Podcasting is taking over radio shows as how music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music replaced buying CDs and physical albums. In 2023, many people listen to podcasts in their daily routine. So we thought of making their experience with podcasts much better by analyzing 5 best podcast apps for iPhones.
Let’s dive in
Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts is an app provided by Apple. This comes pre installed on iPhone, iPad, iPod. Moreover Apple Podcasts is available on macOS and tvOS. You may probably used or seen this app, if you are an iPhone user. Apple Podcasts is the most popular directory for podcasters, without a doubt.

Overcast
Overcast is another great app out there in the market. This app has my favourite design for a Podcast app. Overcast is free with ads or $10/year without ads. You will get personal recommendations based on the shows you subscribe for, and what else their subscribers subscribe to. This app offers great features like Trim Silence which makes this app top #2 in the list of 5 best podcast apps.

Castro
This is another great Podcast app which packs good set of features. Trim silence is the feature I like most, however it does not show much time you have saved by Trim Silence, while Overcast does that too. The app interface is also great and easy to use. The playback screen features a ton of options, while keeping the good user experience.

Downcast
Downcast is in this list of 5 best podcast apps because it support video podcasts, also Downcast is available on macOS too. Your subscriptions, playlists and settings are synced through iCloud across your all devices. However Downcast does not support features like Trim Silence.

Spotify
We talked about Spotify couple of times as a music streaming service.
However, this time, we are going to review Spotify as a Podcast app. Spotify provides the minimum functions require as a podcast app. To listen podcasts on Spotify requires premium subscription which costs $9.99 per month. However, it’s not just for the podcasts, it unlocks premium features of their music streaming service. So I think Spotify is a great option for you, if you are already a premium subscriber. Otherwise there is no reason for choosing Spotify as your Podcast app.

Personally I like the look and feel of Overcast. However I switched to Apple Podcasts likely a year ago as it works best with Apple Eco System. Read our article about Apple Ecosystem to get a better idea how Apple Eco System works and why it matters even with choosing apps.
Which app are you are using for Podcasts? Let us know by leaving a comment!