This is why I moved from Google Podcasts and PocketCasts to Spotify

I used to be an early adopter of podcasts, and a few of my earliest subscriptions go method again to 2005, once I received my first iPod. Whereas my love affair with iTunes and iPods continued for much longer, I switched to Pocket Casts on Android someplace round 2012. The power to seize podcasts on the go, simply discover new reveals, retailer them offline, or stream them over Wi-Fi — it was all a no brainer. It helped that the app averted function creep whereas including all of the necessities like leaping ahead or again or skipping silent sections, which earned it numerous love within the Android group and a spot on our 15 finest Android apps record.

Pocket Casts was my fixed companion all through college and my lengthy day by day commute. Quick ahead a few years, although, and I began gravitating in the direction of Google Podcasts as my podcast consumer of selection. My utilization patterns had shifted; I used to be spending much more time on my desk, and I wanted a podcast consumer that had an easy-to-use, non-paywalled internet consumer. Sadly, like all good issues at Google, the corporate lately introduced that the app is on loss of life row and will likely be deprecated early subsequent 12 months.

Now, I may’ve gone again to Pocket Casts, however the app’s lack of effort in the direction of making a compelling integration with Alexa instructions has given me pause. Furthermore, I wasn’t excited by paying for yet one more subscription. Pocket Casts locks fundamentals like folder administration and an online consumer behind a subscription, making it a no-go for me.

Given the circumstances, I’ve been giving Spotify a good shake as a podcast consumer. A few weeks after switching to Spotify, I’m offered. Regardless of being an early denier of the corporate’s shift in the direction of podcasts and vehemently against Spotify cluttering up an already busy interface, it’s clear that the app and its wonderful related function set — and ubiquity — are most conducive to my model of on a regular basis listening.

Let me pre-phase this by saying that pretty much as good as Spotify is, it’s neither the best-sounding music streaming service nor does it have the most effective interface. Truthfully, I’d say that even the standard of suggestions isn’t fairly pretty much as good because it was. However for me, the most important motive to stay to Spotify is Spotify Join. The corporate’s near-ubiquitous streaming end-point is supported by virtually each related speaker or DIY answer. At residence, I’ve received a mixture of Alexa, Google, and Klipsch audio system, and the flexibility to leap between my audio system of selection is a must have.

Much more than music, that means to bounce off audio wherever I would like is vital for me relating to podcasts. My day often begins with listening to information podcasts whereas I am going by way of my morning routine and bathe. I’ll then change over the audio to the Echo Present in my kitchen whereas getting ready breakfast and change over to music podcasts or my favourite Movement State episodes in my residence workplace. No different podcast app can obtain this cross-platform miracle.

Positive, it’s not as huge a problem in the event you’re all invested in a single ecosystem of audio system, like these powered by the Chromecast protocol. Pocket Casts can deal with these high quality. Nevertheless, I’d wager some individuals didn’t essentially put money into one ecosystem, or didn’t consider interoperability when shopping for their totally different audio system. Moreover, if you’re an Echo aficionado, Amazon’s insistence on sticking to abilities as an alternative of opening up Alexa Forged ensures a borderline unusable expertise. I’ve tried a number of instances to invoke the Pocket Casts ability utilizing voice instructions, but it surely’s a uncommon event when it performs the right podcast. I can not begin my day with a irritating expertise like that. Spotify, alternatively, is persistently seamless.

The ever-present entry goes past with the ability to solid my music all over the place or the presence of a freely out there desktop consumer. All too typically, I’ll plug in my earphones and begin listening to a Spotify podcast on my telephone. Once I sit at my desk, the Spotify app on my Mac is aware of exactly what’s taking part in on my telephone and lets me management playback, rewind, or scrub ahead by way of slower sections with out lifting or unlocking my telephone. That’s even higher than accessing my podcasts by way of a browser window. Although, after all, Spotify makes that out there too. The handy ubiquity can’t be overwhelmed.

AI-generated transcripts are one other function I’ve loved so much. Listening to dense programming or language studying podcasts, I like with the ability to scroll by way of the transcript to see exactly what was being stated. Equally, podcast chapters are yet one more comfort that permits me to get straight to the meat of an interview or a comedy sketch.

Whereas I had my issues about Spotify stuffing podcasts into the principle residence web page, it’s clear that the corporate has been listening to suggestions. Exterior of a single row mentioning new reveals I would take pleasure in, Spotify has taken a step again from cluttering the house web page, and I’m right here for it. Including a fast change tab for music and podcasts proper on the prime has additionally vastly aided in maintaining the 2 mediums separate.

I’d go so far as saying that my podcast listening has gotten a lift due to the fast and easy accessibility. The lowered friction ensures that once I’m bored of listening to my basic favourite metallic observe, I can pop over into the podcast tab, hearken to some album opinions, and shortly add them to my library for a hear proper then or later. That lack of friction goes a great distance towards cementing Spotify as my go-to audio media vacation spot. The convergence between music and podcasts that I vehemently opposed earlier has changed into an unmissable comfort. It’s been an incredible think about shifting me to Spotify as my podcast app of selection.

However for a way far Spotify has come as a podcast consumer, it nonetheless has an extended solution to go earlier than I can wholeheartedly suggest it as a Pocket Casts or Google Podcasts alternative for true fanatics. The app’s podcast group options are minimal to the purpose of being non-existent. I’d love the flexibility to make use of folders to segregate genre-based podcasts, however that’s not an choice. Nor are you able to make podcast playlists — a function I sorely miss from Pocket Casts.

Utilizing Spotify as a podcast consumer additionally comes with the issue of getting locked right into a closed ecosystem. I can freely change between Pocket Casts, AntennaPod, and a dozen different podcast purchasers in my seek for a brand new residence, due to the standardized use of OPML feeds, however Spotify doesn’t assist that. You’ll be able to neither import nor export subscriptions. This implies you’ll be including in all of your new subscriptions manually in case you resolve to change. Me? I took it as a superb alternative to cull my overzealous podcast subscription record.

Moreover, whereas Spotify has come a great distance with new options like sleep timers and velocity controls in podcasts, I’d nonetheless prefer to see the choice to trim silence or increase voices. And even simply simpler segregation of podcasts that I’m already listening to or haven’t heard. Given the corporate’s severe deal with podcasts as a medium for progress over the subsequent few years, I’m optimistic that it’s going to make these additions sooner reasonably than later. However for now, it’s not fairly there but.

All in all, Spotify hardly ranks on the prime because the podcast participant of selection for fanatics, and I get it. Objective-built purchasers typically have a function set that’s particularly tuned to enhance the expertise. Nevertheless, for my private use case, Spotify has shortly turn into a brand new residence. It’s not good but, however Spotify-exclusive options like seamless entry throughout platforms and the unequalled capabilities of Join make it a no brainer.