How to Start a Podcast on Spotify for Free (+ Expert Insights)

I’ve got good news for you: Spotify is the leading destination for podcasts, commanding 35.8% of all listeners and over 40 million monthly listeners in the US alone.

And I’ve got even better news: Spotify for Podcasters makes it easy to start a podcast and reach those listeners — no fancy equipment or advanced skills required. And, once you’ve started your show, you can find many ways to promote and market your podcast to expand your reach.

Here, I’ll cover everything you need to know about podcasting on Spotify, how to upload your next episode to the platform, and hear from seasoned podcasters about their thoughts on the platform.

Table of Contents

Placing your podcast on Spotify gives you access to a variety of features to grow your show, engage your audience, and monetize your content. Some stand-out features include:

• In-depth analysis of events and episodes.
• Monetization tools.
• Record and edit in-app or platform.
• Q&A or polls to share with your audience to build engagement.
• “Video episodes” for a unique viewing experience for fans.

You can use Spotify for Podcasters as a hosting platform or upload episodes to Spotify using an RSS feed from an existing host.

And if you want some professional tips to help you create a successful podcast, I’ve got you covered there, too.

How to RSS Feed in Spotify

An RSS feed is a unique ID card for your podcast. I like to think of it as a home address, and, like a home address, there’s only one RSS feed per podcast.

Each host provides a code that can be copied and pasted into different directories to share episodes on other platforms, such as from Apple Podcasts (the host) to Spotify. RSS feeds are updated automatically, so you don’t have to share your link with other distributors more than once.

How to Meet Spotify’s Podcast Requirements

The first step to starting a podcast on Spotify is to make sure you meet the podcast requirements. Here’s a quick rundown.

Your podcast must have:

• Title along with relevant details (ie, category and primary language).
• Cover image with 1:1 ratio and PNG, JPEG, or TIFF format. The higher the resolution, the better.
• High bitrate MP3 format (128 kbps+) or MP4 with AAC-LC.
• Episodes that do not exceed 12 hours.

Once you’ve met the requirements in this checklist, you’re ready to officially upload your podcast to Spotify. Check out the steps below.

1. Create a Spotify account for Podcasters.

Unsurprisingly, you need a Spotify for Podcasters account to upload podcasts to the platform. You can use this form to register and select “I want to start a podcast” or “I have a podcast.”

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If you click on the first option, sign in with your existing Spotify account or create a new one. If you choose the second option, select the current podcast host from the list and claim your show by adding an RSS feed and entering the verification code you received via email.

If you already have a podcast but want to switch to Spotify, follow the steps here.

2. Add information about your podcast.

After setting up your account, you’ll add information about your podcast, including:

• The name of the podcast.
• Clarification.
• Cover art.
• category.
• Language.
• Content type (pure or explicit).

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3. Upload your file.

If you already have a podcast, you can upload existing audio or video episodes or create and edit episodes on the Spotify for Podcasters platform.

Before uploading an audio file, I recommend following some best practices:

• Make sure your episode is formatted as an MP3, M4A, or WAV file.
• Smaller files upload faster.
• Episodes must be shorter than 12 hours (at most that is, this is Spotify’s recommended maximum length).

To upload an episode ready for publication, click Fast Upload and upload audio or video files. If creating from scratch, click Create an episode.

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When creating an episode on the platform, you will be logged into a dashboard that allows you to record or upload audio, add previously uploaded files to your library, and edit and add effects.

I think the drag and drop creator is an easy way to build all your episodes, and you can preview each episode as many times as you want during the editing process.

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4. Add episode information.

Once you’re ready to publish, add an episode title, description, and publishing timeline. You can also note if the episode is part of a series, the type of episode, and whether the content is clean or explicit.

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Don’t forget the cover art! It should be formatted as a high-resolution PNG, JPG, or TIFF with an aspect ratio of 1:1 (or as a square image).

5. Share your podcast in other directories.

Once published, your podcast will be available to Spotify users worldwide. You must use the RSS feed link to share on other platforms. On podcasters.spotify.com:

Click Suitthen Podcast Availability, then click RSS distribution to get a unique link to attach to the specified distribution point in another directory.

Switch to Spotify for Podcasters Hosting

If you already have a podcast host but want to switch to Spotify for Podcasters, I think the process is very easy, and you won’t lose any episodes or profiles you already have on other platforms.

There are two ways to switch podcasts to Spotify. Both are three simple steps.

Option 1: Add via RSS feed.

1. If you already have a Spotify account, go to the Spotify For Podcasters page, and click Startthen follow the steps to sign in.

2. Then select “I already have a podcast.”

3. Enter the RSS feed. If you don’t know your RSS feed, I think both options are easier.

Option 2: Adding podcasts via the Spotify Switch Page.

1. I just went to the Spotify for Podcasters switching page and used the search field to type in the name of the podcast. You can use the feed URL, but you can also enter a name.

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2. I confirmed I have a podcast.

3. Finally, I signed up for a Spotify account for Podcasters (or you can import podcasts into an existing account and then redirect your RSS feed to show the new Spotify URL). The exact process for this last step varies by hosting provider, so it’s best practice to follow these unique steps.

Once you have successfully migrated, you can use the platform for everything it has to offer and upload audio or video or create new episodes with built-in features.

Spotify for Podcasters: Expert Insight

I know that there are many different podcast hosting platforms available, but I wanted to know what current users of Spotify for Podcasters think, so I spoke to some experts. Here’s what they had to say:

“An Equitable Pathway to Creativity”

Troy Sandidge, host of the iDigress Podcast, said, “Spotify for Podcasters provides a variety of creative tools and features to share your podcast episodes.”

Sandidge went on to point out that Spotify for Podcasters is especially useful for minority-led podcasters, with programs like the “Making Space” initiative that “literally helps podcasters find free spaces where they can record episodes.

This is an incredible way to make things more accessible to those who don’t have the same financial ability to start, but it gives the equity path for more creatives to continue.

“Great benefits for Podcasters”

Al and Leanne Elliot, hosts of Truth, Lies, and Workplace Culture, also use Spotify for Podcasters:

“We’ve had Spotify as part of our Podcast Distribution mix since the beginning of the Truth Lies & Work podcast, and while it’s not a ‘silver bullet’ for podcast outreach, we’ve seen huge benefits in using it, and see a bright future for podcast distribution.”

Some of these advantages include:

• Spotify Analytics (saying it provides a clearer insight compared to platforms like Apple Podcasts).
• The development team’s openness to receiving feedback and ideas.
• A simplified monetization process for integrating paid placements or ads.
• The frequent release of new features “helps podcast creators and encourages listeners to switch to the platform from more established apps.”

“Turnkey Solutions”

Sandidge said, “From programming to community research and beyond, Spotify strives to provide a lean turnkey solution with training and opportunities to help creatives grow and thrive.”

What about the Downsides?

As with all tools, there are potential pitfalls. While the experts I spoke to gave positive feedback, they pointed out some challenges:

• The podcast category is a relatively new addition, so gaining visibility in search results may take some time. But even so, there is still good news – sophisticated algorithms mean that there is a good chance that your listeners will find you in some way.
• Spotify isn’t always clear on how the new features work. For example, Elliots says the Q&A panel is a unique feature, but he doesn’t yet know where the responses appear.

Back to You

I find podcasting to be a great way to reach an audience, and Spotify for Podcasters is a great option for creating and hosting episodes.

In five easy steps, you can share your podcast on one of the biggest podcasting platforms today. Once your podcast is live, remember to share it remotely.

I recommend making this a regular exercise with every episode to boost your listeners.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in August 2022 and has been completely updated.