Apodcast client,podcatcher, orpodcast app, is a computer program or mobile app used to stream or downloadpodcasts, via anRSS orXML 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 aportable media player. Although most include a searchable directory of podcasts (usually populated by eitherApple Podcasts orPodcast Index), they also allow users to manually subscribe directly to a podcastRSS feed by providing theURL.
The core concepts weredeveloping since 2000, and the first commercial podcast client software was developed in 2001.[4][5]
Podcasts were made popular whenApple added podcasts to itsiTunes 4.9 software andiPodportable media player in June 2005.[6]Apple Podcasts is currently included in all Apple devices, such asiPhone,iPad andMac computers.
Title | Description | License | Operating system |
---|---|---|---|
Amarok | Music player and podcast client | GPL | FreeBSD,Linux,macOS,Windows |
AntennaPod | Free and open-source podcast manager for Android | MIT | Android |
Apple Podcasts | Podcast software developed byApple, built into Apple devices | Proprietary | iOS,macOS,tvOS,watchOS,Windows |
Audacy | Broadcast, Internet radio and podcast platform | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Web |
Audible | Audiobook and podcast app | Proprietary | Android,iOS,macOS,Windows |
Breaker[7] | Social podcast app | Proprietary | iOS |
Castbox | A podcast distribution network and player | Proprietary | Android,iOS,watchOS |
Castamatic | Freemium podcast client for Apple Watch, iPad, and iPhone | Proprietary | iOS,watchOS |
Clementine | A cross-platform fork of Amarok | GPL | Linux,macOS,Windows |
CPod | A multi-platform desktop podcast player | Apache | Linux,macOS,Windows |
Deezer | Streaming music and podcast app | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Windows,Web |
doubleTwist | Android music player with podcast directory and podcast support. | Proprietary | Android |
Downcast | Podcast player for iOS, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay. | Proprietary | iOS,iPadOS,MacOS,watchOS |
Escapepod | A simple, lightweight minimalistic podcast app | MIT | Android |
Gnome Podcasts[8] | Simple podcast client developed forGNOME desktop environment | GPL | Linux |
Google Podcasts | Discontinued podcast app developed by Google | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Web |
gPodder[9][10][11] | Open source podcast client written in Python using GTK+[12] | GPL | FreeBSD,Linux,macOS,Windows |
Hypercatcher | An interactive podcast app | Proprietary | iOS |
iHeartRadio | Broadcast, podcast and streaming radio platform developed byiHeartMedia | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Web |
Juice | podcast "Media Aggregator"[a] client | GPL | macOS,Windows |
Liferea[13] | News aggregator for online news feeds, features podcast support | GPL | FreeBSD,Linux,Solaris |
MediaMonkey | Media organizers with integrated podcast client | Proprietary | Android,Windows |
MusicBee | Music player with integrated podcast client | Proprietary | Windows |
NetNewsWire | An RSS and Atom newsreader | MIT | iOS,macOS |
Overcast[14] | Freemium podcast client for Apple Watch, iPad, and iPhone | Proprietary | iOS,watchOS,Web |
Player FM | A podcast discovery and offline player | Proprietary | Android,iOS,watchOS,Web |
Pocket Casts[15][16] | A cross-platform podcast client | MPL | Android,iOS,macOS,watchOS,Web,Windows |
Podcast Addict | Android podcast, audiobook and radio app | Proprietary | Android |
Podcast Guru | A mobile and web podcast player | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Web |
Poddr | A free desktop podcast player | GPL | Linux,macOS,Windows |
Podfriend | A desktop and browser podcast player | Proprietary | Web,Windows |
PodLP[17] | A free podcast player for flip phones | Proprietary | KaiOS, Cloud Phone[18] |
Podurama | Free podcast player for mobile, desktop and web | Proprietary | Android,iOS,macOS,Windows,Web |
Rhythmbox | Default music management application for GNOME | GPL | Linux |
Stitcher | Radio station and podcast client | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Web |
Trebble | A free mobile application podcast client | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Web |
TuneIn | An online radio and podcasts app | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Windows,Web,PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S |
VLC[19] | Cross-platform multimedia player and framework, includes podcast functionality | GPL | Linux,macOS,Windows |
Vocal[20] | A podcast client designed forElementary OS | GPL | Linux,Elementary OS |
Winamp | Commercial audio player with free Lite option, supports podcasts | Proprietary | Windows |
YouTube Music | Streaming music app with podcast functionality developed by Google, replacesGoogle Podcasts.[21][22] | Proprietary | Android,iOS,Web |
The idea of a podcast client is simple. It is given a list of URLs to process. Downloading each of these URLs results in an XML file in the RSS format. Inside this ...
: A media aggregator written in Python/GTK
: Media aggregator and podcast client