I deleted Spotify and upgraded my podcast listening with these 5 apps

Abstract

Downcast gives customization and a one-time price, whereas offering an organized interface for podcast lovers.
Overcast options distinctive customization choices like Good Pace and sharing clips to reinforce your podcast expertise.
Pocket Casts stands out with organized options, incremental pace adjustment, and straightforward transition between audio and video podcasts.

If you happen to’re a podcast fan, you possible have a favourite podcast app. It might be the one one you have ever tried, as a result of if it is handled you nicely to this point, there is no have to mess with an excellent factor. However what you could not understand is that there are higher choices on the market. That is particularly true in case you’ve solely ever used Apple Podcasts.

Apple Podcasts is the built-in podcast app for iPhone users. Hottest podcasts can be found on the platform, however it has its drawbacks — like a cleared queue when the app is closed and a lackluster person interface. If these points pushed you towards Spotify, you are not alone. With tens of millions of songs and podcast episodes, Spotify has change into a go-to platform for each music and podcasts.

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Nevertheless, you continue to do not get one of the best expertise out of it with out paying a price, and never all podcasts can be found on Spotify. To not point out, the app is overwhelming at occasions. Relatively than utilizing both of those two in style choices, there are fairly just a few different podcast apps you need to use on an iPhone as a substitute. This is a listing of a few of the finest to get you pondering outdoors the field.

1 Downcast

A one-time price and a ton that comes with it

Downcast / Pocket-lint

It’s a must to pay $3 for an preliminary buying price, however after that, Downcast is free so that you can use. There is not any subscription price like there may be if you’d like something apart from the essential plan for Spotify.

Downcast allows you to obtain each audio and video podcasts to your iPhone, and you may as well manually subscribe to podcasts or seek for them within the search bar. If you happen to actually like a podcast, you possibly can set it to robotically obtain new episodes.

Probably the greatest options is you can set it to begin a podcast a sure variety of seconds into the episode. This is useful when you realize a present sometimes has two to a few advertisements earlier than it begins. It’s also possible to rename podcast titles to retailer them extra simply in your organized lists.

Downcast

Downcast is a podcast app with a user-friendly interface and options that provide customization to customers. You possibly can rename podcast titles and set episodes to begin at sure occasions.

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2 Overcast

Overcast / Pocket-lint

Overcast is written by a single individual, which not solely provides it an impartial really feel but in addition options some extra distinctive components that set it aside. You possibly can take heed to it with Good Pace, which can pace up the podcast however not distort the audio. A sleep timer robotically stops it from taking part in after the time restrict you set is hit, too.

You possibly can share as much as one-minute clips from episodes with different listeners, which makes it straightforward to spotlight your favourite moments. Good filters allow you to create customized playlists, and in case you’re not sure about committing to a full present, you possibly can subscribe to a single episode to check it out. Voice Enhance additionally makes positive all of the podcasts play on the identical quantity, so you do not have to maintain adjusting the sound whereas listening.

Overcast

Overcast is a podcast participant.Overcast is a podcast participant with distinctive options for the iPhone and different Apple units. The Good Pace options helps you get via podcasts sooner with out distorting audio.

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3 Pocket Casts

Maintain your self organized

Pocket Casts / Pocket-lint

Whereas Pocket Casts is not unique to the iPhone, it is likely one of the finest podcast apps in the marketplace. There is a free model you can begin utilizing instantly or go for the professional model at $40 per 12 months.

The group options in Pocket Casts are what set it aside — not solely is its interface tremendous easy to navigate, however it additionally simply spells out the place every function is, so you do not have to go combing via tabs. If you wish to see what’s up subsequent in your queue, it is simple to regulate with just a few straightforward faucets.

Altering the play pace between 0.5x and three.0x is fast and adjustable in 0.1x increments, which makes it straightforward to seek out the right tempo for no matter you are doing within the background. If you happen to begin a podcast in audio however need to change to video, you possibly can toggle between the 2 seamlessly. Customized skip intervals allow you to robotically skip intros, commercials, and different sections on a per-episode foundation. It is a versatile, user-friendly podcast app that delivers a strong listening expertise for everybody.

Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts is an all-encompassing podcast platform with nice options for each free and paid subscriptions. It has incremental playback pace adjustment, customization filters for organizing your podcasts, and extra.

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4 Podbean

Nice for all types of listening

Podbean / Pocket-lint

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a platform to each add your personal podcast and uncover nice ones, Podbean is a strong selection. It allows you to take heed to podcasts, stay streams, FM radio, and audiobooks multi functional app. The library has loads of filter choices, so you possibly can simply discover podcasts in the identical style as your favorites or department out and discover one thing new. You possibly can even customise playlists to group episodes collectively and play them hands-free with Siri in your iPhone.

If you happen to’re a podcaster, you possibly can report immediately within the app and add your episodes simply. Want a number of voices? Leap into a gaggle assembly and report with others. If you happen to’re tuning right into a stay stream, you possibly can have interaction with the host by sending in questions in actual time. Past being interactive, the app provides you entry to 50 million podcast episodes to discover.

Podbean

Podbean is an app for customers and podcasters. It lets you take heed to podcasts, FM radio, livestreams, audiobooks, and extra. You possibly can report a podcast or a gaggle assembly in addition to customise your playlists.

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5 Anytime Podcast Participant

Darkish design mode is straightforward to make use of

Anytime podcast player screenshot on a blue background.

Anytime Podcast Participant / Pocket-lint

The interface for Anytime Podcast Participant bodes nicely for anybody who loves Darkish Mode on their iPhone. The black background makes podcast cowl artwork pop, however that is not the one purpose to offer it a strive. As a free, open-source participant, it comes full of nice options. Downloading podcasts for offline listening is fast and straightforward, and you may immediately help your favourite exhibits utilizing the funding hyperlinks within the episode descriptions.

Extra within the description is a transcription of the present’s audio — if the present helps Podcasting 2.0 — which makes the app prepared for updates transferring ahead. With the transcripts and chapters, you possibly can skip to the elements of the podcast that you just’re most keen on. There are over 4 million free episodes to take heed to and uncover on this free app.

Anytime Podcast Participant

Anytime Podcast Participant is a free and open-source podcast participant with greater than 4 million episodes. The design exhibits chapters and transcripts, making it straightforward to get to precisely the place you could be within the episode.