So you've made your podcast and you want to share it with the world? While there are hundreds of podcast listening apps available, there are only a few key podcast directories that you need to make sure you submit your podcast to in order to get into most of them.
Firstly, let’s highlight that hosting platforms differ from listening directories. The hosting platform is where your podcast information is kept and where your audio lives. And while some people may be able to listen to your podcast on the hosting platform, most podcasters also want to be found on other platforms where a higher number of people will listen to podcasts. And these other platforms are what we typically call listening directories.
There is a growing number of podcast directories that people use to listen to podcasts. So sometimes it’s hard to know where you need to submit your show. But the more places you submit your show, the more exposure you’re going to have and the more opportunity you’re going to have to get listeners and subscribers.
That being said, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you submit to every single podcast directory. The reality is the highest number of listenings will come from Apple Podcasts and Spotify. So we would recommend submitting there first, and other platforms – like TuneIn, Pandora, iHeart, and Spreaker – later. And if you want to get creative, people also listen to podcasts on other platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, and Facebook.
So while there is a large number of additional podcast directories that you could submit your podcast to, we’d recommend starting with these five and adding others on only if you feel like it’s going to be beneficial.
Let’s get into the list of the top five podcast directories we think are the best options for your podcast and outline key factors for each of them:
1. Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts is a big player in the podcasting world, with 28 million listeners. If you want your show to be found by most podcast lovers, Apple Podcasts should be your first priority.
If your podcast isn’t listed in Apple Podcast, you’ll be missing out on a massive audience, not to mention - you may not be taken seriously as a professional podcaster if your show isn’t listed with Apple.
2. Spotify
Spotify is rapidly expanding its listenership. As forecasted, this razor-thin lead Swedish streaming company will have 32.5 million monthly listeners and is poised to overcome and widen the gap between Apple Podcasts in the coming years. With the growth of the podcast segment, Spotify has been investing widely in this industry in recent years, demonstrating its determination to become a major player by purchasing Gimlet Media and Anchor in a deal worth over 300 million dollars.
3. Castbox
Castbox is a free podcast app that offers a vast library of podcasts, radio, and audiobooks. It features a powerful search engine that helps users discover new content based on their interests. Castbox supports multiple languages and provides personalized recommendations. The platform also offers unique features like comments and in-audio search, allowing listeners to engage with content more deeply. For podcasters, Castbox provides analytics and the opportunity to reach a diverse, global audience.
4. TuneIn
TuneIn is one of the biggest audio content platforms globally, with 75 million monthly active listeners. The primary focus of TuneIn is radio, but it also includes some popular podcasts making it a popular platform for people who want to listen to all of their news and other talk radio content all in one place.
TuneIn is compatible with Alexa-enabled devices, and subscribers to TuneIn Premium can easily stream select live sports, news, and talk shows with Alexa.
5. Pandora
Pandora, known primarily for its music streaming service, has expanded into the podcast market. It uses its signature Music Genome Project technology to recommend podcasts to listeners based on their preferences. Pandora's Podcast Genome Project analyzes hundreds of attributes to match listeners with content they're likely to enjoy. The platform offers a mix of popular shows and Pandora-exclusive content. For podcasters, being on Pandora means potential exposure to its large user base and benefiting from its sophisticated recommendation algorithm.
Final Thoughts
There are a handful of podcast directories out there worth your while, each with specific features and audiences. Make sure to prioritize the most popular ones – Apple and Spotify – and see the rest as other opportunities to grow your reach even further.
If you're thinking of creating a podcast, or hosting it but don't know where to start, check out our AI-powered content creation suite. It's packed with everything you need to get your show up and running and out there to the world, faster than ever.
