Podcast post-production
How much Spotify pays for a podcast and how it works
Updated October 7, 2026
Spotify does not pay every podcast per stream. It pays shows in its Partner Program: a share of what Premium users generate when they watch their videos, and of the ads heard by free users. What you earn depends on how long people watch, where your audience is and how many of them are Premium.
Spotify does not pay per stream
With music, every play generates royalties. Podcasts do not work that way: putting your show on Spotify is free, but it does not trigger any automatic payment. To get paid you need to join the Spotify Partner Program, and even then there is no fixed amount per listen, but a share that depends on several things at once.
The Spotify Partner Program
It has two revenue streams. The first is the share of video consumed by Premium users: Spotify works out your part based on how long people watch, the country of those users and how many unique Premium users watch your episodes. The second is the ads heard by free users, of which you get a share. To join, it currently asks you to host on Spotify for Creators, have at least three published episodes and, in the last thirty days, a thousand listeners and two thousand hours of consumption. In September 2026 Spotify announced the program is reaching more than thirty-five new countries this autumn, Spain among them. Requirements change, so check its help page.
Why video matters so much
The Premium share is calculated on video consumption. An audio-only podcast is left out of that part, which is usually the main one. That is why more and more shows are recorded with several cameras and published on both YouTube and Spotify: the same episode earns on both platforms and reaches different audiences. If you are thinking of moving to video, start with how to produce a video podcast step by step.
What usually pays more than Spotify
For most shows, what Spotify pays is a top-up. What you charge for your own sponsorships is yours, and what you sell thanks to the podcast (services, training, clients) is usually much more. We cover it in how much podcasters make. Spotify adds up, but it is rarely the reason to have a podcast.
How to get ready to earn
Publish on video, consistently, with episodes people watch to the end, because watch time is what counts. At Bostak Films we produce video podcasts built for YouTube and Spotify at the same time, with their clips and thumbnails. If you want to know what yours needs to meet the requirements, we will look at it in the free podcast audit.
FAQ
How much does Spotify pay for podcasts?
There is no fixed amount per listen. Spotify pays shows in its Partner Program a share of what Premium users generate when they watch their videos and of the ads on the free tier. It depends on watch time, the audience's country and how many users are Premium.
What are the requirements to get paid by Spotify for a podcast?
Currently: hosting on Spotify for Creators, being an adult, living in a country where the program is available, at least three episodes and, in the last thirty days, a thousand listeners and two thousand hours of consumption. The show also goes through a content review.
Which countries does the Spotify Partner Program cover?
It started in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, and has been adding European countries. In September 2026 Spotify announced more than thirty-five new markets this autumn, including Spain, Italy, Brazil and Mexico. Check its help page for the current list.
Does Spotify or YouTube pay more for a podcast?
It depends on where your audience is and how long they watch on each. Both reward video and watch time, so the usual move is to publish the same episode on both and add them up.
Want to know what your podcast needs?
Book the free podcast audit. We look at your show or your idea and tell you what we would change and where we would start.
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