So I’m in the process of switching from Spotify to Tidal for my music streaming (since Tidal pays artists like three times more than Spotify does). The only problem is, Tidal doesn’t support podcasts, which is another big thing I used Spotify for.

So what are some good apps for podcasts? I listen both on my PC and my Android phone, and I’m not really thrilled about the idea of paying for another subscription (so now I’m making two payments to cover the functionality I got with a single, cheaper payment). I’m cool with paying a one-time up-front fee, though.

Any suggestions?

  • plonk@karab.in
    8·
    1 year ago

    I’ve been using Pocketcasts for years, and I’ve been very happy with it. Works on Android, PC, and through web browsers. I’ve never had to pay for it.

    • Jaxseven@beehaw.org
      1·
      1 year ago

      I’ve also been using the app for user and got grandfathered into a lifetime membership, although I think it’s been inserting ads in my podcasts. I only say that because I have a VPN on my phone and suddenly my phone will play a Swedish ad I can’t understand.

      • MindlessZ@lemmy.ml
        1·
        1 year ago

        Fwiw I don’t think pocket casts is doing that, but rather your podcasts themselves. A lot of podcasts use dynamic ad insertion that allow them to inject ads into the podcast at download time as opposed to them being baked into the episode. It lets the hosts have relevant ads in their entire backlog of episodes rather than just ones released during the campaign window.

  • DarthVi@lemmy.ml
    8·
    1 year ago

    I’m using PocketCasts and I paid a one-time fee before it became subscription based (but there’s still a free tier), in order to be able to listen to podcast using the web app on PC. Thus I now have lifetime premium access.

    I’m very satisfied with their service, I did not find any problems with both the Android app and the web app, moreover it has almost every feature I need, except voice to text conversion in order to be able to share slices of audio in text format (but there are dedicated apps for that).

    • Lockely@pawb.social
      2·
      1 year ago

      💯 this. Pocketcasts is and has been outstanding for the years I’ve had it. Great UI, and will remember your position on a specific episode cross-platform.

    • mayooooo@beehaw.org
      0·
      1 year ago

      I paid too and I don’t get to use the web app. That’s the main reason I stopped using Casts

        • mayooooo@beehaw.org
          2·
          1 year ago

          I paid before it was free for sure, I know there wasn’t a subscription model back then. I know I tried using the webapp later and it asked for more money. It’s ok, lots of decent free options for all of that, just felt like they were touching my butt feeling for the wallet

  • fdisk@beehaw.org
    4·
    1 year ago

    I’ve been using Pocket Casts on Android and it works well. I think that I started using it 2 years ago and I haven’t encountered any issues. I use the free version and it hasn’t asked me to pay and hasn’t shown me ads. I’m a light user when it comes to podcasts though.

    They have a web player for PC, but I haven’t tried it.

    • SkepticElliptic@beehaw.org
      1·
      1 year ago

      I like the app and I’ve used it for over a decade. I absolutely hate the UI. It’s extremely confusing.

      I just keep the player widget on my home screen, but everytime I go to search for podcasts or to unsubscribe from one it takes me a few minutes to figure out what to do to get there.

      • Misanthrope@lemmy.ml
        1·
        1 year ago

        That’s a fair criticism. It can be counter-intuitive with forward/back/menus. I’m probably just used-to-it.

        It’s never hindered me from adding anything or using the podcast/rss protocol how I need to. That said, there may be some other super-useful podcast apps out there that are better.

  • Nyanix@beehaw.org
    3·
    1 year ago

    I moved from Google Podcasts (which is pretty good) to AntennaPod, which is FOSS and honestly, pretty damn solid

  • Aaron@beehaw.org
    2·
    1 year ago

    I support Pocket Casts because it’s made by Automattic, the makers of WordPress, Tumblr, and WooCommerce. Their CEO, Matt Mullenweg, is someone who seems to really care about the freedom and diversity of the internet. As far as players go, it’s got all the features you’d want for an Android app.

    I seldom listen on my PC, but if I want to I can usually find the stream on whatever service the podcast has chosen (their own site, or whichever embedded player they elect to use).

  • tanker405th@lemmy.ml
    1·
    1 year ago

    I’m throwing in another vote for Pocket Casts. Bought it back in 2015 and the web player as a separate purchase. It’s had ups and downs over the years, but I’ve always returned on the rare occasions I tried something different in hopes of finding something better–granted I’m grandfathered into premium at this point. It ticks all the boxes for me and I’d probably buy it again if I didn’t already have it.

  • Cas@vlemmy.net
    1·
    1 year ago

    I use Playapod for Android. I’ve used it for years and haven’t found anything better.

  • katy ✨@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    1·
    1 year ago

    Still love Pocketcasts and would use nothing less (though I have a lifetime membership since I beta’d the web player when it first launched, so YMMV)

  • Kata1yst@kbin.social
    1·
    1 year ago

    I know it’s kind of niche, but I absolutely love many of the features of Podcast Republic.

    Being able to have multiple queues and have them automatically chain together by priority is an irreplaceable feature for me.