Listen up: Apps for discovering and playing podcasts

Whether you’re into pop culture, cognitive science, or Internet lore, there's a podcast for you. As a listener or a potential creator, here are the tools you need to get started.

Explore an extensive library of podcasts from independent creators and content networks alike, including back-catalog episodes of hit shows like My Favorite Murder or WTF with Marc Maron. Enjoy Sirius XM integration, or download to your device for offline listening. Subscribe for ad-free listening, exclusive original content, and early episode access.

Along with a vast selection of audiobooks, Audible has a library of original podcasts and audio dramas — some available even without a subscription. Hear some of the best voices in entertainment narrate intriguing stories, and earn cute badges for achievements like listening to a book that's longer than 24 hours. Folding laundry just got a little less tedious.

Spotify has your entertainment needs covered with a wide selection of podcasts, including exclusive hosts like Michelle Obama, Dax Shepherd, and Reba McEntire. You can also discover up-and-coming creators that cover a vast range of topics, from true crime to birdwatching. Though you don’t need a subscription to listen, you can remove ads with Spotify Premium.

If you have a great idea for a podcast and want to try recording, Spotify’s Anchor is a great way to get started. Walk through how to record content, capture interviews, and edit audio into a complete, professional-sounding podcast. Check out Anchor’s own series for podcasting beginners, explaining how to come up with a show idea, technical considerations, and more.

Though this Google-owned podcast app doesn’t host any content itself, it offers a clean, low-distraction interface for you to play your must-listens. Explore popular shows, subscribe to your favorites, and even import podcast RSS feeds from across the web (including platforms like Patreon).