Obsessing over podcast download numbers is a bit like checking your bank account every hour—it doesn't make you richer, just more anxious. Yet downloads remain the metric most podcasters fixate on when measuring success.

So what actually counts as a 'good' number of downloads? The uncomfortable truth is that there's no universal benchmark that works for everyone. Your definition of success depends on your niche, your goals, and frankly, how long you've been at this podcasting thing.

In this article, we'll cut through the download-number anxiety by exploring what factors actually matter when evaluating your podcast's performance, practical ways to improve your numbers, and why smart podcasters track metrics beyond downloads to measure real growth.

What Counts as a Podcast Download (And What Doesn't)

In the podcasting industry, many terms sound similar but have distinct meanings—such as podcast downloads. People often use terms like podcast listens, plays, and streams interchangeably, but they refer to different metrics.

A play or stream occurs when a listener tunes into a podcast episode. For example, Spotify defines a stream as a user listening to more than 60 seconds of an episode. According to Apple, a 'play' is counted when an episode is listened to for more than 0 seconds on a unique device.

A podcast download happens when an episode is fully downloaded onto a listener's device. Downloads are among the most commonly tracked metrics for measuring a podcast's success. Most podcast hosting platforms provide download statistics from the moment an episode goes live.

Platform-Specific Download Metrics

Understanding how different platforms measure and report podcast downloads is crucial for accurate analytics.

• Apple Podcasts accounts for about 70% of podcast downloads, making it the dominant platform.

• Spotify follows with approximately 8.9% of downloads, offering different insights into listener behavior.

These variations highlight the importance of tailoring your podcast distribution strategies based on platform-specific metrics and trends.

How to Track Your Podcast Downloads

Your podcast hosting platform should provide analytics on how many downloads each episode receives.

Platforms like HelloAudio display download counts directly within the main feed for all published episodes. Buzzsprout takes it a step further with a dedicated 'Stats' page, showcasing total podcast downloads over specific timeframes and offering detailed per-episode analytics.

If you’re unsure where to find your podcast download numbers, look for sections labeled 'Statistics,' 'Stats,' or 'Analytics' in your podcast host's dashboard.

Your podcast host isn’t the only place to track downloads. Tools like Chartable integrate with platforms such as Spotify and Trackable to provide additional insights. To access this data, you may need to add a special prefix to your RSS feed URL.

Different data sources may report slightly different numbers, so it's best to choose a single source for consistency in tracking your podcast's performance.

For example, when I tested a different podcast host, it reported significantly higher download numbers than Buzzsprout. While seeing inflated stats felt good, I preferred accurate data for long-term tracking.

How to Estimate Other Podcasts' Download Numbers

Not really.

Several online resources attempt to estimate podcast performance by sourcing available data and interpreting it. Examples include ListenNotes, Podchaser, and Rephonic.

Both Podchaser and Rephonic require a subscription to access their insights. Even if you're willing to accept that their stats may not be precise, you won’t be able to view them without payment.

ListenNotes, however, is a free tool that provides two key metrics: Listen Score and Global Rank. A higher Listen Score indicates greater popularity, while the Global Rank measures the podcast's standing among all shows—the lower the percentage, the better the ranking.

If you want to gauge the performance of your peers' podcasts, you can check their Listen Score and Global Rank on ListenNotes. I used this when deciding which shows to pitch myself to as a guest.

However, my main use for ListenNotes is tracking my own podcast’s growth. When I launched 'Talk Copy to Me,' my Listen Score was 25, and my Global Rank was in the top 10%. A year later, I had improved to the top 5% with a Listen Score of 29. Recently, I moved into the top 3% with a Listen Score of 34.

Although these numbers are somewhat of a vanity metric, they still provide a helpful way to track progress and growth over time.

Setting Realistic Podcast Download Expectations

How many downloads is a good number?

This question comes up often in podcasting communities. The reality is that podcast downloads are highly subjective, influenced by factors like the show's niche, topic, publishing frequency, seasonality, and guest appearances.

Certain podcast niches naturally attract more downloads than others. For instance, true crime podcasts tend to receive significantly more downloads than niche topics like accounting.

However, popularity comes with increased competition. As the podcasting industry grows, so does the number of competing shows, which can make it harder to achieve high download numbers.

Avoid comparing your podcast downloads to those of other media platforms like Instagram likes or YouTube views—they operate on entirely different metrics.

What Is a Good Number of Podcast Downloads?

My expectations have been set. Now really: how many downloads is a good number?

Many podcasters seek a definitive number to measure their success against, but the reality is that benchmarks vary widely depending on multiple factors.

With insights from the latest Podcast Marketing Trends report, you can get a clearer idea of what constitutes a strong podcast download number.

‎According to the data collected from those respondents, the median show gets 421 downloads an episode or about 1425 downloads a month. This, to me, actually feels pretty uplifting. I had assumed that number would be much higher.

Buzzsprout also shares monthly platform data, and recent numbers suggest that a podcast in the top 25% of shows will get 120 listens in the first 7 days. Now that feels incredibly reasonable. Still looking to aim higher? Their data suggests that a top 5% podcast will have 1,120 downloads and a top 1% will have just under 5,000 downloads in the same timeframe.

Not quite getting hundreds of downloads? Not a problem. As I mentioned earlier, the downloads don't quite tell a full story of your podcast. For example, If you have a small number of downloads, but a ton of engagement, enthusiastic social shares, or a high ROI from those dedicated listeners, you may be quite happy with the numbers you're seeing.

Podcast Downloads vs. Audience Growth: What Matters

Rather than focusing on one download number, why not focus on your show's growth over time?

Growth was the very reason Jeremy Enns, the founder of Podcast Marketing Academy, first set out to collect research for the Podcast Marketing Trends report. After measuring growth for his students' shows and his own show over time, he wanted to find out what a successful month-to-month growth should look like.

“My hunch going in was that if you were in the 5 to 10% range, you were doing pretty good," Jeremy said. "And I thought maybe the average would be three to four percent, so I was quite surprised how much lower it was at 1.62 percent."

Which means that no matter what your actual numbers are, if you're slowly growing, you're doing pretty well.

As he reflects back on the data, Jeremy shares, “Almost every single podcaster I've ever talked to is frustrated at how slow they're growing. Everybody thinks it's them and that everybody else is growing way faster. And I think that this is really encouraging to see that everybody is not growing way faster — everybody is pretty much in the same boat.”

Strategies to Increase Your Podcast Downloads

If your current download numbers are lower than you'd like, there are quite a few ways you can work to improve them.

First, do an audit of your show to see what you could improve on. Ask yourself questions like,

• How is the sound quality?

• Is the episode organized and easy to follow?

• Am I asking my audience to follow the show in their favorite podcast players?

• Am I asking my audience to share the show with people they know?

Once that's done, look into ways you can improve on your episode promotion efforts. Are you

• Sharing your episodes on social media?

• Maintaining an email list for your podcast, and if so, are you regularly letting them know about your new episodes?

• Creating promotional assets to help share the episodes?.

• Taking part in cross-promotional opportunities, such as podcast parties, promo swaps, or feed swaps to get your show in front of a new audience?

Tracking Podcast Downloads and Growth Metrics

While it's great to know how many podcast downloads your episodes usually get, don't let downloads be the only thing you pay attention to. Review all the data before making any decisions or determining whether you think the episodes and output were successful.

As you focus on growing your show, don't allow yourself to fall into a comparison trap. There's no way to know successful another podcast truly is. Focus on creating a quality podcast with solid promotion and the downloads will come.

Podcast Downloads FAQ

How many podcast downloads is considered good?

There's no one universal answer to how many podcast downloads is considered good. If you want hard numbers about podcast downloads, current Buzzsprout data suggests that a top 25% podcast will have 120 downloads in the first seven days after the episode is published, whereas a top 5% podcast will have 1,120 and a top 1% will have just under 5,000 downloads in that timeframe.

How do I see how many downloads a podcast has?

You can see your own podcast's downloads from your podcast hosting platform or by signing into sites like Apple Podcasts Connect and Spotify for Podcasters.

There's no precise way to see how many downloads another podcast has, but sites like ListenNotes, Podchaser, and Rephonic give estimates based on the data available to them.

How many podcast downloads do you need to monetize?

There's no set number of downloads a podcast needs to make money. Downloads is just one small consideration when it comes to making money podcasting—there's also your niche, your audience demographics, whether you sell products or services, and tons more.

How do I reach 1,000 podcast downloads?

To get your first 1000 podcast listeners, the most important thing is to promote your podcast. The most effective way to do this is by getting your show in front of other podcast listeners through podcast parties, promo swaps, and feed swaps with other podcasts.

How do podcast download numbers vary by platform?

Podcast download numbers can vary significantly across platforms. Apple Podcasts is responsible for about 70% of downloads, while Spotify accounts for around 8.9%. This variation affects how podcasters analyze performance and strategize distribution.

What are industry benchmarks for podcast downloads?

Industry benchmarks for podcast downloads vary by niche and platform. For example, a top 25% podcast might achieve over 109 downloads in the first week, while a top 1% podcast might get nearly 5,000 downloads. These benchmarks help podcasters set realistic goals.