Inside the reason why Google Podcasts is shutting down

ANOTHER of Google’s apps is being shut down despite it being popular.

Google Podcasts will be no more, so you need to look for an alternative to listen to your favourites.

Why is Google Podcasts shutting down?

Google announced last year that the podcast app would be shutting down.

At the time they said we are “living in the golden age of podcasts” and that it was time to create a “single destination” for them.

However, Google Podcasts users are pretty upset by the news and don’t want to switch over to a new app.

What is replacing Google Podcasts?

Google are wanting users to switch over to the YouTube Music app to listen to their podcasts instead.

This is despite Google Podcasts being downloaded more than 500million times on Google Play alone.

Fans of the former app are upset about having to move over to YouTube Music.

One user wrote on Reddit: “YouTube Music doesn’t seem to have all of the podcasts available on Google Podcast.

“Either that or the search function is terrible.

“In addition, using YouTube Music for podcasts via Android Auto requires scrolling through a bunch more menus. Not great.”

While another said: “YouTube Music is just awful. I hate that they’re killing Google Podcasts.”

A third added: “Google Podcasts low-key is one of the cleanest Google apps I’ve just naturally used every single day for a while now.

“YouTube music just isn’t a replacement. I just want to listen to podcasts with my phone locked without a video popping up if I misclick eating up my data volume.

“Why does YouTube music have the option for videos in the first place?”

A number of podcast fans have made some suggested alternatives:

• AntennaPod has been downloaded on Android more than a million times and has a 4.8 out of 5 rating based on 51,000 reviews.
• Pocket Casts has been downloaded on Android more than a million times and has 4.2 out of 5 rating based on 74,000 reviews.
• Podcast Addict has been downloaded on Android more than 10million times and has a 4.6 out of 5 rating based on 557,000 reviews

When is Google Podcasts shutting down?

Google Podcasts first launched in 2018 and was popular with listeners.

The service has already shut down in the US but it’s closing everywhere else on June 24, 2024.

This includes in UK.