Amplify your voice: 15 best podcasting directories for 2025

So, you’ve launched your own podcast. You’ve chosen the ideal niche, poured your heart and soul into your podcast, and regularly updated it with fresh episodes.

However, even if you’ve ticked all the boxes, don’t expect your podcast to attract hordes of listeners straight away. After all, how many people will know your podcast is awesome if they aren’t even aware it exists?

This is where the importance of podcasting directories comes into play. These aren’t just apps or websites that can play podcasts. They are also search engines that podcast fans will inevitably use to look for something new and exciting to listen to.

You can ask directories to include your podcast if it isn’t already featured. This begs the question — which podcast directory should you sign up for first?

Submitting your podcast to directories

Your podcast will already be on a podcast-hosting platform. This is your podcast’s ‘neighborhood’, so to say — in other words, where it’s permanently based. You will use this hosting service to upload and publish new episodes of the podcast.

If this service is the podcast’s ‘neighborhood’, what is its ‘address’? That’s its RSS feed URL. You can generate this on the hosting platform.

Have you spotted a podcast directory where your podcast isn’t listed? Here are the typical steps you would take in a bid to rectify this oversight…

Look up how to submit to the specific directory: This information should be on the directory’s website. Heed specific instructions they provide. For example, the Podbean Directory requires you to have a Podbean account.
Enter the RSS feed URL into the directory’s website: The directory itself should explain where exactly on the site you do this.
Wait for the directory’s response: With the RSS link at close hand, a directory can add your podcast to the wider selection of podcasts it has already made publicly available.

Thankfully, you don’t need to repeat this process with every directory. You can distribute your podcast much more time-effectively than this. Firstly, though, you should ask yourself…

What are the ‘best’ podcast directories?

The word ‘best’ is subjective by nature, and certainly in this case. Yes, you want your show to be in the mainstream podcast directories — but you also shouldn’t hasten to overlook smaller, more specialist ones.

That’s because these can attract a more dedicated, discerning listenership potentially closer in line with your specific target audience.

Below is our ranking of the 15 best podcast directories. We also break down how they differ in terms of features and audience demographics.

1. Apple Podcasts

Available on: Windows, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, CarPlay

Apple has a long history of supporting podcasts. The term ‘podcast’ itself was coined during the heyday of the iPod music player (the word is a mashup of ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’).

Apple introduced podcast playback to the Cupertino corporation’s iTunes software in 2005. This functionality was eventually spun out into its own app in 2012, though Windows users can still access podcasts via iTunes.

In the US alone, the number of people who listen to shows on Apple Podcasts is expected to reach 28.7 million by 2027.

2. Spotify

Available on: Windows, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, CarPlay, Android, Android Auto, Wear OS, Linux, Roku OS

If you want to make money from podcasting, Apple Podcasts arguably has the edge over Spotify. One major reason why is that the former comes preinstalled on iPhones, owners of which tend to have especially high levels of disposable income.

Nonetheless, Spotify remains a fierce competitor, as there is no denying its extensive reach. Across 180 markets, this streaming service has 602 million users — and is home to more than 5 million podcast titles.

Also, the Spotify user base skews relatively young. However, no matter what kind of audience your podcast is aimed at, you should prioritize securing listings on both directories as a matter of course.

3. YouTube Music

Available on: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, CarPlay, ChromeOS, Android, Android Auto, Wear OS

You might recall that Google once offered podcasts via Google Play Music, one of many services it offered under the Google Play banner. In 2024, Google Podcasts was discontinued, with its essential functionality being transferred to YouTube Music.

However, Google launched Google Podcasts, a separate application, in 2018 and shut down Google Play Music two years later.

YouTube Music users can listen to podcasts ad-free without needing to sign up for either of the platform’s paid tiers, Premium or Music Premium.

4. Amazon Music

Available on: Windows, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, Wear OS

Amazon is, of course, well-known for its Prime program, which packages a wide array of benefits into one handy subscription service.

You might have assumed that the streaming service Amazon Music is entirely off-bounds for people who aren’t subscribed to Prime — but not so!

Befitting its name (though it was formerly known as Amazon MP3), Amazon Music is focused very much on music. However, Amazon later added podcasts that people can now listen to without any need for a Prime subscription.

5. Audible

Available on: Windows, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, Android, Wear OS

Another Amazon-owned service, this one has audiobooks at the forefront. So, avid users of Audible are accustomed to consuming long-form content.

As per statistics from Buzzsprout, the most common podcast length in June 2024 was between 20 and 40 minutes.

However, since 2021, 16% of podcasts have exceeded an hour in length. Furthermore, a recent Spotify report looking at listener behavior in 2023 revealed that 70% of podcast listeners didn’t care about a podcast’s length.

Many audiobooks on Audible can last well over ten hours in duration. So, this directory can make an ideal place for podcasts with relatively lengthy episodes.

6. Castbox

Available on: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, CarPlay, Android, Android Auto

In terms of podcast downloads, Castbox could be considered a minnow. Still, the popularity of this Beijing-founded podcast directory has been quickly growing.

It’s not hard to speculate about why, as Castbox has won plaudits for its user-friendliness. New episodes of podcasts can be downloaded automatically, while users are also able to adjust playback speed.

Castbox boasts AI-enriched search features, too. Adding your podcast to this directory will unlock access to an analytics dashboard known as the Creator Studio.

7. Pandora

Available on: Windows, iOS, Android

Pandora was founded back in 2000, well before music streaming became mainstream. When it did eventually join that particular game, though, Pandora became known for its tailored recommendations.

Similarly, the modern Pandora draws upon powerful algorithms capable of picking out just the right podcasts for users to listen to next.

For this reason, this directory is well worth considering if your podcast occupies a niche that might not be widely publicized on other apps.

8. iHeartRadio

Available on: Windows, iOS, macOS

If you live in the US, there is a good chance that you have listened to iHeartRadio. This radio streaming platform has more than 860 live broadcast stations across 160 US markets. Also, its podcasts have recently risen in popularity.

It has been predicted that, in the US, 33.1 million people will listen to podcast content on iHeartRadio. That would be an 8.9% increase from 2023.

iHeartRadio is also available in Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. So, you might want to consider it if you are striving to establish a foothold in these markets.

9. Deezer

Available on: Windows, iOS, macOS, watchOS, CarPlay, Android, Android Auto, Android TV, Wear OS

If you have ever used Deezer just for streaming, you will likely be able to attest that it feels very similar to Spotify. While Deezer hardly matches that platform’s popularity, it has still garnered in excess of 14 million users.

It would be a good idea to insert some ads into your podcast before you submit it to Deezer. That’s because Deezer will allow you to leave those ads there — and you will be able to keep all the revenue you generate from them!

10. Podcast Addict

Available on: Android

Podcast Addict has cemented itself as Android’s most popular podcast app. It has been downloaded more than 10 million times and attracted a string of positive reviews — including this one on the app’s Google Play listing…

Positive word of mouth isn’t the only reason you can expect the app’s following to keep growing. It’s delightfully accessible from a financial standpoint, too — even the premium version can cost as little as $9.99 a year.

11. Pocket Casts

Available on: Windows, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, Android, Wear OS

When you want to find your next favorite podcast, you don’t want to be left fumbling through awkward menus and layouts. Instead, you want an intuitive, streamlined interface that brings the most promising content to the fore.

That’s exactly what many people have come to expect with Pocket Casts. This app takes account of users’ listening history and provides new recommendations to suit.

Hence, this is another good example of a directory that can help new but talented podcasters attract the positive attention they deserve.

12. Player FM

Available on: iOS, watchOS, CarPlay, Android

Player FM has more than 20 million podcasts, all of which are available for free. Don’t fear, though, that your podcast could struggle to stand out in this crowd.

It’s important to underline the app’s advanced search features. Users can also quickly see which podcasts are trending at any given moment.

So, if your podcast releases what turns out to be an especially popular episode, word could spread even more quickly on Player FM.

Also, the Premium tier supports syncing between devices. This would bode well for audience engagement. Imagine someone listening to your podcast on their iPhone in the morning and continuing to listen with their Apple Watch on the train…

13. Acast

Available on: iOS, Android

What if your podcast isn’t actually up and running yet, but you are trying to find the right hosting platform for it? Acast could be a good place to start. We consider it one of the best podcast hosting platforms.

It’s a popular one, too, attracting over four billion listens a year. Those listens are divided between more than 125,000 shows. Acast can also help you to create a personalized website for your podcast.

14. Overcast

Available on: iOS, iPadOS, watchOS

We have already alluded to the financial appeal of reaching out to Apple users. Encouragingly, their devices’ app stores are awash with compelling alternatives to Apple Podcasts — such as Overcast.

Overcast has been praised by tech publications including The Verge, 9to5Mac, and TechCrunch. As a result, it has won many fans.

One of our favorite Overcast features is Smart Playlist. This is where users can select specific podcasts and have the latest episodes of them downloaded into a queue. That way, they are quick and easy to retrieve.

Want to monetize your podcast? Here are the best podcast monetization platforms you need in your life.

15. Castro

Available on: iOS, watchOS, CarPlay

You might like plenty of podcasts, but not all equally. Many other people would think likewise, and Castro recognizes this. That’s why the app allows users to meticulously customize how podcast episodes show up on their screen.

At the heart of it all is ‘the Queue’, a playlist to which your favorite podcasts can be added automatically. Meanwhile, those ‘take it or leave it’ shows can be left in a separate Inbox you are at your leisure to peek into later.

This highly tailored experience is bound to appeal most to those people with especially fussy taste in podcasts. If you reckon that your own podcasts would satisfy that taste, getting them listed on Castro can give them a ‘prestige’ image.

Other ways to distribute your podcast

There are plenty of other podcast directories that didn’t quite make our top 15 but could be ‘just right’ for your specific podcast.

One good case in point is TuneIn Radio. Amazon Echo devices turn to this directory by default when fetching podcasts for their users.

Again, don’t be too quick to rule out applying to certain directories just because they are ‘small’. If you are a woman (or identify as one) with a podcast, consider submitting it to Women in Podcasting, a wholly web-based directory.

Here are several other tactics you could consider pursuing…

Post a video podcast to YouTube

There’s a lot to like about podcasts. Just listening to one can make you feel as though you are observing a cozy fireside chat. One drawback of podcasts, though, is that they are traditionally presented in audio-only form.

This can throw up awkward problems when you want to use podcasts to…

Demonstrate how a new gadget, e.g. an iPhone or iPad, works.
Talk about aesthetic material, e.g. artwork, photographs.
Make jokes that rely on visual cues rather than just wordplay.

It’s all good reason for you to seriously consider becoming a YouTuber. On YouTube, you can post complete video episodes as well as a few snippets — YouTube Shorts — that can act as previews of the full-length content.

Join (or start) a podcast community

You might have heard of what are called ‘social podcast apps’. These are basically social networks where people primarily gather to discuss podcasts. The following such apps are all available on both iOS and Android devices…

Goodpods: When your podcast is listed here, you can interact with your listeners and discern which of your episodes they most enjoyed.
Podyssey: As users here are already sharing podcast playlists and recommendations, why not drop by to highlight your podcast?
PodRoom: On this app, each episode of your podcast can be given its own chatroom, thereby helping you to get people talking about your work.

When participating in these communities, be sure to interact meaningfully with other podcasters. Consequently, it will be easier for you to mention your podcast in a way that feels natural and spontaneous — rather than ‘salesy’.

This all begins to shed light on why you probably shouldn’t just stick to websites that mainly revolve around podcasts. Whop hosts communities where many people might lack technical knowledge of podcasting but still be intrigued by your podcast.

For example, do you run a swimming podcast? If so, you could start a fitness community — or join an existing one — here at Whop. After all, there are always people itching to ask questions about how best to get into shape!

You might also have heard of Discord, but what is it and how could your podcast benefit from it? Read our guide on how podcasters can build and grow audiences on Discord.

Host your podcast on a versatile platform

Of course, you might already have set up a podcast on a hosting platform, but it’s still possible to switch. You could soon be eager to as well, once you have seen what podcast distribution tools other platforms offer.

Most of the best podcast hosting platforms enable users to distribute their audio content quickly and easily to all the leading podcast directories.

Let’s imagine that you choose to host your podcast on Buzzsprout. It would be an excellent choice, as this platform is integrated with directories including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Music.

With Captivate, another hosting platform, it takes a single click to distribute an episode to major directories. Imagine how much time you can save doing this rather than making your visits to each directory.

Making money with your podcast

Monetizing a podcast is like cultivating a garden — the idea is that you put in a lot of work early on to reap meaningful gains later.

Sadly, many novice podcasters don’t grasp this. As a result, 95% of podcasts fail, as per multiple studies. Many creators abandon their podcast before it even reaches the eight-episode mark.

However, the podcasting market has reached $25 billion in value. You can make a lot of money by carving out even a tiny fraction of that pie. Here’s what several of the best-known podcasts were worth in 2024…

The Joe Rogan Experience — $250 million
Call Her Daddy — $60 million
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard — $40 million
The Ben Shapiro Show — $10 million
Crime Junkie — $6 million

As many financial gurus will tell you, one reliable strategy for monetary success is to diversify your income streams. That way, if one of those pillars starts to falter, you will hopefully still be able to fall back on the others.

The principle is no different when it comes to monetizing a podcast. Here, we go into detail about many tried-and-trusted options…

Memberships

Here’s a rundown of how memberships work. You initially whet the appetites of your listeners by providing them with free content. Then, once those same people are hooked, you start releasing select episodes behind a paywall.

To unlock access to those ‘premium’ episodes, followers of your podcast will need to each buy a membership. You can sell those via Whop.

Affiliate marketing

On your podcast, you might often review products and find them much to your satisfaction. In this case, you could strike a deal with the company behind the product, where you agree to…

Publicize the product more widely by linking to it on your website and social media channels
Get paid a commission every time someone uses your link to buy the product

This is known as affiliate marketing, and the money you make will be a small percentage of the sale as a whole.

Has the idea of affiliate marketing piqued your interest? Read through our in-depth guide — including different types and how to get started with it all.

Products

One challenge with running a podcast is making sure it covers a broad enough range of topics. Otherwise, listeners could too easily get bored and demand that you shake things up a bit.

At the same time, though, some listeners might want to learn more about a specific subject than a mere few podcast episodes can provide. For these people, you could offer the chance to pay extra for digital products such as…

Online courses
ebooks
Access to online communities

You can opt to sell any of these via Whop. We offer all the tools you need to quickly set up your online storefront.

Need some more ideas? Here are the best digital products to sell. You can even partner with a print-on-demand business to add top physical products to your range.

Advertising

Your podcast hosting platform might have its own ad network you would be able to opt into. Alternatively, you could reach out to a company like Audioboom or ADOPTER Media. You can place ads…

Before or during a podcast episode
At the end of a podcast episode
In the middle of a podcast episode

Incidentally, don’t worry that ads could be off-putting to listeners of your podcast. On the contrary, they could be thoroughly used to hearing them on other podcasts.

Did you know that, according to SiriusXM, 90% of listeners act on ads added to podcasts? With our guide to podcast monetization, you can learn much more about the different advertising options.

Sponsorships

You can start considering these once your podcast has built up a large, committed fanbase. Whatever your podcast is generally about, you could ask related businesses if they would be willing to pay you to promote their products or services.

For example, if your podcast covers all things Apple, you could seek sponsorships from companies that sell iPhone accessories. We have previously put together an informative article on how to get (and where to find) podcast sponsors.

Donations

Many people who love your podcast might be keen to contribute financially to its upkeep. However, what if none of the products you sell or promote take their fancy? In that case, you could encourage these listeners to make one-off donations instead.

You can facilitate these donations by adding a Whop checkout link to your podcast’s website.

Raise your podcast’s profile with Whop

You can build an entire business around your podcast. If it’s educational, why not offer courses to go alongside it? If it’s focused on professional development, maybe you could write a few eBooks to further help people pursue their career goals?

You could already have quite a few similar ideas floating around your head as you explore what’s possible with Whop. On our platform, you can launch your own online hub — a ‘whop’ — and use it to…

Offer subscriptions and memberships
Build a private community
Run fun competitions
Sell tickets to upcoming webinars

Like adding your podcast to directories, this can all help to elevate your podcast’s prestige. If you develop a great reputation as a thought leader, you can slowly attract more and more people to your podcast over time.

There are many things you can do — and in much less time than you might have expected.

Your whop can be up and running in less than 10 minutes, with no upfront costs. Start monetizing your podcast today.

Join Whop today