Getting your podcast on all the popular podcast directories is one of the most important first steps for a successful podcast — because if it’s not on these listening apps, how will your audience hear what you have to say?

So if you’ve just created a new podcast, or you’re an existing podcaster that wants to make sure your show is on a specific app, this article will tell how to publish your show to the most-used podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and many more.

You may have heard a few different terms and phrases used when talking about publishing podcasts, so let’s break those down first of all.

What are podcast directories and podcatchers?

Without getting too technical, directories are simply podcast apps and podcast players where listeners can find your show and episodes, like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Podcatchers are essentially the same, they’re software built to automatically ‘catch’ podcasts via RSS. RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” — syndication means distributing content widely to an audience — so it’s important that your own podcast has an RSS feed to allow you to share your show with the world.

Your podcast’s audio files aren’t stored in these podcast directories but are actually stored on a podcast hosting platform — like Acast. So think of directories like a phonebook, where listeners are able to look up the podcast they want to listen to, and when they hit play it grabs the audio via the podcast’s RSS feed created by the podcast hosting service. At Acast, we handle all of this work so you can concentrate on making more great podcast episodes.

For listeners, directories are the easiest and most user-friendly way of listening to podcasts. For podcasters, they provide invaluable features for listeners to discover and continue listening to your show, including search bars, subscribe/follow buttons, ratings, reviews, and often featured recommendations. They also have embed players which you can use on your podcast site, your own website, or social media.

Now we understand how it works under the hood, let’s talk about how to actually get your show on these directories.

What do I need for podcast submission?

To start seeing your show on the Apple Podcasts app, Spotify, and all the other podcast-listening apps, you need to choose a podcast-hosting platform that will generate your RSS feed and help you publish your podcast episodes to all the directories.

There are a lot of different podcast hosting sites out there but, of course, we recommend hosting with Acast — we’re unmatched when it comes to offering creators best-in-class tools at the best value.

Why Acast is the best podcast host:

• Get started for free with all the essential tools you need to launch your podcast show across every podcast app and directory, with your free RSS feed included.
• Record and edit audio with studio quality with our Podcastle integration
• Unlimited hosting and downloads for your episodes
• Monetization through ads and sponsorships. As well as podcast subscriptions and one-off payments through Acast+ — all in one place.
• Advanced podcast analytics to help you understand your podcast’s performance and make smarter decisions.
• Customizable podcast website, optimized for mobile and search engine discovery.
• Join the same podcast platform trusted by WTF with Marc Maron, Anna Faris is Unqualified, That Peter Crouch Podcast, BBC, The Guardian, and over 92,000 other podcasts.

Once you’ve signed up with your hosting provider, the first step in submitting your podcast for distribution is to ensure that it meets the necessary requirements.

Podcast distribution checklist:

1. Cover Art: Your show should have cover art that meets the requirements of the various podcast players. The art should be a JPG or PNG between 1400 x 1400 and 3000 x 3000 pixels.
2. Published Episode: At least one new episode, such as a trailer or teaser, needs to be published before submission. The episode should not be saved as a draft or scheduled for publication.
3. Description/Summary: Your show and episode(s) should have detailed and informative show notes, descriptions, or summaries.
4. RSS Feed URL: You should know your RSS feed URL, which is used by podcast players to access your show and its content. To find your Acast RSS feed URL, simply go to your show and click the ‘Distribution’ button in the ‘Share’ panel on the left. It displays a variety of apps, as well as your RSS feed URL at the bottom.

Where and how to publish your podcast

Now that your podcast is ready for submission, it's time to start distributing it to various podcast directories. Acast makes it easy to submit your podcast to the most popular apps, and you can do this by clicking the "Distribution" tab. We have clever integrations that make one-click submission possible to major podcast-listening apps including Spotify and Amazon Music. You only need to do this once for your new show.

NOTE: If your show is already available on the platforms listed by Acast, you don't need to activate them, as they are already distributing your episodes and tracking your downloads in Insights. If you’re using other podcast hosting platforms like Buzzsprout, Anchor, and Libsyn, the process should be similar.

Here are some of the most popular podcast apps and podcast directories you can publish your podcast.

How to publish podcasts to Apple Podcasts

Apple Podcasts continues to be the most popular podcast-listening app, by virtue of it coming pre-installed on iOS devices like iPhones, so it’s essential that your podcast is properly submitted here. This tutorial will walk you through each step of the process of submitting your podcast RSS feed to the Apple Podcasts library. This will also automatically add your show to other apps like Overcast and Pocket Casts. It takes up to 5 days for Apple to approve your podcast.

Requirements to submit to Apple Podcasts:

• The Apple ID you use needs to be authorized for purchases. To do this, you can create an Apple ID here. Log into your account there or create a new Apple ID.

Submitting a new podcast to Apple Podcasts

1. Copy your RSS feed URL. Here is a guide on how to locate your RSS feed URL within your Acast dashboard.
2. Log in to Apple Podcast Connect with your Apple ID. If you don't already have an Apple ID, follow the instruction on the linked page above to create one.
3. Once logged in, hit the plus sign (+) next to Podcasts to add your RSS feed.
4. Enter/paste your RSS feed URL
5. Select the options given for visibility and access
6. When completed, hit "Add" at the bottom of the screen.
7. Apple will process your feed within five business days and let you know if there are any problems. In the meantime, while your show is pending approval your Connect dashboard will look like this, and your recently submitted show will have the status of "Draft".

It usually takes 24 to 72 hours for Apple to process the submission, in our experience. If five days have passed and your podcast still is not active in Apple Podcasts Connect, then you should contact Apple.

How to publish podcasts to Spotify

Spotify is one of the most popular platforms people use to listen to podcasts, offering access to a broad audience of both iOS and Android users. Submitting your show to Spotify with Acast is both quick and easy. Hit the ‘Distribution’ tab in your show dashboard and then click ‘Activate’ next to Spotify.

Submitting a new podcast to Spotify for Podcasters

1. Copy your RSS feed URL. Here is a guide on how to locate your RSS feed URL within your Acast dashboard.
2. Go to Spotify’s podcast website, and click “Get Started”.
3. Enter/paste your podcast’s RSS URL in the box and click "Next", and just like magic, your podcast’s title, artwork, and description will all appear.
4. Spotify will then ask you to verify your podcast by submitting a code sent to the associated email address in the RSS.
   • Note: Acast masks the email address in your RSS feed to help you avoid unwanted spam. We forward mail from any legitimate sources to your account’s email address. These forwarded messages sometimes end up caught up in a filter and might not reach you. You can expose your email address to receive the code by turning off the email mask. We recommend turning it back on afterward.
5. Tell Spotify about your podcast by sharing extra info like podcast category, language, and country. This helps Spotify users find your show on the app.
6. Confirm all the details are correct and submit. Most shows are online and active within just one hour. Bear in mind that acceptance onto Spotify's platform is subject to Spotify's processes and content policies and that your show cannot contain any unauthorized use of music.

How to publish podcasts to Google Podcasts

As the most popular podcast app for Android mobile users, you’ll want to make sure you’re available on Google Podcasts. (formerly Google Play Music) Listeners will also be able on the Google Podcasts website, on Google Assistant smart speakers, and even show up in Google Search results.

Google Podcasts has been known to index directly from Apple, so first check by searching if your podcast is on the app. It typically takes a few days for it to appear. If it isn’t, or you want to speed up the process, you can submit your show directly through Google Podcasts Manager here.

Submitting a new podcast to Google Podcasts Manager

1. Copy your RSS feed URL. Here is a guide on how to locate your RSS feed URL within your Acast dashboard.
2. Go to Google Podcasts Manager to add your RSS feed.
3. Enter/paste your podcast’s RSS URL in the box and click "Next Step", and the next page will show all your podcast information.
4. Confirm this is the correct podcast show you want to submit, click “Next Step”
5. Google will then ask you to verify your podcast by submitting a code sent to the associated email address in the RSS. Enter the code into the box and hit “Submit”

How to publish podcasts to Amazon Music and Audible

Submitting your podcast to Amazon Music and Audible makes it available to their audience of 55 million plus customers. Acast makes it seriously easy to submit your podcast to Amazon music with our one-click submission in your Acast dashboard, just click on the ‘Distribution’ tab and hit ‘Activate’ next to Amazon Music.

If you need to do this manually, read on for the full guide.

Submitting a new podcast to Amazon Music and Audible

1. Visit Amazon Music for Podcasters submission page and click ‘Add or Claim Your Podcast’
2. Sign in with your Amazon account or create an account for free.
3. Once you’re logged in, you’ll need to enter/paste your RSS feed. Here is a guide on how to locate your RSS feed URL within your Acast dashboard.
4. Amazon Music will pull through your podcast's information from your RSS feed. Verify that the information is correct and click Confirm Email
5. Amazon Music will send you an ownership confirmation email to the email address connected to your podcast RSS feed. When you receive the email, click Confirm Ownership and you’re done!
6. You will receive an email when your show is available on Amazon Music.

How to publish podcasts to Podchaser

Podchaser is a podcast database and discovery tool, so it’s a super helpful platform to have your podcast listed or claimed. It allows users to search for information related to podcasts, including reading and posting reviews and filtering by category — a bit like IMDb for podcasts.

To add your podcast to Podchaser, you need to paste your RSS feed's URL and paste into this form to automatically add the podcast and all its episodes to Podchaser's database.

Even more podcast directories and apps to publish to

I think you’ll see by now there are a lot of podcast apps out there, but using a podcast host like Acast that provides you with an RSS should make it simple and automated to have your new podcast appear in most directories. Remember to check if your podcast is already on these directories before you submit it.

Here’s a list of additional podcast directories you can submit to:

Stitcher and Pandora

Sign up to Simplecast Creator Connect portal (Formerly Stitcher Partner Portal) and submit your feed to get your show added to their library and manage your podcast on Stitcher, Pandora, and more

TuneIn

TuneIn is a global streaming service for radio, music and podcasts. They have a short form you’ll need to fill in with your RSS URL and other details to have your show added to TuneIn's library.

Castbox

Follow their step-by-step guide to get your show submitted or claimed.

iHeartRadio

You’ll need to visit podcasters.iheart.com, create an iHeartRadio account, and enter your RSS feed URL to have your show added to iHeartRadio.

Deezer

Acast automatically submits your podcast to Deezer. To do this manually, visit https://podcasters.deezer.com/ and click ‘Publish My Podcast’ to link your RSS feed.

Samsung Podcasts

Acast automatically submits your podcast to Samsung Podcasts. To do this manually, visit https://developer.samsung.com/podcasts and link your RSS feed.

Audacy

Audacy is a streaming platform available in the US. Non-EU podcasters can submit their show’s RSS Feed to Audacy by clicking here.

Overcast

Overcast can find your RSS feed automatically as long as it's in Apple Podcasts. However you can manually add it here: https://overcast.fm/add.

Pocket Casts

Getting your podcast to show in the popular Pocket Casts app is simple, just add your RSS URL here: https://pocketcasts.com/submit/

JioSaavn

JioSaavn is one of India's largest Music & Podcast platforms with over 100 million monthly active users. Acast automatically submits your podcast to JioSaavn, but manual submit your podcast here: https://yourcast.jiosaavn.com/

YouTube

YouTube is making moves to become more of a destination for podcasters and podcast fans. If you’re recording video podcasts, you’re likely already publishing these videos to YouTube. However you can also post your audio files to YouTube too, which Acast makes easy with our integration in our Influencer and Ace plans. Read how to publish to YouTube from Acast here.

Podcast Addict

Podcast Addict is a popular listening app for Android users. To submit your podcast to the app, add your RSS feed URL here: https://podcastaddict.com/submit

Summary

While this list isn't exhaustive (there are hundreds of podcatchers out there), it's a great starting point for submitting your podcast to the most important podcast apps. Keep in mind that new podcast apps are constantly being created, so it's a good idea to regularly check for new platforms to distribute your show.

At Acast we champion the open ecosystem of podcasting, so encourage all our podcasters to publish their shows to all the podcast directories. It’s also helpful if you’re interested in monetization, as the more places your podcast is available, the greater opportunity to increase listens to create revenue from your content.

If you’re at the beginning of your podcasting journey, Acast has lots of helpful guides for how to start a podcast over at Aclass Essentials, our one-stop shop for making podcasts.