Android is where most bhoyer golpo android app listening happens, simply because Android is what most people hold. So let us be practical about the platform: what works, what does not, and what to watch for.
The good news first. Android lets apps do things properly: background playback, downloads to SD card, integration with Bluetooth. A well-built Android audio app can be genuinely excellent. The platform is not the problem. The apps are variable, that is all.
Permissions, again, because it matters most on Android where sideloading is common. Stick to the Play Store when you can. If you sideload an APK from a random site because someone in a group shared it, you are trusting that uploader with your phone. Sometimes it is fine. Sometimes it is not. The Play Store is not perfect, but it is a filter.
Storage is the Android superpower. SD card support means your story library does not fight your photos for space. If your phone supports it, put downloads on the card and stop thinking about it. Apps that support this properly deserve your loyalty.
Battery optimization is the silent killer. Android aggressively kills background apps, and some phones are notorious for it. If your episodes keep stopping when the screen is off, it is probably the phone, not the app. Whitelist the app in battery settings. Every seasoned listener learns this trick eventually.
Old phones deserve a mention. Not everyone has a new device. The best audio apps are light and work on older Android versions. If an app demands the latest OS for playing audio files, something is wrong with its priorities. Audio is not a demanding task. Respect the old phones.
Whatever app you choose, the listening plan matters as much as the software. Queue up episodes with known durations, download on WiFi, set the timer. A site like shunogolpo.com helps with the planning half: browse, check the runtime and narrator, then take it to your app of choice.