The Best Podcast App for iPhone (and 4 Alternatives)

Many people don’t just listen to music on their iPhones. Podcasts are also becoming increasingly popular. So it’s important to use a good app for that. We tested them: this is the best podcast app for the iPhone.

The best podcast apps for iPhone

Apple and podcasts are inextricably linked. With the popularity of the iPod in 2001, it became possible to create and share talk shows in addition to music with millions of listeners. Podcasts have now become indispensable: Apple and Spotify invest large amounts in them and there is a podcast on practically every topic that you can subscribe to.

The difference between podcast apps for the iPhone is big. Whether you’re an avid listener or want to discover whether podcasts are for you, this is the best app in our opinion.

The best podcast app for iPhone: Overcast

Overcast actually does everything right. The app is recommended for beginners because it is free, but also has plenty of options for avid listeners. The design is clear, even if you listen to a large amount of shows. In the settings you switch between a light and dark mode, which you can switch automatically.

The app has a built-in overview of new shows that are recommended based on your listening behavior. These suggestions turned out to be right for us, which makes it a great way for novice podcast listeners to discover new shows.

Are you planning to listen to podcasts locally on your Apple Watch? Then we can also recommend Overcast. The app lets you choose shows that are stored locally on the smartwatch. This allows you to listen to an episode while running, for example, with only the Watch on your wrist.

Although Overcast is free to download and use, you can pay to remove the ads present, but in principle all important functions are included by default. For example, you can download podcasts for offline use, create playlists and download episodes over the mobile network.

Other good podcast apps for iOS

While Overcast is our favorite, there are plenty of alternatives on the App Store that we also tested in our quest for the best podcast app. From Pocket Casts to Spotify and Apple’s own app, these are five great alternatives.

1. Pocket Casts

A good podcast app for users who like to have a lot of control. Pocket Casts is especially popular on Android, but the iOS version is also worth checking out. With the application you can set a certain podcast to start from a certain time (so that you can skip intros).

In terms of design, it looks nice, but navigating is a bit more difficult than with Overcast. Of course that is also a matter of taste. If we look purely at the appearance, Pocket Casts does have the most options for giving the app a different design.

Pocket Casts can be used on the Apple Watch just like Overcast. Unfortunately, you will have to subscribe to Pocket Casts Plus to save episodes locally on the smartwatch. A nice extra are the extensive statistics, so that you know exactly how long you have been listening to episodes.

2. Castro 2

Castro 2 is a good choice for the podcast listener who listens occasionally. The app looks sleek and has an intuitive interface. Podcasts arrive in your ‘inbox’, where you can read descriptions and decide if it’s for you.

Castro 2’s Apple Watch app is a little less comprehensive than other apps on this list, but it does give you the option to quickly pause an episode or change the volume from your wrist. Handy if you don’t have the time or inclination to reach for your iPhone.

The app is free to use, but does include in-app purchases that let you choose to purchase the premium version monthly or annually. This one has additional options, allowing you to automatically filter silences from podcasts or switch the sound from stereo to mono.

3. Apple’s Podcast App

Apple itself also has a podcast app, which is installed by default on every iPhone. It used to be remarkably limited and clunky to use, but in recent years Apple has made the app better with every iOS update. That makes it a convenient and completely free alternative to the other four podcast apps on this list these days.

The app is especially recommended for Apple Watch wearers, because saving episodes works well once you have set it up. The design fits (obviously) with the rest of iOS and has a lot in common with what Apple Music looks like. It is also the central place where exclusive Apple Podcasts can be found.

4. Spotify

Not sure if podcasts are your thing and you already have a Spotify account? Then Spotify’s built-in podcast functionality is a great way to get acquainted with it. The app proposes shows to you based on your music taste and now practically all major podcast shows can be found on Spotify.

We like to keep our music and podcasts separate from each other in two separate apps, but of course there is also something to be said for bundling everything related to audio in one app.

In that case, Spotify is definitely worth a try. In addition, more and more exclusive shows will be added in the future as the company invests a lot of money in buying up popular shows.

5. Downcast

The Downcast podcast app lets you play episodes the way you want. You can create and customize playlists and you have many options in listening to podcasts. For example, you can adjust the speed and the app supports video podcasts. An extensive app that still manages not to drown you in complicated menus.

Downcast’s Apple Watch app is also very comprehensive, with the option to control episodes on your iPhone, as well as save episodes locally on the Apple Watch.

Downcast has a one-time purchase price. If you are satisfied with using it afterwards, you can tip the developer in the app via an in-app purchase. Not mandatory of course, but a nice extra if you want to support the makers extra after hundreds of hours.

Do you listen to your podcasts in a different way? Let us know in a comment below this article!