3-Tier Podcast Marketing Submission Strategy
October/15/2026
Top Free Podcast Directory Submission Sites
These Podcasting-Specific directories do not store your files. You submit your podcast host's XML RSS feed once, and they surface and stream your episodes directly to listeners for free.
Apple Podcast Connect — The Industry Standard. Essential for global reach. Listing your show is completely free, though they offer a paid program if you want to sell premium creator subscriptions.
Spotify for Creators is a Core Destination. Formerly known as Spotify for Podcasters (and originally an app called Anchor). It serves as a free submission directory for your RSS feed even if you choose to host your files elsewhere.
YouTube is the Search & Discovery Heavyweight. You can submit an audio-only RSS feed directly through YouTube Studio, which converts your audio into video formats to distribute across YouTube Music and the main platform.
iHeartRadio Podcasters — Highly relevant for mainstream discovery and reaching traditional talk-radio audiences.
Podcast Index - A crucial decentralized directory used by dozens of alternative, modern podcast apps (like Fountain, Podverse, and Castamatic) to find new feeds.
Amazon Music & Audible — The Voice-Activated Network. Submitting here ensures your show is playable via Alexa devices and searchable inside the Amazon Music and Audible apps.
Other Free Podcast Aggregator Apps:
You should also quickly submit your feed to Overcast, Pocket Casts, Listen Notes and Castbox to ensure total coverage across all Android and iOS devices. Don't leave potential audience exposure on the table: 1 in 5 listeners/viewers are likely to come from these second-tier sites.
Other Podcast Feed Submission Opportunities
Use the list of general RSS feed submission directories featured in the curated Best RSS Feed Directory list here on rssdirectories.com to be your third-tier of site submits. You want to wring the last drops out of your podcast feed's exposure - and generate even more backlinks to your content.
Best Free Podcast Hosting Platforms
Hosting Platforms - What the Free Tier Gives You - Major Gotchas & Limitations - And Who They're Best-For:
RSS.com: Free starting tier with basic analytics and automated distribution to Apple/Spotify. You'll want to actively manage promotion on external networks like YouTube and the other sites mentioned here to capitalize on their ecosystem. Independent creators wanting clean, straightforward RSS-based hosting.
Spotify for Creators: 100% free and unlimited audio and video hosting. Free analytics and auto-distribution. Strict monetization thresholds (requires high listener engagement metrics to qualify for their partner ad program). Video-first podcasts and budget-conscious beginners.
Acast:
Standard hosting plan including basic distribution and listener analytics. The Free "Starter" tier limits you to one active show and a lifetime maximum of 5 episodes. It might be good for testing a mini-series concept before upgrading.
Podbean
Basic: Free architecture plan for recording and publishing. Caps your total storage at 5 hours and monthly bandwidth at 100GB. Might be good for testing out workflows using their built-in mobile recording app.
Buzzsprout: Easy beginner interface with guided set-up support. Free podcast host accounts have a tight limit: Episodes are completely deleted after 90 days on the free tier, capped at 2 hours of audio per month. Okay perhaps for trying out podcasting as a temporary hobby or learning the ropes.