Apple has decoupled its popular Podcast apps from its own iPhone and iPad devices, allowing anyone with an Apple account to stream thousands of on-demand shows from any web browser.
In a note sent to podcast publishers on Monday, Apple affirmed it had launched a web version of Podcasts, which works in popular web browsers like Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge, among others.
“With the full Apple Podcasts experience on the web, listeners can sign in with their Apple Account and get access to their Library, Up Next queue, and subscriptions,” a spokesperson for Apple said in the note, a copy of which was obtained by The Desk. “They get personalized recommendations and notifications about new episodes, and can follow shows and save play progress — just like they do in the app.”
While Apple said users need an Apple ID to sync shows and listening history across devices, podcast fans can actually use the web version of Podcasts without signing in — they will still be able to browse from Apple’s catalog of thousands of shows and listen to them for free, but won’t have the benefits of syncing shows and history across devices until they sign in. They will also need to sign in using an Apple ID in order to stream shows or individual episodes that have been marked as “explicit,” Apple affirmed.
Apple says podcast listeners will enjoy the same experience on the web as they do on other platforms like iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, where native versions of the free Podcast app are offered.
“This means your podcast’s artwork, layout, and features are uniform across all devices, providing a seamless and familiar experience for your listeners,” Apple told publishers on Monday. “And sharing your shows and episodes on Apple Podcasts is easier than ever, now that anyone, anywhere, on any device can listen.”
Apple’s Podcasts platform is available in more than 175 countries around the world. Enhanced features like podcast subscriptions and transcripts are available in most countries, including the United States and Canada.
The web version of Apple Podcasts is available by clicking or tapping here.
