Apple Podcasts can now be streamed from the web. Apple announced on Monday that its Apple Podcasts app is now available on all major web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari) in over 170 countries.
The new dedicated web experience aims to make it easier for anyone with a web browser on any device to access podcasts. Web listening has been available for some time; however, in order to listen to an episode, users had to look up a show on a search engine and go to the show’s Apple Podcasts Preview page.
Now Apple Podcasts on the web has launched a new interface, allowing users to access features that were previously only available on the app. These include browsing millions of shows, accessing sections like Library and Top Charts, purchasing premium podcast subscriptions, and more. Listeners can sync their Apple Accounts to be able to pause a podcast and save their play progress to listen to later, as well as see their followed shows and subscriptions. Users without an Apple Account can also use the web experience but can only browse and listen.
Apple Podcasts joins various startups and indie platforms with web-based podcast players, such as Castbox, Podbay, Podcast App, and Podurama, along with music streaming giants YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify.
The addition is likely to be well-received by podcast fans who prefer not to install another app but still want to access certain features. For podcasters, Apple Podcasts on the web allows them to share links to episodes, shows, and channels, thus reaching a wider global audience.
Users can go to podcasts.apple.com to check out the new site.