For those not in the know, a “podcast” refers to episodic content that is usually free to download. Podcasts can be professionally produced--like those from the BBC--or done by amateurs and enthusiasts and cover almost every conceivable topic from current events to sports to comic books and tech. Its name originated from a combination of the terms “broadcasting” and “iPod” which was the music device that first brought podcasting into the limelight.

Matter of fact, this year the podcast has turned 13. And in that time the medium has risen to prominence as a place to find groundbreaking content thanks to the popularity of shows like Serial and the choice by Apple to make their official Podcast app a default port of iOS all the way back in iOS 8.

But while podcasting is having its heyday we know plenty of people who don’t like the default Podcast app Apple now includes on every iPhone and iPad. With that in mind, we suggest these five alternatives to get you listening to the most booming medium the Internet has ever created.

Overcast: Podcast Player (free)

Overcast was originally created by the same developers that make the wildly popular read-it-later app Instapaper. The app itself has all the goodies you’d expect from a podcasting app: auto downloads, episode notifications, offline play, and more. But it’s got two killer features beyond that. Smart Speed automatically cuts out any long gaps or silence in podcasts so their total length is shorter. And Voice Boost boosts quiet voices and lowers loud ones so all voices are normalized and easy to hear. Both of these features tackle perfectly the problems with many amateur podcasts.

Downcast (£2.99)

This podcasting app is for the podcast power user. You get all the normal management capabilities including auto downloads, playlists, and notifications of new episodes, but the app also supports password protected podcast feeds, which is awesome for those insiders with access to exclusive podcasts. A great thing about Downcast too is it also offers a companion Mac app.

Pocket Casts (£3.99)

This is a great app for Android switchers because it’s one of the most popular podcasting apps on the Android platform. The biggest feature here is cross-platform syncing. If you use an iOS device and an Android device your subscriptions, playback positions and filters for every podcast will sync automatically. That in itself is insanely cool. But a note about those “filter” syncs. Pocket Casts lets you organize and search your podcast by filters so you can quickly apply a filter to see all your unplayed podcasts or sort them by custom categories. An added bonus is it supports both Chromecast casting and AirPlay streaming so you can beam your podcasts to any device--like the Apple TV or Google Chromecast--that supports streaming.

Pod Wrangler (free)

The big thing about Pod Wrangler is that it runs on the Feed Wrangler network, which is powered by the Feed Wrangler engine--an RSS engine that easily allows you to grab the latest podcast episodes on the fly. I like the app’s clean white UI and simple lines, which any fans of iOS’s look and feel will love. While admittedly this podcast app is more barebones than the others on this list, it’s a great choice for those who just want something basic. It’s big buttons are also great for those who have trouble picking out small screen elements.

Podbean (free)

Sometimes Podbean feels more like an app store than a podcast app. That’s because it lets you browse by recommendations, top episodes, featured shows, and plenty of other categories. The trending playlists are really nice if you’re looking for a new podcast to enjoy. The app also has a ton of useful features like notifications, automatic downloads, and an intelligent speed feature that removes silences from an episode without distortion.