Podcast submission sites are directories and platforms where you submit your podcast RSS feed so listeners can discover and subscribe. This guide lists 45+ verified directories with live-status checked and Ahrefs Domain Ratings (DR) current as of September 2026.
What Are Podcast Submission Sites?
Podcast submission sites (also called podcast directories) accept your show’s RSS feed, verify ownership, and make the series searchable inside their app or website. When a listener searches or browses, your episodes appear alongside the platform’s native catalog. Submitting is free on virtually every directory; the only cost is the few minutes needed to copy-paste the feed URL and confirm ownership via email or a verification code.
Why You Should Submit Your Podcast to Multiple Directories
Distribution breadth directly correlates with audience growth. According to Edison Research’s “Infinite Dial” reports, the average weekly podcast listener uses three to four different apps, and shows that appear in more apps gain higher cumulative downloads. By placing your feed in every reputable directory you capture listeners who prefer niche players (e.g., Podcast Addict, AntennaPod) as well as the mainstream giants. Each additional listing also creates a branded citation – a structured mention of your show name, host, and website – which reinforces entity authority for search engines.
Best Podcast Submission Sites and Directories (2026)
Major Platforms (Must-Have)
| Directory | Domain Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Podcasts | 97 | Largest global listener base; default on iOS |
| Spotify for Creators | 95 | Second-largest platform; algorithmic recommendations |
| Amazon Music & Audible | 96 | Echo device integration; Audible subscriber reach |
| YouTube Music | 100 | Google Podcasts successor; video-podcast support |
| iHeartRadio | 91 | Live-radio crossover audience |
| Pandora | 91 | Music-first listeners discovering podcasts |
| Deezer | 92 | European & Latin-American markets |
| TuneIn | 89 | Live-stream & podcast hybrid users |
Podcast Directories
| Directory | Domain Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Castbox | 87 | In-app discovery & personalized recommendations |
| Pocket Casts | 87 | Power-user cross-platform sync |
| Podcast Addict | 84 | Android-centric audience |
| Podbean | 91 | Hosting + directory combo; monetisation tools |
| Podchaser | 85 | IMDb-style credits; guest marketplace |
| Listen Notes | 85 | Search-engine style discovery; API access |
| Player FM | 86 | Web & mobile sync; curated networks |
| Goodpods | 81 | Social recommendations & community |
| Podurama | 57 | Cross-device sync, AI-generated transcripts |
| Podtail | 80 | Simple directory, fast indexing |
| fyyd | 65 | German-language & European niche |
| AntennaPod | 71 | Open-source app users; privacy-focused |
| Podcast Index | 81 | Decentralised, no-account index |
| Podsearch | 38 | Lightweight search portal |
| Rephonic | 67 | Audience analytics & sponsor matching |
| podcast.co | 65 | Hosting + directory; brandable site |
| RedCircle | 80 | Dynamic ad insertion & cross-promo |
Podcast Hosting Platforms With Built-In Distribution
| Platform | Domain Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Blubrry | 85 | WordPress integration via PowerPress |
| Libsyn | 91 | Legacy host; advanced stats & monetisation |
| Acast | 90 | Dynamic ad insertion; global marketplace |
| Audioboom | 82 | Enterprise-grade hosting & sales team |
| Podomatic | 82 | Free tier with auto-distribution |
| Spreaker | 89 | Live-broadcast + podcasting |
| RSS.com | 90 | Unlimited storage; one-click directory push |
| Buzzsprout | 91 | Beginner-friendly; magic mastering |
| Simplecast | 88 | Clean analytics; embeddable player |
| Transistor | 86 | Team collaboration; private podcasts |
| Captivate | 86 | Growth tools; dynamic show notes |
| Megaphone | 82 | Enterprise sales & programmatic ads |
| ART19 | 80 | Advanced targeting & measurement |
| Omny Studio | 87 | Broadcast-grade workflow |
| Castos | 82 | WordPress plugin; private podcasts |
| HelloAudio | 72 | Audio-first courses & private feeds |
| Resound | 38 | AI-enhanced editing & distribution |
Podcast Guest Directories (For Backlinks)
| Directory | Domain Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| MatchMaker.fm | 63 | Match hosts with guests; profile backlink |
| PodcastGuests.com | 64 | Free guest-booking marketplace |
| PodMatch | 72 | Automated matching; profile SEO |
| Radio Guest List | 40 | Radio-style guest outreach |
Which Podcast Directories Are Dead or Retired?
Many 2026 round-ups still list directories that no longer accept submissions. Below are the four most common “ghost” entries, the exact HTTP evidence we recorded on 10 September 2026, and the live replacement you should use instead.
- Stitcher (stitcher.com, DR 90) – Returns HTTP 502 “could not be contacted origin”. The service shut down in 2023. Skip it.
- Google Podcasts (podcasts.google.com, DR 100) – Redirects to
music.youtube.com/googlepodcastsand shows a “no longer available” notice. Retired 2024. Use YouTube Music instead. - Podbooker (podbooker.com, DR 19) – Domain does not resolve; the site is gone. Do not submit.
- Guestio (guestio.com, DR 31) – Returns HTTP 521, origin server down. Not usable right now.
If you encounter any of these in other “top-X” lists, treat them as dead weight and replace them with the live alternatives shown in the tables above.
How to Submit Your Podcast to Directories (Step by Step)
- Get a valid RSS feed. Your hosting platform (Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Transistor, etc.) generates a feed that conforms to the Podcast 2.0 namespace. Verify it with the Cast Feed Validator before submitting.
- Verify ownership. Most major directories (Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube Music) send a verification code to the email in the
<itunes:owner>tag or require you to add a meta tag to your site. - Submit to the “Big Four” first. Apple Podcasts Connect, Spotify for Creators, Amazon Music for Podcasters, and YouTube Music cover >90 % of listening hours.
- Work down the curated list. Use the tables above; copy the feed URL into each directory’s submission form. Prioritise higher-DR sites for faster SEO impact.
- Keep NAP/feed metadata consistent. Show name, author, description, categories, and artwork must match exactly across every directory to avoid duplicate-listing penalties.
- Re-check monthly. Directories occasionally change URLs or deprecate APIs. A quick crawl of your feed in each dashboard confirms the show remains live.
How to Use Podcasts to Build Backlinks and Brand Authority
Appearing as a guest on other shows is one of the fastest ways to earn contextual backlinks. When you’re featured, the host typically adds a show-notes page that links to your website, social profiles, and your own podcast. The guest directories in the previous table (MatchMaker.fm, PodcastGuests.com, PodMatch, Radio Guest List) are purpose-built marketplaces that surface your bio to hosts actively seeking experts – each accepted appearance yields a do-follow link from a relevant, niche-specific domain. Additionally, every directory profile you create (Apple, Spotify, Podchaser, Listen Notes, etc.) acts as a structured citation: consistent name, URL, and description reinforce your entity in Google’s Knowledge Graph, improving branded search visibility. For a deeper dive on citation building, see our guide on link-exchange strategies and the guest-posting sites list. You can also earn links by publishing the same content in other formats: see our lists of article submission sites, video submission sites, PDF and PPT submission sites, and free press release sites.
Podcast SEO: How to Get Found Inside Directories
Getting listed is only half the job. Directory search runs on the same signals as web search: a clear title, a keyword-rich description, and consistent categories. Before you write your show notes, use a free keyword tool to find the phrases your audience actually types – for example “podcast about small business SEO” rather than “SEO show”. Put the primary phrase in the show title, the first line of the description, and the episode titles themselves.
Two more habits lift discovery. First, publish every episode with a written summary of at least 100 words so directory pages have real text to index, not just an audio file. Second, if you record video as well as audio, submit the video version separately and apply the same optimisation you would use for YouTube SEO – YouTube Music is now the successor to Google Podcasts, so video episodes reach listeners who never open a podcast app.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many podcast directories should I submit to?
Submit to every live directory on this list, which comes to roughly 45 platforms. Each listing adds incremental reach and a branded citation that reinforces your show name for search engines. Once your RSS feed is ready, working through the whole list takes a few hours rather than days.
Is submitting a podcast to directories free?
Yes. Almost every directory here accepts submissions at no cost, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube Music. A small number of hosting dashboards charge for advanced analytics or private feeds, but you never have to pay simply to have your show listed.
Do podcast directory links help SEO?
They help indirectly. Directory profiles act as structured citations that confirm your show name, host and website, which strengthens entity signals, and a few profiles also pass a do-follow link. Treat them as authority and referral traffic support rather than a primary ranking factor on their own.
What happened to Google Podcasts?
Google retired Google Podcasts in 2024 and moved listeners across to YouTube Music. The old URL now redirects to a page stating the service is no longer available, so any list still telling you to submit there is out of date. Submit to YouTube Music instead.
Is Stitcher still available?
No. Stitcher shut down in 2023 and the domain now returns an HTTP 502 error rather than a submission form. It still appears in many 2026 round-ups simply because those pages are not maintained. Skip it and use the live directories in the tables above.
Do I need a website to submit a podcast?
Most directories do not require one, because your RSS feed already carries the show details. A website still helps: it gives you a cleaner way to verify ownership, a destination for links earned from guest appearances, and a place to publish episode transcripts that can rank in search.
How long does directory approval take?
Apple Podcasts and Spotify usually approve a new feed within 24 to 48 hours. Smaller directories often index instantly or within a few days, while a handful manually review submissions and can take up to a week. If a show has not appeared after ten days, resubmit the feed.
Can I submit the same podcast to multiple directories?
Yes, and you should. You submit one RSS feed to every platform, so all of them pull the same episodes automatically. Keeping the show title, description, artwork and categories identical across every directory prevents duplicate listings and keeps your branding consistent everywhere.
