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.
Get your feed in order before you submit
Most rejected or delayed submissions come down to small problems in the feed itself, so it pays to check a few things before you paste that URL. A clean, complete feed sails through review and gives your listing a professional first impression.
- Make the feed public. Some hosts leave a feed in draft or private mode until you flip a switch. Open the URL in a private browser window — if you cannot reach it without logging in, neither can Spotify.
- Fill in the required metadata. Your feed needs a show title, description, language, category, an explicit/clean rating, and a valid owner email. Missing tags are one of the most common reasons a feed bounces.
- Match the email address. The verification code goes to the owner email listed inside the feed, not the address on your Spotify account. Confirm you can actually receive mail there before you start.
- Size your artwork correctly. Cover art must be square and meet the minimum resolution, with no blurry text or pixelation at small sizes. Anything outside the accepted dimensions will hold up approval.
- Check the audio. Make sure your first episode plays end to end from the feed. A broken or mislinked media file looks fine in your host but fails when Spotify tries to ingest it.
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.
Common mistakes to avoid
A handful of avoidable errors trip up most first-time submitters. Knowing them in advance saves you a frustrating wait and a resubmission:
- Submitting the same show twice. If you have hosted directly with Spotify and then also submit an external feed, you can end up with duplicate listings. Pick one source of truth for your feed and stick with it.
- Changing your feed URL later. Once a host has generated your feed, treat that URL as permanent. Switching hosts without a proper redirect can strand your existing subscribers and reset your listing.
- Thin episode descriptions. Show notes that are one line long give Spotify’s search nothing to work with. Write a real summary for each episode.
- Forgetting to claim the show. If a feed was added by someone else or auto-detected, you may need to claim ownership to access analytics and edit details.
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.
Can I move my podcast to Spotify without losing my old episodes?
Yes. Because your episodes live in your RSS feed rather than on any single app, connecting that feed brings your whole back catalogue across. If you are also switching hosts, set up a feed redirect from your old host so subscribers and your listing follow you cleanly.
Do I need a separate host if I publish through Spotify?
Not strictly — Spotify for Podcasters can host and distribute your show on its own. Many podcasters still prefer a dedicated host so they own their feed, get fuller analytics, and stay free to move between platforms without disruption.
