It’s time to upgrade from the Apple Podcasts app. Here are eight of the best.
I get it. Apple’s default podcast app is easy. It’s preinstalled, it’s free, and it gets the job done. But if you stick with what’s easy, you’re not only letting Dumbledore down, you’re missing out on some amazing apps.
I tested eight of the most popular podcast apps on iOS, including Apple Podcasts, and ranked each on three criteria: their visual aesthetic, the features they offer, and how easy it is to discover new podcasts within the app.
Here’s how they stacked up:
This is why we think you should be using Pocket Casts, Overcast, or Castro instead of Apple Podcasts.
What’s your iOS podcast app of choice? Do you agree with our rankings? Let us know in the comments.
Comments
One response to “These iOS Podcast Apps Are Way Better Than Apple’s Default App”
Interesting to see that ‘Pocket Casts’, which you’ve rated highest, only gets a user rating of 3.6/5 on the App Store… While Overcast, which you’ve rated lower, gets a 4.7/5 user rating…
It pays to look up what the actual usability of an App is by the people that have been using them, not just the ‘potential of their features’.
You’ve also forgotten to mention that Overcast, and Castro, are Free with a premium sounding ‘in App purchase’ also available, while Pocket Casts is straight up front Pay to Use at $5.99 AUD.
To me, an App that’s only getting an average rating of 3.6/5, from all the people actually using it, probably shouldn’t be topping any list, let alone for 6 bucks and above ones with a 4.7/5 user rating, and free to get going on… Seems a bit suss…
I’ll be checking out Overcast, then failing that, Castro.
Thanks for the reminder that Apple’s offering has been getting worse, and to check out the competition…
But I think you’ve clearly left out a column for some kind of ‘Real World Use’ that would show all of the issues people are having with Pocket Casts. Heck, even a column that is straight up the user ratings from the App Store, maybe worth double/triple points though, definitely worth more consideration than what you’ve mysteriously come up with.
You should add a column to your table for the cost. I thought Pocket Casts was worth checking out but not for $5.99 I’ll stick with Apple Podcasts as it’s the only other app you give a rating of 5 for Discovery, can live with the other aspects that are rated low
You are missing iVoox in your test, for sure in the top 3 of your rank