🎙️ PodcastLaunch

How to Submit Your Podcast to Apple Podcasts and Spotify in 2026: Complete Guide

📅 April 6, 2026 👁️ 1,294 views

Apple Podcasts and Spotify together account for the majority of all podcast listening worldwide. Getting your show listed on these two platforms is non-negotiable if you want to reach the widest possible audience. The good news? The submission process is free, straightforward, and — if you follow the right steps — your podcast can be live on both platforms within 24-72 hours.

Before You Begin: What You Need

Before submitting to any podcast directory, you need two things in place:

  1. A podcast RSS feed: Your hosting platform generates this. You can't submit to directories without one. Popular hosting platforms include Buzzsprout, Transistor, Podbean, Anchor, and Libsyn
  2. Complete podcast metadata: This includes your show title, description, category, cover art, author name, and episode information. Have this ready before you start

Make sure your RSS feed is validated and working before submitting. Use a tool like Podbase or Cast Feed Validator to check for errors that could cause your submission to be rejected.

Understanding Podcast Directories vs. Hosting Platforms

It's important to understand the distinction: podcast hosting platforms (Transistor, Podbean, Buzzsprout, etc.) store your audio files and generate your RSS feed. Podcast directories (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music) distribute your show to listeners. Think of hosting as your podcast's home, and directories as the storefronts where listeners find it.

You only need one hosting platform, but you should submit to as many directories as possible. The two most important are Apple Podcasts (for iOS users and the Apple ecosystem) and Spotify (for its massive user base and recommendation algorithms).

How to Submit to Spotify for Podcasters (Spotify for Podcasters)

Step 1: Create a Spotify for Podcasters Account

Spotify acquired Anchor (its previous hosting/distribution tool) and rebranded everything as "Spotify for Podcasters." Here's how to get started:

  1. Go to podcasters.spotify.com
  2. Click "Sign up free"
  3. Sign in with your existing Spotify account, or create a new one
  4. Complete your profile: name, email, and podcast category

Step 2: Add Your Podcast

Once your account is set up, adding your podcast is straightforward:

  1. In your Spotify for Podcasters dashboard, click "Add your podcast"
  2. Choose your podcast hosting platform from the list (or select "I use another hosting platform")
  3. If you use another host, enter your podcast RSS feed URL
  4. Review your podcast details as they appear from your feed
  5. Click "Submit to Spotify"

Step 3: Verify Ownership

Spotify requires you to verify that you own the podcast. They do this by adding a verification token to your RSS feed:

  1. Spotify will give you a unique verification string
  2. Log in to your podcast hosting platform
  3. Add this string to your podcast's "verification metadata" or "custom tags" field
  4. Return to Spotify for Podcasters and click "Verify"
  5. Verification typically takes a few minutes, but can take up to 24 hours

Once verified, Spotify will review your podcast. Most shows are approved within 24-48 hours. You'll receive an email notification when your podcast is live on Spotify.

How to Submit to Apple Podcasts (Apple Podcasts Connect)

Apple Podcasts uses Apple Podcasts Connect as its podcast management portal. Here's the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Create an Apple ID

If you don't already have one, create an Apple ID at appleid.apple.com. This is required to access Apple Podcasts Connect. Use a dedicated email address — ideally one your co-hosts can access too, in case you need to share access later.

Step 2: Sign In to Apple Podcasts Connect

Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID. If this is your first time, you'll see an agreement to accept — read it carefully, as it covers Apple's podcast policies.

Step 3: Add Your Podcast via RSS Feed

  1. Click the "+" button in the top-left corner
  2. Select "Add a new podcast from an RSS feed"
  3. Paste your podcast's RSS feed URL
  4. Click "Validate" to check for any feed issues before submitting
  5. Once validated, click "Submit"

Step 4: Wait for Review

Apple manually reviews every new podcast submission. This process typically takes 3-5 business days, sometimes longer during peak periods. Apple checks:

  • That your RSS feed is properly formatted and valid
  • That your podcast artwork meets their guidelines (3000×3000 pixels, JPEG or PNG)
  • That your content doesn't violate Apple's Podcast Guidelines (no hate speech, explicit content without proper tagging, etc.)
  • That your show has at least one published episode

Apple Podcasts vs. Spotify: Key Differences

Feature Apple Podcasts Spotify
Review process Manual review (3-5 days typically) Mostly automated (24-48 hours)
Account platform Apple Podcasts Connect Spotify for Podcasters
Verification required No RSS verification Yes (adds token to feed)
Episode scheduling Pulls from RSS automatically Pulls from RSS automatically
Analytics depth Aggregated, limited detail More detailed, includes listen-through rates
Monetization tools Apple Podcast Subscriptions Spotify Audience Platform
User base iOS ecosystem dominant Cross-platform, largest podcast audience

Optimizing Your Podcast Listing for Discovery

Getting listed is just the first step. To maximize discoverability, optimize these key elements:

Podcast Title

Your title should be searchable and descriptive. Include a key search term without making it sound spammy. Example: "The Marketing Playbook — Strategy & Growth Tips for Founders" works better than just "The Podcast."

Podcast Description

Write a compelling 200-300 word description. The first 2-3 lines are most important because they appear in search results before users click "read more." Front-load your value proposition.

  • What is this podcast about?
  • Who is it for?
  • How often do you publish?
  • What makes it different?

Podcast Category

Apple Podcasts lets you choose one primary and one secondary category. Choose the most specific category that fits your show — this significantly impacts discoverability. Spotify uses similar but slightly different category structures.

Podcast Cover Art

Your artwork is your first impression. Apple Podcasts requirements:

  • Size: 3000×3000 pixels (minimum 1400×1400)
  • Format: JPEG or PNG
  • Color space: RGB (not CMYK)
  • File size: Under 512KB

Design tips: Make it readable as a small square (thumbnail). Use bold, contrasting colors. Include your show title legibly. Avoid busy details that disappear at small sizes.

Common Submission Mistakes That Cause Rejection

  • Invalid or malformed RSS feed: Use a feed validator before submitting. Missing required tags like <itunes:author> or <itunes:image> will cause rejection
  • Cover art that violates guidelines: Blurry images, images under 1400×1400 pixels, or artwork with explicit content flags will be rejected
  • Feed URL changes: Once submitted, don't change your RSS feed URL — this breaks all directory listings and subscriber connections
  • Private or password-protected feeds: Most directories require publicly accessible feeds
  • Explicit content without flagging: If your show contains explicit language or themes, you must mark it as explicit in your feed tags
  • Claiming false exclusivity: Don't claim your podcast is "exclusive" to a platform if you're submitting to directories publicly

What to Do If Your Submission Is Rejected

Apple Podcasts rejection emails are generally not very specific. If rejected:

  1. Read Apple's Podcast Guidelines thoroughly at podcasters.apple.com/support
  2. Validate your RSS feed with Podbase or Feedburner
  3. Check that your cover art meets all technical specifications
  4. Review your podcast description for policy-violating content
  5. Resubmit after making fixes — you can submit the same show multiple times
  6. If you believe the rejection was in error, reply to the rejection email for clarification

Syndicating to Other Platforms

After you're live on Apple and Spotify, submit to these additional directories for maximum reach. Many can be automated through services like Listen Notes, Feedflare, or your hosting platform's built-in distribution:

  • Google Podcasts / YouTube Music: Google's podcast platform (being integrated with YouTube Music)
  • Amazon Music / Audible: Growing rapidly, especially with Alexa integration
  • Pocket Casts: Popular among Android users and power podcast listeners
  • Stitcher: Has a dedicated listener base and curated playlists
  • Overcast: Popular among iOS power users who want advanced features
  • Podcast Addict: Dominant Android podcast app globally

The beauty of podcast RSS-based distribution is that once your feed is set up correctly and accepted by Apple and Spotify, submitting to other directories is typically as simple as pasting your feed URL — and most other platforms will pull your episodes automatically thereafter.

Keeping Your Listings Updated

After your podcast goes live, note these ongoing maintenance tasks:

  • Apple Podcasts: Changes to your RSS feed (new episodes, title changes, description updates) sync automatically. However, to update your show artwork or category, you need to request changes through Apple Podcasts Connect
  • Spotify: Similar to Apple — most updates come from your RSS feed. Spotify for Podcasters dashboard lets you update your description and artwork directly
  • When changing hosts: Never delete your old feed. Instead, set up a 301 redirect from your old feed URL to your new one — this preserves your subscriber numbers and reviews

Getting listed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify is a milestone every podcaster reaches. With your podcast now live on the two biggest platforms, your next focus should be on growing your audience through consistent publishing, effective promotion, and listener engagement.