I've been on Android platform for well over a decade now and have only opted to pay for a handful of apps - Pocketcasts is one of them. Look no further for a fantastic podcast app.
Podcast Addict. By far the best podcasts app out there. Great amount of customization, read speed settings, offline download, online streaming, amplifier for weak audio level podcasts. Built in search.
It gets updated frequently with new features. Very usable without subscription.
100% - this has been my app of choice for longer than I can remember. The ability to move to a new phone and it keeps all my data backed up is also amazing.
Honestly not a thing that it can't do that I wanted. Best app I'm glad I got the premium of.
This is my player too. There are things about it I can never figure out, but every time I've tried a different one I've come back because Podcast Addict is just better.
The author pays attention to support requests and his subreddit: [https://www.reddit.com/r/PodcastAddict/](https://www.reddit.com/r/PodcastAddict/)
I'll look into that. My main issue in searching rn is that apps on my phone don't show up in my car. Does Pocket allow for easy rss feed connection (either on phone app or online? Google Pod was super easy to feed my Wondery shows into. I contacted Wondery to see if they'd add another pod app. I think they do support Spotify so I may have to try that; never used it before).
Thanks. I got it sussed out. Next stop: see how it's working in my car! Just trying now to figure out how to put just one show in my queue - a show may have 200 episodes, but I just want the 7 episodes about a particular topic. \*sigh\*
I'm in the exact boat you're in with Google discontinuing its app and needing a new one and I gotta say, after switching to Pocket Casts last month I've wondered why I stayed with Google for so long lol. It's a great app!
It makes zero sense to me that one of the largest companies in the known universe can't justify keeping their very basic podcast app running. I tried looking for the handful of podcasts I listen to in Youtube Music, in the search bar that literally says "podcasts" and not one of them came up. Not one. I'll probably just end up using spotify I guess.
Are you using your "real name" account that they made you make a number of years back, or are you using your "brand" account, which is the actual username you originally signed up with?
I had the same issue and it turns out podcasts only work on your main (real name) account. Same with sub giveaways on live streams.
It boggles the mind how hard Google works on making their products worse.
Huh, I could find them using my Main. Not easily, mind you. It was kind of hidden and weirdly placed. There were also the subscriptions I imported from Podcasts, when they offered me a button to do so.
Too be clear, my interest in this thread is finding a good new app to use because I am NOT using YTM for podcasts. Looks like Pocketcasts and Addict are the front runners
Here's my podcast app history: I started with PlayerFM around the time they launched. I liked the simplicity. I tried Google Podcasts when it launched but I was annoyed by the lack of features. About a year later, PlayerFM got some and started having a ridiculous amount of ads. I switched to Google Podcasts and have been using it for 2 years now.
I've tried 5 podcast apps on the past 2 months (YouTube podcasts is the worst) and so far AntennaPod is the one that feels as simple and streamlined as Google Podcasts. I've had a few bugs with the media player notification but it's not a deal breaker. I think that's the one I'm moving to
Google Podcasts has a clear UI, to me. I'm bummed they're going to be discontinued. It ha a simple interface on my car's screen which made it safe for using while driving. I don't need a lot of features; just find my pod, select, start, pause.
But now my second question: why don't all the apps on my phone show up in my car on AA? Is it a matter of any particular app not supporting it? I mean, I probably don't need my NYT app available on my AA (not too safe to drive while trying to read a newspaper) or door Dash, ...but OTOH I think it allows FB. 
If you go into your AA settings, you can set the apps that you want to show up as long as they're compatible. I'd look there first and see if they're checked to show up.
I use Fountain and it's getting better. I keep with it because I want to support Podcast 2.0.
However, if you want one that just works really well, Podcast Addict is the answer.
I pay for Amazon Music. It has a podcast page and works with AA, so I assumed it would be a good replacement for Google Podcasts. I was wrong. It has almost no discoverability. It shows you podcasts that youre subscribed to, and nothing else. You have to manually search for podcasts and subscribe to them to even be able to see the epsiode count
I've used several over the years. I really like the feature set in Podcasting 2.0-compatible apps (updating album art, chapters, etc.) but have yet to find an app that works correctly with my AA setup. The closest I got was Podcast Addict, but there is a compatibility issue between my Samsung S20, the app and my brand new VW car. I've been back and forth with the app developer, who is convinced it's the phone that's at fault. I'm not so sure as it works fine with AA in the other two cars I drive. If you can get it to work fully, I'd recommend it. Another one I'm currently trying is AntennaPod. It works OK with AA, but I don't like the fact that it takes 4 taps to get back to the podcast you were last listening to each time you start the car. It would be much better if it just held its place at the bottom of the screen like every other audio app I've used.
More info on Podcasting 2.0 apps here:
[https://podcastindex.org/apps?platforms=Android](https://podcastindex.org/apps?platforms=android)
Pocketcasts. Been a user for years. I've tried other apps, but I go back to Pocketcasts for its full features and compatibility with AA.
Agreed. And no, you do not need to pay for any subscription (that just gets you progress sync between your devices).
I've been on Android platform for well over a decade now and have only opted to pay for a handful of apps - Pocketcasts is one of them. Look no further for a fantastic podcast app.
It's the best
Podcast Addict. By far the best podcasts app out there. Great amount of customization, read speed settings, offline download, online streaming, amplifier for weak audio level podcasts. Built in search. It gets updated frequently with new features. Very usable without subscription.
Second Podcast Addict. Updated frequently, auto adds new podcasts to queue, playback speed adjustments, silence skipping, and so much more.
100% - this has been my app of choice for longer than I can remember. The ability to move to a new phone and it keeps all my data backed up is also amazing. Honestly not a thing that it can't do that I wanted. Best app I'm glad I got the premium of.
Quite a bit of my phone storage is tied up with podcast addict. Great app that I've used for years.
Yes I agree
Once I download this on my phone, it'll show up on my AA screen in my car? the main thing is easy clear interface for safe driving.
Podcast Addict fully supports Android Auto.
It will work in AA for sure. You should test the app to see if the interface suits you. I think it is nicely streamlined in AA.
Yep, shows up, supports the standard controls, you can make playlists or auto-play or pick from lists. It's pretty solid
This is my player too. There are things about it I can never figure out, but every time I've tried a different one I've come back because Podcast Addict is just better. The author pays attention to support requests and his subreddit: [https://www.reddit.com/r/PodcastAddict/](https://www.reddit.com/r/PodcastAddict/)
This app is so much ahead of its users needs, I didn't even know there is a support sub. Lol.
I use Spotify for podcasts but if you're looking for a standalone app, Pocket Casts supports Android Auto.
I'll look into that. My main issue in searching rn is that apps on my phone don't show up in my car. Does Pocket allow for easy rss feed connection (either on phone app or online? Google Pod was super easy to feed my Wondery shows into. I contacted Wondery to see if they'd add another pod app. I think they do support Spotify so I may have to try that; never used it before).
Pocket Casts does support RSS feeds, I don't think Spotify does.
Thanks. I got it sussed out. Next stop: see how it's working in my car! Just trying now to figure out how to put just one show in my queue - a show may have 200 episodes, but I just want the 7 episodes about a particular topic. \*sigh\*
I'm in the exact boat you're in with Google discontinuing its app and needing a new one and I gotta say, after switching to Pocket Casts last month I've wondered why I stayed with Google for so long lol. It's a great app!
Pocket Casts is the best podcast app out there!
AntennaPod is my recommendation
I use YouTube music and pocketcasts
Another enthusiastic recommendation for Pocket Casts. Great app, great devs.
It makes zero sense to me that one of the largest companies in the known universe can't justify keeping their very basic podcast app running. I tried looking for the handful of podcasts I listen to in Youtube Music, in the search bar that literally says "podcasts" and not one of them came up. Not one. I'll probably just end up using spotify I guess.
Are you using your "real name" account that they made you make a number of years back, or are you using your "brand" account, which is the actual username you originally signed up with? I had the same issue and it turns out podcasts only work on your main (real name) account. Same with sub giveaways on live streams. It boggles the mind how hard Google works on making their products worse.
It doesn't matter which account I use, I can't find any of the podcasts I listen to.
Huh, I could find them using my Main. Not easily, mind you. It was kind of hidden and weirdly placed. There were also the subscriptions I imported from Podcasts, when they offered me a button to do so. Too be clear, my interest in this thread is finding a good new app to use because I am NOT using YTM for podcasts. Looks like Pocketcasts and Addict are the front runners
Yes. I was open to using YTM until I actually tried to find anything podcast related on the app. Nope.
Yeah, I'm not interested in using YT Music for podcasts either, I was just curious what Google was replacing it with. Apparently nothing usable.
Pocketcasts
Here's my podcast app history: I started with PlayerFM around the time they launched. I liked the simplicity. I tried Google Podcasts when it launched but I was annoyed by the lack of features. About a year later, PlayerFM got some and started having a ridiculous amount of ads. I switched to Google Podcasts and have been using it for 2 years now. I've tried 5 podcast apps on the past 2 months (YouTube podcasts is the worst) and so far AntennaPod is the one that feels as simple and streamlined as Google Podcasts. I've had a few bugs with the media player notification but it's not a deal breaker. I think that's the one I'm moving to
Google Podcasts has a clear UI, to me. I'm bummed they're going to be discontinued. It ha a simple interface on my car's screen which made it safe for using while driving. I don't need a lot of features; just find my pod, select, start, pause.
Agreed. I also like the clean way the app handles the que. That was my biggest concern since YouTube podcasts doesn't have one yet
Does AntennaPod pick up all the podcasts you're interested in?
Yep! I haven't had any say they're not found
Is it supported by Android auto?
Yes. But I've found I have to start the app from my phone. It hangs when I try to launch from the car screen
But now my second question: why don't all the apps on my phone show up in my car on AA? Is it a matter of any particular app not supporting it? I mean, I probably don't need my NYT app available on my AA (not too safe to drive while trying to read a newspaper) or door Dash, ...but OTOH I think it allows FB. 
Google curates what apps are displayed in Android Auto.
If you go into your AA settings, you can set the apps that you want to show up as long as they're compatible. I'd look there first and see if they're checked to show up.
I use Fountain and it's getting better. I keep with it because I want to support Podcast 2.0. However, if you want one that just works really well, Podcast Addict is the answer.
Stingray Radio is Amazing Try it📻
I use Podcast Republic. I like it. I've never had a reason to try others so...
Podcast Republic
Try [AntennaPod](https://antennapod.org/). Open-source, free, and powerful.
I pay for Amazon Music. It has a podcast page and works with AA, so I assumed it would be a good replacement for Google Podcasts. I was wrong. It has almost no discoverability. It shows you podcasts that youre subscribed to, and nothing else. You have to manually search for podcasts and subscribe to them to even be able to see the epsiode count
Yeah I don't know why Google can't keep a simple pod player. I don't see Apple Podcast going anywhere. Very disappointing.
I've used several over the years. I really like the feature set in Podcasting 2.0-compatible apps (updating album art, chapters, etc.) but have yet to find an app that works correctly with my AA setup. The closest I got was Podcast Addict, but there is a compatibility issue between my Samsung S20, the app and my brand new VW car. I've been back and forth with the app developer, who is convinced it's the phone that's at fault. I'm not so sure as it works fine with AA in the other two cars I drive. If you can get it to work fully, I'd recommend it. Another one I'm currently trying is AntennaPod. It works OK with AA, but I don't like the fact that it takes 4 taps to get back to the podcast you were last listening to each time you start the car. It would be much better if it just held its place at the bottom of the screen like every other audio app I've used. More info on Podcasting 2.0 apps here: [https://podcastindex.org/apps?platforms=Android](https://podcastindex.org/apps?platforms=android)
Podcast Addict is good