The popularity of podcasts continues to grow, meaning more people than ever are wondering which is the best podcast app for Android.

Unfortunately, due to the massive selection of Android podcast apps out there, that's not a straightforward question to answer. But worry not—we're here to help. Keep reading to find out more.

1. Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts has been a favorite of Android users for a long time, and with its regular updates, it just keeps getting better.

The app is one of the most feature-filled podcast players available. It comes with audio effects, the ability to schedule downloads while you sleep, on-the-fly episode streaming support, automatic episode syncing between Android, iOS, and the web app, and multiple storage options.

It can also stream episodes straight from your device to your Chromecast and is compatible with Android Auto. Importantly, all your subscriptions are stored in the cloud; if something happens to your device, you won't lose your library.

Download: Pocket Casts (Free, subscription available)

2. Spotify

Spotify is one of the best ways to stream music and it also doubles as a podcast player, which hosts a vast library of podcasts alongside some exclusive ones. The user interface of the music player and podcast player is entirely different, so you don't have to worry about the controls.

You can access podcasts by searching their names or episodes, or discover new ones by going to the Podcasts section in the Search tab. It has an excellent podcast player that has a lot of features.

You can change the speed, set a sleep timer, go forward or back by 15 seconds, download episodes, and cast them on your favorite device. Spotify is free to use with ads, but you can get the Premium plan which starts at $9.99/month.

Download: Spotify (Free, subscription available)

3. Google Podcasts

If you're looking for a simple yet feature-rich podcast player, Google Podcasts can be an excellent choice. It's a lightweight app that doesn't take many resources on your Android phone.

It hosts a massive library of podcasts and lets you subscribe to them if you want to get notifications whenever an episode goes live. Furthermore, the user interface is easy to navigate and the app recommends new shows and episodes based on your listening history.

You can also change the speed, set a sleep timer, download episodes, and even cast them onto any supported device. Lastly, Google Podcasts is free to use, and you won't need an additional subscription.

Download: Google Podcasts (Free)

4. Stitcher

The Stitcher app, one of many free apps to listen to podcasts, made its name as an on-demand internet radio service, but it's grown to become much more than that. It is now one of the best podcast apps for Android.

Once you've added all your favorite podcasts, you can "stitch" them together into one long radio marathon. The app even lets you intersperse them with actual radio content, such as breaking news and your favorite shows.

It's also great at introducing you to new shows thanks to its podcast discovery engine that suggests new content based on your listening tastes and favorite topics.

Download: Stitcher (Free, subscription available)

5. Castbox

Castbox features millions of podcasts and also doubles as an audiobook player. The app has a minimal and easy-to-navigate user interface. You can find different podcast channels under the Networks section, like TED Talks, The Economist, NPR, BBC, Castbox Originals, and many more.

It has a massive library of podcasts since it sources them from different RSS feeds, iTunes libraries, and more. You can change the speed of an episode while listening, download episodes, set a sleep timer, boost the volume, and much more.

Furthermore, the "trim silence" feature lets you remove the silent parts from the episodes. Zen mode, on the other hand, lets you play white ambient music that helps you relax. The app is free to use with some ads, but you can subscribe to the Premium version at $0.99/month.

Download: Castbox (Free, subscription available)

6. Podbean

Podbean boasts a simple and easy-to-navigate interface that lets you choose from many podcasts. It allows you to subscribe to popular podcast channels like NPR, CBC, The New York Times, and many others. It lets you browse new podcasts through trending topics or various categories. It also recommends new podcasts based on your listening history.

Podbean lets you adjust the episode's speed, download episodes, set a sleep timer, boost the volume, and much more. It has a Podcast Studio that allows you to record and edit your own podcast if you've got one. Podbean is free to use with some ads, but you can become a Golden Member for $9.99/year.

Download: Podbean (Free, subscription available)

7. Podcast Republic

Podcast Republic bills itself as the most customizable Android podcast app in the Play Store. The app rolls podcasts and live radio into a single interface. You can also use it to manage your audiobooks, YouTube channels, SoundCloud subscriptions, and RSS feeds.

Other important features include a volume booster, silence skipper, and variable playback speeds. You can even schedule a podcast to start playing at a set time every day, meaning you can wake up to your favorite content each morning.

Although Podcast Republic is one of the best free Android podcast apps, there's also an ad-free version that will set you back $2.

Download: Podcast Republic (Free)

8. Snipd

Snipd is different from any other podcast player app since it uses AI for many features. It comes with an excellent and intuitive user interface, and enables you to discover new podcasts and their highlights in a TikTok-style feed.

Additionally, you can save any moments in podcasts with a single click, and AI helps you get the transcript and summary of an episode in a breeze. Moreover, you can add your notes, organize them in collections, and it integrates well with apps like Notion, Obsidian, and more.

The AI in Snipd lets you search for moments in a specific podcast as well as in transcripts. You can find and share any highlights or create videos out of them. The best part about this app is that it's free to use and has no ads.

Download: Snipd (Free)

More on How to Discover New Podcasts You'll Love

Podcasts are a great way to keep yourself entertained if you can't watch the screen. These were some of the best apps that let you enjoy podcasts on Android. If you're intrigued with podcasts, you can create your podcast with apps like Anchor.

Besides, even with suitable apps, it's hard to find podcasts for your liking. Thankfully, some services can help you find podcasts worth hearing.