Apple Podcasts subscriptions are now live for creators and listeners

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Podcasts on iPhone 11 Pro
Podcasts on iPhone 11 Pro (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

  • Apple Podcasts subscriptions are now live.
  • Listeners can subscribe to podcasts and receive additional content.

Apple today flicked the switch that turned Apple Podcasts subscriptions on for everyone, giving listeners a way to pay for podcast content and creators a way to earn money for the shows they create.

Apple announced the new subscriptions option back on April, but ultimately decided to delay the launch to allow it to get all of its ducks in a row. That's now done, and the feature is live. Podcasters can learn more on the Apple Podcasts website.

You can offer shows with paid subscriptions, or fans can listen to free shows that come with additional benefits when they subscribe. Designed to be flexible and creator-friendly, podcast subscriptions can be offered as monthly or annual plans, and they'll be available in more than 170 countries and regions. Similar to app subscriptions on the App Store, podcast subscriptions let you set prices that work for you and your audience.

Podcast creators can create a free feed, a freemium one that includes additional content for a fee, and a paid feed that puts every episode behind a paywall. They'll also be able to create channels that put all of their shows in one place, complete with unique branding including a logo, artwork, and show description.

One downside that might not be obvious to all however – this all works so long as you listen via the Apple Podcasts app. Fans of Overcast, Castro, and other apps will not be able to take advantage of anything offered via Apple Podcasts subscriptions.

In terms of listening to podcasts, the AirPods Pro are probably still one of the best ways to get the spoken word right into your ears. Check out the best AirPods Pro deals before placing an order for your new earbuds, too.

Oliver Haslam
Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.