Google Podcasts is gone. The streaming platform lately went offline on April 2, bringing the six-year saga to an in depth. Now it joins the likes of YouTube Tales and the Stadia console over within the Google Graveyard.
In the event you open the app or go to the official web site, you get a message stating the service is not obtainable. Google asks you to switch your subscriptions to both YouTube Music or export them to a third-party service.
We lately revealed a information educating you easy methods to migrate subscriptions over. Transferring issues to YouTube Music is fairly easy because it all may be finished on the Google Podcasts app. Migrating to a third-party is slightly trickier because it requires creating an OPML file then importing that file to a supporting service. Bear in mind you’ve till July 31 to maneuver your knowledge. After that, you are out of luck.
The push for YouTube Music
YouTube Music will take the place of Google Podcasts as the corporate coalesces its audio content material onto the app. As a service, it’s not the worst substitute, but it surely’s nowhere close to one of the best.
The primary downside with podcasts on YouTube Music is it performs second fiddle to, nicely, music. It’s not the primary enchantment. Sure, the platform has made a number of updates to enhance podcast assist, nonetheless there’s a whole lot of work to be finished. The search bar nonetheless prioritizes musical artists and playlists, even when the “Podcast” filter is on. Some folks discover the person interface to be actually messy because it’ll be clogged with music suggestions, making it troublesome to seek out reveals. The checklist goes on.
So, for these of you who’re in search of a brand new podcast house moreover YouTube Music, beneath is an inventory consisting of one of the best options.
1. AntennaPod – Finest various on Android
AntennaPod is a volunteer-built platform that’s completely free. It has no adverts by any means (except the writer of a podcast places them in there), and you’ll subscribe to no matter present you need through RSS feed. New episodes will seem on the house display with the choice to obtain them for offline listening. You may arrange a queue for back-to-back episodes with a historical past tab for future reruns. What’s extra, it’s all straightforward to make use of. The UI is streamlined to reduce complications.
The builders posted a collection of directions final November educating folks easy methods to migrate over to AntennaPod from Google Podcasts. Like we talked about, it entails creating an OPML file. The primary downside with this app is it is solely obtainable on Android. iPhone house owners should look elsewhere.
2. PocketCasts – Finest characteristic wealthy various
In comparison with AntennaPod, PocketCast has far more options. It affords a wide selection of sources to find new reveals. Classes embody content material that’s fashionable within the US, podcasts originating from Eire, books, Girls’s Historical past Month, music, and so forth. The participant has an fascinating set of instruments as nicely. You may enhance the playback velocity to be twice as quick and trim the silent components in episodes. You may even arrange sleep timers.
All the pieces we simply talked about is obtainable fully free of charge. You may add extra by buying a subscription. Pocket Casts Plus, for instance, affords entry to each a desktop and smartwatch app amongst different issues. The app is obtainable on Android and iOS.
3. Overcast – Finest options for iOS
Rounding the trio is the iOS-exclusive Overcast. It’s an extremely fashionable app on iPhone, at the moment sitting with a near-perfect 4.7 out of 5 score on the Apple App Retailer. A lot of its reward is levied at its intuitive design, and opinions point out its “many helpful options.” It’s much like the earlier entries as Overcast shares among the identical capabilities, like downloading episodes for offline listening, though it boasts some distinctive methods up its sleeve.
Voice Enhance cleans up audio mixing so all podcasts play on the identical quantity. Good Pace cuts out these awkward silences. Overcast does have adverts, however you may eliminate them with the Premium subscription.
We additionally wish to give an honorable point out to Spotify. It’s finished a whole lot of work in fostering that aspect of its enterprise, changing into a significant participant within the podcasting world. Nevertheless, it’s troublesome to suggest it as a substitute to Google Podcasts for a similar purpose we will’t actually recommend YouTube Music. Spotify is an area for a wide range of content material, not only one.
If you would like one thing solely for having fun with podcasts, go together with the three above. You should definitely try TechRadar’s checklist of one of the best earbuds for 2024 when you’re at it too.