You cannot upload a podcast directly to Spotify yourself

Spotify does not let individual creators upload podcasts the way you upload music to other platforms. Instead, you submit your podcast through a podcast hosting service — a middleman that stores your audio files and sends them to Spotify and other platforms automatically. You need a hosting service, a podcast feed (which the hosting service creates for you), and a Spotify for Podcasters account (formerly called Anchor). The whole process takes about 15 to 30 minutes.

If you already have a podcast hosted somewhere else — like Buzzsprout, Podbean, or Anchor — you can connect it to Spotify without re-uploading anything. If you are starting from scratch, Anchor is the simplest choice because it is free, owned by Spotify, and handles hosting and submission in one place.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a podcast hosting service (like Anchor, Buzzsprout, or Podbean) to submit to Spotify — you cannot upload directly.
  • Anchor is free and the easiest option if you are starting a new podcast, because it hosts your files and submits to Spotify automatically.
  • If your podcast is already hosted elsewhere, you can connect it to Spotify by pasting your RSS feed into Spotify for Podcasters.
  • Spotify reviews new podcasts before they appear, which usually takes a few days to a week.
  • Once approved, your podcast updates automatically whenever you publish a new episode through your hosting service.

Starting a new podcast with Anchor

Anchor is the fastest route if you have no podcast yet. Go to anchor.fm, click "Create a podcast," and sign in with your Spotify account (or create a free Spotify account if you do not have one). You do not need a Spotify Premium subscription — a free account works.

Anchor walks you through naming your podcast, writing a description, and choosing a category. Upload your first episode by clicking the microphone icon and either recording directly in Anchor or uploading an audio file you already have. Anchor accepts MP3, WAV, and M4A files. Once your episode is uploaded, Anchor automatically creates your RSS feed — a special web address that Spotify uses to find your episodes.

When you are ready, click "Submit to Spotify" from your Anchor dashboard. Anchor sends your podcast information and feed to Spotify automatically. You do not fill out a separate form. Spotify then reviews your podcast (usually within a few days) and publishes it if it meets their content guidelines.

Connecting an existing podcast to Spotify

If your podcast is already hosted on Buzzsprout, Podbean, Transistor, or another hosting service, you do not need to move it. Instead, you will submit your RSS feed — the web address that contains all your episode information — directly to Spotify.

Log into your hosting service and find your RSS feed URL. This is usually in a section called "Settings," "Distribution," or "Podcast Details." It looks like a web address ending in /feed or /rss. Copy this URL.

Go to podcasters.spotify.com and sign in with your Spotify account. Click "Claim your podcast" and paste your RSS feed URL into the box. Spotify finds your podcast and shows you a preview of how it will look. Review the title, description, and cover art, then click "Claim" or "Submit." Spotify reviews the podcast and publishes it within a few days if everything is correct.

What happens after Spotify approves your podcast

Once Spotify publishes your podcast, you do not need to do anything else to keep it updated. Every time you publish a new episode through your hosting service, that episode automatically appears on Spotify within a few hours. Your hosting service handles all the updates — Spotify pulls new episodes from your RSS feed on a regular schedule.

You can see how many people are listening to your podcast on Spotify by logging into Spotify for Podcasters and viewing your analytics dashboard. This shows you listener numbers, which episodes are most popular, and where your listeners are located. These numbers update daily.

Fixing common problems after submission

If Spotify rejects your podcast, you will see a reason in your Spotify for Podcasters account. The most common reasons are: the podcast title or description contains prohibited content, the audio quality is too low, or the RSS feed is broken. Check that your episodes have clear audio, your description does not violate Spotify's content policy, and your hosting service is still active.

If your podcast is published but new episodes are not showing up, wait 24 hours — Spotify checks feeds periodically, not instantly. If episodes still do not appear after a day, log into your hosting service and make sure the episode is marked as published (not as a draft). Then check that your RSS feed URL is still correct by pasting it into a web browser — it should show your podcast information in a text format.

If you need to change your podcast title, description, or cover art, make the change in your hosting service (not in Spotify). The update will sync to Spotify within a few hours. Do not delete and resubmit your podcast — this creates a new listing and loses all your listener history and reviews.

Choosing between Anchor and other hosting services

Anchor is free and the simplest option if you are new to podcasting. It includes hosting, distribution to Spotify and other platforms, and basic analytics. The trade-off is that Anchor has fewer customization options than paid services.

Buzzsprout, Podbean, and Transistor are paid hosting services that offer more control over your podcast branding, advanced analytics, and monetization options. They cost between $12 and $20 per month, depending on how many episodes you upload. All of them connect to Spotify the same way — by submitting your RSS feed. If you already use one of these services, stick with it; there is no reason to switch just to submit to Spotify.

Some creators use multiple hosting services to reach different platforms, but this is unnecessary. One hosting service that distributes to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms at the same time is simpler and avoids duplicate episodes.

Understanding podcast feeds and why they matter

Your RSS feed is a file that lists all your podcast episodes and their details — title, description, audio file location, and publish date. Spotify and other podcast platforms read this file to know when you have published something new. Think of it as an instruction manual that tells Spotify "here is a new episode, here is what it is called, and here is where to find the audio."

Your hosting service creates and maintains this feed for you automatically. You do not write it yourself or edit it by hand. Every time you publish an episode through your hosting service, the feed updates instantly. Spotify checks your feed periodically and pulls any new episodes it finds.

This is why you cannot upload directly to Spotify — Spotify is designed to read feeds from hosting services, not to store audio files itself. Spotify focuses on playing podcasts, not hosting them. The hosting service handles storage and distribution, and Spotify handles playback and discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Spotify Premium account to submit a podcast?

No. You need a free Spotify account to sign in to Spotify for Podcasters or Anchor, but you do not need Premium. A free account works for everything related to submitting and managing your podcast.

How long does it take for my podcast to appear on Spotify after I submit it?

Spotify usually reviews new podcasts within a few days to a week. Once approved, your podcast appears in search results and on your creator profile immediately. New episodes you publish after that appear within a few hours of publishing through your hosting service.

Can I submit the same podcast to multiple platforms at once?

Yes. Your hosting service can distribute your podcast to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and other platforms automatically. You submit your RSS feed once, and it goes everywhere. You do not need separate accounts on each platform unless you want to track analytics separately.

What if I want to move my podcast from one hosting service to another?

Most hosting services let you export your RSS feed and episode data. You can then import that data into a new hosting service. Your Spotify listing stays the same — you just update the RSS feed URL in Spotify for Podcasters to point to your new hosting service. This takes a few minutes and does not interrupt your listeners.

Can I delete episodes from Spotify without deleting them from my hosting service?

No. Spotify pulls episodes directly from your RSS feed. If an episode is in your feed, it appears on Spotify. To remove an episode from Spotify, you must delete or unpublish it in your hosting service. Once you do, it disappears from Spotify within a few hours.