To learn how to get your podcast on Spotify, you really only need two things: a published episode and your show’s RSS feed. You submit that feed through Spotify for Podcasters, Spotify reviews it, and your show appears in the app — usually within a few hours to a day. This guide covers both ways to get listed and how to make your listing look its best.
What you need before you start
- At least one published episode live on your podcast host.
- Your RSS feed URL, which your host generates for you. If that term is unfamiliar, see what an RSS feed for podcasts is.
- Cover art that meets the platform’s square-image and resolution requirements — our guide on creating podcast cover art explains the specs.
If you have not produced an episode yet, start with our complete guide to starting a podcast.
Method 1: Submit your existing RSS feed
If you already host your podcast elsewhere (Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Podbean, Transistor, and so on), this is the route to use:
- Copy your RSS feed URL from your host’s dashboard.
- Go to Spotify for Podcasters and sign in with a Spotify account.
- Choose the option to add an existing show and paste your feed URL.
- Verify ownership — Spotify emails a code to the address in your feed, which you enter to confirm the show is yours.
- Add or confirm your category, language, and other details, then submit.
Spotify pulls in all your existing episodes from the feed and keeps syncing automatically each time you publish a new one.
Method 2: Host directly on Spotify for Podcasters
If you do not have a host yet, Spotify for Podcasters can host your audio for free and distribute it. You upload episodes directly, and it generates everything for you. The trade-off is that you should still make sure your show reaches other directories too — relying on a single platform limits discovery. Compare your options in our best podcast hosting platforms guide and weigh the choice in free vs paid podcast hosting.
How long does approval take?
Most shows go live within a few hours, though it can take up to a day or two for a brand-new feed. If your show has not appeared after that, the usual culprits are a private or malformed feed, missing required tags, or cover art that does not meet the size requirements. Fix those and resubmit.
Optimise your Spotify listing
Getting listed is step one; getting found is the real work. To stand out:
- Write a clear, keyword-aware show description so search surfaces you.
- Pick the most accurate primary category.
- Use strong, readable cover art that works at thumbnail size.
- Add a podcast trailer so new listeners can sample your show in under a minute.
Once you are live, focus on growing your audience with consistent episodes and promotion.
Do not forget the other directories
Being on Spotify is great, but a large share of listeners are elsewhere. Next, get your show onto Apple Podcasts, then cover the rest using our guide to submitting a podcast to all the directories.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to put a podcast on Spotify?
Yes. Submitting your show through Spotify for Podcasters is free, whether you bring an existing RSS feed or host directly with Spotify. You only pay if you choose a separate paid podcast host for storage and analytics.
Why is my podcast not showing up on Spotify?
The common causes are a feed that is still private or incorrectly formatted, missing required metadata, cover art that is the wrong size, or simply that the review is still in progress. Confirm your feed is public and valid, then resubmit if needed.
Will new episodes appear on Spotify automatically?
Yes. Once your RSS feed is connected, Spotify checks it regularly and pulls in new episodes within a short window of you publishing. You do not need to upload anything to Spotify separately each time.
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