Podcasts are like listening to FM radio on your mobile phone. These are mobile radio broadcasts based on storytelling, management, news, politics, business and lifestyle. Podcasts are popular because they are easy to download and listen to on Android devices.
Why should you listen to podcasts on your Android phone?
Millions of podcasts are recorded daily to engage audiences and provide them with the medium of their choice. You have probably listened to space podcasts or sports podcasts.
Here are some reasons why you should listen to podcasts on Android:
- You can get many hours of entertainment without paying much.
- Anyone with an Android phone can listen to them anywhere.
- Best suited for those who are fed up with their music libraries or collections.
- They usually talk rather than talk or listen to music, which increases your concentration.
- Listening to podcasts does not require brain power and is best for passing the time without getting bored or tired.
- You can learn about any subject or industry without sitting at your desk reading newspapers and books.
How to listen to podcasts on Android phone?
Unlike the iPhone, Android phones have the Google Play store where you can download the Google Play Music or Google Podcasts apps. Both can help you listen to podcasts on your Android phone. This is how you can listen to your products through them.
Listen to Podcasts on Android with Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts allows you to listen to podcasts on Android. They are easy to navigate. You can easily search for podcasts by title, genre or category through Podcasts.
To listen to podcasts on Android with Google Assistant, follow these simple steps:
- Go to the Google Play Store on your Android device.
- Download and install the Google Podcasts app.
- Open the app and search for “Explore”(you can find it in the menu center at the bottom).
- Select one of the genres from the tabs below the search bar, such as news, culture, comedy, and education. You can also use a search bar similar to Google search to find your favorite podcast.
- Once you find a podcast you want to listen to, tap it.
- A dedicated podcast page opens with a subscribe button with a + sign. Click on the button.
- The options window will open. Choose whether you want to download new podcast episodes automatically or if you want to be notified of new podcast episodes.
- Click on the Home icon.
- Select the podcast you want to listen to from the list.
- Scroll down to find the episode you want to listen to.
- Click the small play button (small arrow in the blue circle) on the left.
- The podcast will start playing right away. You can click the same button to pause it.
- Select an episode at the bottom of the screen, adjust the playback speed, and turn on night mode, or stream a podcast to your Chromecast.
Listen to podcasts on Android with Google Play Music.
To listen to podcasts on Android using Google Play, you need the Google Play music app. Follow the steps below to enjoy your favorite podcasts on Google Play Music.
- Download and install the Google Play Music app. Basically, it comes pre-installed on your phone when you buy it. However, if it is not, you can install it from the Google Play Store.
- Open the app and look for three horizontal lines in the top left corner of the screen. Click on Podcasts in the menu bar.
- You can browse your favorite categories to find podcasts. Otherwise, use the search box to find it. You can also find recommendations.
- Could you click on a podcast to select it?
- Scroll down the episodes section and select an episode. Click on it to play.
- If you liked the podcast and want to listen to its upcoming episodes, click the subscribe button. It will automatically go to your “Your Podcasts”podcast library in the Google Play Music app.
8 Best Podcast Apps for Android (iOS) Phone
Google Play Music and Google Podcasts are great for listening to podcasts on Android phones or tablets. However, many other apps can also give you a better experience. Here is a list of the best podcast apps so you can choose the one you like:
- Spotify
- Anchor
- Castro
- Pocket casts
- casting
- Stapler Radio
- Podcast junkie
- pod
1. Spotify
Spotify is the best podcast app for Android. Some of us might think that Spotify is purely a music app. However, it added a podcast feature in 2015. If you are a Spotify user, you can switch between tracks and podcasts accordingly.
This allows you to listen to music and switch to podcasts without downloading an additional application on your Android phone. While Spotify is a great platform for music, it only offers podcasts from creators who partner with the platform.
Also, it doesn’t offer podcast playlists. All the time, you have to find your favorite podcasts. The downside to using Spotify is that you have to deal with a lot of ads if you’re not a premium plan subscriber.
2. Anchor
Anchor is a unique app that allows you to not only listen to podcasts, but also create podcasts. It helps you to record audio and publish it to places like Google Podcasts and iTunes. What’s more, you can also import audio from other devices via Anchor.
Unlike other apps, Anchor is built with a business model that can help you make money along with a 24/7 entertainment center.
Anchor hosting is free with no annoying ads. Also, you can record without a membership.
3. Castro
Castro is a great app for organization lovers and those who want to optimize their podcast listening experience. Podcast fans may enjoy this one the most because it automatically queues your favorite show at the top so you don’t have to search for it again.
Also, you can find the latest releases at the top so you never miss them. You can also limit the number of impressions and listening time. With Castro, you can adjust the playback speed, enhance the sound, trim pauses, and skip boring parts like intros.
To use Castro to listen to podcasts on Android, you need to subscribe and access premium features. Castro membership costs only $19 per year.
4. Pocket casts
According to Android Central, Pocket Casts was the best Android app for listening to podcasts in 2021. With beautiful design and optimized graphics, this app is the coolest app to listen to your favorite podcasts.
Pocket broadcasts allow users to trim the silence of a podcast to save time. Also, you can stream podcasts live instead of downloading them to save space on your Android device.
Pocket Composition is free for basic users who can listen to ad-supported podcasts. Monthly and yearly subscription plans are also available, and you can choose between them according to your ability.
5. Casting box
The prefix is intended exclusively for listening to podcasts. This award-winning app has over 50 million podcasts for its users. The Cast field allows users to create their own playlists to provide space for personalization.
In addition, you can download your favorite podcasts to listen to online. In addition, the one-button subscription option allows you to subscribe to and enjoy your favorite shows without having to search.
The cash drawer is free to use, but ads can annoy you. You can get rid of them by paying a small monthly subscription fee.
6. Radio Stapler
Unlike Overcast, Stitcher Radio is not a very reliable podcast playback app. However, it provides users with basic features for listening to podcasts on Android. You can subscribe to a podcast, optimize playback speed, and build a playlist of your favorite snippets.
Stitcher lacks many quality features such as sleep timers. Also, the mod becomes buggy and takes a long time to load. Previous users also experienced crashes. Although an improved version is available on the Play Store, it’s still not very good.
Stitcher is free for basic users but comes with a lot of annoying ads. The free version with premium features costs $5 per month.
7. Podcast junkie
Podcast Addict is a free app with the easiest personalization to listen to Apple podcasts on Android phones. You can adjust playback options and cut silence on an individual podcast. You can also skip intervals and adjust the playback speed of the podcast.
One of the reasons the Podcast Addict app is versatile is the ability to search in multiple languages. So if you want to broaden your horizons and improve your linguistic abilities, sign in to Podcast Addict.
Surprisingly, podcast junkie is completely free for all users. You can access all of its features without paying a dime.
8. Podbob
Podbean is a popular podcast app that’s better than Stitchery Radio. It contains over 60 million podcasts organized by category and genre. It allows you to stream, download, subscribe and listen to podcasts on Android.
One feature that sets it apart from the rest is the lock screen management. In addition, it supports Chromecast, Amazon Alexa, and Android Auto. You also get different sound effects with Podbean.
Previous users reported errors in the app when they used it with ads. The ad-free experience is available with an unlimited playlist for just $9.99 per year.
How to download podcasts on Android using Google Podcasts?
Downloading podcasts on Android with Google Podcast allows you to listen to them when you don’t have an internet connection. You can download an episode once and listen to it many times without overpaying for traffic.
Follow the steps below to download and listen to podcasts on Android via Google Podcast.
- Open the Google Podcast app.
- Please find your favorite podcast and click on it.
- Find the episode you want to download by scrolling.
- Under the title of the episode, you will find a blue circle with an arrow pointing down. This is the download button.
- Click the download button, which will turn gray to indicate that the episode is downloading.
- Wait until the circle turns green, which means the download is complete.
To play the episode and listen to podcasts on Android, follow these steps:
- Go to the library menu and click “Downloads”.
- You will find the downloaded episode.
- Click the play button (the arrow inside the blue rectangle) to start playing.
How to download podcasts manually on Android?
The traditional way to download podcasts is manually. This is best suited for users who have smartphones running Android 4.0 or below. However, it would be nice if you had a smartphone, PC and data cable.
To download a podcast manually on your Android phone, follow these steps:
- Open the site where you listen to podcasts on your desktop PC.
- Click on the download link and wait for the file to download to your Downloads folder on your PC.
- Connect your Android device to your computer.
- Cut or copy the podcast file from your PC and copy it to any folder on your Android device.
- Browse the Podcast folder on your Android phone to access the podcast.
How to start creating your podcast?
Creating a podcast is as easy as listening to it. If you think you can become a good topic speaker or storyteller, then you should not wait any longer and get in line to create your podcasts.
To create your podcast, here’s what you need to do:
- Buy a quality microphone designed exclusively for podcasting.
- Purchase additional podcast equipment if necessary.
- Install sound recording and editing software on your laptop or computer.
- Connect the microphone to a laptop or computer that has the software installed.
- Start recording your views and save the audio file.
- Edit with voice editing software.
- Upload it to your website hosting platform.
You might think that when you create a podcast, millions of people will rush to listen to it like your favorite artist. However, it is not. Despite your efforts, your podcast may not get the number of views you want, just like YouTube channels.
This does not mean that you should not create podcasts. If you are a good speaker, consistency is the key to success.
Conclusion
Podcasts are a great way to learn and have fun in your free time. You can listen to podcasts on Android through official Google apps such as Google Play Music or Google Podcasts. In addition, there are many podcast listening apps available on the Google Play Store.
You can’t listen to podcasts only while streaming online; You can also download them to your Android phone and listen later. What’s more, you can create your own podcasts and engage your audience to generate income.
FAQ
How to stop automatic download of podcasts on Android?
Go to the app where you listen to podcasts on Android. Tap the Plus icon or Subscribe button. A window will open with the automatic download option enabled. Disable this button to get rid of automatic downloads on your Android device.
How can I listen to podcasts while traveling?
Listening to podcasts while traveling can be exciting and fun. You can listen to podcasts on Android directly through the podcast app, as long as you have an active internet connection while traveling. Otherwise, you can download podcasts to access them offline and listen to them anywhere, anytime.
How do I stream my favorite podcasts to Chromecast?
To play podcasts on Chromecast, make sure your Android Podcasts app supports Chromecast and both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi. Click the broadcast button once you’ve played the podcast on your mobile phone and select Google Cast to listen to your podcast on your Chromecast.
Can you make money by creating podcasts?
Podcasts can be a great source of passive income. Big names and content creators have a lot of viewers who bring them big sums. Getting sponsorship through creating podcasts is now a new lucrative source of income. So, if you can create good content, you can make a lot of money selling podcasts.