Does Android have a built in podcast app?

A podcast is an episodic digital audio or video file that can be downloaded to listen to or watch. Podcasting has exploded in popularity in recent years. According to Statista, the number of monthly podcast listeners in the U.S. grew from 57% in 2019 to 79% in 2021. With over 123 million monthly listeners in the U.S. alone, podcasts have become a mainstream medium for entertainment, news, and education.

With the rising popularity of podcasts, mobile device users may wonder if the Android operating system has its own built-in podcast listening app, or if they need to download a third-party app. This article will explore whether Android has a native podcast player app, examine potential workarounds if it does not, and provide tips for managing podcasts on Android devices.

Brief History of Podcasting

Podcasting first emerged in the early 2000s as a way to distribute audio content online using RSS feeds. The term “podcasting” was coined in 2004 by Ben Hammersley in an article for The Guardian newspaper (https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/12/broadcasting.digitalmedia).

The early pioneers of podcasting include Adam Curry, a former MTV VJ, and Dave Winer, a software developer. In 2000, they had discussions about finding a way to automate the delivery of audio content online using RSS feeds (https://blubrry.com/manual/about-podcasting/history-of-podcasting-new/). This allowed people to easily subscribe to audio content and have new episodes downloaded automatically.

Podcasting works by having audio files hosted on a server. These files are then enclosed in RSS feeds with metadata like the episode title, description, and publication date. Podcast listeners can search for and subscribe to podcast feeds using a podcast app or aggregator. New episodes are automatically downloaded to their device when they are published.

Popularity of Podcasting

Podcasting has grown tremendously in popularity over the past decade. According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2023, 42% of Americans ages 12 and older have listened to a podcast in the past month (source). In 2022, there were over 2 million active podcasts and 115 million monthly listeners in the U.S. alone, up from just over 1 million active podcasts in 2017 (source).

Podcasting appeals to a wide demographic. However, some of the most dedicated listeners include Millennials (49% listen monthly) and Gen Xers (45%). Podcasting is also very popular among college graduates, with 56% listening monthly (source). When looking at platforms, Apple Podcasts dominates with 37.4% of listeners, while Spotify trails at 17.1% (source).

Benefits of Podcasting

Podcasting provides numerous benefits, both for listeners and creators.

For listeners, the key benefits include:

• Entertainment – Podcasts provide a fun, engaging way to pass time or relax.
• Learning – Podcasts allow listeners to learn new information and skills on any topic imaginable.
• Convenience – Podcasts can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. Listen while commuting, exercising, cooking, etc.

According to this article, listening to podcasts stimulates the mind and exposes listeners to new ideas and perspectives.

For podcast creators, key benefits include:

• Easy distribution – Podcasts can be uploaded and accessed worldwide through various platforms and apps.
• Passive income – Top podcasts can generate revenue through sponsorships, advertising, and listener donations.

As explained in this post, podcasting allows creators to share their voice, connect with an audience, establish expertise, and potentially monetize their content.

Podcast Apps for Android

While Android does not have a built-in dedicated podcast app, there are several popular third-party apps that Android users can download to listen to podcasts. Some of the top podcast apps for Android include:

• Spotify (Article on Best Podcast Apps): Spotify has become a top destination for podcast listening. It offers an extensive podcast library and allows you to sync podcast playback across devices.
• Pocket Casts (Reviews of Best Podcast Player Apps): Pocket Casts provides a polished interface and lots of customization options for managing your podcasts. It also offers cross-device syncing.
• Podcast Addict: This app is popular for its wide array of options and settings for fine-tuning your podcast experience. It allows advanced controls like customizing playback speed, trimming silence, and more.

While the options share many similarities, aspects like interfaces, library size, and customizability differ across the top apps. Reviewing user reviews and testing out the options can help Android users determine the best fit for their podcast listening needs.

Does Android Have a Built-In App?

No, Android does not have a built-in or default podcast app included in the operating system. While Apple’s iOS includes the Apple Podcasts app, Android leaves it up to device manufacturers and third-party developers to create podcast listening apps.

There are a few reasons why Google has not included a native podcast app in Android:

• Android emphasizes choice and flexibility – having a default podcast app may restrict options for consumers and developers.
• The podcast market already had popular third-party apps like Pocket Casts and Stitcher established when podcasting began growing on mobile.
• Developing and maintaining a quality first-party podcast app requires significant resources which may be better utilized elsewhere.

So in summary, while having a consistent built-in option can be convenient for users, Android has prioritized choice and relying on specialized third-party podcast apps.

Workarounds on Android

There a couple key workarounds Android users can leverage to listen to podcasts without a dedicated podcast app:

Streaming via Google Play Music

Google Play Music, now known as YouTube Music, allows Android users to stream podcast episodes directly on their device without needing to download a separate podcast app. This enables easy access to podcast listening alongside music streaming (1).

Downloading Podcasts to Listen Offline

While streaming provides convenience, downloading podcast episodes to listen offline saves mobile data usage. Many third-party Android podcast apps like Pocket Casts allow this. Users can download their favorite podcasts over WiFi to listen later without needing an internet connection (2).

Should Android Add a Built-In Podcast App?

There are pros and cons to Android adding a built-in podcast app. Some of the potential benefits include:

• Increased accessibility and visibility of podcasts for Android users
• Tighter integration with the Android operating system
• Potentially superior performance compared to third-party apps
• No need to download a separate podcast app from the Play Store

However, there are also downsides:

• Google would need to keep the app updated across many different Android devices and versions (1)
• Less options and customization compared to third-party podcast apps like Podcast Republic (2)
• Some users may still prefer different apps based on personal preference

Many Android users argue that the choice of which podcast app to use should ultimately be left to the individual (2). However, given Google’s investment into podcasts with Google Podcasts web and mobile apps, they may decide to bundle a basic podcast app into Android at some point to provide broader access.

Tips for Managing Podcasts on Android

Android does not have a built-in podcast app, but there are easy ways to manage podcasts with third party apps like Google Podcasts.

To find and subscribe to new podcast shows in Google Podcasts:

• Tap the search icon to browse podcasts by category or search for a specific show
• When you find a podcast you’re interested in, tap the “Subscribe” button to add it to your library
• Your subscribed podcasts will appear in the “Home” tab for easy access

To manage settings and preferences:

• Go to the Google Podcasts app settings to enable options like auto download for new episodes over WiFi, notifications when new episodes are released, and more [1]
• You can also manage storage settings to automatically delete older episodes as needed

Following these tips will help you easily find, organize and listen to your favorite podcasts on an Android device.

Conclusion

To summarize the key points, Android does not have a built-in podcast app. While some Android devices used to come with Google Play Music, which contained some basic podcast functionality, that app is now discontinued. Many third-party podcast apps are available for Android devices, such as Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, and Castbox. These apps allow Android users to easily discover, subscribe, and listen to podcasts.

Although a built-in podcast app would provide a convenient default option for Android users, Google does not seem inclined to offer one at this time. Fortunately, many great alternatives are available which integrate well with the Android ecosystem. As the popularity of podcasts continues to grow, perhaps Google will reconsider adding more native podcast functionality down the road.