Social & content

Apple Podcasts

Podcast directory. Free to list a show. Listeners build slowly.

Visit podcasters.apple.com
Cost
Free

Free to submit a show. Check current terms.

Verdict
slow burn

A podcast directory listing. Free to submit, but the listing alone brings few listeners.

Difficulty
Easy

Mostly self-serve. Sign up and post, with light checks.

Effort
Medium

About 5 to 10 hours a month for a regular episode.

First result
1 to 2 weeks to list; the audience builds over months

A rough range for one person working on it part-time.

Payoff
Compounds

keeps growing while you keep at it.

Best for

Shows that already publish episodes.

Not for

Products with no episodes to publish.

Pros

  • Huge podcast directory
  • Free to list

Cons

  • The listing alone brings few listeners
  • Needs regular episodes

The full guide

Last verified 2026-10-30

Links checked 2026-10-30 · All links answer

01What it is and who is there

Apple Podcasts is Apple's podcast app and directory. Shows are submitted through Apple's podcast platform, and listeners can subscribe, rate and review. The audience is large but listens by show, so a show is found mainly through search, featured lists and word of mouth.

02Cost and what you actually pay for

Submitting a show to Apple Podcasts is free. Hosting the audio files is a separate cost, and it depends on your host. Check current terms for any paid features on Apple's platform before you rely on them.

03Is it right for you?

It fits shows that already publish or plan to publish episodes on a steady schedule. It fits poorly for a product with nothing to say on audio, and for anyone unwilling to record regularly. A listing alone brings few listeners, so the show itself needs a reason to be found.

04Before you start

  • Choose a podcast host that publishes an RSS feed, since Apple reads the feed.
  • Prepare cover art and a clear show description.
  • Plan at least five episodes before you launch, so new listeners have something to play.
  • Read Apple's podcast guidelines on content and metadata.

05Step-by-step: how to distribute here

  1. Publish your first episodes on your host.
  2. Submit the RSS feed through Apple Podcasts Connect.
  3. Check the listing, the artwork and the episode titles once it appears.
  4. Ask listeners to subscribe and leave a rating. Do not offer payment for ratings.
  5. Share each new episode in your newsletter and on social channels.
  6. Keep a consistent release schedule for a few months before judging the show.

Timing: listings appear after Apple processes the feed. Allow a few days.

06What to post or submit

Show description:

[Show name] is a [format] about [topic] for [audience]. Each episode [what it covers]. New episodes [schedule].

Episode title formula:

[Number]: [Specific claim or question]

07Common mistakes and do-nots

  • Do not submit a feed with no episodes. Listeners cannot subscribe to nothing.
  • Do not change the feed URL after launch. Subscribers may be lost.
  • Do not buy ratings or reviews. Check Apple's current podcast guidelines on ratings before you run any promotion.
  • Do not expect the listing alone to bring listeners.

08How to measure it

  • Track subscribers and listens per episode from your host's analytics, and from Apple's show data if it is available.
  • Track the number of ratings and reviews.
  • A realistic test: give it three months of regular episodes. If listens stay flat, change the topic or the format.

09Time budget

  • Before: 6 to 15 hours to set up the host, artwork and the first episodes.
  • Each episode: 3 to 8 hours to record, edit and publish.
  • Monthly: 1 to 2 hours to promote and review analytics.

10Pair it with

11Sources

Sources