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

In case you’re a podcast fan, you doubtless have a favourite podcast app. It might be the one one you have ever tried, as a result of if it is handled you properly to date, there is not any must mess with factor. However what you might not notice is that there are higher choices on the market. That is particularly true for those who’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, but it surely has its drawbacks — like a cleared queue when the app is closed and a lackluster consumer interface. If these points pushed you towards Spotify, you are not alone. With hundreds of thousands of songs and podcast episodes, Spotify has change into a go-to platform for each music and podcasts.

Nonetheless, you continue to do not get the very 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 instances. Fairly than utilizing both of those two in style choices, there are fairly a number of different podcast apps you should utilize on an iPhone as a substitute. Here is an inventory of a few of the finest to get you pondering exterior the field.

1 Downcast

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

Downcast / Pocket-lint

You must pay $3 for an preliminary buying price, however after that, Downcast is free so that you can use. There is no subscription price like there’s in order for you something aside from the essential plan for Spotify.

Downcast allows you to obtain each audio and video podcasts to your iPhone, and you too can manually subscribe to podcasts or seek for them within the search bar. In case you actually like a podcast, you possibly can set it to routinely obtain new episodes.

Probably the greatest options is you can set it to start out a podcast a sure variety of seconds into the episode. This is useful when you understand a present usually has two to a few adverts earlier than it begins. You may as well 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 supply customization to customers. You possibly can rename podcast titles and set episodes to start out at sure instances.

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2 Overcast

Share extra of what you want

Overcast / Pocket-lint

Overcast is written by a single individual, which not solely provides it an unbiased really feel but in addition options some extra distinctive parts that set it aside. You possibly can hearken to it with Good Pace, which is able to velocity up the podcast however not distort the audio. A sleep timer routinely stops it from enjoying 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 simple to spotlight your favourite moments. Good filters allow you to create customized playlists, and for those who’re uncertain about committing to a full present, you possibly can subscribe to a single episode to check it out. Voice Increase 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 by podcasts sooner with out distorting audio.

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3 Pocket Casts

Hold your self organized

Pocket Casts / Pocket-lint

Whereas Pocket Casts is not unique to the iPhone, it is without doubt one of the finest podcast apps available on the market. There is a free model you can begin utilizing instantly or go for the professional model at $40 per yr.

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

Altering the play velocity between 0.5x and three.0x is fast and adjustable in 0.1x increments, which makes it simple to search out the right tempo for no matter you are doing within the background. In case you begin a podcast in audio however need to swap to video, you possibly can toggle between the 2 seamlessly. Customized skip intervals allow you to routinely 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 velocity adjustment, customization filters for organizing your podcasts, and extra.

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4 Podbean

Nice for every kind of listening

Podbean / Pocket-lint

In case you’re in search of a platform to each add your individual podcast and uncover nice ones, Podbean is a strong alternative. It allows you to hearken to podcasts, reside 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.

In case you’re a podcaster, you possibly can report straight within the app and add your episodes simply. Want a number of voices? Leap into a gaggle assembly and report with others. In case you’re tuning right into a reside stream, you possibly can interact 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 permits you to hearken 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 Participant / Pocket-lint

The interface for Anytime Podcast Participant bodes properly for anybody who loves Darkish Mode on their iPhone. The black background makes podcast cowl artwork pop, however that is not the one motive to provide it a strive. As a free, open-source participant, it comes filled with nice options. Downloading podcasts for offline listening is fast and straightforward, and you may straight assist your favourite reveals 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 shifting ahead. With the transcripts and chapters, you possibly can skip to the elements of the podcast that you just’re most thinking about. There are over 4 million free episodes to hearken 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 reveals chapters and transcripts, making it simple to get to precisely the place it is advisable to be within the episode.

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