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.
While podcast clients are known for streaming and downloading audio podcasts, many can 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 behind podcasting were developing since 2000 and the first commercial podcast client software was developed in 2001.
Podcasts were made popular in June 2005, when Apple added podcasts to its iTunes 4.9 software and iPod portable media player. Apple Podcasts is currently included on all Apple devices, such as iPhone, iPad and Mac computers.
Podcast clients Title Description License Operating systemRef Amarok Music player and podcast client FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows AntennaPod Free and open-source 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, WindowsBreaker Social podcast app 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. AndroidDowncastPodcast player for iOS, Mac, Apple Watch and CarPlay. iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, watchOS drea Free podcast app with automatic ad skipping iOS Escapepod A simple, lightweight minimalistic podcast app AndroidGnome PodcastsSimple podcast client developed for GNOME desktop environment Linux Google Podcasts Podcast app developed by Google; discontinued in summer 2024, functionality incorporated into YouTube Music Android, iOS, Web gPodder Open source podcast client written in Python using GTK+ FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows Hypercatcher An interactive podcast app iOS iHeartRadio Broadcast, podcast and streaming radio platform developed by iHeartMedia Android, iOS, Web Juice podcast "Media Aggregator" client macOS, Windows Liferea 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 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 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 A free podcast player for flip phones KaiOS, Cloud Phone Podurama Free podcast player for mobile, desktop and web Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Web Rhythmbox Default music management application for GNOME LinuxSpotifyMusic streaming service with built in podcast supportGPLWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Playstation, Xbox Stitcher Radio station and podcast client; discontinued August 2023 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/SUp NextA free open source Podcast Client for iOSiOS, watchOS VLC Cross-platform multimedia player and framework, includes podcast functionality Linux, macOS, WindowsVocalA podcast client designed for Elementary OS Linux 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. Android, iOS, Web
See also Comparison of audio player software
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