iPhone App for Podcasts

[vine-boating]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a good, reliable, clean Podcasts app?

I have been using Overcast for while, but I really don't like the UI and the way podcasts are organised on the app. I am looking for an app with a very simple UI.
Is the stock Apple Podcasts App still terrible?

 

[JohnMaldaner]

I’ve been using Downcast for years and really like it!

‎Downcast

‎A powerful, complete, and easy to use podcast player that will help you manage and listen to podcasts the way you want to. Now with CarPlay support! "Downcast: Probably The Best Podcast Downloader for iPad and iPhone" - Wired Gadget Lab Subscription Features • Search, subscribe to and...

apps.apple.com

 

[vine-boating]

I’ve been using Downcast for years and really like it!

‎Downcast

‎A powerful, complete, and easy to use podcast player that will help you manage and listen to podcasts the way you want to. Now with CarPlay support! "Downcast: Probably The Best Podcast Downloader for iPad and iPhone" - Wired Gadget Lab Subscription Features • Search, subscribe to and...

apps.apple.com

Does it have trim silences feature of Overcast?

 

[pacorob]

A few great alternative options for you are:

- iCatcher! Podcast Player (Pay once 3.49 euro, supports Apple Automation, since 2011 in store, excellent filter features)
- DownCast (Pay once 3.49 euro, supported since 2010)
- Pocket Casts (Free, with option in-app subscription 4.99 euro a month, has trim silence option as you asked, since 2011 in store)
- Castro Podcast Player (Free, with option in-app subscription from 3.49 euro a month, has trim silence option as you asked, since 2016 in store)

The only four podcast apps that I know support Apple Shortcuts > Automation to easily connect to an (offline) podcast playlist are: iCatcher, Castro, Overcast, Apple Podcasts) which is great if you want to quickly connected with your wireless headset, car (if your car doesn't have CarPlay support).

To my knowledge both iCatcher and DownCast do not have trim silence option (yet) but you can always approach these developers. I asked for Apple Automation support and iCatcher added it soon after.

 

[vine-boating]

A few great alternative options for you are:

- iCatcher! Podcast Player (Pay once 3.49 euro, supports Apple Automation, since 2011 in store, excellent filter features)
- DownCast (Pay once 3.49 euro, supported since 2010)
- Pocket Casts (Free, with option in-app subscription 4.99 euro a month, has trim silence option as you asked, since 2011 in store)
- Castro Podcast Player (Free, with option in-app subscription from 3.49 euro a month, has trim silence option as you asked, since 2016 in store)

The only four podcast apps that I know support Apple Shortcuts > Automation to easily connect to an (offline) podcast playlist are: iCatcher, Castro, Overcast, Apple Podcasts) which is great if you want to quickly connected with your wireless headset, car (if your car doesn't have CarPlay support).

To my knowledge both iCatcher and DownCast do not have trim silence option (yet) but you can always approach these developers. I asked for Apple Automation support and iCatcher added it soon after.

Which podcast app do you recommend out of those? Which is the easiest to use?

 

[nburwell]

I’ve been using Pocket Casts for years and I couldn’t recommend it enough. I used Overcast for a short time and it was nice and simplistic, but I prefer the UI and the ability to discover new podcasts via the “discover” tab.

 

[dmccloud]

I'm a Pocket Casts lifer on iOS. The UI has a lot of similarities to Podcast Addict (which is my favorite podcast app for Android), and you can group podcasts by your own categories, create playlists, back up your library to an OPML file, etc. On the Mac I use Mimir, which is the best app I've found on the Mac side so far. Apple's Podcast App just doesn't work for the way I listen to podcasts and create playlists.

 

[floral]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a good, reliable, clean Podcasts app?

I have been using Overcast for while, but I really don't like the UI and the way podcasts are organised on the app. I am looking for an app with a very simple UI.
Is the stock Apple Podcasts App still terrible?

Hi, I don't remember Apple Podcasts ever being "terrible". I think it looks pretty nice, but I haven't used it so I don't have a complete opinion yet.

 

[NoBoMac]

I don’t like […] the way podcasts are organised

Might help explain how you want podcasts to be organized.

However, the recommendations given, seem to contradict the ask of “very simple UI”. Recs are all kinda similar to OP’s Overcast. Ultimate in simple is download from the web and put episodes into Files or any other file app that can play audio (eg. Readdle Documents). Or just play from Safari.

That out of way, yes, Apple Podcasts is terrible but might be what you’re looking for. It is basic and that’s part of the problem for many imo. For example, playlists are too basic to be of much use for those that want to fine tune their listening experiences. I use it on Mac to retrieve and archive podcasts for future listening but don’t think I could use it as a daily driver.

+1 for Pocket Casts. Been using it for quite a while now and really like it. Downcast in the past. Trying iCatcher for the next few days as they have a feature I need: iTunes file-sharing to side-load from my podcast archive. Can kinda do this in Pocket Casts but need to file share into a file app (Readdle Documents) and then use the Share Sheet to share to Pocket Casts a file at a time.

 

[vine-boating]

I’ve been using Pocket Casts for years and I couldn’t recommend it enough. I used Overcast for a short time and it was nice and simplistic, but I prefer the UI and the ability to discover new podcasts via the “discover” tab.

I hate the Overcast podcast layout. The way podcasts are organised into Archives etc..

 

[vine-boating]

Might help explain how you want podcasts to be organized.

However, the recommendations given, seem to contradict the ask of “very simple UI”. Recs are all kinda similar to OP’s Overcast. Ultimate in simple is download from the web and put episodes into Files or any other file app that can play audio (eg. Readdle Documents). Or just play from Safari.

That out of way, yes, Apple Podcasts is terrible but might be what you’re looking for. It is basic and that’s part of the problem for many imo. For example, playlists are too basic to be of much use for those that want to fine tune their listening experiences. I use it on Mac to retrieve and archive podcasts for future listening but don’t think I could use it as a daily driver.

+1 for Pocket Casts. Been using it for quite a while now and really like it. Downcast in the past. Trying iCatcher for the next few days as they have a feature I need: iTunes file-sharing to side-load from my podcast archive. Can kinda do this in Pocket Casts but need to file share into a file app (Readdle Documents) and then use the Share Sheet to share to Pocket Casts a file at a time.

I want podcasts to be organised very simply. Like a list of my podcasts, why I am listening to etc...
I don't like the way Overcast does it. The whole Archive section hides your podcasts so you have to keep going on there to remember your podcasts is annoying.

 

[pacorob]

Which podcast app do you recommend out of those? Which is the easiest to use?

I would advice to try Pocket Casts since the UI is most straigh forward I think. Not sure if it's clean enough though for you. Back in the day I also didn't like Overcast but that mainly had to do with the lack of filters for e.g. offline playlist(s).

Castro is apparently also really easy to use what I read from various users in the AppStore and e.g. Federico from MacStories see the various articles on that app.

Side note: My daily driver is iCatcher but for me the customisable filters and Apple Automation and pay once is the main reason.