A podcast client, podcatcher, or podcast app, is a computer program or mobile app used to stream or download podcasts, via an RSS or XML feed.[1] [2] [3]
While podcast clients are best known for streaming and downloading audio podcasts, many can also download video podcasts, newsfeeds, text, and pictures. Some of these podcast clients can also automate the transfer of received audio or video files to a portable media player. Although most include a searchable directory of podcasts (usually populated by either Apple Podcasts or Podcast Index), they also allow users to manually subscribe directly to a podcast RSS feed by providing the URL.
The core concepts were developing since 2000, and the first commercial podcast client software was developed in 2001.[4] [5]
Podcasts were made popular when Apple added podcasts to its iTunes 4.9 software and iPod portable media player in June 2005.[6] Apple Podcasts is currently included in all Apple devices, such as iPhone, iPad and Mac computers.
| Title | Description | License | Operating system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarok | Music player and podcast client | FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows | |
| AntennaPod | Podcast manager for Android | Android | |
| Apple Podcasts | Podcast software developed by Apple, built into Apple devices | iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, Windows | |
| Audacy | Broadcast, Internet radio and podcast platform | Android, iOS, Web | |
| Audible | Audiobook and podcast app | Android, iOS, macOS, Windows | |
| Breaker[7] | Social podcast app | Proprietary | iOS |
| Castbox | A podcast distribution network and player | Android, iOS, watchOS | |
| Castamatic | Freemium podcast client for Apple Watch, iPad, and iPhone | iOS, watchOS | |
| Clementine | A cross-platform fork of Amarok | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
| CPod | A multi-platform desktop podcast player | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
| Deezer | Streaming music and podcast app | Android, iOS, Windows, Web | |
| doubleTwist | Android music player with podcast directory and podcast support. | Android | |
| Downcast | Podcast player for iOS, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay. | Proprietary | iOS, iPadOS, Mac, watchOS |
| Escapepod | A simple, lightweight minimalistic podcast app | Android | |
| Gnome Podcasts[8] | Simple podcast client developed for GNOME desktop environment | Linux | |
| Google Podcasts | Discontinued podcast app developed by Google | Android, iOS, Web | |
| gPodder[9] [10] [11] | Open source podcast client written in Python using GTK+[12] | FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows | |
| Hypercatcher | An interactive podcast app | iOS | |
| iHeartRadio | Android, iOS, Web | ||
| Juice | podcast "Media Aggregator" client | macOS, Windows | |
| Liferea[13] | News aggregator for online news feeds, features podcast support | FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris | |
| MediaMonkey | Media organizers with integrated podcast client | Android, Windows | |
| MusicBee | Music player with integrated podcast client | Windows | |
| NetNewsWire | An RSS and Atom newsreader | iOS, macOS | |
| Overcast[14] | Freemium podcast client for Apple Watch, iPad, and iPhone | iOS, watchOS, Web | |
| Player FM | A podcast discovery and offline player | Android, iOS, watchOS, Web | |
| Pocket Casts[15] [16] | A cross-platform podcast client | Android, iOS, macOS, watchOS, Web, Windows | |
| Podcast Addict | Android podcast, audiobook and radio app | Android | |
| Podcast Guru | A mobile and web podcast player | Android, iOS, Web | |
| Poddr | A free desktop podcast player | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
| Podfriend | A desktop and browser podcast player | Web, Windows | |
| PodLP[17] | A free KaiOS podcast player | KaiOS | |
| Podurama | Free podcast player for mobile, desktop and web | Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Web | |
| Rhythmbox | Default music management application for GNOME | Linux | |
| Stitcher | Radio station and podcast client | Android, iOS, Web | |
| Trebble | A free mobile application podcast client | Android, iOS, Web | |
| TuneIn | An online radio and podcasts app | Android, iOS, Windows, Web, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | |
| VLC | Cross-platform multimedia player and framework, includes podcast functionality[18] | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
| Vocal[19] | A podcast client designed for Elementary OS | Linux, Elementary OS | |
| Winamp | Commercial audio player with free Lite option, supports podcasts | Windows | |
| YouTube Music | Streaming music app with podcast functionality developed by Google, replaces Google Podcasts.[20] [21] | Android, iOS, Web | |
A media aggregator written in Python/GTK
.Media aggregator and podcast client
.