Apple iPad rolled out as a tablet that everyone originally thought was bonkers, to say the least, but after the early adapters reviewed it, iPad became an instant sensation across all domains. So much so that it would be safe to say that it became oxygen for almost every type of digital ecosystem. This holds true especially for an easy and portable entertainment and a bit of productivity during travel as well.
Podcasts fall somewhere between these two extremes, depending exactly on how you wish to unleash this enormous source of knowledge and entertainment. It has been over a decade now since people experimented with Podcasts and uploaded the noisy recordings from the comforts of their bedroom. Times have changed, and so has the way people listen to and create Podcasts.
And it is no surprise that Apple introduced a native app for iOS devices, that includes iPad for listening to Podcasts. While the inbuilt iOS Podcast app pretty much does justice to the whole thing, there are a number of alternatives that do that just so much better.
Keeping all that in mind, in the first section of this post, we are going to focus on 10 Best Podcast Apps for iPad, one of which, we are sure you are going to love and eventually trust it as a go-to app for all your Podcast appetite.
Table of Contents
Podcast Listening Apps for iPad
Price: Free
If Podcasts don’t consume the major chunk of your day, then Apple’s native Podcasts app might just do the job for you. With the app, you will be able to discover hundreds of thousands of downloadable Podcasts that are not only thought-provoking but also a little entertaining, ranging right from hilarious interview to sports and even politics.
Price: Free
Overcast is the most popular and highly rated and probably even the best Podcast App for iPad. The app is pleasantly designed and comes with a bunch of cool and useful features for a daily listener. And if you love speed, then Overcast is the one you should definitely give a go at as speed seems to be its strongest forte.
Being able to seamlessly play Podcasts, this app continuously plays Podcasts by minimizing noise caused by poor recording. The best part though is that the app is able to sync on multiple devices, making sure you are able to continue listening to your favorite Podcasts on iPad, iPhone, Mac and even Apple Watch.
Price: $5.29
Jumping right into the paid Podcast apps, this app absolutely kills it in the paid category. With a unique set of simple, yet powerful features and a limitless podcast database, you’re sure to find something for you.
The design of the app is fairly simple and you will be able to find Podcasts that interest you easily. With playlists, you will be able to queue in the Podcasts to listen endlessly to your favorite channels and chapters. The app also comes in with a universal sync solution that allows you to continue where you left off, from literally any digital smart device.
Price: $5.29
Named as the best app of 2016 by New York Times, this app holds its hype to this day and definitely justifies the attention it received. Featuring the all unique Episode Triage, the app lets you scan new episodes, evaluate them and eventually queue the best ones and archive the rest.
Discovering new Podcasts on iPad gets a totally different meaning, with Top charts from every genre available at your fingertips so you can pick and choose from the ones that interest you. On top of that, the Castro iMessage integration allows you to easily share Podcasts with your friends, without ever having to leave the app.
Price: $2.59
Although this app seemingly looks exactly like Apple’s Podcast app, it does have an advantage over the former and certainly has features that justify its price. One of the most important being able to create and modify your own playlist. This and a bunch of other features makes it one of the highest rated paid Podcast apps for iPad.
Price: Free with In-App Purchases
Spotify is famous for music streaming but don’t let that distract you from the fact that this app is also able to stream innumerable audio and video Podcasts, along with a nifty Spoken word section in the app.
Podcasts are organized in a variety of categories, such as Storytellers, Sports & Recreation, and Comedy, and users can subscribe to individual podcasts, manage downloads, and share podcasts through social media. Playback and management options are sparse compared to other apps, but if you’re already using Spotify for streaming music and don’t want to dig around for a dedicated podcatcher, then give it a shot.
Price; $2.99
If customisation is your thing, then this app won’t disappoint, with tons of configuration options like, configurable settings, tweaks, and features for everything from downloads, subscriptions, playback and more, this app is going to satiate your personalization appetite.
You can also download your favorite Podcasts from within the app with Wi-Fi and cellular download options available, in addition to the all useful background download.
Price: $2.99
Downcast is a robust online search for podcast subscriptions, auto-downloading and the ability to import and export OMPL podcast feeds help you ensure your podcasts stay up-to-date.
A highly customizable playlist maker lets you tinker and selectively build your playlists on the go, while numerous playback options (such as episode streaming, variable speed playback, video podcast support and more) allow you to play your content however you like.
The app continues to add to its features, with CarPlay, Apple Watch, and Google Cast support among the new additions.
Price: Free
Here is a little something that is conventionally named and works pretty much conventionally too. The app gives you access to over 4 million Podcasts streaming all over the world, with access to over 100,000 radio stations with delivery for sports, news, music, and talks.
Price: Free
A very slim and trim Podcast app for iPad with minimal features that just get the job done. Whether you wish to download podcasts or stream them online, this app has all that covered and then a bit more. You will be able to search categories, and get suggestions based on your history or take advantage of options like play speed adjustment, timer, sleep function and much more.
Podcast Creation Apps for iPad
If you don’t like to be on the listening end of a Podcast and instead like to share your own content from the comforts of your iPad, we have got you covered too. There are plenty of apps in the market designed exclusively for Podcasting but there are only a few that do the same justice on an iPad. With that in mind, in the next section of this post, we have compiled a list of only the 8 Best Podcast creating apps, designed exclusively for iPad Podcast creating enthusiasts.
Price: Free
Opinion Podcasts brags about being the world’s simplest Podcasting apps and judging by the rating and reviews it has received from hundreds of thousands of people, the boasting is pretty much justified.
The app is simple, you can just record, edit your Podcast and then publish it to SoundCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, email and all that good stuff.
Price: Free
An even simpler app that simply gets the job done. With positive reviews from most of the big names in the business, this app promises to do all the usual podcasting intricacies without confusing you in all the unnecessary jargon.
Some of the many features that need a special mention, include but are not limited to, the ability to record your voice while triggering intros/outros, bumpers and background music all on-the-fly, Dynamics processing, Full VoiceOver compatibility, export to FTP for Podcasters, Email for Audioboo via BooMail, Dropbox, Soundcloud, Wifi, iTunes Share, and AudioCopy to other apps and it does work with external mics like the Apogee Mic, IK Multimedia iRig Mic Cast and Blue Mikey and more.
Price: Free
This app gives you the freedom to create and share conversations around documents, snapshots, diagrams, and videos, basically everything you think worthy of sharing.
The best thing about this app though is that it not only captures your comments and conversations but also your presence, which makes for an immersive Podcasting experience.
Price: Free
iPadio redefines what it means to be simple, the app cuts all the jargons and straight up shows you how to record a Podcast, upload it on the web and begin sharing it with your targeted audience.
Price: $2.99
Install this app on your iPad and get ready to enjoy creating Podcasts and publishing them online whenever you desire, and most importantly directly on your WordPress site. You can also trim your recordings, export to WordPress, Dropbox, iCloud and more!
Price: Free
AudioBoom allows you to record and publish only 10 minutes of Podcast, that is not enough for most people and maybe that’s even far too simple, but that is exactly the whole point of it. The app is very simple to use and allows you to broadcast daily without all the hassle and the best part is that you can also access a bunch of other podcasts if you like to be on the listening end.
Price: Free
This app allows you to record and upload unlimited length podcasts with configurable quality. Recorded voices are in standard AAC/MP4/M4A format. It can also record directly in MP4 (AAC), MP3 (MPEG) and WAV (PCM) formats plus convert function for all supported formats.
Price: Free with In-App Purchases
If you like to do a post-recording processing to your podcast without leaving the comfort of your iPad, Ferrite Recording Studio has you covered. With the ability to cut, trim, move and delete tracks as appropriate, as well as fade in/out or crossfade between tracks, this app is editing heaven in Podcast creating apps category.
There is a catch though, some of the features in this app require an in-app purchase, but if you want the basics, you can have them for free.
Tips for Listening to Podcasts on an iPad
If you are just a beginner in the murky waters of Podcast, or you just want to improve your listening skills, then you could definitely use some tips for listening to Podcasts. Podcasts are a fun way to pass time, whether you are commuting, or doing cardio, and it certainly beats listening to head banging music all the time.
There are however a lot of people who find it a little naïve to even consider it, but if you follow the tips listed in the next section of this post, we are sure you will love your podcasting journey, or at least begin to appreciate it.
Tip 1. Don’t Judge a Book by its cover (Or Artwork in this case)
You shouldn’t judge anything superficially and the same holds true for Podcasts, some of the most brilliant podcasts might not have an equally brilliant artwork. And rightly so, because they might have invested most of their time on creating a good podcast instead of worrying about the Artwork.
Tip 2: Look for Podcasts from your Favourite websites
If you follow a few famous websites and more often than not find yourself glued to their content, chances are they already have a Podcast channel where they update a lot of that stuff. Check for website specific podcasts and listen to it and be resourceful.
Tip 3: Know the Hosts
It’s always good to know a little about the hosts and the guests in a particular podcast as this makes for a better time listening to them and building a better perspective and relationship with the podcast.
Tip 4: Try other Things
If you just subscribe to the channels you are already interested in, you are no better than a frog in a well. Get out of your comfort zone and listen to things you otherwise find mundane and maybe you will stumble on something that inspires you.
Tip 5: Don’t give up just yet
If at all you feel like Podcast might not just be your thing, hold on for a little longer, it’s a habit worth the extra effort. And remember, there is something for everyone.
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