I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you’ve been on the internet before. If so, you’ve likely stumbled upon a podcast or two. There are almost 5 million of them out there, after all.

The problem isn’t finding a podcast, though—it’s finding the best way to listen in. While Apple and Spotify have made a big push into the space, and their apps are perfectly serviceable, they’re not always the best fit for power users or people who just want a clean, no-nonsense experience. The good news? There are other options, and you don’t have to pay a dime to access them.

Here are five fantastic, and completely free, podcast apps for iOS and Android.

If you ask a podcast aficionado for a recommendation, there’s a good chance they’ll say Pocket Casts.

And for good reason. It’s got a clean, intuitive interface that makes managing your subscriptions a breeze. The free version offers all the essentials you need, including variable speed controls, silence trimming, and a volume-boost feature to level out inconsistent audio.

Better yet, it syncs your listening progress across iOS, Android, and the web, which is a big deal if you........

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