Apple Podcasts is the better podcast app if everything you own is made by Apple. Spotify is the better choice if you want music and podcasts in one app, or if you use Android. Neither one does anything about the ads inside episodes, even if you pay, so if the ads are what bothers you, look at a third option.
Side by side
| Spotify | Apple Podcasts | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free with ads; Premium $12.99/month in the US | Free; some shows sell their own subscriptions |
| Platforms | iPhone, Android, web, desktop and more | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, CarPlay, web |
| Android app | Yes | No |
| Music in the same app | Yes | No (that's Apple Music) |
| Ads inside podcast episodes | Still play with Premium | Play unless you pay that show for ad-free episodes |
| Exclusive shows | Some shows are only on Spotify | Some shows offer subscriber-only bonus episodes |
The ads question
Most people comparing these two apps are hoping one of them gets rid of podcast ads. Neither does.
- Spotify Premium removes ads from music. Spotify's help page says that on audio podcasts, both Premium and free listeners "may receive both Spotify ads and creator sponsorships." More on why.
- Apple Podcasts doesn't show banner ads in the app, but it plays the ads inside each episode. The way around it is a paid subscription to each show that offers ad-free episodes. More on that.
The ads are part of the episode's audio, so a player can't switch them off. It can only skip past them.
Which should you pick?
Pick Spotify if you already pay for it for music, you're on Android, or you want video podcasts and music in one place.
Pick Apple Podcasts if you're all-in on Apple and want podcasts on your HomePod, Apple TV and Mac without another subscription.
Pick neither if the ads are the problem. Castria is a podcast app that finds the ads in each episode and skips them as you listen, on iPhone, iPad, Android and the web. Ad-skipping is free. Most podcasts are published everywhere, so you can follow the same shows; only Spotify-exclusive shows stay behind.
Questions
Can I use Spotify for music and another app for podcasts? Yes, and lots of people do. Your podcasts don't need to live in your music app.