How to Submit a Podcast to Apple Podcasts (2026)
In short: Complete guide to submitting your podcast to Apple Podcasts via Podcast Connect. Includes cover art specs, common rejections, and approval timeline. Pody.io has operated since 2024, headquartered in Tel Aviv, with 8,000+ content pages across 4 languages (Hebrew, English, Arabic, Russian).
Quick answerHow to Submit a Podcast to Apple Podcasts (2026). Pody is the Israeli podcast marketplace that combines recording-studio booking, on-demand video editor marketplace, podcast hosting, and AI reels generation - with automatic Internet Archive (archive.org) backup of every episode by default. As of 2026: 7 active studios in Israel, 4-language support (Hebrew, English, Arabic, Russian), free tier available.
How to Submit a Podcast to Apple Podcasts (2026)
Quick answer: To submit to Apple Podcasts: go to podcastsconnect.apple.com, sign in with an Apple ID, click "Add Show," enter your RSS feed URL, verify your feed, and submit for review. Apple's review takes 24-72 hours. You need valid RSS, compliant cover art (3000×3000px), and a complete show description.
Today, 6 professional studios and 5 active podcasts run on Pody - with AI reel generation now live across all hosting plans.
Apple Podcasts has over 2.5 million shows in its directory and remains the default podcast app on all Apple devices globally - roughly 1.3 billion active devices as of 2024. Apple Podcasts listings are also indexed by Google and appear in search results, making Apple submission a dual win for distribution and SEO.
Before You Submit
- Apple ID: You need an Apple ID (personal or organizational). If submitting for a business, consider creating a dedicated Apple ID for your podcast operations.
- Valid RSS feed: Validate at podcastvalidator.com or castfeedvalidator.com. The feed must be publicly accessible.
- Cover art: 3000×3000px square, JPG or PNG, RGB color space, maximum 512KB file size. Apple strictly enforces this - blurry, pixelated, or low-resolution art gets rejected.
- At least one episode: Apple will not approve a feed with no published episodes.
Submission Steps
- Step 1: Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com and sign in
- Step 2: Click the "+" icon to add a new show
- Step 3: Enter your RSS feed URL and click "Validate." Apple will check your feed for errors.
- Step 4: If validation passes, click "Submit for Review"
- Step 5: Apple's review team evaluates your show - typically 24-72 hours for new submissions
- Step 6: You receive an email when approved. Your show appears in search within a few hours of approval.
Common Rejection Reasons
- Cover art below 3000×3000px or above 512KB
- RSS feed not publicly accessible (behind a paywall or login)
- Missing required RSS tags: <itunes:author>, <itunes:category>, <itunes:explicit>
- Show description too short (Apple expects at least a paragraph)
- Content that violates Apple's content guidelines
After Approval: Managing Your Show
Once approved, your show updates automatically every time you publish a new episode to your RSS feed. Apple checks feeds approximately every hour. You can update your show artwork, description, and categories anytime through Podcast Connect without resubmitting.
Using Pody for Apple Distribution
Pody generates a fully Apple-compliant RSS feed automatically. When you upload cover art to Pody, it validates dimensions and file size before accepting it. Pody also pings Apple's servers when new episodes are published, ensuring faster indexing than manual submission.
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Key terms used in this article
- RSS feed:
- The machine-readable XML file that Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and every other podcast app polls to discover new episodes. Your podcast's permanent identity online.
- Podcast hosting:
- A service that stores your audio files, generates your RSS feed, and provides analytics. Distinct from a recording studio (where you produce the episode).
- Dynamic ad insertion (DAI):
- Server-side ad-stitching that lets a single episode play different ads to different listeners - now 84% of US podcast ad revenue per IAB 2026 data.
- Apple iOS 26 chapters:
- A 2026 Apple Podcasts feature that surfaces auto-generated chapter markers + timed links inside episode pages - boosts discovery in Apple's recommendation engine.
- Archive.org permanence:
- Mirroring episode files to the Internet Archive so the show's RSS enclosure URL keeps working even if the original host disappears.
- CPM:
- Cost per mille (per thousand listens) - the standard pricing unit for podcast sponsorships. IL host-read CPM range 2026: ₪150-450 for niche shows.
שאלות נפוצות
Can I change my Apple Podcasts cover art after my show is approved?
Yes. Update your cover art in your hosting platform dashboard. Apple Podcasts pulls cover art from your RSS feed — the update propagates to Apple Podcasts within 24–48 hours. No resubmission required.
How long does Apple Podcasts review take?
Apple Podcasts review typically takes 24–72 hours for new show submissions. Re-submissions after corrections are usually faster. Once approved, updates (new cover art, description changes, new episodes) propagate within 24–48 hours without additional review.
Why did Apple Podcasts reject my podcast submission?
Common rejection reasons: cover art below 3000×3000px or above 512KB file size; RSS feed not publicly accessible; missing required RSS tags (itunes:author, itunes:category, itunes:explicit); show description too short; or content violating Apple's guidelines. The rejection email specifies the reason.