18 Best Podcast Directories to Submit Your Show in 2026

Quick answer: Podcast directories are the apps and platforms where listeners find and play podcasts. Submit your show's RSS feed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music first, since they reach most listeners. After that, add Pocket Casts, Podcast Index, iHeartRadio, and regional apps such as JioSaavn. You submit each directory only once; new episodes then appear automatically.

Last updated: September 2026. Submission methods were checked against current platform information.

Recording a great podcast is only the first step. If listeners cannot find your show in the app they already use, they will simply play something else. That is why directory listings matter as much as the episodes themselves.

The good news is that listing your show is free and mostly a one-time task. This guide covers 18 podcast directories, starting with the platforms that reach the most listeners, and explains how to make each listing work harder for search and AI discovery.

What Are Podcast Directories?

Podcast directories are platforms that list podcasts so listeners can search, subscribe, and play episodes. Most directories do not host your audio files. Instead, they read your show's RSS feed, which your podcast hosting service creates, and update your listing whenever you publish a new episode.

Podcast Hosts vs. Podcast Directories

A podcast host stores your audio files and generates your RSS feed. A directory, by contrast, displays your show to listeners using that feed. You therefore need one host, but you should list your show in many directories.

Why Podcast Directories Matter for SEO and AI Search

Directory listings support your show's visibility in three practical ways.

They put your show where listeners already are. Most people stick to one podcast app, so every missing directory means missed listeners.

Episode pages can appear in search. Many directories create public web pages for your show and each episode. As a result, people searching a topic may find your episode directly.

Transcripts make episodes understandable to AI. Search engines and AI tools cannot listen to audio, but they can read text. Apple Podcasts now generates transcripts for many episodes, and publishing your own transcripts helps AI tools reference your ideas accurately.

How We Chose These Directories

Every directory on this page had to pass four checks:

• Live and accepting shows: the directory currently accepts new podcast submissions.

• Free to list: submitting your show costs nothing.

• Real listeners: people actively use it to find and play podcasts.

• Clear submission process: there is an official way to submit or claim your show.

The Big Four Podcast Directories

Start with these four platforms. Together, they reach the large majority of podcast listeners.

DA from Moz; DR from Ahrefs. Values reflect each company's main domain.

Apple Podcasts

Apple Podcasts is the first directory most shows submit to, and many other apps, including Overcast, pull their catalogue from it. Submit your feed through Apple Podcasts Connect using your Apple ID.

Spotify

Spotify offers the largest streaming audience. You submit your RSS feed through Spotify for Creators, which also provides listener analytics.

YouTube Music

YouTube Music replaced Google Podcasts, which closed in 2024. You import your RSS feed in YouTube Studio, and YouTube creates a video version using your artwork. Note that this import works one way, so later edits to titles or show notes must be updated on YouTube manually.

Amazon Music and Audible

Amazon Music for Podcasters places your show on Amazon Music and Audible, reaching listeners who use Alexa and Echo devices.

Other Popular Podcast Apps

These apps have loyal audiences and are quick to add once your main listings are live.

TuneIn reopened its podcast submissions in April 2026, following its acquisition by Stingray in 2025, so check its broadcaster page for the current process. Pocket Casts and Podcast Addict attract dedicated podcast fans, while Goodpods adds a social layer where listeners recommend shows to each other.

Podcast Indexes and Discovery Tools

These platforms power search and recommendations across many smaller apps.

Podcast Index feeds many independent apps, so one submission can reach several of them at once. Listen Notes and Podchaser, meanwhile, help journalists, producers, and bookers discover shows and guests.

Regional Podcast Platforms

If your show targets a specific market, add the leading local platforms.

Podcast Directories That No Longer Exist

Several directories still appear on older lists but have closed:

• Google Podcasts: shut down in 2024, with listeners moved to YouTube Music.

• Stitcher: closed in 2023.

• Inactive small directories: always check for recent shows and a working submission page before submitting.

How to Submit Your Podcast to Directories

The process is similar everywhere. Follow these steps once for each directory:

1. Get your RSS feed from your host. Every podcast host provides a feed URL for your show.

2. Check your feed first. Make sure it includes artwork, a description, a category, and at least one episode.

3. Submit to the big four. Start with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.

4. Add the other apps and indexes. Work through the remaining directories in this guide.

5. Claim your show pages. On Podchaser, Listen Notes, and Goodpods, claim your listing to edit details and see analytics.

6. Publish transcripts and show notes. Add them to your own website so search engines and AI tools can read each episode.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most podcast listing problems come from a few simple errors. Above all, avoid these:

• Submitting before your feed is ready. Missing artwork or categories can delay approval.

• Changing your RSS feed URL without a redirect. Directories may lose your show entirely.

• Using vague episode titles. Titles such as "Episode 42" tell listeners and search engines nothing.

• Skipping show notes. Short, clear notes with key topics help people decide to listen.

• Forgetting YouTube edits. Because YouTube's import is one-way, update changes there manually.

No Podcast Yet? Try Podcast Guesting

You do not need your own show to benefit from podcasts. Appearing as a guest on established shows puts your expertise in front of engaged, ready-made audiences. Use Podchaser or Listen Notes to find relevant shows, and then pitch a specific topic you can speak on with authority.

Where Else to Share Your Content

Podcasts work best alongside other channels. Next, explore these related guides from our off-page series:

• Video sharing sites: publish video versions of your episodes.

• Article submission sites: turn episodes into written articles.

• Profile creation sites: keep host and guest profiles consistent.

• Online community sites: share episodes where your audience gathers.

• Image sharing sites: share quote cards and episode artwork.

• Press release submission sites: announce launches and milestone episodes.

Conclusion

Podcast directories are a one-time setup that keeps working for every future episode. Submit your RSS feed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music first, and then add the other apps, indexes, and regional platforms that fit your audience. Finally, publish transcripts and clear show notes, so search engines and AI tools can understand every episode.

Want your expertise featured on established publications as well? Explore verified editorial placements with transparent publisher metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I submit my podcast to directories?

Copy your show's RSS feed from your podcast host, and then paste it into each directory's submission page. You only do this once per directory; new episodes appear automatically.

Which podcast directories are most important?

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music reach the large majority of listeners. Submit to these four first, and then add the rest.

Is Google Podcasts still available?

No. Google Podcasts shut down in 2024, and listeners were moved to YouTube Music. Submit your RSS feed through YouTube Studio instead.

Do podcast directories cost money?

No. Listing your show in all the directories in this guide is free. You only pay for podcast hosting, and some hosts offer free plans.

Do podcast directories help SEO?

Indirectly. Episode pages can appear in search results, and consistent listings strengthen your brand. Publishing transcripts on your own website adds the most search and AI value.

Research Sources

https://castos.com/podcast-directories/

https://videonest.co/docs/distribution/submitting-to-podcast-directories

https://blog.fireside.fm/submitting-your-podcast-to-apple-podcasts-and-other-directories/

https://www.thepodcasthost.com/websites-hosting/how-to-upload-a-podcast/

https://moz.com/learn/seo/domain-authority