How to Start a Podcast on Spotify for Free (2026, No Mic)

Spotify does not record or edit podcasts for you in the usual sense. It lists shows. Your job is to give it audio and a feed, and that part is free. This guide covers the full path, from a blank page to a live Spotify link, including how to do it with no microphone. If you want the general picture first, read our step-by-step guide to starting any podcast; if budget is the main worry, see the $0 podcast tool stack.

What should your first Spotify episode be about?

Most shows launch with a short pilot or trailer that says who the show is for. Click an idea to open it in the ZenMic studio, where the AI writes a script you can edit before it is voiced.

＋ Pilot episode: why I'm starting this show ＋ 60-second show trailer ＋ Two hosts: is it too late to start a podcast in 2026? ＋ Beginner tips for my niche ＋ Interview-style local story ＋ Weekly news roundup

From idea to Spotify without a microphone

💡

Topic

Type an idea or paste text

📝

Script

AI writes it, you edit

🗣️

Voices

A voice per speaker

🎧

MP3

Download or publish

📡

RSS feed

One URL per project

🟢

Spotify

Add once, syncs after

Steps 1 to 4 happen in ZenMic. The RSS feed is the link between your host and Spotify.

How do you start a podcast on Spotify, step by step?

Pick a topic and a name

Decide who the show is for and what each episode gives them, then choose a short, searchable name.

Not sure what to call it? The free podcast name generator gives you a list of names for any topic in seconds.

Make your first episode

Record yourself, or type a topic into an AI podcast generator such as ZenMic, edit the script it writes, and export an MP3. Spotify needs at least one episode before it accepts a show.

Recording? A phone in a quiet room is enough to start. Not recording? Here is how to make a podcast without a microphone. To draft the words first, try the AI podcast script generator.

Make square cover art

Create a square JPG or PNG between 1400 x 1400 and 3000 x 3000 pixels with a few large words that stay readable as a small thumbnail.

The podcast cover art prompt generator writes a prompt you can paste into a free image tool. Check the result at thumbnail size before you upload it.

Choose where the show is hosted

Either upload episodes to Spotify for Creators, which hosts them for free, or use a podcast host that gives you an RSS feed, such as a ZenMic project.

Both routes are free. The table below compares them.

Copy your RSS feed URL

If you host outside Spotify, copy the feed URL from your host. In ZenMic, open the project and click Publish to Spotify & Apple.

ZenMic creates a feed for every project automatically. See how the free podcast RSS feed works.

Add the show in Spotify for Creators

Sign in at creators.spotify.com, choose to add an existing show, paste the RSS feed URL, enter the verification code Spotify emails to the address in the feed, add category and language, and submit.

The full walkthrough, with a picture of the screen, is in the RSS submission section below.

Wait for it to go live, then share it

New shows often appear within hours, sometimes a few days. Then share the Spotify link and keep a steady release schedule.

Use the same feed for Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music too. It is free and takes a few minutes each.

Should you host on Spotify for Creators or use your own RSS feed?

Podcast hosting is where your audio files live. An RSS feed is the web address that lists your episodes so apps like Spotify and Apple Podcasts can pull them in. You need one or the other route below, not both.

	Host on Spotify for Creators	Host elsewhere, submit RSS (e.g. ZenMic)
Cost	Free	Free to submit. Hosting cost depends on the host; ZenMic includes a feed with every project.
Who makes the audio	You record and upload it	You record it, or ZenMic writes and voices it from a topic or text
How episodes reach Spotify	Published directly	Spotify reads new episodes from the feed automatically
Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music	Possible via the RSS feed Spotify provides	Submit the same feed to each
Spotify's own earning programs	Built around shows hosted here; eligibility rules apply	Usually limited; sponsorships and affiliate links still work

Rule of thumb: if you already record your own audio and want Spotify-only features, host on Spotify for Creators. If you want to make episodes without recording, or keep your show portable across platforms, use an RSS host.

How much does it cost to start a podcast on Spotify?

It can cost $0. Spotify charges nothing to list a show. What you spend depends on how you make the audio. For a line-by-line estimate of your own setup, use the podcast cost calculator.

Setup	What you need	Rough cost
🤖 AI, no mic	ZenMic: type a topic or paste text, edit the script, get an MP3 and an RSS feed.	$0 on the free trial
📱 Smartphone	Record in a quiet room with soft furnishings. Clean up in Audacity (free).	$0
🎙️ USB mic	An entry-level USB microphone plugged into your laptop.	About $40 to $100
🎚️ Pro setup	Dynamic mic, audio interface, some room treatment, paid editing software.	$300 and up

💡 Tip: start cheap and publish 10 episodes before buying gear. By then you will know what your show actually needs. More options in the free AI podcast generator overview.

Should you record your voice or use AI voices?

Both work on Spotify. Recording gives you your own voice and personality. AI is faster and needs no gear, and you can still put your own voice in with voice cloning.

🎙️

Record it yourself

✓ Your real voice and reactions
✓ Good for interviews with real guests
✗ Needs a quiet room
✗ Editing takes time

🤖

Make it with ZenMic

✓ No mic or recording
✓ AI writes a multi-speaker script you can edit
✓ 30+ voices, 100+ languages, or clone your own
✓ MP3 download plus an RSS feed for Spotify

Make a pilot episode

How do you add an RSS feed to Spotify for Creators?

Do this if your episodes are hosted anywhere other than Spotify. You only do it once; after that, Spotify checks your feed for new episodes on its own.

1. Get your RSS feed URL

In ZenMic, every project gets its own feed. Open the project in the studio and click Publish to Spotify & Apple. A window shows the feed URL with a copy button, plus links to test the feed and to each directory's submit page.

Every project gets a public RSS feed, with step-by-step submission to Spotify and Apple Podcasts

2. Paste it into Spotify for Creators

Go to creators.spotify.com (the old podcasters.spotify.com address sends you there) and sign in with a Spotify account.
Choose to add a podcast, then pick the option for a show that is already hosted somewhere else.
Paste your RSS feed URL and continue.
Spotify emails a verification code to the owner email listed in the feed. Enter it to prove the show is yours.
Add the details Spotify asks for, such as category, language and country.
Review and submit. Your show page usually goes live within hours.

Spotify renames buttons from time to time, so the exact labels may differ from this list.

Step 1 of 3

Add your existing podcast

Paste the RSS feed link from your hosting provider.

RSS feed link

https://zenmic.com/project/your-project-id/feed/

2 Then: enter the code emailed to the feed's owner address

Simplified illustration of the add-a-show step, not a screenshot. Spotify's real screen looks different and its labels change over time.

Want the same show on Apple too? Submit the same feed at podcastsconnect.apple.com with an Apple Account. The complete beginner's podcast guide covers Apple and other directories step by step.

What does a good pilot episode sound like?

A pilot answers three questions in a few minutes: who is this for, what will I get, and why should I follow. Here is a two-host example. Click Generate This Audio to open it in the studio with the script filled in, change anything you like, and have it voiced.

Sample pilot episode script (2 speakers)

Maya: Welcome to the very first episode of Small Steps. I'm Maya. Leo: And I'm Leo. If you've ever made a plan on Sunday night and dropped it by Wednesday, this show is for you. Maya: Every week we take one habit, like walking more or reading before bed, and break it into a step so small it feels silly. Leo: Silly is the point. Small steps are easy to start, and starting is the hard part. Maya: So why are we doing this? Because we both tried the big-bang approach. New year, new everything. It lasted about nine days. Leo: Eight for me. Then we tried one tiny change at a time, and some of them actually stuck. Maya: Here's what you get each week. One habit, one tiny first step, and one honest story about what went wrong when we tried it. Leo: Episodes are short, about fifteen minutes. Perfect for a walk, which, conveniently, is next week's habit. Maya: Your step for this week: pick one thing you want to change and write it on a sticky note. That's it. Leo: If this sounds like your kind of show, follow Small Steps on Spotify so next week's episode lands in your library. See you then.

Want your own version? The AI writes a fresh script and casts a voice for every speaker. Make a New One Like This →

What are the most common mistakes when starting on Spotify?

1. Cover art that breaks the rules

Use a square image, 1400 to 3000 pixels, JPG or PNG. Tiny text that is unreadable as a thumbnail costs you clicks even when it is accepted.

2. No inbox access for the feed email

Spotify sends the verification code to the owner email in your RSS feed. Make sure it is an address you can open. ZenMic uses your account email.

3. Submitting an empty feed

Spotify needs at least one published episode. A one-minute trailer is enough to get listed.

4. Keyword-stuffed titles

"Marketing Podcast | SEO | Business | Money" reads as spam and breaks Spotify's metadata rules. Use a real name plus a clear description.

5. Launching and then going quiet

Pick a schedule you can keep, even every two weeks. If recording is what slows you down, make the next episode from a topic in ZenMic.

How do you grow and make money from a Spotify podcast?

Getting listed is step one. These are the realistic options for a new show:

🟢

Spotify's programs

Spotify runs programs such as the Spotify Partner Program. They are limited to certain countries and have eligibility thresholds, so check the current rules inside Spotify for Creators.

🤝

Sponsors and affiliates

Niche shows can land small sponsors early. Put affiliate links in your show notes; the show notes generator drafts them for you.

💛

Listener support

Membership sites, bonus episodes and tip jars work on any host, and do not depend on Spotify's eligibility rules.

📣 Promotion quick wins

Share your Spotify show link everywhere you already post, every time an episode goes out.
Turn a strong 30-second moment into a captioned clip with the audiogram maker for Reels, Shorts or TikTok.
Submit the same RSS feed to Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music so listeners on any app can follow.
Turn each script into a blog post or newsletter that links back to the show.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Adding a show to Spotify costs nothing, and Spotify for Creators hosts episodes for free. You can also keep your hosting elsewhere and submit the RSS feed at no cost. The only possible costs are optional: a paid podcast host, a microphone, or a paid plan on an audio tool.

No. Spotify only needs an audio file and show details. You can record on a phone, or make the episode from text with an AI podcast generator like ZenMic, which writes a multi-speaker script, voices it and gives you an MP3 and an RSS feed.

Usually a few hours after you submit, though it can take a few days. After that, new episodes published to your RSS feed are picked up automatically, typically within a few hours.

Yes, if you host on Spotify for Creators: you upload audio or video there and Spotify publishes it. If you host anywhere else, you do not upload to Spotify. You submit your RSS feed once and Spotify reads new episodes from it.

Anchor was folded into Spotify for Podcasters in 2023, and Spotify for Podcasters was renamed Spotify for Creators in late 2024. It is the same free dashboard for submitting shows, hosting episodes and viewing analytics, now at creators.spotify.com.

One. Spotify will not accept an empty feed, so publish at least one episode or a short trailer first. Many new shows launch with a trailer plus two or three full episodes so new listeners have something to binge.

Yes. Spotify accepts AI-voiced episodes like any other audio, as long as the show follows its platform rules, for example no impersonating real people and no misleading titles or descriptions.

Yes. Every ZenMic project has a standard podcast RSS feed. It lists your account email as the owner email, so the Spotify verification code arrives in your own inbox. New episodes you publish in the project show up in the feed automatically.

Spotify runs its own programs, such as the Spotify Partner Program, but they are limited to certain countries and have eligibility thresholds that change, so check the current rules in Spotify for Creators. Most small shows start with sponsorships, affiliate links in show notes, or listener support.

Make your first Spotify episode today

Type a topic, edit the script the AI writes, and get an MP3 plus an RSS feed you can add to Spotify. Free trial, no credit card.

Make your first episode now

How to Start a Podcast on Spotify for Free (2026)