Apple Podcasts statistics matter for one simple reason: Apple Podcasts is still one of the most important “default” listening destinations—especially on iPhone—and it remains a key distribution channel for publishers, brands, and independent creators.
Below is a data-heavy snapshot of Apple Podcast statistics covering Apple Podcasts’ share of listening, the size of the Apple Podcasts catalog, and the platform economics behind Apple Podcasts Subscriptions.
Apple Podcast Statistics (Top Highlights)
- 14% of U.S. weekly podcast listeners say Apple Podcasts is the service they use most often (Edison Podcast Metrics, Q4 2024; reported in The Infinite Dial 2025).
- 55% of Americans age 12+ are monthly podcast consumers (listened or watched) in 2025 (The Infinite Dial 2025).
- 2,905,698 podcasts were tracked on Apple Podcasts as of November 2025 (Podcast Industry Insights via The Podcast Host).
- 440,794 Apple Podcasts shows were “active” (published in the last 90 days) as of November 2025—about 15% of the total (Podcast Industry Insights via The Podcast Host).
- 117,196,339 podcast episodes were published in Apple Podcasts as of November 2025 (Podcast Industry Insights via The Podcast Host).
- 70% creator net revenue on Apple Podcasts Subscriptions per billing cycle (minus applicable taxes), rising to 85% after a subscriber reaches one year of paid service (Apple Podcasts for Creators).
- $19.99/year (US) is the Apple Podcasters Program annual fee listed for the United States (Apple Podcasts for Creators).
- Apple Podcasts Subscriptions are available in 40 languages across 170+ countries and regions (Apple Podcasts for Creators).
Apple Podcasts’ Share of Listening (U.S.)
There are two common ways to talk about “share”: (1) the platform people say they use most often, and (2) consumption share based on downloads/views. The chart below uses the first definition (self-reported “used most often”).
Most-used podcast service among U.S. weekly podcast listeners
| Label | Bar | Value |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 33% | |
| Spotify | 26% | |
| Apple Podcasts | 14% |
Max = 33%. Widths: YouTube 100.00%, Spotify 78.79%, Apple Podcasts 42.42%.
On the “consumption” side, one industry analysis of downloads/views for top U.S. shows reported Apple Podcasts at 37.4% and YouTube at 23.2% (definition and publisher sample matter a lot here). Treat this as directional for big-show distribution, not a universal audience-share number.
How Big Is Apple Podcasts?
Apple doesn’t consistently publish a single official “directory size” number, so the most-cited catalog totals often come from third-party tracking that monitors Apple Podcasts feeds at scale.
- Total podcasts: 2,905,698 (as of November 2025)
- Total episodes: 117,196,339 (as of November 2025)
- Active podcasts (last 90 days): 440,794 (as of November 2025)
Apple Podcasts activity split (active vs inactive)
| Label | Bar | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Total podcasts | 2,905,698 | |
| Inactive podcasts | 2,464,904 | |
| Active podcasts (90 days) | 440,794 |
Max = 2,905,698. Widths: Total podcasts 100.00%, Inactive podcasts 84.83%, Active podcasts (90 days) 15.17%.
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Economics
If you’re evaluating Apple Podcasts as a monetization channel, the two numbers that shape the economics are the creator net revenue rate and the annual program fee required to sell subscriptions.
- Creator net revenue: 70% per billing cycle (minus applicable taxes), increasing to 85% after one year of paid service for a subscriber.
- Apple Podcasters Program fee (U.S.): $19.99 per year.
- Geographic reach: subscriptions can be offered in 40 languages across 170+ countries and regions.
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions creator net revenue rate
| Label | Bar | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Net revenue (first year) | 70% | |
| Net revenue (after 1 year) | 85% |
Max = 85%. Widths: Net revenue (first year) 82.35%, Net revenue (after 1 year) 100.00%.
Trends to Watch in 2026
- Video is becoming table stakes: Apple has been expanding video support in Apple Podcasts, including features designed to move smoothly between audio and video.
- More shows are publishing video elsewhere too: one Podtrac summary of its multi-channel ranking noted that a majority of ranked shows posted video to YouTube, while a smaller share posted video to Spotify.
- Apple continues to push global discovery: Apple has emphasized localized year-end charts across many markets, which can create meaningful “chart lift” outside the U.S.
Sources
- Edison Research — The Infinite Dial 2025 (presentation PDF; includes “service used most often” shares and podcast consumption benchmarks).
- Apple Podcasts for Creators — Apple Podcasts Subscriptions (coverage and languages for subscriptions; conversion claim for best-performing subscriptions).
- Apple Podcasts for Creators — Subscription launch checklist (70% net revenue, increasing to 85% after one year of paid service).
- Apple Podcasts for Creators — Availability of Apple Podcasts features (Apple Podcasters Program annual fee by country/region, including $19.99 US).
- The Podcast Host — Podcast Statistics & Industry Trends (citing Podcast Industry Insights courtesy of Daniel J. Lewis for Apple Podcasts catalog and activity totals, Nov 2025).
- Podnews — The biggest podcast app in the US for consumption – 2025 (downloads/views share example for top U.S. shows).
- Podtrac — Podtrac Releases New Multi-Channel Podcast Ranking (multi-channel distribution notes for ranked shows).
- Apple Newsroom — Apple Podcasts unveils the most popular shows and trends of 2025 (year-end charts localization scope).
- The Verge — Apple Podcasts product update coverage (audio/video switching and broader video podcast momentum).