What you get for free
Everything that matters in a podcast app is included in the free download. There's no "lite version" with the good features locked behind a paywall.
Subscriptions
Follow as many podcasts as you want. New episodes appear in your feed automatically.
Offline downloads
Download episodes for offline listening — perfect for flights, commutes, and dead zones.
Queue
Build a play queue, reorder it, and have it pick up exactly where you left off.
Sleep timer
Drift off without the next episode auto-playing at 2 AM. Cancellable any time.
Background playback
Proper notification controls, lock-screen controls, and Bluetooth headset support.
OPML import & export
Bring your subscription list from another app, or take it with you.
What we don't do
- No ads in the app interface. Podcasts may have host-read ads in the audio — that's the publisher's content, not ours — but the app itself doesn't serve ads.
- No account required. No email, no sign-up flow, no "verify your phone number." Open the app, search, subscribe.
- No follow-you-around tracking. Anonymous usage analytics only, with a randomly generated device identifier and no PII. Read the privacy policy.
- No upsells in your face. The supporter tier exists for people who want to back development. The app doesn't nag you about it.
About the supporter tier
Honest disclosure: Shuttle is built and maintained by one person, and there's an optional supporter tier in the app. The free tier covers everything most listeners need. Backing the app helps fund hosting and ongoing development; supporters also get a few extras on top of the free experience.
You can use the app indefinitely without paying. If you find yourself opening it every day and want to support continued work on it, the option is there. That's the entire pitch.
Who is Shuttle for?
If you're looking for a podcast app that does the basics well — subscribe, download, queue, listen — without bloat, ads in the UI, or an account requirement, Shuttle is built for you. It's a Material 3 Android app that respects platform conventions, plays nicely with Bluetooth and your car, and stays out of your way.
It's especially worth a try if you're switching from another app: bring your OPML file and your subscription list comes with you.
Free download — try it
Five minutes to install, import your subscriptions, and decide whether it earns a permanent spot on your phone.
Get on Google PlayDon't want to install yet?
Open shuttlepodcasts.app in your browser. The home page is a working podcast player — search any show, preview an episode, and decide whether you want the full Android experience.
Frequently asked
Is Shuttle Podcasts really free?
Yes. The app installs from Google Play with no charge, and you can use it indefinitely without paying. Subscribe, stream, queue, use the sleep timer, import your OPML, all free. There's an optional supporter tier for people who want to back ongoing development.
Does it have ads?
Not in the app interface. Shuttle doesn't sell banners or sponsored show placements. Some podcasts contain host-read ads in the audio itself. That's the publisher's content, not ours.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There's no email, sign-up flow, or phone verification. Open the app, search a show, subscribe.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Tap download on any episode and it plays without a connection. Storage is managed per show, so you can keep recent episodes of one podcast and not another.
What does the supporter tier unlock?
It's a way to back ongoing development for people who get daily value from the app. The free tier covers everything most listeners need; supporters get a few extras on top.
Where do the podcasts come from?
Public RSS feeds, discovered via Podcast Index and Apple's iTunes catalog. There's no proprietary catalog and no exclusivity deals. If a podcast publishes a public feed, Shuttle can find it.