for Supporting Independent Creators
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
SoundCloud is a streaming platform mostly popular for listening to music from independent artists and creators, but it also offers users access to a great selection of podcasts. With the free version, users can listen to more than 100 million tracks and shows from new and established artists and view custom recommendations based on listening history. You can connect with friends, comment on tracks, and interact with artists directly. Unlike other apps on our list, with a SoundCloud Go or Go+ subscription, listeners can support their favorite creators directly as a percentage of all subscription revenue is split with SoundCloud creators.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: SoundCloud Go: $4.99/month; SoundCloud Go+: $9.99/month
- Support available: Email, Help Center, Ticket
| SoundCloud Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Listen to millions of songs and podcasts free | No variable speed playback |
| Interact with community members and creators | |
| Support creators with subscription revenue | |
PlayerFM — Best Offline Podcast Player
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
PlayerFM is the best offline podcast player on Android. The app lets users browse, stream, and download more than 20 million free podcasts. While other podcast apps also provide an offline listening experience, PlayerFM stands out thanks to its Space Saver feature, which compresses downloaded episodes without sacrificing audio quality so you can store more podcast episodes on your device. You can also sync your account across your devices, like and share your favorite podcast episodes, discover what’s trending, customize your theme, and set sleep timers for nighttime listening.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Premium: $3.99/month
- Support available: Email, Help Center/FAQs
| PlayerFM Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Space Saver reduces file sizes | No podcast analytics |
| Syncs across devices | Doesn’t provide hosting services |
| Sleep timers | |
Podcast Apps for Android: Features Summary Table
| Podcast Apps for Android Comparison Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| App | Subscription Fees or In-App Purchases | Features |
| Pocket Casts — Top Pick | Plus: $0.99/month | X Custom Playlists ✓ Variable Speed Playback X Analytics X Hosting |
| Google Podcasts — Best Free Podcast App | None | ✓ Custom Playlists ✓ Variable Speed Playback X Analytics X Hosting |
| Spotify — Best for Music & Podcasts | Individual: $9.99/month Duo: $12.99/month Family: $15.99/month Student: $4.99/month |
✓ Custom Playlists ✓ Variable Speed Playback ✓ Analytics X Hosting |
| Podcast Addict — Most Customizable Podcast App | Premium: $0.99/month | ✓ Custom Playlists ✓ Variable Speed Playback ✓ Analytics X Hosting |
| Castbox — Most Variety | Premium: $0.99/month | ✓ Custom Playlists ✓ Variable Speed Playback ✓ Analytics ✓ Hosting |
| Anchor — Best for Making Podcasts | None | ✓ Custom Playlists ✓ Variable Speed Playback ✓ Analytics ✓ Hosting |
| TuneIn Radio — Best for Radio | Premium: $9.99/month | ✓ Custom Playlists X Variable Speed Playback ✓ Analytics X Hosting |
| Podbean — Best for Live Shows | Unlimited Audio: $9/month Unlimited Plus: $29/month Business: $99/month |
✓ Custom Playlists ✓ Variable Speed Playback ✓ Analytics ✓ Hosting |
| SoundCloud — Best for Supporting Independent Creators | SoundCloud Go: $4.99/month SoundCloud Go+: $9.99/month |
✓ Custom Playlists X Variable Speed Playback ✓ Analytics ✓ Hosting |
| PlayerFM — Best Offline Podcast Player | Premium: $3.99/month | ✓ Custom Playlists ✓ Variable Speed Playback X Analytics X Hosting |