Podcasts are the modern-day radio. They can be both informative and entertaining. Some of the podcasts require a subscription while a good number of them are available for free.
Are podcasts free on Android and iPhone? Yes, you can listen to podcasts using an Android or iOS device without paying a cent.
Below is a quick breakdown of the available apps that’ll enable you to stream and download podcasts for free.
Where Can I Listen to a Podcast for Free?
To listen to podcasts on an Android device or iPhone you need to download at least one of the following apps.
- Spotify
- Spotify Lite
- Google Podcasts
- Apple Podcasts
Create an account if you don’t have one already and then you can look around for whichever podcast you want to listen to.
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How Spotify Podcasts Works
Podcasts are available even for free users on Spotify. Furthermore, you don’t need a premium account to be able to download podcast episodes.
To access podcasts on the Android app (Spotify and Spotify Lite) simply tap on Your Library at the bottom of the screen and then select Podcasts and Shows from the resulting tabs.
Spotify Lite is a lighter version of Spotify designed for lower-end devices and for use in areas with poor internet connections. It packs all the parent app’s features but with a minimalist design.
How Google Podcasts Works
Google Podcasts is a nifty platform given its small size and simple user interface. Also, you won’t have to create a new account as long as you have a Google account on your phone.
Once you open the app, it’ll feed you podcast suggestions. If you are looking for a specific show, tap on the Explore button at the bottom center of your screen and start searching.
How to Listen to Podcasts on iPhone and Other iOS Devices
You have two options if you want to listen to podcasts on your iPhone—Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Apple Podcasts is a native application so you don’t have to download it from the App Store.
For Spotify, you’ll have to download it for the App Store and create an account using your email if you don’t have one already.
Apple Podcasts’ interface is simple and will start feeding you suggestions as soon as you open it. You don’t have to create a new account because it uses your iCloud credentials.
Once you get access, you can use the search function to find your favorite podcast show.
More: How to start a podcast on your phone
How to Listen to Podcasts on a PC
First of all, you need internet access on your PC and any working browser such as Chrome, Mozilla, or Safari.
On the browser, go to Google Podcasts or Spotify Webplayer where you can sign up or log in to start browsing your favorite podcasts.
Alternatively, Spotify offers PC apps on all major operating systems such as macOS, Windows, and all major Linux distributions like Ubuntu.
However, the download feature isn’t available on these platforms unless you’re a premium subscriber.
The awesome thing about podcasts is that you can continue listening on a different device such as your phone once you leave your desk.
How Can I Download Podcasts for Free?
You can easily download podcasts for free on both Spotify and Google Podcasts for offline listening. Simply look out for the download icon on either app’s player interface.
Wrapping Up
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts are the most readily available podcast platforms at the moment and they’re all free!
Although some shows like The Joe Rogan Experience are exclusive to particular platforms—whatever show you want to listen to is most likely available on at least one of the three platforms.
Other free platforms worth mentioning are Anchor and SoundCloud. Anchor lets you record podcasts to make available on every other podcasting platform. Read here to learn more.
For questions and suggestions, use the comments section below.