Best Podcasting Apps — 2016
Reviewing the best apps for podcast listeners on the market today
Not only do we have a wide array of podcast choices these days, we also have a wealth of options to listen to them. There are dozens of free and premium podcast apps for desktop, Android and iOS. Each has its own features and benefits.
Read on to see which might be best for you.
1. Overcast
Ask podcast power listeners what their favorite app is and you’re bound to hear people raving about Overcast for iOS. Just check out it’s App store listing with 270 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews!
Overcast is beautiful and simple podcasting app that is only available on iPhone (sorry Android fans, we’ve got some great options for you below). It does a great job managing files, allowing you to create playlists based on filters or manual selections. You can customize your storage options to make sure you don’t run out of space on your phone if you fall behind in your listening, and if you’re getting real tight on space you can choose to stream episodes without ever downloading them.
One of Overcast’s coolest features is Smart Speed, which dynamically shortens silence in talk shows — perfect if you’re listening to a lot of interview format shows.
If you’re a speed listener and regularly listen to shows at 1.5x or 2x you’ll definitely see the difference in how Overcast deals with variable speeds. Test it against your current app and check out the difference.
Overcast is a premium app that is completely free — try it out and if you love it make sure you support the developer Marco with a voluntary patronage in the settings section.
2. Stitcher
Stitcher Radio for Podcasts is a free podcasting app is available on desktop, Android, and iOS. Stitcher allows you to create custom stations that will play your favorite podcasts back back.
One of Stitcher’s top features is My Front Page — this shows a combination of the shows you’ve been listening to, local podcasts and radio, top headlines and recommendations based on your listening habits. There are over 40,000 talk radio and podcast shows to choose from. You can start by checking out editor-curated lists like “Top 20 comedy show” or search by tags or keywords.
If you’re trying to discover new and interesting podcasts definitely check out Stitcher.
3. Player FM
Stuck without your phone or tablet?
Not only does Player FM have a great Android app, it can be accessed from your web browser on your desktop computer. It is also available as a free app for wearable Android devices, including the Android Wear smartwatch. Import subscriptions from other podcasting apps or add new shows by using their feed URL. The discover tool organizes podcasts in topics such as business, education, lifestyle, music, storytelling and tech. The player also has a social element; you can keep your listening private or make it public for anyone with your ID to see.
Whether you are using the web-based client or their downloadable app, the focus here is on user-friendliness. By default, feeds are fetched to Player FM’s servers, meaning that they are not taking up space on your device. The simple interface does not mean losing functions; in the deeper settings on the Android app, you can still access features like variable play speed, skipping silences and smart volume control.
4. DoggCatcher
You’ll need to pull out your wallet for this Android exclusive, but at $2.99 DoggCatcher is an awesome app for the podcast power user.
The player remembers where you were in a podcast, so you can pause a show and come back to finish later. The interface is highly customizable, to give you the look and feel that you want. You can also customize and categorize your feeds.
The app is also ChromeCast compatible, allowing you to stream audio and video to your ChromCast device. This app is frequently updated, meaning that you will always have the latest podcasting features as they come available. An active user community allows you to discover new favorite features, bug fixes and shows.
5. ShortOrange
If you like to listen on your desktop and don’t want to download anything, the browser-based ShortOrange is a great pick.
Simply register with an email address or a Facebook or Google login to start subscribing to podcasts. The app allows you to mark episodes complete so that you can keep your place when you are going through a long backlog. Search for new podcasts by title or keywords or choose from the list of popular podcasts when you sign on to the site.
Variable play speed is there, but basic; podcasts can be sped up through the player in increments between 1x and 2x. Volume is controlled by your keyboard; hit the period to turn the volume up and the comma to turn it down. This is a very basic player, but good for those who don’t want to download apps or be overburdened with a lot of features.
Bonus — Podcasts
If you have an iPhone or iPad with iOS 8 or later, you already have the Apple Podcasts app.
Podcasts can be a great choice if you are listening to podcasts for the first time and are not sure whether you want to invest the time and disk space on a new app. Choose shows from the Featured and Top Charts lists or search in the Podcasts Store for specific shows you’d like to here. The app allows you to choose whether you would like to download new episodes automatically and how many episodes should be stored offline to listen to later. There are variable speed and sleep timer settings. You can change up the order for playback and browsing.
Podcasting is surging in popularity and only likely to get bigger, be sure to test out a few different podcasting apps to find the one that gives you the listening experience you prefer.
Did we miss your favorite podcasting app? Drop a comment below and let us know what you’re using and why you love it.
