Apple Podcasts

By MacRumors Staff on June 15, 2021

Apple's Podcasts app is available on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, providing access to millions of free podcasts that can be streamed or downloaded for offline playback, with personalized recommendations based on your listening habits.

Launching in May 2021, Apple Podcast Subscriptions will allow users to subscribe to podcasts to receive perks, such as an ad-free listening experience, early access to episodes, and exclusive episodes. Pricing will start as low as 49 cents per month.

Apple Podcasts How Tos

iOS 14.5: How to Automatically Download New Podcast Episodes and Follow Shows

Tuesday April 27, 2021 5:21 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

In iOS 14.5, Apple has made some notable changes to its native Podcasts app. Some of these changes reflect the fact that Apple announced an optional paid podcast subscription service (beginning May 2021), while others are interface improvements to make it easier to find, follow, and listen to new episodes. One example of these changes is the new Smart play button, which is designed to help...

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Apple Podcasts Articles

Apple Launches Podcasts Subscriptions

Tuesday June 15, 2021 12:52 am PDT by Sami Fathi

Update: Apple has now announced that Apple Podcast Subscriptions for shows and channels is rolling out worldwide, showcasing a large number of new shows, groups of podcasts, and channels. When listeners purchase a subscription to a show, they automatically follow the show and the page is updated with a Subscriber Edition label so it is clear that they have access to the premium experience. As...

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Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Launching on June 15

Wednesday June 9, 2021 10:10 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple will make Podcasts subscription options available starting on Tuesday, June 15, Apple said today in an email that was sent out to podcasters (via The Verge). Support for Podcasts Subscriptions was introduced with the iOS 14.6 update, but in late May after releasing the update Apple said that the rollout of the feature would be delayed until June to make sure that the "best experience"...

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Apple Delays Launch of Podcasts Subscriptions Until June

Friday May 28, 2021 2:49 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today informed podcast creators that use the Apple Podcasts platform that the rollout of Podcasts Subscriptions and channels will be delayed until June to make sure that the "best experience" is being provided to creators and listeners. We're writing to provide an update on the availability of Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and channels. We've been delighted by the response to last month's ...

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Apple Launches Affiliate Program for Podcasts Subscriptions

Friday May 21, 2021 4:02 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple has announced a new affiliate program for its upcoming Apple Podcasts Subscriptions platform that will allow users to earn a commission when a podcast link they share leads to a new subscriber. Launching this month, Apple Podcast Subscriptions will allow users to subscribe to podcasts to receive perks, such as an ad-free listening experience, early access to episodes, and exclusive...

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iOS 14.6 Beta Brings Tweaks to Podcasts App Following Complaints

Tuesday May 11, 2021 7:45 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple has added a number of features to its Podcasts app in the third beta of iOS 14.6, seemingly in an attempt to address some of the useability problems introduced in iOS 14.5. MacRumors contributor Steve Moser spotted the Podcasts app changes in iOS 14.6 beta 3 and its source code, which include new features for marking all episodes as played, removing downloads, and recovering episodes. ...

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Amazon-Owned Wondery+ to Launch on Apple Podcasts Subscriptions

Tuesday May 11, 2021 6:49 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Amazon's podcast subscription service Wondery+ will be available through the Apple Podcasts Subscriptions platform, which launches in over 170 countries later this month, according to a report today from The Hollywood Reporter. Wondery+ offers dozens of ad-free podcasts, with early access and exclusive episodes for subscribers, making it a natural fit for Apple Podcasts Subscriptions. The...

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Apple Investigating 'Problem' With Podcasts App That Began April 29 [Now Resolved]

Monday May 3, 2021 11:30 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple's Podcasts platform is experiencing an "outage" for some users, according to the company's system status page. "Users are experiencing a problem with this service," wrote Apple. "We are investigating and will update the status as more information becomes available." Apple says the undisclosed problem began on April 29. Only some users are affected by the outage, according to Apple. ...

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Users Despair at Apple Podcasts App After iOS 14.5 Update

Thursday April 29, 2021 7:04 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

In spite of redesigning its Podcasts app with iOS 14.5, long-standing bugs within the app persist, and hundreds of reports from users across Twitter and Reddit are complaining about a range of new usability problems. Apple's iOS 14.5 update, accompanied by iPadOS 14.5 and macOS Big Sur 11.3 brought a major overhaul of the Podcasts app, including a new design, a re-thought system of...

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Spotify Set to Rival Apple Podcasts Subscriptions With New Service That Won't Charge Content Creators

Friday April 23, 2021 4:25 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple this week announced a new subscription feature coming to the Podcasts app in May that will let podcast publishers sell subscriptions to an individual show or a group of shows, with pricing starting at 49 cents per month. Publishers will be able to set their own pricing, but Apple will reportedly take a 30% of subscription revenue that creators generate in their first year on the...

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Apple May Announce Podcasts Subscription Service at 'Spring Loaded' Event [Updated]

Monday April 19, 2021 5:26 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple may announce a podcasts subscription service at its "Spring Loaded" event tomorrow, according to Vox's Peter Kafka and findings in the beta of iOS 14.5. Kafka remarked in a tweet, spotted by 9to5Mac, that he is "pretty sure Apple is prepping its own podcast plan - a paid subscription service - on Tuesday." MacRumors contributor Steve Moser has now said that Kafka's claim lines up with...

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Apple Podcasts Now Lists 2 Million Shows, But Almost Half of Those Titles Have Only Three or Fewer Episodes

Wednesday April 7, 2021 2:10 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

According to the latest podcast analytics, Apple's Podcasts platform recently surpassed 2 million titles, however almost a quarter of those shows have only published one episode, suggesting the numbers are inflated by so-called "once-and-done" podcasts. Breaking down the latest statistics provided by Podcast Industry Insights, industry advisor Amplifi Media found that 26% of listed podcasts...

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Apple Launches True Crime Podcast and Apple TV+ Series 'The Line'

Tuesday April 6, 2021 7:04 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple has today announced the launch of a new true crime podcast and Apple TV+ show titled "The Line" (via Variety). The Line encompasses two independent non-fiction series about the same subject, including a six-part non-fiction podcast and a four-part limited documentary series on ‌Apple TV+‌. The multi-media series is set to expose "previously untold aspects" about the story of former...

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Apple Launching New 'Kids & Family' Experience in Podcasts App

Monday March 8, 2021 4:43 am PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple today announced it is launching a new Kids & Family experience in its Podcasts app, in partnership with Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization focused on age-appropriate content recommendations for families. The new Kids & Family experience will make it easier for parents to find podcasts suitable for kids of all ages, with recommendations by age group. Thematic collections of...

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Spotify Poised to Surpass Apple Podcasts in U.S. Listeners This Year

Tuesday March 2, 2021 10:14 am PST by Juli Clover

Spotify has been making inroads in the podcasting market over the course of the last few years, ramping up its original podcast offerings and making major acquisitions like Gimlet Media, Parcast, and Anchor, as well as scoring key deals such as the rights to the popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Spotify's efforts may be paying off, according to a new forecast shared today by eMarketer...

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Apple Launches 'For All Mankind' Companion Podcast

Monday February 15, 2021 8:26 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today announced the upcoming launch of "For All Mankind: The Official Podcast," a podcast that will discuss popular Apple TV+ series "For All Mankind" as the second season resumes on February 19. Hosted by Krys Marshall, who plays Commander Danielle Poole, the podcast will feature space experts, former astronauts, and "For All Mankind" cast and creators.In For All Mankind: The Official ...

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Podcasts+ Could Be Apple's Next Subscription Service

Sunday February 7, 2021 8:49 am PST by Hartley Charlton

Apple is widely believed to be preparing to launch a new podcasts subscription service, according to a variety of reports. Apple already has a popular Podcasts app and maintains a podcast distribution service on its Mac and iOS platforms, but the company has attempted to monetize it to date. By creating a paid podcasting service, Apple could potentially lure podcast creators with the...

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New Apple Podcasts Spotlight Feature Highlights Rising Podcast Creators

Tuesday January 19, 2021 8:15 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today announced the launch of Apple Podcasts Spotlight, a new monthly editorial feature that's designed to celebrate rising podcast creators. The first Podcasts Spotlight creator is Chelsea Devantez, who hosts Celebrity Book Club. In the weekly podcast, Chelsea is joined by co-hosts like Gabourey Sidibe, Ashley Nicole Black, and Lydia Popovic to discuss the memoirs of celebrities like...

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Apple Developing Podcast Subscription Service to Better Compete With Spotify

Friday January 15, 2021 8:41 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple is considering launching a new subscription service that would be focused on podcasts, according to unnamed sources that spoke to The Information. The service would charge people to listen to podcasts. By creating a paid podcasting service, Apple could potentially lure podcast creators with the promise of more money, stealing them away from other platforms like Spotify, SiriusXM, and...

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Apple Planning to Bring Music and Podcasts Apps to Microsoft Store

Thursday January 14, 2021 3:31 pm PST by Juli Clover

Apple is working to bring Music and Podcasts apps to the Microsoft Store, according to a report from 9to5Mac that cites unnamed sources. Apple is allegedly testing Music and Podcasts apps for Microsoft's platforms in a private beta capacity at this time. There is no word on whether the apps will be compatible with Windows PCs or if they are being developed for Microsoft's Xbox consoles....

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New Apple Services Could Include 'Podcasts+,' 'Stocks+,' and 'Mail+,' Analysts Predict

Friday January 8, 2021 5:16 am PST by Hartley Charlton

A range of new Apple services could include "Podcasts+," "Stocks+," and "Mail+," according to a new report by Loup Ventures analysts. Apple's subscription service products are increasingly important to its business model and is now almost the size of a Fortune 50 company by revenue, growing by 16 percent in 2020 to $53.7 billion. Loup Ventures highlights that Spotify accumulated 144...

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