Best Free Podcast Listening Apps

249+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated October 2026

Out of 249+ free podcast listening apps on iOS, 20 are free and the rest sit in the paid tier. This page sorts them so you can compare both sides before you commit.

Compare top Free Podcast Listening Apps (October 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Apple PodcastsApple PodcastsFree4.9★ (2.1M)YesNoNov 2026
2Podcast AppPodcast AppFree4.8★ (311K)YesYesNov 2026
3Podcast App & Player - CastboxPodcast App & Player - CastboxFree4.9★ (201K)YesYesNov 2026
4Overcast Podcast AppOvercast Podcast AppFree4.5★ (48K)NoYesNov 2026
5Spotify: Music and PodcastsSpotify: Music and PodcastsFree4.8★ (43M)YesNoNov 2026
6Castro: Podcast App & PlayerCastro: Podcast App & PlayerFree4.6★ (9.2K)YesYesNov 2026
7Just Listen: Podcast AppJust Listen: Podcast AppFree4.2★ (5)NoNoOct 2026
8Pandora: Personalized MusicPandora: Personalized MusicFree4.8★ (11M)YesYesNov 2026

Top Picks for Free Podcast Listening Apps

Apple Podcasts#1

Apple Podcasts by Apple

Audio and video podcasts
Editor's Choice
🎬 Entertainment
4.9😞(2.1M ratings)
FreeAds
Apple Podcasts screenshot 1
Apple Podcasts screenshot 2
Apple Podcasts screenshot 3
Apple Podcasts screenshot 4
Apple Podcasts screenshot 5

Discover and listen to a vast library of podcasts that entertain, inform, and inspire. Get personalized recommendations and curated collections to explore new shows. Seamlessly sync your listening progress across all your Apple devices.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
  • 🎨 Sleek and modern user interface
  • 💯 Vast library of podcast content
  • 🔍 Helpful podcast discovery features
  • 🗓️ Convenient episode management

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable playback
  • 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive navigation
  • 🔀 Inconsistent episode ordering and playlist management
  • 🔋 High data and battery consumption
  • 🗑️ Difficulty removing/deleting unwanted episodes
Podcast App#2

Podcast App by Evolve Global, Inc.

Player for iPhone
Strong Contender
📡 News
4.8😊(311K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#25in News
Podcast App screenshot 1
Podcast App screenshot 2
Podcast App screenshot 3
Podcast App screenshot 4
Podcast App screenshot 5
Podcast App screenshot 6

This podcast player prioritizes speed and simplicity, allowing users to quickly find, save, and listen to episodes. It offers AI-powered recommendations and organization tools, with an optional premium upgrade to remove ads and unlock advanced features.

What We Love

  • 👍 Easy to navigate
  • 🚀 Intuitive user interface
  • 📚 Wide variety of podcast content
  • 💾 Offline listening capabilities
  • 🔍 Helpful podcast discovery features

Room to Improve

  • 🔍 Difficulty finding specific episodes
  • 🔋 Drains device battery
  • 📤 Issues with downloading/playing podcasts offline
  • 🔊 Intrusive ads in free version
  • 🔒 Lack of customization options
Podcast App & Player - Castbox#3

Podcast App & Player - Castbox by Guru Network Limited

Podcasts App for iPhone
Worth Considering
📡 News
4.9😞(201K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#39in News
Podcast App & Player - Castbox screenshot 1
Podcast App & Player - Castbox screenshot 2
Podcast App & Player - Castbox screenshot 3
Podcast App & Player - Castbox screenshot 4
Podcast App & Player - Castbox screenshot 5
Podcast App & Player - Castbox screenshot 6

Discover, download, and listen to over 95 million audio titles including podcasts, audiobooks, and FM radio. Enjoy personalized recommendations, seamless cross-device syncing, and smart speaker integration for an enhanced listening experience.

What We Love

  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🚀 Efficient podcast management
  • 💡 Useful community features
  • 🚀 Reliable playback and downloads

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and bugs
  • 💸 Aggressive and intrusive advertising
  • 🔋 Drains battery life
  • 🤖 Confusing and unintuitive navigation

More Free Podcast Listening Apps apps to explore

FAQ about Free Podcast Listening Apps

What are the best free podcast listening apps for iPhone?
Apple Podcasts tops our free podcast listening apps ranking as of October 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 2.1M App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Apple Podcasts shows ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of October 2026.
We track 249+ free podcast listening apps on the iOS App Store as of October 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.