Great Podcasting Apps
OneCast – podcast simply
OneCast is a beautiful and extremely easy to use podcast manager. Of all these tested apps, it was also one of the fastest to find searched-for podcasts. For testing purposes, there are one or two not-particularly-well-known podcasts I always search for initially, and OneCast found both immediately.
The actual ‘player’ is on the simple side, but it’s easy to navigate to via icons at the top of every page. If you want something basic, perhaps you are the occasional listener rather than a dedicated podcast enthusiast, OneCast is ideal. It’s neat, looks good and is simple to use. It lacks some of the features of other players, but it’s a great app to explore if you’re relatively new to podcast listening.
Price: Free
Requires: Varies with device
Google Play Link: OneCast – podcast simply
Developer: Vertile
Requires: Varies with device
Google Play Link: OneCast – podcast simply
Developer: Vertile
Podcast HD
Podcast HD’s strong point is its search tool. There are dozens and dozens of categories to check out, from Arts through to Technology, and you can even access video blogs on YouTube. It adds some functionality in that you can bookmark your favourite shows for quicker access to new podcasts and all downloads are listed under a dedicated section.
The app also has a number of regional settings, so it’s ideal for finding new content from a variety of sources. Podcast HD doesn’t include much in the way of enhanced features, so I would have to suggest this for beginners and users looking for new content. However, it’s certainly one of the better free apps available.
Podcast Player
The simply-titled Podcast Player is very different to others listed here in that it doesn’t allow you to search and find online podcasts. Instead, you download content elsewhere and then play it through the app. The app’s main feature is the ability to skip forward and backward in customisable bursts — so if you’re looking for a specific moment in a lengthy podcast, Podcast Player can help you find it quickly and accurately.
While this app is very different to the others, its minimalist design and effective skipping functionality has already found fans in the Google Play Store. It’s not going to suit all Android users, but if you only like particular sections of a longer podcast, this is ideal.
Stitcher Radio – News & Talk
Stitcher Radio is one of the most popular podcasting apps available in the Google Play Store. The interesting thing about the service is that it is different things to different people. Many view it as a dedicated live radio player but, with its podcasting functionality, it offers far more than that.
The apps primary focus would seem to be customising user experience. You can ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ broadcasts so your use of the app is personalised further. Additionally, you can essentially ‘stitch’ your favourite content together to create a veritable playlist of your favourite shows. This feature offers something really different. The app is also free, so it’s well worth checking out even if you use other services.
Price: Free
Requires: Android 2.0 or above
Google Play Link: Stitcher Radio – News & Talk
Developer: Stitcher, Inc
Requires: Android 2.0 or above
Google Play Link: Stitcher Radio – News & Talk
Developer: Stitcher, Inc
BeyondPod Podcast Manager
Beyond Podcast is my own podcast manager of choice. It offers advanced management features such as automated download and deletion, advanced file management and categorisation, commercial skipping, audio book support, extensive search and even a cool homescreen widget.
The UI is superb; it’s smooth and very easy to navigate. You can fully customise the way it updates and stores your selected content and is incredibly user-friendly. If that wasn’t enough, you can also get a tablet version of the app. It is also free to download and comes with an initial seven day trial.
Price: Free
Requires: Android 2.1 or above
Google Play Link: BeyondPod Podcast Manager
Developer: BeyondPod Team
Requires: Android 2.1 or above
Google Play Link: BeyondPod Podcast Manager
Developer: BeyondPod Team
RatPoison – Podcast and YouTube RSS player
RatPoison is a free (and ad-free) podcast player that supports RSS and YouTube feeds. The UI is in a somewhat quirky ‘graffiti’ style, but offers a number of cool features that other freebies do not, including automated downloading and superb search functionality.
If the hand-drawn style of the app doesn’t put you off, it’s definitely an app I’d recommend trying out. It’s easy to use, includes no awful adverts and provides some solid functionality. It’s certainly not in premium league, but for a free app it’s excellent.
Price: Free
Requires: Android 2.1 or above
Google Play Link: RatPoison – Podcast and YouTube RSS player
Developer: K.J
Requires: Android 2.1 or above
Google Play Link: RatPoison – Podcast and YouTube RSS player
Developer: K.J