Spotify: podcasts bundled with the music you already pay for
Spotify is where most people already listen to podcasts, without meaning to pick a podcast app at all. We look at what that convenience costs.
Most people who listen to podcasts on Spotify never chose it as a podcast app. It was already installed for music, and podcasts showed up in the same tab.
What that gets you
Zero extra setup. If Spotify already runs your music, podcasts are one tap away with the same account and the same downloads for offline listening.
The largest audience of any app in this category by a wide margin — over 42 million ratings — which means recommendations and charts are built on more listening data than any dedicated podcast app can match.
Exclusive shows. Spotify has paid for exclusive rights to a number of major podcasts over the years, some of which are hard or impossible to find anywhere else.
What it costs
An interface built for music first. Podcast-specific tools — smart speed, silence trimming, per-show playlists — are thinner here than in apps built only for podcasts.
Ads without Premium. The free tier works, but ads interrupt more frequently than in most dedicated podcast players.
300 MB, heavier than any specialized podcast player, because it carries the entire music catalog alongside the podcasts.
Who it fits
Anyone who already has Spotify for music and doesn't want a second app. For someone who listens to podcasts only, and wants tools built specifically for that, a dedicated player like Castbox or Overcast does more with the format itself.
See the rest in our roundup of the best podcast apps.
Common questions
- Is Spotify available on Android?
- Yes, the app ships for both iPhone and Android. We last checked both stores on September 14, 2026.
- What languages does Spotify support?
- Of the languages this site covers, the App Store lists: Russian, English, Spanish, German — and dozens more. The store page shows the full list for your region.
- Is Spotify free?
- Spotify is free to download, with ads and some limits on the free tier. Premium removes ads, adds offline downloads, and unlocks the audiobook catalog.