Podcasts have surged into the mainstream over the past few years, and their popularity just keeps growing. In 2024, an estimated 125 million people in the U.S. alone will be regular podcast listeners, according to research from Insider Intelligence. That‘s nearly 40% of the population tuning in to audio shows on everything from true crime to personal finance to sci-fi fantasy.
As a savvy digital content consumer, you‘re probably ready to dive into the world of podcasts yourself. But with over 2 million shows out there and dozens of different apps to use, getting started with podcasts can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Don‘t worry – we‘ve got you covered with this complete guide to subscribing to podcasts across all your devices.
What Does It Mean to Subscribe to a Podcast?
First, let‘s define what a podcast subscription actually is. When you subscribe or follow a podcast, it means you are signing up to receive new episodes of that show automatically delivered to your device as soon as they are released. It‘s basically like a magazine subscription, but free!
Subscribing makes it easy to keep up with your favorite podcast shows without having to manually check for and download new episodes. You can subscribe to as many podcasts as you‘d like and listen on your own schedule – whether that‘s first thing in the morning, during your commute, while cooking dinner, or as you drift off to sleep.
Most podcast apps allow you to fine-tune your subscription settings, such as limiting automatic downloads to a certain number of recent episodes, only downloading over WiFi, or pushing episode notifications to your phone. But we‘ll get to that a bit later. First, let‘s walk through the steps of actually subscribing to a podcast on your desktop computer and smartphone.
How to Subscribe to a Podcast on Your Desktop Computer
There are a few different ways to subscribe to and manage podcasts on your computer. The main methods are via iTunes, Spotify, or a web browser. Here‘s how to use each one:
Using iTunes
iTunes is the default application for podcasts from Apple. It has a huge built-in library of podcasts on every topic imaginable. To explore and subscribe:
- Open the iTunes application on your Mac or PC.
- Click on the "iTunes Store" option in the left sidebar.
- In the iTunes Store menu bar at the top, hover over "Music" and select "Podcasts."
- Here you‘ll see featured shows and podcast categories. Use the search bar in the top right to find a specific podcast by name or topic.
- Click on a podcast to open its detail page. Here you can read the show description, see available episodes, and check out reviews.
- Click the "Subscribe" button to start following that podcast.
- To view your subscribed podcasts, go to the "Library" section in the left sidebar and select "Podcasts."
- Click the "Settings" button next to a podcast to change the subscription options, like limiting downloads or auto-deleting played episodes.
According to data from Chartable, iTunes is the second most popular podcast player after Spotify, with over 25% market share globally. It‘s a great option for podcast beginners on a laptop or desktop, with a straightforward interface and easy subscription management.
Using Spotify
Spotify has made a big push into podcasts over the last few years, quickly becoming the most used platform worldwide for podcast listening. If you already use Spotify to stream music, subscribing to podcasts in the same app is a convenient choice. Here‘s how:
- Open the Spotify desktop app and log in.
- Click on the "Search" tab in the left sidebar.
- Type the name of a podcast into the search bar, or browse through podcast categories and recommendations.
- When you‘ve found a podcast you like, click on it to open the show page.
- Hit the "Follow" button to subscribe to the podcast and automatically receive new episodes.
- Your podcast subscriptions are located in the "Library" tab under "Shows."
One advantage of using Spotify for podcasts is that your listening progress will sync automatically between the desktop and mobile app, as long as you‘re logged into the same account on both. More on that later!
Using a Web Browser
You don‘t actually need a special application to subscribe to podcasts. If you‘re using a web browser like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, you can subscribe using a podcast‘s RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed and web-based podcast managers. It just takes a few extra steps:
- Find a podcast by searching on Google or visiting a podcast hosting site like Podbean, Buzzsprout, or Anchor.
- Locate the podcast‘s subscribe or RSS feed link. It may be denoted by an orange RSS icon or a "Subscribe" button.
- Copy the RSS link and paste it into an online RSS reader like Feedly or The Old Reader.
- Click follow or subscribe to have new episodes show up in your reader automatically.
While this method works, we‘d recommend using a dedicated podcast app for the best user experience, like the options mentioned above or others such as Pocket Casts, Overcast, and Stitcher. These offer more features for listening, organization, and discovery compared to a basic RSS reader.
How to Subscribe to a Podcast on Your iPhone
Now let‘s talk mobile. Subscribing to podcasts on your smartphone lets you take your favorite shows on the go and listen whenever you have a spare minute. If you‘re an iPhone user, the process is fairly intuitive using the built-in Apple Podcasts app.
Using the Apple Podcasts App
The Apple Podcasts app comes pre-installed on every iOS device. Just look for the purple icon with a white microphone graphic. Here‘s how to find and subscribe to podcasts:
- Open up the Apple Podcasts app on your iPhone.
- Select the "Search" option in the bottom menu bar.
- Enter the name of a podcast, topic, host, or network in the search bar.
- Tap on a podcast to open its details page.
- Click the "Follow" button to subscribe.
- Go to the "Library" tab to see all your podcast subscriptions.
One of the best features of the Apple Podcasts app is the ability to tweak settings for each individual podcast subscription:
- Tap the three dots next to a show and select "Settings."
- Here you can control how many episodes are automatically downloaded, choose to only download new episodes on WiFi, skip intros, and even set a sleep timer.
- You can also hit "Notify on New Episodes" to get an alert pushed to your phone each time a subscribed podcast releases a fresh episode.
- If you want to unsubscribe from a show, just tap "Unfollow Podcast."
The Apple Podcasts app is currently the third most popular platform for podcast listening in the U.S., behind Spotify and YouTube, according to recent data from Edison Research. It accounts for 16% of total podcast listening time and has over 25 million monthly active users in America.
If you have an Apple Watch, you can sync your podcast app there as well to listen subscription-free. Just open the Podcasts app on your watch and choose a subscribed show to stream the latest episode right from your wrist. Great for runs, walks, and workouts!
Tips for Managing Podcast Subscriptions on iPhone
Subscribing is just the first step. To get the most out of your podcast experience on iPhone, here are a few expert tips:
- Turn on the "Download on WiFi Only" setting to avoid chewing through your mobile data plan.
- To save storage space, choose to automatically delete played episodes after 24 or 48 hours.
- Under "Settings," change the "Forward" and "Back" skip increments to your preference. 30 seconds is the default, but you can set it shorter or longer.
- Use the "Play Next" queue feature to line up a list of episodes to play in order.
- Take advantage of Siri to control playback hands-free. Just say "Hey Siri, play The Daily podcast."
- Turn on "Sleep Timer" to automatically stop playing a podcast after a set time – perfect for falling asleep.
How to Subscribe to a Podcast on Your Android Phone
Don‘t worry Android users, subscribing to podcasts on your devices is just as simple. There are a few key apps to know, including Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Pocket Casts. Let‘s go through the steps for each.
Using Google Podcasts
Google has its own native podcast app that makes subscribing a breeze. It comes pre-installed on many Android devices, or you can download it from the Google Play Store. Here‘s how to use it:
- Open the Google Podcasts app on your phone.
- Tap the search icon to hunt for a specific podcast, or browse the top and trending shows on the home page.
- When you find a show you like, tap on it to open the details page.
- Hit the "Subscribe" button to start following the show.
- See all your followed podcasts by tapping the "Home" icon.
- Tap the settings icon next to a podcast to change subscription settings like auto-downloading and deleting played episodes.
The Google Podcasts app has quickly gained popularity, now capturing over 11% of monthly podcast listeners according to Libsyn. Users enjoy its clean material design, ease of use, and AI-powered recommendations based on your subscriptions and listening history.
Using Spotify
Subscribing to podcasts on Spotify‘s Android app is a popular choice and works the same as the desktop process:
- Open the Spotify app and go to the "Search" page.
- Browse featured shows and categories or search for a podcast by name.
- Tap "Follow" on a podcast page to subscribe.
- Find your followed podcasts in "Your Library."
Again, a key perk of Spotify is that your podcasts (and music) are synced across all your logged-in devices. So you can start an episode on your phone during your commute, then seamlessly pick up where you left off on your computer or smart speaker at home.
Using Pocket Casts
While lesser known than the big players above, Pocket Casts is a beloved app among podcast aficionados. It has a beautiful, user-friendly interface and some powerful features for organization and discovery. The app is free to download, with an optional $0.99 per month subscription for premium features. Here‘s how to subscribe to a show:
- Download and open the Pocket Casts app.
- Click the "Discover" tab to find new podcasts by category, network, or trending status. You can also search for a show in the top search bar.
- Tap the "+" button on the show page to follow the podcast and access more subscription options.
- Go to the "Podcasts" section to view and filter your subscribed shows.
Pocket Casts has some handy features like a voice boost function, custom skip intervals, sleep timer, and quick capture tool to subscribe to new shows from any website or RSS link. It also offers a shareable playlist feature which many other podcast apps lack.
Syncing Podcast Subscriptions Across Devices
One of the most convenient aspects of subscribing to podcasts in popular apps is the ability to sync your subscriptions, listening history, and preferences across all your devices. Here‘s how it works:
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Apple Podcasts: The Apple Podcasts app uses your iCloud account to keep your podcast subscriptions and playback synced up across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and even Apple TV. As long as you‘re logged into the same Apple ID on each device and have iCloud sync turned on in Settings, it should work automatically.
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Spotify: Spotify will seamlessly sync all your podcast follows and recently played episodes between any devices where you‘re logged into the same account. So whether you‘re using the mobile app on the go or the web player on your work computer, your podcasts will always be up to date and right where you left off.
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Google Podcasts: Google‘s podcast app syncs your subscriptions and episode progress across Android devices via your Google account. However, you can‘t currently sync listening between the mobile app and the Google Podcasts web player, which is a separate interface.
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Pocket Casts: Pocket Casts offers a robust cross-device sync feature called Pocket Casts Plus. For $0.99 per month or $10 per year, you can sync your podcasts, playlists, and listening progress across the Android, iOS, and web apps. The Plus subscription also gets you access to a desktop app, Apple Watch app, and exclusive app themes and icons.
Paid Podcast Subscriptions on the Rise
While the vast majority of podcasts are free, the industry is seeing a growing trend toward paid subscriptions or "premium" podcast tiers. Much like subscribing to a video streaming service, a paid podcast subscription typically gets you access to a collection of exclusive, ad-free shows or bonus content from your favorite hosts.
Top paid podcast subscriptions of 2024 include:
| Platform | Starting Price | Top Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify Premium Podcasts | $4.99/month | Murdaugh Murders, DC Decoded, NBA Storytime |
| Wondery+ | $3.99/month | Blood Ties, Guru, British Scandal |
| Luminary | $4.99/month | Snap Judgment Presents: Spooked, The Midnight Miracle, Under the Skin with Russell Brand |
| NPR Plus | $7.99/month | Fresh Air, Code Switch, Wait Wait..Don‘t Tell Me! |
While paid subscriptions are still a small slice of the overall podcast market, they are steadily gaining traction. Insider Intelligence predicts that U.S. podcast subscription revenue will hit $940 million in 2024, up nearly 30% from 2023. Media giants like Apple, Amazon, and SiriusXM are also getting in on the subscription podcast game.
As a podcast listener, a paid subscription might be worth it if you‘re a superfan of certain popular shows and want to access exclusive content. But there are still well over 2 million free podcasts out there to explore, so don‘t feel pressure to pay up until you‘re ready.
Top Podcast Recommendations for New Subscribers
Congrats, you‘re now a podcast subscription pro! But with millions of shows to choose from, you might be wondering where to start. Here are a few must-listen shows we recommend checking out in 2024:
- News: Start your morning with daily news round-ups from The Daily, Up First, or Today, Explained. For an unbiased take on politics, try Left, Right & Center or Pantsuit Politics.
- True Crime: The true crime podcast renaissance is still going strong, with gripping new series like The Rumor, Queen of the Con, and Bone Valley. For a different perspective, check out Criminal, Ear Hustle, or Convicted.
- Comedy: Laugh along with the wild improv antics of Comedy Bang Bang, off-the-cuff chats of Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade, or satirical quizzes of Wait Wait..Don‘t Tell Me!
- Interviews: Hear fascinating conversations with notable figures on Fresh Air, How I Built This, or The Ezra Klein Show. WTF with Marc Maron remains the gold standard of comedian-on-comedian interviews.
- Narrative Fiction: Get swept up in spellbinding audio dramas like Blackout, Passenger List, or Welcome to Night Vale. Enjoy classic radio theater updated for the modern day from Radiotopia Presents.
- Science & Learning: Go on a curiosity voyage with Science Friday, Ologies, or Unexplainable. Radiolab and Every Little Thing are two other fun listens for expanding your knowledge.
There truly is a podcast for every interest, from the niche to the mainstream. And subscribing means you‘ll never miss out when new episodes drop. Happy listening!
