Well, since you ask; Podbean.
I've been using it for quite a while now and despite its failings, I have yet to find a better podcatcher for a portable device. It has all the standard features that one would expect, such as fast play, rewind and skip forwards (five options), auto-delete of played episodes, restrict downloading to Wi-FI only, find Podcast by Podcast URL, etc. etc.
I abandoned the Apple app ages ago. There appears to be no hope for it.
Good points:
- subscribing is known as “Followed” (“subscription” implies a payment is required)
- clear, uncluttered list of subscribed programmes
- within a programme, a list of all episodes and a separate list of downloaded episodes
- one list of all downloaded episodes
- option to have downloaded episodes in old-to-new order (you would think this was a must have, so that a series can be played in the correct order, but apparently not)
- No-cost option (with adverts) or paid-for option (advert free)
- any downloaded programme can be added to a playlist of your own choice (restricted number of Playlists in free version of the app)
- each programme has a badge indicating number of episodes not yet played
- autoplay next episode or stop at end of current episode
- I've found every Podcast I've looked for (including one local to me in the UK)
Bad points:
- a programme's list of All Episodes and Downloads has to be in the same order (I.e both lists in new-to-old order, or both lists in old-to-new order). Why would anyone do this?
- Download list order sometimes resets (after app update for example)
- downloads of programmes that are not being followed are not listed in their own show (they can only be found in the list of all downloaded episodes)
And from your point of view, the app does not stop downloading new episodes.
I'm not connected in any way with Podbean and I receive no reward for suggesting it.