I can’t get enough of podcasts.
I listen to podcast shows on a morning run or on a busy road navigating the evening traffic.
There are over two million podcasts in Apple’s catalog.
You can access even more on the web and third-party podcast apps like Spotify.
In this guide, I will show you how to listen to podcasts on your iPhone and get your favorite episodes downloaded automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does It Cost To Listen to Podcasts on an iPhone?
It doesn’t cost money to listen to podcasts on an iPhone as long as you listen to thousands of free shows.
You can download all episodes of most shows at no cost.
Most podcast-listening apps for iPhones also cost nothing to download and use.
Can You Listen to Podcasts on Your iPhone for Free?
The Apple Podcasts app is free to use on your iPhone and other apple devices.
It has thousands of shows that you can listen to for free.
Podcasters can offer shows with premium subscriptions, but that can also sometimes be free with add-supported listening.
Which Apps To Use To Listen to Podcasts on My iPhone?
Apple Podcasts app comes pre-installed on your iPhone to browse, listen, download, and subscribe to podcast shows.
You can also install third-party apps, such as Spotify, Castro, Google Podcasts, etc., from the App Store.
You can also download from the web and listen to shows on the Apple Music app.
What You’ll Need To Listen to Podcasts on iPhone
You will need several things to listen to podcasts on your iPhone, apart from the smartphone device itself.
These include:
- Internet connection: Browsing podcast catalogs and listening to the shows require a reliable internet connection. You can also download shows for offline listening, but downloading requires connectivity, too.
- Podcasts app: While it’s possible to listen to podcasts using a web browser or download them as an audio file on your iPhone, a dedicated podcasts app will significantly enhance your listening experience. Your iPhone should have the Apple Podcasts app pre-installed.
These two things will ensure that you can listen to podcasts whenever possible.
You may also utilize earbuds or headphones for better sounds.
How To Listen to Podcasts on iPhone: Step-by-Step Instructions
You can utilize several ways to listen to a podcast on your iPhone.
The simplest way is to use the default Podcasts app.
The Apple Podcasts app is simple, intuitive, and designed by Apple.
It is also free to use.
You can play, skip, pause an episode, save the best podcasts for offline listening, and set a sleep timer.
Accessing the Apple podcasts catalog, you can search from millions of shows to find your favorite podcasts.
You can also subscribe to get all the latest episodes delivered to your library.
Listening to podcasts on iPhone is simple if you have the right steps. Here’s how.
Step 1: Find or Get the Apple Podcasts App
In the latest versions of iOS on iPhone, the Podcasts app comes pre-installed.
So you can find it in your apps library.
You can swipe down on your home screens or app library and type in “podcasts,” then click on the app icon.
If it’s not already installed, search for it on the Apps Store and download the app.
Step 2: Open the App and Explore the Homepage
Open the Podcasts app by tapping on it.
The app’s homepage will appear with suggestions for popular shows, channels, and topics.
You can check out these sections to find something you like.
You can also browse the entire collection by navigating to the ‘Browse’ section at the bottom.
The “Library” menu next to browse will take you to your personal podcasts library.
Step 3: Search for Your Favorite Podcast Shows
Do you know the name of your favorite podcast?
You can easily find it by using the “Search” button.
Find it at the bottom with a magnifying glass icon.
Once you tap on the icon, a search box should appear at the top of the page.
Type in the name of your favorite podcast show or the podcaster, then hit Enter (the search button on your keyboard).
The result page should appear in no time, with a list of shows, episodes, and channels related to your search query.
Step 4: Listen to the Podcast Episode You Want
Once you click on a show, it will take you to the channel’s homepage.
You can start listening to the latest episode by clicking play below the podcast’s name.
Scrolling down will give you a list of the recent episodes.
Each episode should have a brief description, a play icon, and a duration.
Click on the play icon to start listening to it.
You can save an episode for later listening by clicking on the “Save” icon.
Saving is also possible via the three-dot menu at the top of the episode’s page.
Saving a podcast episode will download it into your library.
Step 5: Follow Your Favorite Podcast Show
Is there a podcast show you are fond of?
Subscribe to the channel for free by either tapping on the follow button (+) at the top of the page or by accessing the three-dot (…) menu bar and clicking “Follow Show”.
Following a show will download all its latest releases automatically to your podcasts library.
You can also follow a show but avoid downloading the episodes automatically.
It will need you to turn off automatic downloads from the menu bar.
Step 6: Browse Your Library for Further Listening
All the episodes you save and the shows you subscribe to go into your podcasts library.
You can access the library section by tapping “Library” at the bottom of the page.
It is similar to the Apple Music app.
The library keeps your saved items organized in different folders while providing a list of recently updated shows.
Listen to Podcasts on iPhone Using Other Apps
Apple Podcasts is just one of many options to listen to podcasts on the iPhone.
Spotify, Overcast, Castro, and other third-party podcast apps on Apps Store do the same.
Some listeners prefer these apps for better customization.
Listening to podcasts from the Google library is also possible on iPhone if you download the Google podcasts app.
Using Spotify To Listen to Podcasts on iPhone
Many listeners prefer to keep their music and podcasts playlists in the same app.
Spotify is an excellent option for these types of listeners.
At a glance:
- You will need an account to log in to Spotify. You can create an account with a few clicks in the Spotify app.
- The app offers an intuitive user experience, where you can search for podcasts as you search for songs and music.
- Like Apple Podcasts, it will let you download podcasts and follow any particular show.
While podcasts are free, Spotify offers multi-tier subscription packages for an add-free, comprehensive listening experience.
Downloading Podcasts To Listen on iPhone
Most of the popular podcasting platforms are hosted on a webpage.
Simply use your iPhone web browser, find the website of your favorite podcast, and listen to it on the web player.
You can also download some web podcasts as MP3 files on your computer.
It will need you to use iTunes to sync the downloaded audio files to your iPhone, making it less straightforward.
You can listen to the sync podcast episodes on your phone using the default Music app.
Similar Tutorials To Check Out
Listening to different types of podcasts on your iPhone should be enjoyable if you follow the steps described in my guideline.
What about listening to them on Android? What about finding or creating a podcast?
You can learn about all these by checking my articles about:
- How to Listen to Podcasts on Android: All the different ways to listen to podcasts on Android if you have an android smartphone.
- How to Find a Podcast: Tips and steps to find all your favorite podcasts on iPhone, Android, or the web.
- How to Edit a Podcast: Tools and methods of editing a podcast with details for both beginners and pros.
Wrapping Up
Although both tend to be free, Podcasts are different from blogs.
Podcasts are audio files with a dedicated app to listen to on your iPhone.
You can listen to numerous podcast shows on iPhone using:
- Your Apple Podcasts app
- A third-party podcast-listening app
- A web browser for online listening
As an avid podcast fan, I would like you to find the simplest way to listen to podcasts.
Please let me know how helpful my guide is or if you need further clarification in the comments.
