Listening to a podcast is easy, and most podcasts are free. You can use a phone, a computer, a smart speaker or your car, and you do not need any special equipment. Last verified: 10 November 2026. The steps below follow each platform’s own help pages, so use the sources at the end if a menu looks different after an app update.
Quick Answer: How Do You Listen to a Podcast?
Open a podcast app or website, search for the show, choose an episode and press play. Tap Follow if you want new episodes to appear automatically. Pick the route that matches your device.
Podcasts are now part of everyday listening in the UK:
Sources: Ofcom, Audio listening in the UK (2026); RAJAR MIDAS Spring 2026 as reported by Radiocentre; Edison Research, The UK Podcast Consumer 2026. Ofcom and RAJAR use different survey methods, so their figures differ slightly.
In This Guide
- What is a podcast and how does it work?
- The simplest way to get started
- How to listen on different devices (Android, iPhone and iPad, computer, smart speaker, car)
- How to choose a listening app
- How to find, follow and subscribe
- Downloads and offline listening
- How much data podcasts use
- Can you listen for free?
- Podcasts on YouTube and YouTube Music
- Playback features and accessibility
- If a podcast will not play
- Staying safe with third-party apps
- Listening in the UK, India and the US
- Frequently asked questions
What Is a Podcast and How Does It Work?
A podcast is a series of spoken episodes, usually audio and sometimes video, that you can stream or download whenever you like. Think of it as a radio programme that you can play at any time, on any device.
Behind the scenes, the process is simple. A creator records an episode and uploads it to a hosting company. The host publishes an RSS feed, which is a web address that lists every episode of the show. Podcast apps and directories read that feed, so new episodes appear in your app without you doing anything. YouTube describes an RSS feed in the same way: the address an app uses to receive a show’s episodes.
This is why one show can appear in several apps. It is also why a show can be missing from one app that carries another. Rights, publisher choices and country rules all affect where a show appears.
Many shows now also publish a video version. Audio still works everywhere, and you can usually choose whether to watch or just listen.
How to Listen to a Podcast: The Simplest Way to Get Started
- Choose an app or website. Use one already on your device, or install a free one from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Open it. Allow any permission prompts you are comfortable with, such as notifications.
- Search. Type the name of a show, or a topic such as “history” or “football”.
- Pick a show and an episode. Newer episodes are normally listed first.
- Press Play. Use headphones or the phone speaker.
- Follow the show. Tap the Follow or Subscribe button if you want new episodes to appear automatically.
Do you need an account? It depends on the app. BBC Sounds asks you to sign in with a free BBC account. Other apps ask for a free account when you want to save shows, sync between devices or download. A podcast’s own website usually lets you press play with no account at all.
How to Listen to a Podcast on Different Devices
How to Listen to Podcasts on Android
Android phones do not have one single podcast app, so you choose one. Google Podcasts is no longer an option. It stopped working in June 2024 and Google moved its listeners to YouTube Music. If an old guide tells you to open it, ignore that step.
- YouTube Music: install it free from Google Play, then search for a show. Look for Podcasts on the Home or Explore screen to browse. Google launched podcasts in YouTube Music for UK listeners in October 2023.
- Spotify: tap Search, then Browse all, then Podcasts. Choose a show, tap an episode and press play, as Spotify’s help page describes.
- BBC Sounds: install it free from Google Play and sign in with a BBC account. It carries BBC podcasts and radio programmes.
- A dedicated podcast app: install one from Google Play, search for the show and press play.
On any of these, tap the show’s Follow or Subscribe button to keep up with new episodes, and tap the download arrow beside an episode to save it. If you are still deciding which phone to buy, our guide to Android vs iPhone in the UK compares price, updates and ecosystem.
How to Listen to Podcasts on iPhone and iPad
Apple Podcasts is usually already on your iPhone or iPad. If it is not, it is free from the App Store.
- Open the Podcasts app.
- Use Search to find a show, then tap it.
- Tap an episode to play it.
- Tap Follow to keep up with new episodes.
When you follow a show, Apple says new episodes download automatically and you can choose to get notifications. To save one episode, touch and hold it, then tap Download Episode. You can also use Spotify, BBC Sounds, YouTube Music or any other app from the App Store.
Many Apple Podcasts episodes have a Transcript button in the full-screen player. If the button is greyed out, that episode has no transcript. Availability depends on the language and your country.
How to Listen to Podcasts on a Computer
You do not need to install an app on a Windows PC or a Mac. A web browser is enough.
- Web players: open the web player for Spotify, YouTube Music or BBC Sounds, search for the show and press play.
- A show’s own website: many podcasts have a play button on every episode page.
- Mac: the Apple Podcasts app is built in. Search or browse, press play and click Follow.
- Windows: use a browser player. Apps are optional.
A browser player streams the episode, so you need an internet connection. For downloads, a phone or tablet app is the easier route.
How to Listen to Podcasts on a Smart Speaker
First link your podcast service to the speaker, then ask for a show by name. You can only play podcasts from services your speaker supports in your country.
| Speaker | Set-up | Example command |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Alexa (Echo) | In the Alexa app, open Settings, then Music & Podcasts, and link your service. | “Alexa, play the podcast [name]” or “Alexa, play the latest episode of [name].” |
| Google Nest | Link your podcast service in the Google Home app. | “Hey Google, play [podcast name] on [service]” or “Hey Google, continue listening to [podcast name].” |
| Apple HomePod | Set up the HomePod using your iPhone. | “Hey Siri, play [show name].” |
How to Listen to Podcasts in Your Car
- Bluetooth: pair your phone with the car, then play from your phone’s podcast app. Apple explains the steps for iPhone.
- Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: in a compatible car, your podcast app appears on the car screen and works with voice control.
- Built-in car apps: some cars include their own podcast apps. Menus differ by make and model, so check your handbook.
- No signal? Download episodes at home first. Downloaded episodes play without mobile coverage.
It is illegal to hold and use a phone while driving in the UK, including when stopped at traffic lights. Hands-free use is allowed if you never hold the device. The penalty is six points and a £200 fine, according to GOV.UK. Choose your episode before you set off and use voice or steering-wheel controls.
How to Choose a Podcast Listening App
There is no single correct app. The choice depends on your phone, how much you want to download and whether you also want music or video. The apps named here are examples, not rankings. For popularity, the chart below shows which service UK listeners say they use most.
Source: Edison Podcast Metrics UK, The UK Podcast Consumer 2026, weekly podcast listeners aged 15+. Respondents named the service they use most. “Other” is the remainder to 100%. The chart shows main choice, not total listening on each service.
Dedicated Podcast Apps
These apps focus on podcasts. Examples include Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts and Overcast. BBC Sounds is a UK example that mixes BBC podcasts with BBC radio. They usually handle downloads, playback speed and queues well, and most are free to use.
Music and Audio Streaming Apps
Spotify and YouTube Music carry podcasts alongside music. You get one app for everything, and the free versions have adverts. Offline rules differ: on Spotify’s free version you can only download podcasts, while Premium also downloads music, according to Spotify’s offline help page.
Video Platforms
YouTube hosts video and audio podcasts. Choose it when you want to see the presenters, or when the show only exists on YouTube. Video uses far more data than audio, as the data section below shows.
Podcast Websites and Web Players
A browser player or a show’s own page lets you listen without installing anything. It is handy on a work computer or a shared device, but it mostly streams and rarely offers offline listening.
| Route | What you need | Cost | Offline listening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated podcast app | Phone, tablet or computer | Usually free | Usually yes. Check each app’s settings. |
| Music streaming app | App and a free account | Free with ads; paid plans optional | Spotify free: podcasts only. Premium: music too. |
| Video platform | App or browser | Free with ads | YouTube Music: podcasts on any plan, though some episodes cannot be saved as audio only. |
| Web player or show website | Browser and internet | Usually free | Rarely. It mostly streams. |
| Smart speaker | Speaker and linked service | Depends on the service | No. It streams. |
| Car system | Phone, Bluetooth, CarPlay or Android Auto | Depends on the app | Plays what is downloaded on your phone. |
How to Find, Follow and Subscribe to Podcasts
To find a show you already know, type its name into the search box. To discover new ones, browse the categories, charts or recommendations in your app. A friend’s link also takes you straight to a show page.
Follow and subscribe usually mean the same thing in daily use: they save a show so new episodes are easy to find. Apple Podcasts and Spotify both use the word Follow, and following is free. A paid subscription is separate. It is an optional extra that creators offer for bonus content or ad-free episodes. Apple points out that unfollowing a show does not cancel a paid subscription to it.
To add a show by RSS feed, copy the feed address from the show’s website and look for an option such as “Add by URL”, “Add RSS feed” or “Follow a show by URL”. In Apple Podcasts on a Mac, choose File, then Follow a Show by URL. The exact wording differs by app, and not every app has this option.
If a podcast is not in your app, it may be limited by rights, country or an exclusive deal. Try a second app, the show’s own website, or the RSS method above.
How to Download Podcasts and Listen Offline
Downloading saves an episode on your device, so it plays without an internet connection and without using mobile data. It is the best way to prepare for a commute, a flight or a poor-signal area.
- Apple Podcasts: touch and hold an episode, then tap Download Episode. Followed shows also download new episodes automatically. Change this in Settings under Podcasts (on newer iPhones: Settings, Apps, Podcasts).
- Spotify: tap the download arrow on a podcast episode. Free accounts can download podcasts. You need to go online at least once every 30 days to keep downloads.
- YouTube Music: Google says you can download podcasts whatever your membership, though some episodes are not available as audio-only downloads.
- BBC Sounds: download from the app. The BBC says its app is available on Android, iOS and Amazon Fire devices.
Storage: file size depends on episode length and quality. As an example, twenty episodes of about 50 MB each need roughly 1 GB (1,000 MB) of space. These figures are illustrative.
To free up space, remove old downloads. In Apple Podcasts, touch and hold an episode and tap Remove Download. Apple can also delete played episodes automatically 24 hours later, if the setting is on. Other apps have a similar clean-up or “downloads” page in their settings.
How Much Data Does Listening to a Podcast Use?
Streaming a podcast over mobile data uses your allowance. A downloaded episode uses no data when you play it. The amount depends on the bitrate, which is how much audio data is sent each second, and on whether the episode is audio or video.
Illustrative example (not an official measurement): at 96 kilobits per second, one minute of audio is about 0.72 MB. That is 96 × 60 ÷ 8 ÷ 1,000. Real apps vary with quality settings, adverts and your connection.
| Episode length | Approx. data at 96 kbps | Five episodes a week for four weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | about 22 MB | about 432 MB |
| 60 minutes | about 43 MB | about 864 MB |
| 90 minutes | about 65 MB | about 1,296 MB (1.3 GB) |
To use less mobile data:
- Download episodes on Wi-Fi, then play them anywhere.
- Switch video podcasts to audio only if your app offers it.
- Stop automatic downloads from using mobile data. Apple Podcasts lets you choose whether downloads can use mobile data.
- Check which apps use the most data. On iPhone, open Settings, then Mobile Service (or Mobile Data on older versions). On Android, open Settings and look for Data usage.
Your mobile network decides your plan and allowance, so check it with your provider.
Can You Listen to Podcasts for Free?
Yes. Most podcasts are free to listen to in the main apps, and you do not need to subscribe. They are usually paid for by adverts and sponsors, much like the ads described in our guide to radio advertising examples. That guide also compares podcast and digital audio advertising. Creators can also earn from paid members, and our explainer on how much YouTube pays creators touches on how podcast ad slots are priced.
Some shows add paid extras, such as ad-free episodes, bonus content or early access. These are separate from the free episodes. A paid music plan does not automatically unlock every show, and some host-read adverts stay in the episode whatever you pay.
| Service | Free listening | Paid option (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Podcasts | Most shows are free to play and follow. | Optional per-show subscriptions. Each creator sets the price. |
| Spotify | Free tier with ads. Podcasts can be downloaded. | Premium Individual: £12.99 a month. Student: £5.99. Premium adds music downloads. Prices can change. |
| YouTube Music | Podcasts can be played and downloaded on any plan. Most also play in the background. | Optional Premium membership. |
| BBC Sounds | Free with a BBC account. Mainly BBC shows and radio. | None needed. |
Prices and availability differ by country, so a price you see in a US or Indian article may not apply in the UK.
How to Listen to Podcasts on YouTube and YouTube Music
YouTube is a video platform that carries a large amount of podcast content, and YouTube Music is Google’s audio-first app for it. In Edison’s 2026 UK research, YouTube was the service the largest share of weekly podcast listeners used most. YouTube is also very widely used in the UK. Our social media statistics page notes that 94% of online adults used it in May 2025, according to Ofcom.
- Find a podcast: search for the show name on YouTube, or open Podcasts inside YouTube Music. Many shows also have a playlist with all their episodes.
- Switch between audio and video: in YouTube Music you can move between the two where the creator offers both.
- Listen in the background: Google says most podcasts in YouTube Music can play in the background without a paid membership.
- Download: YouTube Music lets you download podcasts on any plan, but some episodes are not available as audio-only downloads.
- Premium: you do not need YouTube Premium just to listen to podcasts in YouTube Music. Check Google’s benefits page for what Premium adds.
If YouTube will not load at school, work or on a shared network, the cause is usually a filter or setting. Our guide on how to unblock YouTube explains safe fixes and why free VPNs are a poor idea.
Podcast Playback Features and Accessibility
Most podcast apps share the same handy tools, although menu names differ.
- Playback speed: speed up or slow down the voices, usually from the player screen.
- Skip silence: available in some apps. It trims long pauses.
- Sleep timer: stops playback after a set time, handy at bedtime.
- Queue: line up episodes to play one after another.
- Transcripts: time-synced text appears in some apps, such as Apple Podcasts. You can follow along, tap a line to jump to that point, and search the text where it is supported.
Accessibility: screen readers such as VoiceOver on iPhone and TalkBack on Android can read podcast app screens aloud. Voice assistants let you play, pause and skip hands-free. Transcripts and video captions help people with hearing difficulties, and anyone who prefers to read. Not every show offers a transcript, so check the player or the show’s website.
Why Is My Podcast Not Playing? Common Problems and Fixes
| What is happening | Likely cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| Episodes will not load | Weak or no connection | Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, then retry. |
| Audio keeps stopping | Unstable signal or a busy app | Download the episode on Wi-Fi, then play it offline. |
| Downloaded episode will not play | File did not finish, or the download expired | Delete it and download again. Check the app’s offline rules. |
| A podcast is missing | Rights, country or exclusive deal | Search another app or the show’s website. |
| App will not open or crashes | Out-of-date app or software | Update the app and your phone, then restart. |
| Downloads fail | Not enough storage | Remove old downloads or apps to free space. |
Is It Safe to Listen to Podcasts Using Third-Party Apps?
Official apps from the Apple App Store and Google Play are the safest choice. Google warns that apps from unknown sources can put your device and personal information at risk. Its Play Protect feature checks apps and can warn you or remove harmful ones.
Be especially careful with “free premium” claims. A paid plan cannot legitimately be unlocked for free by an unknown app. Modified APK files are a common way to spread malware or collect passwords. A show’s free feed or a free tier is fine. Pirated or unlocked paid content is not.
Before installing, check the developer name and the permissions the app asks for. If something feels wrong, do not enter your passwords or card details, and go to the show’s official website to find the right app.
How to Listen to Podcasts in the UK, India and the US
| Country | What to know |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | All the main routes work. BBC Sounds is free with a BBC account, YouTube Music has had podcasts for UK listeners since October 2023, and prices are in pounds. |
| India | Apple lists Apple Podcasts as available in India. Your mobile provider sets your data plan, and language options vary by show and app. |
| United States | YouTube Music added podcasts in the US first, in April 2023. Some shows, features and prices differ from the UK. |
Regional restrictions happen because shows and features are licensed country by country, and some creators limit where they publish. Language matters too: search in your own language and you may find a different set of shows. If you travel, a show can appear or vanish depending on the app’s country setting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Listening to Podcasts
What is the easiest way to listen to a podcast?
Open the app that is already on your device, such as Apple Podcasts on an iPhone, search for a show and press play. On Android, install YouTube Music or Spotify first.
How do I listen to podcasts for free?
Use a free app or a show’s website. Apple Podcasts, BBC Sounds, YouTube Music and Spotify’s free tier all let you play podcasts without paying.
Do I need an app to listen to podcasts?
No. A web browser works, and many shows have a play button on their own website. An app makes downloading and saving shows easier.
Can I listen to podcasts without Wi-Fi?
Yes. Download the episode first and it plays offline. Streaming over mobile data also works but uses your allowance.
How do I listen to podcasts on Android?
Install YouTube Music, Spotify, BBC Sounds or a dedicated podcast app from Google Play, search for the show and press play.
How do I listen to podcasts on an iPhone?
Open the Podcasts app, search for a show, tap an episode and tap Follow if you want new episodes.
Can I listen to podcasts on my computer?
Yes. Use a web player in your browser, a show’s own website or, on a Mac, the Apple Podcasts app.
Can I listen to podcasts on YouTube?
Yes. Search for the show on YouTube, or use the Podcasts area of YouTube Music, where you can switch between audio and video.
Do I need to subscribe to listen to a podcast?
No. Following a show is free and only saves it for new episodes. A paid subscription is an optional extra.
How much data does listening to a podcast use?
It varies. As an illustration, an hour of audio at 96 kbps is about 43 MB, while video uses far more.
Can I listen to podcasts while driving?
Yes, hands-free. It is illegal in the UK to hold and use a phone while driving, so use Bluetooth, CarPlay, Android Auto or voice control.
Why can’t I find a podcast in my app?
It may be limited by rights, country or an exclusive deal. Try another app, the show’s website or its RSS feed.
What is an RSS feed in podcasting?
It is the web address that lists a show’s episodes so apps can pick up new ones automatically.
Can I listen to podcasts offline after downloading them?
Yes. Downloaded episodes play without a connection. Some apps, such as Spotify, need you to go online at least once every 30 days.
Is Google Podcasts still available?
No. Google closed it in 2024 and directed listeners to YouTube Music, so use that or another current app.
Final Thoughts: Start Listening to Podcasts Today
You already own what you need: a phone, a computer, a smart speaker or a car with Bluetooth. Pick one free app, search for a topic you enjoy and press play on a single episode. Follow the show if you like it, and download episodes on Wi-Fi if you listen on the move.
Sources
- Apple Support: Follow and play shows in Apple Podcasts on iPhone and iPad
- Apple Support: Download and delete episodes in Apple Podcasts
- Apple Support: Play music and podcasts in your car
- Spotify Support: Podcasts and shows
- Spotify Support: Listen offline
- Google Help: Explore YouTube Music Premium benefits (podcast downloads and background play)
- Google Nest Help: Listen to media on your Google smart speaker or display
- Google Help: Google Play Protect
- GOV.UK: Using a mobile phone when driving
- Ofcom: Audio listening in the UK (2026)
- Edison Research at SSRS: The UK Podcast Consumer 2026
- Spotify UK: Premium plans and prices
- BBC Sounds
Prices, menu names and app availability change often. All details were last checked on 10 November 2026.