Top 5 Best Cross-Platform Podcast Applications

1. Spotify

Spotify is one of the biggest podcast applications available out there. It has all the features a podcast application would require. The Major advantage of this application is that it is truly cross platform as it is available on all the major operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, iPadOS, web etc. The Spotify application also comes with a fantastic bug-free user experience.

The podcast library of spotify is also filled with your favourite demanded podcasts. You will get almost every podcast in its library. Spotify also has its exclusive original podcasts produced exclusively for Spotify which are not available on any other platform.

The only con of this application is that it is ad-supported and if you want to buy the premium then it is not cheap. However, the podcasts as of now do not have audio ads, just the visual ads in the application.

Advantages:

1. Application available on all platforms.
2. Rich Podcast Library.
3. Fantastic UI.
4. Spotify Original Podcasts.

Disadvantages:

1. Free version is Ad-Supported.
2. Premium is expensive.

https://spotify.com

2. Google Podcasts

Google podcasts is the free version of spotify with some changes here and there. First of all, the application is completely free to use on all platforms without any ads. On mobile platforms it is available on Android and iOS and for all other platforms it is available via web browser. You can access google podcasts from any operating system by just using a browser and a google account.

The podcast library of google podcasts is also very sound with almost all the podcasts available. We can also add podcasts through RSS feed and add it to our collection.

Overall Google Podcasts is a very good application if you want a clean and simple UI and your favourite podcasts.

Advantages:

1. Completely Free.
2. Available on the Web.
3. User-Friendly UI.
4. Rich Podcast Library

Disadvantages:

1. Windows, macOS, Linux applications not available.

https://podcasts.google.com

3. Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts is another cross platform application with some charges. The Mobile applications on Android and iOS are free but the Windows and macOS applications are not free and they come with the premium plan of Pocket Casts.

The Podcast library of this application is also very sound. You find all the major podcasts here. The user interface of the application is also clean and user-friendly.

It could have been a strong competitor with Spotify if the Windows and macOS applications were free because the mobile applications do not contain any ads.

Advantages:

1. Ad-Free.
2. Good UI.

Disadvantages:

2. Windows, macOS applications are not available for free.

https://www.pocketcasts.com

4. Stitcher

Stitcher is yet another cross-platform application available on every major operating system like Android, iOS and Web. The user interface of Stitcher is very nice and also ad-free.

The podcast library of the application is not as good as the above mentioned ones. You find popular podcasts but not every podcast that you would want. The application is also more focused towards the US audience and Indian podcasts are not available heavily. This major con drops it down to number 4.

It also comes with a premium plan which offers some premium podcasts by Stitcher itself but they can only be accessed with the premium plan.

Advantages:

1. Ad-Free.
2. Good UI.

Disadvantages:

1. Poor podcast library (At Least in India).
2. Premium podcasts can only be accessed with Premium Plan.

https://www.stitcher.com

5. TuneIn Radio

TuneIn Radio also offers applications on all platforms just like Spotify but it is not as library rich as Spotify. Its applications are available on all platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, macOS. It is also available on the web just like Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

The one downside of this application is that the podcast library is really very poor. I could not find even 2 of my favourite podcasts on this application.

Apart from these cons the user interface is good on all the platforms.

Advantages:

1. Good UI.
2. Applications available on all platforms.

Disadvantages:

1. Poor Library.
2. Premium podcasts can only be accessed with Premium Plan

https://tunein.com

Some Honourable Mentions

1. Castbox.
2. Apple Podcasts.