Over the past couple of years, the one thing that has grown in considerable popularity thanks to people being stuck at home is podcasts. Podcasts are a great way to catch up on the news, entertainment, comedy, literature, and even niche topics like true crime all through the power of audio. There are hundreds out there with more coming in every day. So, how do you ensure that you get the best experience when you are accessing these podcast apps even while on the go? You do it through the best podcast apps smartphone list that we have.

So, dive into our article and explore the best of the lot and find one that works for you.

1. The Best Podcast Apps Smartphone List

1.1. Anchor

Use: To create podcasts

Anchor by Spotify is a podcasting platform that helps you in the creation, distribution, and monetization of your podcast. It has an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes recording your podcast a breeze. You can easily split and trim audio tracks. Another great feature is to place smart flags so that you can easily revisit sections later and then edit them later. 

Anchor also offers free hosting and distribution. So, once you upload your podcast after editing, it directly uploads it to Spotify and Apple podcasts. Anchor also gives you access to advanced analytics so that you can easily keep track of how your podcast is performing once you upload it.

Compatibility: iOS, Android & Web

Price: Free

1.2. Castbox

Use: To upload and listen to podcasts

Castbox is an application where you can upload a podcast as a podcaster and even listen to it as a listener. This application has podcasts as well as radio stations that you can listen to. To create a podcast on their app you need to create an account with them and then enter their creator studio.

The interface is fairly straightforward, all you have to do is upload your podcast. Once your podcast is live on the platform you gain access to analytics like subscribers, streams, and downloads to help you keep track of how your podcast is performing. As a podcaster, you will also find Castbox’s robust community space special as well. Listeners have the option to comment directly on your podcast and you can engage with them there. 

Compatibility: iOS, Android & Web 

Price: Free

1.3. Google Podcasts

Use: To upload and listen to podcasts

This is one that requires absolutely no introduction. Google Podcast is one of the most widely known free podcast apps in the world. If you are a listener then this is the application that you should get for your phone. The streamlined design of the app allows you to access the most popular podcasts with ease. 

As a podcaster, you will have access to the Google Podcasts Manager. Once you upload your podcast on Google you will be able to access insights like which parts of the podcast your users are dropping off at and a detailed breakdown of what devices your podcasts are being played on in addition to the standard analytics like demographics, subscriber count, and streams. Even though there is an iOS option of the application available. It is the best podcast app for android.

Compatibility: iOS, Android & Web 

Price: Free 

1.4. Pocket Casts

Use: To upload and listen to podcasts

If you listen to a lot of podcasts then the Pocket Casts app is the best podcast apps smartphone that you need to get your hands on It is a feature-rich application. You have the ability to choose exactly how many seconds your application will rewind or move forward. Another feature is to decide exactly where to start a show from. If your favourite podcast has a set introduction of 60 seconds then you can program your podcast to begin from the 60-second mark. 

This application truly shines in its search options you can browse by category as well as language, ensuring that you see only relevant search results. As a podcaster, you can get your podcast featured through the podcast producer option available on their website. 

Compatibility: iOS & Android

Price: Is Free, Subscription is $0.99/month or $9.99/ year with a 14-day free trial. 

1.5. Podbean

Use: To create podcasts 

Podbean is an all-in-one tool that helps podcasters record a podcast, and edit and upload it all within the same application. Once you record your podcast with the help of the in-app podcast recorder you can then edit your podcast. The built-in editor has tools like trim, merge and split audio to help you create your episode.

All this is one part of the application, what this particular app is famous for is the hosting. Podbean offers a free plan that allows users to upload about 5 hours of audio. Additionally, the app makes it easy for creators to monetize their podcasts. You can also link your Patreon account and get your subscribers to support you with the help of recurring payments in exchange for exclusive content. 

Compatibility: iOS, Android & Web 

Price: There is a free tier, Extra features are available for $9/month, $ 29/ month and $ 79/ month. 

1.6. Podcast Addict

Use: To listen to podcasts 

Podcast Addict has long been making waves in the podcast community thanks to its easy-to-use interface and convenient customization options. Podcast Addict features the download option right next to every episode so that you are sorted while you are on the go. The app also has an option that you can enable so that the episode that you have already heard is deleted from the application. 

Another feature that truly sets Podcast Addict apart from a large number of the best podcast apps on smartphone is the podcast discovery page. You have the option to find trending and new episodes through filters like podcast length, language, and category. 

Compatibility: Android only

Price: Free. Premium is available for $0.99/month or $9.99/year

1.7. Tune In Radio

Use: To listen to podcasts 

For the most part TuneIn Radio has focused on radio programs but they do have over four million podcasts you can pick from if you want to listen to. It is a versatile application and you get access to news, music, and sports through this app. The interface is easy to navigate as it is visually focused. 

The app is free but if you upgrade to the premium version, you get access to ad-free podcasts as TuneIn removes some commercials like the visual display advertisements and the pre-roll ads. You can fast forward or rewind your episode at 30-second intervals, set an alarm, or set a sleep timer in the application. There is also something called the “Car mode” which gives you access to a simplified menu so that you can easily change podcasts while in the car. 

Compatibility:  iOS, Android & Web 

Price: Free, Tunein Pro is $0.99

1.8. Castro

Use: To listen to podcasts 

Castro has been termed as a podcast application that just makes sense. And it truly does as one of the best podcast apps smartphone. With Castro, every new episode of your chosen podcast is added to a playlist. Once a queue is formed your podcasts will play in that order till the time you make any changes. This is special because usually when a podcast ends in other applications you have to manually select the next one that you want to hear. 

Another great feature that the application provides is the enhanced voice feature. Oftentimes you will find that certain podcasts have an extremely jarring sound. This happens because of bad-quality headphones or unbalanced editing. But with the enhanced voice feature all of this is fixed and even some quirky-sounding podcasts become listenable. 

Compatibility:  iOS Only 

Price: Free, Castro + is for $18.99/year

1.9. Player FM

Use: To upload and listen to podcasts

If you ask any podcast enthusiast about a podcast application, chances are they will mention Player FM as the best podcast apps smartphone. The application is fairly straightforward and easy to navigate. You can decide on the theme of your application as well. There are standard choices- Light /dark, but if you are looking for a particular color you can select that as well. To truly experience the application in its entirety you should get their premium subscription. 

With the premium subscription, you have the ability to create unlimited personalized playlists, the turbo fetches feature that helps your podcast show up on the user’s feed, bookmarks, and annotation to be able to return to an excerpt from a particular podcast, and of course removal of ads.   

Compatibility: iOS, Android & Web 

Price: Free, Premium available for $3.99/month or $39.99/year

1.10. Stitcher

Use: To upload and listen to podcasts

Stitcher is a sleek and straightforward application that solely focuses on podcast quality. Out of all the applications mentioned here, they have the smallest catalog but that does matter since they focus on original content. This application also focuses on diversity and inclusion. So, the moment you reach the home page you will see playlists with podcasts that put marginalized communities like women, people of color, and independent artists front and center. These are usually content pieces that might fly under the radar. 

To access all the content on the Stitcher application you need to get a premium subscription. This will help you access new episodes earlier, curb ads and also make you eligible for the monthly giveaways hosted by Stitcher. 

Compatibility: iOS and Android 

Price: Free, Premium ay $4.99/ month or $34.99/ year

2. FAQs

What is the best free podcast app for Android?

The best free podcast apps for Android are: 

• Google Podcasts
• Pocket Casts 
• Player FM

What is a good podcast player for Android?

Google Podcasts is a good podcast player for Android.

Does Android have a built-in podcast app?

Android’s version of a built-in podcast app is Google Podcasts.