The term podcast comes from combining iPod (an Apple product) and broadcast. Podcasts democratized broadcasting and allowed many to have entertainment or training while on the road or doing chores. It also gave everyone a platform to have their voice heard. There’s a variety of podcasts out there to suit every interest. But how does someone with an Apple device listen to these podcasts? This article will cover the best podcast apps for Apple’s iOS in 2022:

1. Pocket Casts
2. Overcast
3. Apple Podcasts
4. Google Podcasts
5. Spotify

Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts may have a sleek simplistic design, but it is fully featured and free! After researching, this is the podcast player to which I inevitably switched. It has a unique feature that allows you to select chapters within a podcast. It allows episode searching which is a rare feature among podcast players. Variable playback speed ranges from 0.5x to 3.0x with silence trimming to reduce podcast listening length. It also has volume boost, which allows you to increase the volume when ambient noise is loud or if the podcast is too quiet.

Overcast

Overcast blends in quite well with the iOS environment. It has a few advanced features like volume-boosting and silence trimming. It has a simple and intuitive interface that makes playlist organization easy. Playlist management is where this app shines, even over Pocket Casts. Overcast also integrates well with Siri and allows you to customize other devices to create a better listening experience.

Apple Podcasts

The stock Apple Podcast app is a great option for playing podcasts. It’s already on your phone natively, and it features access to millions of podcasts including exclusives. It can be controlled with Siri or even Alexa, and can be controlled via Bluetooth. Variable playback speed can be set up to 2x. While the app integrates seamlessly with iOS, it is not cross-platform. Apple has been in the podcast game since the beginning, and if you’re looking for a simple and reliable player that’s already installed, Apple Podcasts is a safe bet.

Google Podcasts

Google Podcasts is a middle-of-the-road option. It has a simple interface allowing you to listen to podcasts without subscribing. There’s variable speed playback from 0.5x to 3.0x with silence trimming to reduce podcast listening length. It also comes with intelligent recommendations to find new podcasts that suit your interests. While Google Podcasts isn’t at the top of this list, it provides a simple ad-free experience and is worth considering.

Spotify

Spotify is primarily a music company, but if you have a subscription, as many do, this can be a one-stop-shop app for your listening needs. It features a curated list of podcasts, variable speed playback of 0.5x-3.5x, and a sleep function. Spotify also features podcast exclusives that you can only find in the app. While at the bottom of this review list, it is a reliable integrated app.