How to Submit Your Podcast to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts

Getting your podcast listed in the major directories is a one-time process — it sounds technical and it's actually straightforward. Here's what the submission process looks like for each.

Prerequisites

You need an RSS feed before submitting to any directory. This comes from your podcast hosting platform (Buzzsprout, Podbean, Transistor, Anchor, etc.). Your host generates the feed automatically when you set up your show. You'll also need at least one episode published.

Before submitting, make sure your show has: an episode (can't submit without at least one), cover art that meets the directory's specifications (typically 3000x3000 pixels, JPEG or PNG, under 500KB), a show title and description, and a category selection.

Apple Podcasts

Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com and sign in with an Apple ID. Click the "+" button to add a show by RSS feed URL. Apple validates your feed and will either approve it or flag validation errors. Approval typically takes 24–72 hours.

Once approved, your show appears in Apple Podcasts and is indexable by Apple's search. The listing is maintained automatically — every new episode you publish appears automatically because Apple reads your RSS feed.

Spotify

Go to podcasters.spotify.com. Sign in or create a free account. Add your podcast by entering your RSS feed URL. Spotify verifies the feed and asks you to confirm ownership (usually via an email to the address in your feed's metadata). Approval is usually within 24 hours.

Alternatively, if you're using Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) as your hosting platform, your show is already on Spotify automatically.

Google Podcasts (and Google's Ecosystem)

Google Podcasts has been discontinued as a standalone app, but podcasts still appear in Google Search. Submitting your RSS feed to Google's podcast system ensures your show appears in search results. Go to Google Search Console and submit your RSS feed URL. Your show's individual episodes can also appear as audio search results.

Other Directories Worth Submitting To

Amazon Music / Audible, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts, Podcast Index, Castbox, and Overcast all accept RSS submissions. The submission process is similar across platforms. Most podcasters use a tool like Listen Notes, Pod Link, or Podchaser to track where their show is listed and submit to multiple directories at once.