How to Download Spotify Episodes to MP3 for Free
While you can download Spotify podcast episodes even with a free account, there are many limitations. To begin with, you cannot save them in batches or the entire podcast catalog at once. Another pressing concern is you must connect your device to the internet once a month to prevent the episodes from expiring. And the worst of all, Spotify forces you to listen to the downloaded episodes only through the app.
One simple way to overcome all of these shortcomings is to download Spotify episodes in MP3 format, and we don’t have to convince you about the flexibility and convenience that comes with it. So, cutting to the chase, in this guide, you will find step-by-step tutorials to download Spotify podcasts to MP3 in multiple ways.
How to Download Spotify Episodes to MP3 for Free
If you are looking to download only a few episodes to MP3 or this is one of those one-time situations, here are two quick-and-dirty methods:
Method 1: Use SpotDown
Available via Google Play Store, SpotDown allows you to download individual episodes to MP3 directly to your Android device.
However, every time you want to download an episode, you first have to endure through the overlay ad. While the ad factor may not matter to you much, the frustratingly slow downloading speed will definitely get on your nerves. That said, follow these steps to use SpotDown:
Step 1. Download and install SpotDown on your Android device. Agree to its terms and conditions by tapping Continue.
Step 2. Go to Spotify, locate the podcast catalog and find the episode you want to convert to MP3 format. Tap the three dots next to the podcast episode.
Step 3. From the menu options, choose Share. Then, Copy Link.
Step 4. Navigate back to the SpotDown app. Paste the link in the input field. And tap Find.
Step 5. Tap the download icon at the right edge. For the first time, it will redirect you to your internal storage or file manager and ask you to choose (or create) a desired folder to save the MP3 outputs.
Confused? Here are the Pros and Cons to Understand SpotDown better:
Preview tracks before downloading.
Access to a wide range of music.
Manage downloads easily with a history.
Simple and easy-to-use interface.
Only one episode can be downloaded at a time.
Ads play after every download.
Audio quality may be lower due to compression.
Slow download speeds.
Method 2: Use Online Spotify Episode Downloader: SpotMate
Another way to download a Spotify episode to MP3 without requiring logins, payment, or any software is to use online podcast repositories like Podbay.
Podbay, a web-based podcast player, has one of the biggest podcast repositories featuring over 70 million podcast episodes. This is no traditional link-paste service. Instead, it relies on RSS feeds to automatically fetch and update its library. This means, as soon as a podcast episode is updated on Spotify, those that use RSS feeds will be updated on Podbay too.
Undoubtedly, the primary downside is that Podbay cannot fetch exclusive Spotify podcasts and their respective episodes (the Spotify originals created and uploaded by Spotify itself). As a result, you have to locate the desired episode using keywords (podcast name).
That said, saving Spotify podcast episodes to MP3, at least most of them, is really simple and quick using Podbay.
Here’s the steps to use Podbay to download most Spotify episodes to MP3:
Step 1. Go to Podbay official site (Podbay.fm) from your browser whether on iOS, Android, or computer.
Step 2. Type in the name of the Spotify episode you want to download in MP3. Spotify podcasts will be simple to find with just the name. If you enter the podcast name but it does not give a result, most possibly means it cannot source you the desired episode.
Step 3. Click on the located podcast. And search for the desired episode from the catalog.
Step 4. Select the Download MP3 option to start downloading the podcast episode to your computer.
Step 5. The file will be downloaded to your Downloads folder on Windows PC or Mac. Rename the file, as Podbay does not scrape the meta data while downloading to MP3.
Here are the Pros and Cons to Understand Podbay better:
Access to over 70 million podcast episodes.
Automatically update episodes via RSS feeds.
Depend on RSS feeds for content.
Free to use without login or payment.
Advanced search using keywords and podcast names.
No access to Spotify-exclusive podcasts.
No direct download links for episodes.
No direct download links for episodes.
No meta tags, no customization options.
How to Download All Spotify Episodes to MP3 at Once
Coming to the quickest and the most reliable way to download one episode, entire podcast catalog, or multiple podcast catalogs at once, StreamFox Spotify Converter is a good choice.
Starting with its easy-to-use, intuitively designed interface, StreamFox is specifically made for downloading podcasts and songs from Spotify to MP3. You do not have to go through the hassle of copying links or desperately trying to find them using keywords, StreamFox features a built-in Spotify web player, enabling you to sign in, browse, and download the episodes in a single go!
Additionally, StreamFox Spotify Converter carries out downloads at 50x speeds than any other tool, making it efficient for you to grab a large number of episodes within minutes.
- Preserve meta tags of the podcast (episode name, cover, guest name, and other details).
- Easy to use, lightweight, and specifically made for downloading Spotify podcast episodes and songs.
- Available for both Windows and Mac users.
- Automatically organize the podcast to your preferred folder on the computer.
Steps to Use StreamFox Spotify Converter to Download Episodes to MP3:
Step 1. Download and launch StreamFox Spotify Converter on your computer. Log in to your Spotify account using the built-in player.
Step 2. Drag and drop the desired podcast episodes or entire directory to the red Add button in the top-right pane.
Step 3. Click Convert All from the bottom-right to start downloading the episodes to MP3.
To check the downloads, simply click Finished in the top pane and click View Output File.
Simple interface with integrated Spotify web player
Rapid downloading speeds, up to 50 times faster.
Keeps important details like episode titles, covers, and guest names.
Download Spotify audio in high quality 320kbps.
Free trial expires in 14 days.
No mobile version available. You have to manually transfer from computer to iOS or Android.
Comparison of Spotify Episode Downloading Methods
Software Name | Audio Quality | Download Speed | ID3 Tags | Output Format | Download Method |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SpotDown | Lower due to compression | Slow | No | MP3 | One episode at a time. Paste link manually. |
Podbay | Preserve original quality | Medium (depends on RSS updates) | No (requires manual renaming) | MP3 | Only single episodes, per search. |
StreamFox Spotify Converter | High (retains original quality) | Fast (50x speed) | Yes (preserves episode name, cover, etc.) | MP3, M4A, FLAC, WAV, AAC, AIFF, etc. | Built-in Spotify player. Multiple catalogs or individual episodes at once. |
SpotMate | Standard (depends on RSS source) | Medium | No | MP3 | Single episode downloads available. |
Conclusion
There you go! That’s the best method to download Spotify episodes to MP3 on Android, Windows, and Mac, or online (if you are on any other device). Each caters to different needs:
- The SpotDown App is exclusively suitable for Android users looking for one-time episode downloading needs.
- Podbay, accessible via any browser, is another convenient method to upload a non-exclusive Spotify podcast to MP3.
For downloading Spotify episodes in pristine MP3 output, in high speeds and large batches, nothing beats StreamFox for Music on Windows or Mac. StreamFox for Music can not only download music from Spotify to your local computer, but also supports podcasts, audiobooks and albums.