How to Start a Podcast on Apple Podcasts: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Starting a podcast on Apple Podcasts means recording your content, uploading it to a hosting platform, and submitting your RSS feed to Apple Podcasts Connect. Apple Podcasts is a free directory, not a recording or hosting tool. This guide covers every step.

What You Need to Know About Apple Podcasts First

Apple Podcasts is one of the largest podcast directories available, accounting for roughly 37.5% of podcast app downloads. But there is a distinction that trips up a lot of first-time creators: Apple Podcasts does not record, edit, or host your audio. It simply lists your show and makes it searchable to millions of listeners.

What is often overlooked is that you need two separate things before Apple even comes into the picture: a recorded episode and a third-party hosting platform. The hosting platform stores your audio files and generates an RSS feed, which is the link Apple uses to pull in your show details.

Once you understand that, the whole process becomes much clearer.

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Understanding the Apple Podcasts Ecosystem

What Is Apple Podcasts Connect?

Apple Podcasts Connect is the web portal where creators submit and manage their shows. Think of it as the backend dashboard for your podcast on Apple's platform. You log in with an Apple ID, paste in your RSS feed, complete a few details, and submit. That is where the listing process actually happens.

In practice, most new podcasters find Apple Podcasts Connect straightforward once they have their RSS feed ready. The confusion usually comes from not knowing that this portal exists separately from the Apple Podcasts app listeners use.

What Is a Podcast RSS Feed?

An RSS feed is a URL that acts like a live data file for your podcast. It contains your show title, description, artwork, and links to every episode you have published. When you publish a new episode on your hosting platform, your RSS feed updates automatically. Apple Podcasts reads this feed roughly every 24 hours to pull in new episodes, so you never have to manually resubmit content after your show is approved.

A simple way to think about it: your hosting platform creates the RSS feed, and Apple Podcasts reads it.

What Is Apple Creator Studio?

Apple Creator Studio is Apple's own production tool for podcast creators, launched in January 2026. It bundles recording, editing, and publishing tools into one subscription service. For beginners who do not want to invest in third-party software immediately, it is worth knowing this option exists before spending money elsewhere. A free trial is available.

Requirements Checklist Before You Submit to Apple Podcasts

Before you can submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts Connect, a few things need to be in place. Missing any one of these is the most common reason submissions get delayed or rejected.

Podcast Artwork Specifications

Cover art is the most common reason Apple rejects a podcast submission. The specifications are strict and non-negotiable.

In practice, many first-time podcasters create artwork at the wrong size or save it in CMYK color mode by mistake. Double-check every specification before uploading.

How to Start a Podcast on Apple Podcasts: Full Step-by-Step

Step 1: Plan Your Podcast

Before any recording happens, settle on three things: your topic, your episode format, and a rough episode length. These decisions shape everything that follows. A solo commentary show has different recording needs than a two-person interview format, for example.

Keep your show title clear and searchable. Apple Podcasts uses the title and author fields for internal search, so include relevant terms naturally. Avoid cramming keywords in unnaturally though. Apple has been known to reject shows for keyword stuffing in metadata.

Step 2: Record Your First Episode

You do not need expensive equipment to start. Most creators begin with what they have and upgrade later.

If you want to use Apple's own tools, Apple Creator Studio offers a recording and editing environment worth trying before committing to other software.

Record somewhere quiet. A room with soft furnishings reduces echo noticeably. Most new podcasters underestimate how much background noise a basic microphone picks up.

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Step 3: Choose a Podcast Hosting Provider

Your podcast hosting provider is where your audio files live. It also generates the RSS feed you will need to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts Connect. Without a host, you have no RSS feed, and without an RSS feed, you cannot get listed.

Hosting plans vary from free tiers with limitations to paid plans with more storage and analytics. Video podcasts typically require a higher-tier plan that supports video file hosting.

As reported by TechCrunch, video podcasting is growing rapidly, with 51% of the U.S. population having consumed a video podcast and 37% doing so monthly, which is worth factoring into your hosting decision early.

Step 4: Set Up Your Podcast Profile

Once you have a hosting account, fill in your podcast profile completely before submitting anywhere.

• Show title: Keep it clear and relevant to your topic
• Author name: Your name or your brand name
• Description: Write this for a human reader, not a search engine. Include relevant terms naturally.
• Cover artwork: Upload your 3000x3000px image in RGB format
• Category: Choose a category and, if possible, a sub-category. Sub-categories on Apple Podcasts are less competitive, which gives newer shows a better chance of appearing in category charts.

Step 5: Publish Your First Episode

Publish at least one episode through your hosting platform before attempting to submit to Apple Podcasts. This is not optional. Apple requires an active RSS feed with at least one episode to validate your show.

Your first episode can be a short trailer, a bonus episode, or a full episode. The format does not matter. What matters is that it is live and accessible through your RSS feed.

How to Start a Podcast on Apple Podcasts: Submit to Apple Podcasts Connect

There are two ways to do this when you start a podcast on Apple Podcasts.

Option A: One-Click Submission via Your Hosting Provider

Some hosting platforms allow you to submit directly to Apple Podcasts from within your hosting dashboard, without opening Apple Podcasts Connect manually. If your host offers this, it is generally the simpler path. The submission still goes to Apple Podcasts Connect behind the scenes.

Option B: Manual Submission via Apple Podcasts Connect

If your hosting provider does not offer one-click submission, follow these steps:

One important note: if you see an option to "Add a show without an RSS feed," do not select it unless you intend to sell premium content. That path leads to creating an Apple Podcasts Subscription, which requires paying $19.99 to join the Apple Podcasters Program. Standard directory listing is always free.

Step 7: Wait for Validation and Approval

Apple Podcasts Connect processes your RSS feed and validates your show details. This typically takes 30 minutes to a few hours. In some cases it can run up to 24 hours.

If your show has not been approved within 24 hours, contact Apple Podcasts Support directly through the Apple Podcasts Connect portal.

Audio Podcast vs. Video Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Apple Podcasts supports both audio and video formats, but the submission process differs slightly for video.

Video podcasting requires more setup and a hosting plan that supports video files. If you are starting out, audio is the simpler entry point.

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What Happens After Your Podcast Is Approved

This part gets less attention than it should.

Once Apple approves your show, it appears in the Apple Podcasts app and on the Apple Podcasts website. From that point, Apple checks your RSS feed approximately every 24 hours. Any new episode you publish through your hosting platform will appear in Apple Podcasts automatically, usually within a day of publishing.

You do not need to resubmit your show for each new episode. The RSS feed handles that automatically.

Your Apple Podcasts Connect account is also where you access listener analytics: starts, follows, average listening duration, and geographic data. These numbers are worth checking regularly.

Teams commonly report that Apple Podcasts analytics reveal which episodes hold listener attention and which lose them early, which informs future content decisions considerably.

Common Reasons Apple Rejects Podcast Submissions

Most rejections are preventable. Here are the most frequent causes and how to address them.

Artwork issues account for the majority of submission problems. If your show is rejected without a clear explanation, start there.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Podcast on Apple Podcasts?

Getting listed on Apple Podcasts is free. The costs that do exist come from third-party services, not from Apple itself.

The Apple Podcasters Program is only relevant if you want to sell subscription content directly through Apple Podcasts. For standard listing and distribution, you will never need to pay Apple anything.

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How to Optimize Your Podcast for Discovery on Apple Podcasts

Getting listed is one thing. Being found is another.

Choose a Sub-Category Over a Broad Category

Apple Podcasts uses only your first category for directory placement and charts. If you pick a broad category like "Health," you are competing with thousands of established shows. A sub-category like "Mental Health" or "Nutrition" has fewer shows, which gives a newer podcast a more realistic chance of appearing in sub-category charts.

Write a Keyword-Aware Title and Description

Apple's internal search uses your show title and author name as primary signals when you start a podcast on Apple Podcasts. Include terms your target listeners would actually type into a search bar. Keep it natural. A description like "A weekly podcast about personal finance for people in their 30s" works better than one loaded with repeated keywords.

Publish on a Consistent Schedule

Apple Podcasts does not publicly confirm whether publishing frequency affects ranking, but consistent publishing is widely observed to correlate with stronger listener retention and follow rates. Most experienced podcasters recommend a fixed schedule, even if it is only once a month, rather than irregular bursts of episodes.

Distribute Beyond Apple Podcasts

Apple Podcasts is a strong starting point, but most podcast listeners use more than one app. Consider submitting your RSS feed to Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts as well. The same RSS feed you used for Apple Podcasts works for most directories, so the extra effort is minimal.

Conclusion

To start a podcast on Apple Podcasts, you need a recording, a hosting platform, and an RSS feed. Submit that feed to Apple Podcasts Connect, and your show can be live within hours. The process is free and more straightforward than most beginners expect.

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Do I need an iPhone or Mac to submit to Apple Podcasts?

No. You can submit to Apple Podcasts Connect from any device, including Android phones and Windows computers. An Apple device is not required.

How long does Apple Podcasts take to approve a podcast?

Validation typically takes 30 minutes to a few hours. If your show is not approved within 24 hours, contact Apple Podcasts Support through Apple Podcasts Connect.

Do I need to resubmit every time I publish a new episode?

No. Once your show is approved, Apple checks your RSS feed every 24 hours and pulls in new episodes automatically. No manual resubmission is needed.

Is the Apple Podcasters Program required to get listed?

No. The Apple Podcasters Program costs $19.99 per year and is only for creators who want to sell paid subscription content. Standard listing on Apple Podcasts is completely free.

What is the difference between iTunes and Apple Podcasts?

Apple rebranded iTunes to Apple Podcasts in 2017. References to "iTunes podcasts" or "iTunes Connect" in older articles refer to what is now called Apple Podcasts and Apple Podcasts Connect.