Despite the significant rise in podcast popularity, one of the challenges podcast enthusiasts often face is discoverability. With thousands of podcasts available across various genres and major apps without advanced search features, finding ones that align with your interests can be tricky.
In this blog, we'll analyze the best platforms where you can effortlessly discover, subscribe, and listen to podcasts, ensuring you stay connected to the best content.
Podcast discoverability: Our top suggestions
From Apple Podcasts to Spotify, each podcast platform has unique features catering to diverse listening preferences. While subscribing to podcasts is pretty self-explanatory, some of the best podcast directories don't have simple subscribe buttons and might require an extra step.
Here’s a list of the major platforms and lesser-known ones where you can find and curate your podcast collection!
#1. Apple Podcasts
Compatibility: IOS
A default app on all iOS devices, the Apple Podcasts app is known for its extensive repository of podcasts. Because of its popularity, most podcast creators choose to have their podcast in Apple Podcasts, so most content can be found on the directory. The drawback is, it doesn’t offer many search features, so finding new shows can be hard if you want to single in on niche content.
Recently the app added a subscription-based model with ad-free listening and access to premium content. It also supports family sharing and syncing across different Apple devices, including Apple Watch.
How to subscribe:
- Open podcast app on your iPhone or iPad or Apple Watch.
- Click the Search icon in the bottom-right corner and enter the name of the podcast.
- Click on the podcast from the search results.
- Tap the Subscribe button located right under the podcast title.
- If a podcast offers premium content, you’ll see a button that indicates so–simply follow the prompts from there as they might be different depending on the podcast.
#2. Spotify
Compatibility: IOS and Android
With Spotify, you can browse podcasts via genres, similar to the options within Apple Podcasts. Premium users can choose to download episodes manually for offline listening, otherwise, you’ll be using data if you choose to stream away from a wifi connection.
How to subscribe:
- Open the Spotify app on your device.
- Type the name of the podcast in the search bar and select it from the list.
- Tap on the Follow button to subscribe to the podcast.
- Spotify does not offer a podcast-specific premium subscription. However, premium users can download episodes for offline listening.
#3. Google Podcasts
Compatibility: IOS and Android
Ideal for Android users, Google Podcasts offers seamless integration with Google Home and other Google services. It does not support a subscription-based model, but it does offer free access to a vast range of podcasts. Auto-download is available for subscribed podcasts.
How to subscribe:
- Open the Google Podcasts app on your Android device.
- Tap on the Search icon and enter the podcast you want to find.
- Select the podcast from the search results.
- Tap the Subscribe button.
- Google Podcasts does not offer a premium subscription service. All content is free to access and download for offline listening.
#4. Listen Notes
Note: Browser only
Listen Notes is an independent podcast search engine that allows users to discover podcasts based on keywords and topics. It is ideal for those looking for niche podcasts or specific episodes on a particular subject. It has many advanced search features that let you look for highly specific content.
How to subscribe:
- Go to the Listen Notes website on your device (there currently is no Listen Notes App)
- Use the search bar to search for the name of the podcast.
- Click on the podcast from the search results.
- Listen Notes does not offer subscriptions. To subscribe, copy the RSS feed URL and paste it into your preferred podcast app.
#5. Podsearch
Note: Browser only
Podsearch is another podcast discovery platform that boasts a vast directory of podcasts and new episodes. Users can search for podcasts by topic, guest, or hostname and subscribe to their favorite shows for automatic downloads.
How to subscribe:
- Visit the Podsearch website on your device.
- Enter the name, topic, guest, or host of the podcast in the search bar.
- Click on the podcast from the search results.
- Click the Subscribe button to subscribe using your preferred podcast app.
#6. Overcast
Compatibility: IOS
Overcast is another popular podcast app among iOS users. It features a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy to discover new podcasts and subscribe to your favorites. Unlike Apple Podcasts, Overcast offers ad-free listening for all its users.
How to subscribe:
- Open Overcast.fm on your browser or app
- Click the + icon in the top-right corner.
- Enter the name of the podcast in the search bar and select it from the results.
- Click Subscribe to add it to your Overcast library.
#7. Pocket Casts
Compatibility: IOS and Android
Available on both iOS and Android devices, Pocket Casts is a feature-packed podcast app that offers powerful discovery tools. It also supports cross-device syncing and allows users to create custom filters for their subscription lists.
How to subscribe:
- Open the Pocket Casts app on your device.
- Click the Search icon in the top-right corner.
- Enter the name of the podcast in the search bar and select it from the results.
- Click Subscribe to add it to your library.
- Pocket Casts offers a premium subscription service for advanced features like ad-free listening, custom themes, and cloud storage.
#8. YouTube
Compatibility: IOS and Android
While primarily known for its video content, YouTube offers many podcasts and talk shows. Users can easily subscribe to their favorite channels or create playlists for easy listening.
How to subscribe:
- Open the YouTube app on your device.
- Search for the channel name or podcast title.
- Click on the channel/podcast from the results.
- Click the Subscribe button to subscribe and receive notifications for new episodes.
#9. Amazon Music
Compatibility: IOS and Android
Amazon's music streaming service, Amazon Music, also offers a vast collection of podcasts. It features a user-friendly interface and allows listeners to subscribe to their favorite podcasts for automatic downloads.
How to subscribe:
- Open the Amazon Music app on your device.
- Search for the podcast name in the search bar.
- Select the podcast from the results.
- Click the Follow button to add it to your library and receive notifications for new episodes.
#10. Podcast Addict
Compatibility: IOS and Android
Podcast Addict is a popular podcast app for Android devices that offers a wide range of features. It supports cross-device syncing and multiple playlist options and even lets users control playback using their voice.
The app also offers a premium subscription service for advanced features like ad-free listening, custom themes, and cloud storage.
How to subscribe:
- Open the Podcast Addict app on your device.
- Tap the + icon in the top-right corner.
- Enter the name of the podcast in the search bar and select it from the results.
- Click Subscribe to add it to your library.
Now that you know some of the best places to find tailored podcast content, let’s take a look at how to streamline things, so you can listen to all your shows in noe place.
Creating a unified podcast playlist across multiple directories
While it's great to explore various podcast directories for discovering content, managing subscriptions across multiple platforms can be a bit challenging. Thankfully, you can create a unified playlist that brings together all your favorite podcasts from different directories into one place.
Step #1: Choose a primary podcast app
First, you need to choose a primary podcast app that you will use for listening to all your podcasts. This app should support RSS feeds, which will allow you to pull in podcasts from different directories. Apps like Overcast, Pocket Casts, and Apple Podcasts all support this feature.
Step #2: Find the RSS feeds
Next, navigate to each podcast directory where you've subscribed to podcasts. Look for the RSS feed link, usually represented by a small orange icon with radio waves. Copy this link for each podcast you want to add to your unified playlist.
Step #3: Add the RSS feeds to your chosen app
Now, open your primary podcast app and navigate to the settings or preferences section. Look for an option to add a custom RSS feed and paste in the links you copied earlier. Once added, your primary app will pull in all the podcasts from different directories, creating a unified playlist.
You can now organize your playlist as you wish, creating custom filters or folders for specific topics or genres. Your primary app will automatically update with new episodes from all the podcasts you've added, making it easy to manage and listen to your favorite content in one place!
Additional resources
Looking for some of the best podcasts to add to your queue? These blogs break down our top suggestions across categories!
