Reviews for Google Podcasts
Login to ReviewAnna Jackson
May 18, 2026Promising but Missing Basics
The automatic recommendations based on my interests are surprisingly good, and I love having transcripts for some episodes – it's a game-changer for accessibility. However, the app feels barebones compared to competitors; creating playlists is clunky, and I've had episodes fail to play several times. For a free app, it's fine, but I'm not sure Google's heart is in it long-term.
Casey Wilson
May 14, 2026It's Being Shut Down For a Reason
The app has felt half-abandoned for years, with promised features never arriving and basic bugs never getting fixed. I've lost my listening progress multiple times after app updates, and the auto-generated transcripts are often hilariously inaccurate. Now that Google announced they're killing it, it's clear they never really invested in making it a competitive product.
Emma Taylor
May 12, 2026Frustrating and Abandoned
Google Podcasts feels like a half-finished app that Google has already given up on. The interface is clunky, basic features like a sleep timer were missing for years, and now they're shutting it down entirely. The automatic subscriptions rarely matched my actual interests, and the whole experience just feels abandoned compared to other podcast apps.
River Lee
May 11, 2026A Clean and Reliable Daily Driver
I use Google Podcasts for my daily commute and it's been fantastic. The search is lightning-fast, finding new podcasts through the automatic recommendations is surprisingly accurate, and the transcript feature has saved me a few times when I couldn't use headphones. It just works seamlessly with my Google account and Assistant, which is a huge plus.
Sage White
May 10, 2026Simple, Effective, and Free
Google Podcasts has become my go-to app for listening on the go. The interface is incredibly clean and intuitive, making it easy to discover new shows through its smart recommendations. The automatic transcripts are a game-changer for catching details or when I'm in a noisy environment. As a free app with seamless Google Assistant integration, it's hard to beat for casual and dedicated listeners alike.
Taylor White
May 10, 2026Sleek, smart, and gets me listening
I switched to Google Podcasts a few months ago and it's become my go-to. The discovery algorithm is scarily good at suggesting shows I end up loving, and the automatic transcripts are a lifesaver when I'm in a noisy environment. It feels like a polished, no-fuss app that just works perfectly with the rest of my Google ecosystem.
Olivia Harris
May 07, 2026Abandoned App - Disappointing End
After years of using Google Podcasts, the news of its shutdown and forced migration to YouTube Music is frustrating. The app itself had become buggy lately, with downloads frequently failing and the auto-transcript feature often being inaccurate or missing entirely. For a company like Google, it feels like yet another service was launched with fanfare only to be abandoned, leaving users to scramble.
River Taylor
May 06, 2026Great for discovery, frustrating for listening
The recommendations and automatic transcripts are fantastic, making it easy to find new shows. However, the playback controls feel clunky compared to other apps, and I've had issues with episodes not downloading reliably for offline listening. It's a decent free option, especially if you're already in the Google ecosystem, but the basic player lacks polish.
Skyler Walker
May 05, 2026Great when it works, but feels like an afterthought from Google
The subscription recommendations and auto-generated transcripts are genuinely useful features, and the integration with Google Assistant is seamless. However, the app frequently crashes on my iPhone, playback sometimes just stops midway, and the overall interface feels less polished than other podcast apps. For a free app, it's decent, but I wouldn't rely on it for my daily listening.
Phoenix Anderson
May 03, 2026Disappointed and Abandoned
I used Google Podcasts for a while, but the whole experience felt half-baked and now it's being shut down. The discovery features and recommendations were never as good as competitors, and the app frequently had issues with background playback stopping. The worst part is Google's decision to kill it entirely, forcing me to migrate my subscriptions elsewhere, which feels like a waste of time and a betrayal of trust.
Review Summary
Based on 53 reviews
Rating Distribution
Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts is a free podcast app developed by Google. It allows users to search, subscribe, manage, and listen to …
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