How to get your podcast featured on Apple Podcasts
Apple's editors pick every featured show by hand, and you can pitch them directly. Here's how the pitch form works, what editors look for, and how to be ready when the spike hits.
To get featured on Apple Podcasts, pitch your show directly to Apple's editorial team through the pitch form on Apple Podcasts for Creators. Submit at least two weeks before the date you want to be featured, and pitch no more than once every six to eight weeks.
There's no fee and no shortcut. Editors review your pitch alongside your audio, your feed and your artwork, and they decide what gets promoted. Everything below is about making that decision easy.
How Apple Podcasts featuring actually works
Apple's editorial team curates the placements you see across the app: the browse tab, category pages, seasonal collections and themed roundups. Featuring is human curation, not an algorithm you can game.
One thing that catches creators out: Apple won't notify you if you're selected. Keep an eye on the app around your requested window, and watch for an unexplained jump in followers.
Step 1: get your feed in shape first
Editors judge the whole package, so fix the basics before you pitch:
- Show artwork at 3000x3000 pixels that's legible at thumbnail size
- The right category and complete show and episode descriptions
- A consistent release schedule your feed history actually proves
- A strong trailer or recent episode that represents the show at its best
All of this lives in your hosting platform. If you host with Acast, you can update artwork, descriptions and categories from your dashboard and the changes flow to Apple automatically through your RSS feed.
Step 2: write a pitch editors can use
Editors curate around themes and moments, so give them the raw material. Cover four things: your format (interview, narrative, chat), who's behind the show and why they're credible, who the show is for, and why now.
"Why now" is the part most pitches miss. A new season, a timely topic or a cultural moment gives editors a reason to slot you into what they're already planning.
Step 3: time it and keep pitching
Submit at least two weeks ahead of the moment you're pitching for. If nothing happens, wait six to eight weeks and pitch again with a fresh angle. Apple openly encourages repeat pitches, and plenty of shows land a feature on the second or third try.
Video is a new way in
Apple now supports native video podcasts in the app, and video shows get placement in dedicated video sections plus personalized recommendations. If you're already recording video, publishing it gives editors one more surface to feature you on.
Be ready for the spike
A feature drives a burst of new listeners who'll binge your back catalog, and that surge is only worth what you can turn it into. With dynamic ad insertion, every old episode carries fresh ads, so the spike earns from day one instead of just looking good in your analytics.
That's where hosting choice matters. Acast distributes your show openly to Apple Podcasts and every other major app, and connects you to 4,000+ advertisers globally, so a good week for discovery is a good week for income too.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my podcast featured on Apple Podcasts?
Submit a pitch through the form on Apple Podcasts for Creators at least two weeks before your desired feature date. Editors review your pitch, audio, feed and artwork, and select shows for placements across the app.
Does it cost anything to be featured on Apple Podcasts?
No. Featuring is free editorial curation. Nobody can buy a feature, and any service claiming to sell one should be avoided.
Will Apple tell me if my show is featured?
No. Apple doesn't notify creators, so monitor the app around your requested window and watch your follower numbers for an unexplained jump.
Do I need a specific hosting platform to be featured?
No. Apple features shows from any host with a valid open RSS feed. What matters is the quality of your show, your metadata and your pitch, not where you host, though your host controls how easily you can keep that metadata sharp.
