There are thousands of podcasts on various topics and multitudes of ways to listen to them. Android users have a lot of options to tune in on their smartphones.

The right app for you has the topics you’re interested in and the features you need (such as playback speed controls). We’ve compiled the ten best podcast apps for Android users.

Our list includes those with live and on-demand radio, audiobooks, expert curation, and loads of podcasts that you can listen to whether you’re online or off. 

Podcast Addict - Best for Multitaskers

Podcast Addict is for audio enthusiasts who love not just podcasts, but radio, audiobooks, video, music, and tracking RSS news feeds.

  • Users can filter playlists by type, such as episodes in progress.

  • The interface is customizable; three themes available.

  • Making playlists isn’t straightforward.

Pocket Casts - For the Meticulous

If you want to manage all aspects of playback, Pocket Casts offers an array of controls. These include speed controls, trim silence (remove dead space between episodes), and volume boost (increase the podcast volume without upping the phone’s overall sound).

  • Lots of controls for audio and video settings.

  • Can filter episodes by download status, release date, favorites, and more.

  • A sleep timer lets you listen to podcasts as you drift off​.

  • The app costs $4, and there’s no free trial.

Castbox - For Story Lovers:

Castbox offers engaging stories in a few forms: podcasts, on-demand radio, and audiobooks. The app provides suggestions on new content to listen to and allows for downloading material to playback offline.

  • Loads of content and an uncluttered interface.

  • Easy to discover new shows and audiobooks.

  • The app might slow down your phone or delete content after updating, according to many Google Play store reviews.

Player FM Podcast App - A Curated Approach

Player FM has hundreds of curated and themed lists of podcasts that users can follow to get content related to their interests. It also has features such as playlists, favorites, and a play later option that automatically downloads selected episodes when you connect to Wi-Fi.

  • Subscription feature makes finding new podcasts and episodes easy.

  • The app’s recommendations are well-targeted.

  • Continuous play gets in the way of bingeing on a podcast​ since it cycles through new episodes from all of your favorite shows.

Stitcher Podcast Player - Best for Original Content

Stitcher is like a lot of the podcast apps on this list, but it also specializes in exclusive and original content. For example, Marvel’s Wolverine: The Long Night is available only on Stitcher Premium ($4.99 monthly or $2.92 per month billed annually). Premium plans also give you Stitcher’s original content and hundreds of comedy albums.

  • You don’t need a premium account to manage your favorite podcasts, create playlists, and get recommendations.

  • The month-to-month premium account is pricey (about $60 per year).

  • It’s hard to get podcast episodes to play sequentially.

Spotify - For Music Lovers

While Spotify is mainly considered a music app, it has a library of podcasts dedicated to many subjects including comedy, storytelling, news, entertainment, and more.

  • Convenient to have one app for tunes and podcasts.

  • The app doesn’t carry many popular podcasts that are available on other platforms.

RadioPublic: Free Podcast App for Android - Excellent for Creatives

Founded in part by PRX (public radio exchange), a media company that distributes public radio programming including This American Life, RadioPublic promotes podcasts and generates revenue for creators. Podcasters retain rights to their shows and can get paid when you tune in.

  • No login necessary.

  • Promotes small-scale podcasts that may otherwise not get attention.

  • Your favorite podcasts may not be available on the app.

TuneIn - Best for Radio Lovers:

TuneIn, in addition to podcasts, also has an array of radio stations, and a premium account gives you play-by-play coverage of live sports.

  • Offers both streaming radio and podcasts and a slew of sports content.

  • Only podcasts can be listened to when offline.

SoundCloud Music & Audio - Great for Music-Themed Podcasts

SoundCloud is best known for music streaming, but it also hosts podcasts, many of which are about music.

  • Perfect platform for analyzing the music you enjoy, and discovering new artists.

  • No podcasts about topics other than music.

DoggCatcher Podcast Player - For Tinkerers and the Security-Obsessed

DoggCatcher has all sorts of advanced features including auto-cleanup for imported audio, variable playback speeds, and lots of customization.

  • Can password-protect feeds.

  • Has an array of tools for audio enthusiasts.

  • Can import feeds from a variety of sources.

  • Only a paid option ($2.99) and no free trial.

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