Podcast charts – how to get into the rankings on Apple, Spotify & Co.
One thing is certain: Podcasts have now established themselves in the media world! A place in the top ranks of the podcast charts is the ideal ticket to not only attract new listeners but also build trust in your brand.
But how do you manage to get your podcast to the top of the charts? And which podcast charts should you target for the greatest impact? Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon, or Audible? After all, there are now a whole range of platforms, each with its own rules, categories, and success criteria.
In this article, you will learn everything about the most important podcast charts, how they differ from each other, and most importantly, how you can rank your podcast there!
What are podcast charts?
Podcast charts are rankings that list the "best" podcasts in a specific time period. This list of "top podcasts" reflects which shows are currently particularly popular with listeners. Essentially, it's nothing different than, for example, the top 100 music charts.
Podcasts that appear in the chart rankings essentially represent a recommendation from the respective platform to the audience.
And where do most people look for inspiration for their next podcast? That's right, they look at the podcast charts!
For this very reason, a place in the podcast charts is in many cases the golden ticket for more visibility and listeners .
What podcast charts are there?
There are now a number of platforms , each with its own podcast charts. These don't always have to be identical, as each platform uses its own evaluation criteria and algorithms to define the rankings.
Nevertheless, there are of course a few platforms whose podcast charts are particularly relevant – simply because that is where most users search for the top podcasts.
To give you a clear overview, here is a short list of the most influential podcast charts :
- Apple Podcasts Charts
- Spotify Podcast Charts
- YouTube Music (until recently: Google Podcasts)
- Amazon Podcast Charts
- Audible Podcast Charts
1. Apple Podcasts Charts
Apple Podcasts is naturally of particular interest to all iPhone enthusiasts . The Apple Podcasts charts, according to the company, feature the top podcasts, top episodes, top subscription podcasts, and top subscription channels across the entire platform.
What categories are there in Apple Podcasts Charts?
The Apple Podcast Charts contain the top podcasts and the top episodes , which can be filtered according to the following categories :
- Society and Culture
- Health and Fitness
- News
- Comedy
- Education
- Business
- Art
- sport
- Science
- Music
- Children and family
- TV and film
- technology
- Leisure time
- Religion and Spirituality
- True Crime
- Story
- fiction
- Government
By default, the Apple Podcast Charts list the 200 best podcasts in all categories, which are also updated several times a day.
How do you rank in the Apple Podcasts charts?
Apple hasn't yet shared the specific ranking factors with the public for "integrity reasons." Nevertheless, there is some information available that suggests which factors are important for landing at the top of the Apple Podcasts charts.
According to Apple, these factors include:
- Listening : High interaction rates – such as adding to favorites – are logically an important indicator.
- Followers : The more listeners follow a podcast, the better for the algorithm.
- Completion rate: It is also important that listeners listen to the podcast episodes to the end and do not switch off after a few seconds.
Good to know : Leaving reviews or sharing podcasts does not, according to the podcasters, count towards the algorithm for the podcast charts!
2. Spotify Podcast Charts
Spotify also has a ranking that showcases the best podcasts. And just like Apple, Spotify also offers the option to choose between the top 200 podcasts and the top 200 episodes .
What categories are there in Spotify Podcast Charts?
In addition, the displayed results in the Spotify Podcast Charts can also be filtered by category , of which the following are currently available:
- Art
- Business
- Comedy
- Education
- fiction
- Health & Fitness
- Story
- Leisure time
- Music
- News
- Religion & Spirituality
- Science
- Society & Culture
- sport
- technology
- True Crime
- Film & Television
On Spotify, the podcast charts are updated daily.
How do you rank in the Spotify podcast charts?
Spotify also doesn't reveal in detail which factors influence its rankings. Its own website simply states that the charts reflect podcast listeners and interactions . It's important that the podcast has as many followers as possible and that the content is listened to for as long as possible.
Spotify also shares some tips for podcast creators to gain more followers:
- Share podcast on social networks
- Embed Spotify Player on your own website
- Create playlists with podcast episodes
- Add links to episode descriptions
3. YouTube Music (formerly Google Podcasts)
After it became apparent that the majority of users prefer to listen to podcasts on YouTube, Google LLC decided to discontinue the podcast service "Google Podcasts" after six years and instead integrate the content into YouTube Music . After Google Podcasts is discontinued on August 30, 2024, the music (and podcasts) will now be available on YouTube Music.
What categories are there on YouTube Music?
Unlike Apple or Spotify, YouTube Music does n't have proper podcast charts . Instead, podcasts are simply displayed under the general music and entertainment categories. Therefore, there are currently no dedicated rankings highlighting the most popular shows and episodes.
How do you rank on YouTube Music?
As already mentioned, there are currently no classic podcast charts on YouTube Music.
The podcasts that end up in YouTube Music's recommendations , however, are based on the individual listening history and the "current mood" of the respective listener. Accordingly, there is no clear indication of which ranking factors play a role on YouTube Music.
4. Amazon Podcast Charts
Another podcast hosting platform is Amazon Music , which is structured relatively similarly to YouTube Music. Amazon Music's podcast charts are also not ranked chronologically. Instead, there is a selection of "Top Podcasts" for different categories. Amazon Music also compiles a list of the best podcasts of the year each year .
What categories are there on Amazon Music?
First, Amazon Music offers a general " most popular podcasts " and " podcasts of the week ," which are located right at the top of the page. Of course, you can also filter by category :
- True Crime
- News
- Society & Culture
- Comedy
- Children & Family
- Music
- Education
- Health & Fitness
- Business
- technology
- sport
- Religion & Spirituality
- Science
- Story
- Leisure time
- Government
How do you rank on Amazon Music?
Amazon Music also keeps the exact ranking factors secret. Nevertheless, there is now solid empirical evidence about which aspects influence the ranking. For this reason, further down in the article, we've compiled a list of what we believe to be the most important ranking tips for you if you want to catapult your podcast further up the charts.
5. Audible Podcast Charts
Audible initially made a name for itself with audiobooks, but podcasts have now become an integral part of the Amazon subsidiary. Audible also compiles a list of the most listened-to podcasts every year .
Much more interesting, however, are the so-called " Audible Original Podcasts ." This is a podcast program developed by Amazon.
What categories are there in Audible Podcasts?
Here is an overview of the different categories of Audible Original Podcasts:
- True Crime
- Fall asleep
- psychology
- News & Politics
- Comedy
- Science
- English podcasts
In addition, the Audible Magazine also contains various blog posts , such as “10 good podcasts you need to know” or “The top 10 best German podcasts”.
How do you rank on Audible?
According to Audible, the company places particular emphasis on " the highest quality standards " for its Audible Original Podcasts. However, Audible does not disclose exactly what these quality standards are.
The website simply states that Audible developed the original podcasts in collaboration with well-known media brands, journalists and personalities.
How to get into the podcast charts – final tips for better rankings!
As you've probably realized by now, most podcast platforms are pretty secretive when it comes to which ranking factors will help your podcast get into the charts.
Nevertheless, based on experience , there are some indications as to which factors could be decisive.
Here are 5 factors that likely play a role on most podcast platforms:
- Number of subscribers : How many people listen to your podcast?
- Listening time : How long do your listeners stay tuned? Do they listen to the entire episode or do they tune out after the first minute?
- Interaction rate : How active are your listeners? Do they engage through liking, commenting, or sharing your episodes?
- Novelty & Consistency : How regularly do you release new episodes? Several times a week? Or only when the mood strikes?
- Reviews : How do your listeners rate your podcast? Do you receive only positive feedback? Or do you often receive negative reviews?
But how do you ensure that you get more subscribers, for example, or that the interaction rate on your podcast episodes increases?
Content remains king!
Here, too, there are of course a lot of different approaches that you can pursue.
Regardless of this, the golden rule applies here: Content is king!
If you deliver good content, you'll soon build an interested audience. Here are a few suggestions on how you could go about it:
- Provide real value : Offer something unique or special that other podcasts don't offer. This could be your hard-earned expertise, for example, something others might even charge for.
- Invite interesting guests : Sometimes you just need a little variety. By inviting interesting interviewees, you'll bring a breath of fresh air and new perspectives to your podcast.
- Create a catchy teaser : With a creative intro, you can pique your listeners’ curiosity and summarize the most important highlights of your episode in just a few seconds.
And don't forget: Good content also requires good technology ! Even with the best content, your listeners will eventually drop off if the audio quality is poor or technical issues constantly occur. So, ensure good sound quality and post-production!
